Tag: Hulu

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The Royal Hotel

John Stark

I think this Aussie backpacking thriller dropped in late 2023, before winding up on Hulu. This was something I didn’t manage to squeeze in before the Oscars, but I was pretty sure wouldn’t be effecting my votes on the best of the year. I do like Julia Garner, but this had some mixed reviews, and seemed to disappear pretty quickly. Hulu didn’t even bother to acquire the audio description for this film, so I was stuck watching this thriller without it. Here’s why it needed it. the movie centers on two friends who are backpacking on a budget across the … Continue reading The Royal Hotel

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We Have Always Lived In The Castle

John Stark

Sometimes I still review a film without audio description. This popped up on Hulu, and Hulu and IMDB can’t seem to agree on when this was released. It might qualify as 2024, but probably not. This is a weird little thriller about two sisters, played by Alexandra Daddario and Taissa Farmiga, who lose their father and live in a time when women need men to guide them. They have an uncle (Crispin Glover) who is certifiable, but seems like a nice guy, and then in comes a cousin (Sebastian Stan) who may have ulterior motives. Reasons for audio description: 1) … Continue reading We Have Always Lived In The Castle

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Suncoast

John Stark

It’s not totally fair to write off an early in the year Hulu debut. They did drop Ry Lane around this time last year,so Suncoast had every opportunity to be good. Ruth’s title really evoked nostalgia in me, as I was definitely *that kid* who hung out in Suncoast at the mall. The store that had all the movie memorabilia. Those were my people. But, that isn’t the Suncoast. The Suncoast in the film is actually a real place, or based on a real place, because this semi-autobiographical coming of age drama is about a teenage girl Nico Parker) whose … Continue reading Suncoast

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The Small Screen Diaries- 03/19/24

John Stark

Not surprising at all, but CBS will continue to air its Australian import, NCIS: Sydney for its second season, despite already having two NCIS shows, and currently in development on two more. Fun fact, this entire franchise only exists thanks to a series being rescued from cancellation. Possibly the smartest “save our show” ever has turned out to be CBS picking up JAG after it was cancelled at NBC after one season. Without that, they wouldn’t have had the long and successful run of the original show, nor would they have NCIS, NCIS Los Angeles, NCIS New Orleans, NCIS Hawaii, … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03/19/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 03/16/24

John Stark

Apples Never Fall (Peacock) is just a travesty. Mostly, the show suffers from poor direction and writing, but I can pinpoint some specifics. This show centers around a retired wife (Bening) who goes missing from her family, and former tennis star husband (Sam Neil). Her kids think something is afoot, so they start investigating, and over the course of 7 episodes, we will learn why Apples Never Fall (far from the tree). They introduce a character, Savannah (Georgia Flood), who shows up in the middle of the night supposedly fleeing domestic abuse. Flood delivers one of the worst performances I’ve … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03/16/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 03/14/24

John Stark

I’m not really sure what was going on with the actress playing Crystal on The Connors (Hulu), but her few lines were some of the worst line readings I had heard in a long time. Honestly, it felt like a regular person had won the chance to be on The Connors from their live studio audience, and had never acted before. I loved the meta moment where Darlene was trying to answer a trivia question in which she would be the answer in the real world. I also watched Abbott Elementary’s (Hulu) very special post-Oscar episode, which was hilarious as … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03/14/24

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Freelance

John Stark

John cena stars in a film that seemed to just skip right over theatres. He’s lost theatrical privileges I suppose. He also apparently has lost audio description as well, but maybe that’s just because this is on Hulu. Hulu be Hulu. So, no audio description and a straight to streaming john Cena film? Why am i reviewing it? To remind the world that we do still deserve to have accessibility. I should be able to watch crappy John Cena films with audio description just like sighted people can put on whatever they want. However, this film is primarily an action … Continue reading Freelance

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The Creator

John Stark

I first tried watching this on Hulu shortly after it released, but not right away. it did not have audio description, nor did it through Hulu on Disney Plus. Months later, I finally was able to watch this film with the wonderful description done by Deluxe and William Michael Redmond. I avoided really reviewing the film the first time, because I had a feeling I was enjoying the film, I just couldn’t understand it. Man, I was missing a lot. the creator stars John David Washington as a man caught in a futuristic war where countries look very different, AI … Continue reading The Creator

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Cat Person

John Stark

It’s a shame that the first time I’ve actually seen Nicholas Braun with range, and the film doesn’t have audio description. So, despite starring one of my favorite rising stars in Amelia Jones, who I did name Best Actress in 2021 for her performance in Coda, and Braun giving her best work, this odd relationship dark comedy is unwatchable. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you why. there are times here where Jones has conversations that make you wonder how they are being presented. is she slipping in and out of sanity, or something else? Jones is having conversations with herself. Somehow. … Continue reading Cat Person

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The Small Screen Diaries- 03/01/24

John Stark

Timing is everything. Netflix announced the cancellation of The Brothers Sun right after I finished the final episode of the season. I liked the show, and I would have come back for a second season, but I could say that about a number of shows Netflix sends into the void every year. I’m not angry enough to tweet them, or X them. I don’t know why Elon had to go and make that weird. I want to send tweets, not whatever the hell we call it now. But, Michelle Yeoh’s Netflix show is short lived. I will testify that Halo … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03/01/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 02/29/24

John Stark

Actually typing out the 29th of February feels like a mistake, until you convince yourself that yesterday was, in fact, Leap Day. So, how did I spend it? With some disappointing audio description. Of course, that means Abbott Elementary (ABC/Hulu), which Disney has apparently just decided to throw down the tubes this season for blind people. If ABC wanted to experiment with whaat seems to be AI generated audio description on every level, perhaps start with not your number one show. Just a thought. Over on Will Trent (ABC/Hulu), this show did have audio description, but it really felt lacking … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 02/29/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 02/24/24

John Stark

Man, i hope the SAG awards stay on Netflix. no commercials. Say anything you want. Fantastic. The predictable awards were predictable, and the other trophies painted a picture of the Actor and Actress race. Cillian Murphy has now won both the BAFTA and SAG, defeating Paul Giamatti at both. I cannot shake the feeling that Giamatti is winning for The Holdovers. It may just be because of how much I adore Paul, but I love both films and performances. On the actress side, Lily Gladstone closed the gap between her and Emma Stone by winning the SAG Actress trophy, while … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 02/24/24

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The Good Mother

John Stark

This is a quickie. Since this film has no audio description on its streamer of choice (Hulu), and it’s not fun to hear Hilary Swank lurk in the shadows with no context, and then all i hear is someone vomiting, I’ll say this was a waste of my time. But really, it’s a waste of Hilary Swank’s two-time Academy Award winning time. Get her out of this film. First, put audio description on it, because accessibility should be a basic right, but then remove her from this trash and start putting her with talented directors again in films that matter. … Continue reading The Good Mother

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Self Reliance

John Stark

I’m a Jake Johnson fan. I really enjoy his brand of humor, and I assumed his effort to write, direct, and star would produce an underrated gem. This movie is fine, until it’s not. It’s also on Hulu, with audio description, which somehow always feels like a victory. This was released theatrically in a one night only thing right at the end of 2023 to make it technically a 2023 film. The plot is basically Jake Johnson being offered money to be a part of this global hunt, kinda like Liam Hemsworth was in Quibby’s (remember that?) Most Dangerous Game. … Continue reading Self Reliance

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The Small Screen Diaries- 02/16/24

John Stark

I’m now only one episode away from learning which of the three contestants I don’t care about wins Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix). Of course, I could just look it up, since this was decided a while ago, but I don’t binge shows. I like my cliffhangers. I’m glad Ashley didn’t make the final 3, since she couldn’t see the irony in someone not following with a selfless group act. But, I’m also not sure I want Maya to win. I’m not sure I want any of these three to win, because this show has been more interested in getting … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 02/16/24