Tag: Hulu

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Red Right Hand

John Stark

In a film that feels like it skipped theatres, Orlando Bloom heads an ensemble cast as a man who gets pulled into his dark past unwittingly, in order to save those he cares about. Bloom doesn’t get many lead opportunities anymore, but perhaps the most interesting performance in this is from Andie MacDowell, who made her early start playing sweet but smart characters in 90’s romcom’s, and here plays a polar opposite. This is a film where likely the title is the best thing about it, and most people who watch the film will forget having seen it. If it … Continue reading Red Right Hand

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The First Omen

John Stark

I’m sure Hulu, Disney, 20th Century Fox, and whoever else associated with The First Omen feels triggered by me. Here’s the deal. I’ve been a pretty equal opportunity advocate, going after every company for their missed accessibility opportunities. Just a few days ago, I commented on the lack of audio description on The Big City Greens Movie, which seems odd considering how much of an effort Disney has been making at getting branded content described, mainly films and not necessarily shows. Vault Disney titles, D-Quels, and Disney Channel Original Movies are all the unlikely candidates, when inherited titles like Tom … Continue reading The First Omen

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She Came To me

John Stark

I’ve been having thoughts about what I can do to contribute to the discussion of film, but more importantly from a blind perspective. I expressed a lot of frustrations about Godzilla minus one being allowed to be submitted for Oscar consideration without being accessible. Even if the Acadmey made exceptions for certain categories, like International or the Short Film categories, there’s no reason to exempt a movie being considered for visual effects. If anything, that’s the category that should be required, otherwise any blind or low vision Oscar voters are at a disadvantage. Not to mention, the general population. So … Continue reading She Came To me

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Prom Dates

John Stark

For the last couple of years, there has been a change in comedy, and it has left a lot of people wondering what is funny, what can be funny, and people like Jerry Seinfeld looking for answers. the truth is, comedy is doing just fine for those who know how to do it. Much like everything else, it’s always straight white men who are grappling with how to make comedies that appeal to straight white men, without being cancelled or attacked on social media for being offensive. Most of the raunchy R rated comedies you probably like have something we … Continue reading Prom Dates

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The Greatest Hits

John Stark

Last year, the Sundance hit Ry Lane was pushed to a straight to Hulu release in the spring, and this year, another perfectly fine indie has been relegated to the same release window. The Greatest Hits is an interesting look at memories, time, and love, all against the backdrop of music. If it wasn’t for the time traveling aspects, this would be a Gen Z version of high Fidelity. Exploring the profound connection between music and memory, The Greatest Hits is centered on a young woman (Lucy Boynton), who is still processing the loss of her boyfriend, and has to … Continue reading The Greatest Hits

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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