Tag: Media Access Group

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Matlock: Season 2

John Stark

When we first heard CBS was rebooting Matlock with Kathy Bates, I think most of us assumed it was just going to be another gender-swapped remake. We figured it would play out a lot like the old Andy Griffith classic, with Bates simply stepping into the role of a kindly Southern lawyer who just happened to be extraordinarily good at practicing law. That’s partly true, except somebody had the genuinely brilliant idea of capitalizing on the Matlock name and all of its brand recognition while creating an entirely new series around it. I’m actually surprised more studios haven’t tried this … Continue reading Matlock: Season 2

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The Madison: Season 1

John Stark

Taylor Sheridan has always had an interesting relationship with critics. He seems to delight in thumbing his nose at the people who insist they just don’t understand what he’s doing, and to a certain extent, I get it. I enjoy most of his shows. At the same time, enjoying something and believing it belongs in the conversation for the year’s best television are two different things. Awards are about narrowing the field to the very best, and that inevitably leaves a lot of good, even great, television on the outside looking in. Sheridan doesn’t always clear that bar for me, … Continue reading The Madison: Season 1

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The Small Screen Diaries: 09/28/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Daryl Dixon: S3E4 (AMC Plus) no audio description, Black Rabbit: S1E4 (Netflix) with audio description, Next Gen Chef: S1E4 (Netflix) with audio description, the Golden Bachelor: S2E1 (Hulu) with audio description, Billy the kid: S1E1 (MGM Plus) with audio description,Have I got News for you: S3E4 (HBO MAX) no audio description, Tulsa King: S3E2 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, The Morning Show: S4E2 (Apple plus) with audio description Daryl Dixon- A really tough episode to get through without audio description thanks to the amount of non-English spoken, and the combat sequences.Who died? Don’t know. Were those throwing … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 09/28/25

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East Of Wall

John Stark

Cast: Porschia Zimiga, Tabitha Zimiga, Jennifer Ehle, Scoot McNairy, Jesse Horson, Clay Pateneaude Written and Directed By: Kate Beaucroft original Score By: Lucas Frank and Daniel Meyer R’Keefe Studio: Sony Pictures Classics Release Yeaar: 2025 Runtime: 97 minutes Audio Description produced By: the Media Access Group as WGBH Studios Written By: Narrated By: Emily Hooks What Is it?: An experimental indie of sorts, which has the director using almost entirely a cast of local South Dakotans playing versions of themselves. A cast of nearly entirely green actors tell a story about a trio of women across generations trying to make … Continue reading East Of Wall

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The Pickup

John Stark

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer, Eva Longoria, Andrew Dice Clay, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Roman Reigns, Marshawn Lynch Written By: Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows Directed By: Tim Story Studio: Amazon/MGM Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 94 minutes Audio Description Produced By: The Media Access Group at WGBH Written By: Directed By: What Is it? Two security truck drivers (Murphy/Davidson) contend with a smart villain (Palmer) intent on taking their truck. But the reason, and what she really wants, is a lot more than they expected. What Works: Some would argue that Eddie Murphy works, but I’d argue Keke Palmer … Continue reading The Pickup

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2025: The Best Of The Year So far: August Edition

John Stark

I haven’t seen everything, but as of my last count, I’m at 217 films. It’s slowing a bit as I try to back catalog my reviews onto Rotten Tomatoes, but here’s how I see the year so far. Top 25 Films So Far: #1- deaf President Now #2- Tornado #3- The Parenting #4- Lavender Men #5- My Dead Friend Zoey #6- Sinners #7- The Assessment #8- She Rides Shotgun #9- The Amateur #10- the Ruse #11- Thunderbolts #12- Ballerina #13- Materialists #14- Magazine dreams #15- K-Pop Demon Hunters #16- Bonus Track #17- The Luckiest Man In America #18- Bridget Jones … Continue reading 2025: The Best Of The Year So far: August Edition

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Until Dawn

John Stark

Cast: Ella Rubin as Clover, Michael Cimino as Max, Odessa A’zion as Nina, Ji-Young Yoo as Megan, Belmont Cameli as Abe, Maia Mitchell as Melanie, and Peter Stormare as Dr. hill. Written By:Gary Dauberman Annabelle Creation) and Blair Butler (The Invitation) Directed By: David F. Sandburg (Shazam, Lights Out, Annabelle: creation) Notable Producers: Gary Dauberman, David F. Sandburg original Score by: Benjamin Wallfisch (13 Lives, The Flash, Hidden Figures, Annabelle Creation) Studio: Sony/ Screen Gems Release Year: 2025 rated R for Strong Bloody Violence, Gore, and Strong Language throughout Runtime: 93 minutes Audio Description Produced By: The Media Access Group … Continue reading Until Dawn

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The Small Screen Diaries: 07/11/25

John Stark

TV News: there’s been enough movement the past couple of days for me to recap some of the decisions. Netflix gave Virgin River an early Season 8 renewal, as Season 7 concludes filming. Apple also did the same for Slow Horses, which got a Season 7 renewal, even though Season 6 has yet to premiere. Apple also picked up the new Sci-Fi series MurderBot for a second season. ABC has gone straight to series on the Scrubs revival after Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke solidified deals to return to the series, which could land as early as mid season. In … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 07/11/25

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Heads of State

John Stark

Cast: Idris Elba as Prime Minister Sam Clark, John Cena as president Will derringer, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas as Noelle, Paddy Consadine as Victor, Carla Gugino as Vice President Kirk, Stephen Root as Arthur, Jack Quaid as Marty, Sarah Nyles as Simone, Richard Coyle as Quincy, Claire Foster as Kat, Sharlto Copley as Agent Coop, (From, Citadel), Andre Nemec (From, Wonder Park), Harrison Query Directed By: Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry, Nobody) Notable Producers: Josh Applebaum, John cena, Idris Elba, Andre Nemec, Peter Saffron Original Score By: Steven Price (Academy Award Winner for Gravity) Studio/Streamer: Amazon/MGM Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 115 minutes Audio … Continue reading Heads of State

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The Small Screen Diaries: 07/04/25

John Stark

Hope you had a fun National Day To Watch The Film Independence Day. You know you did. We all did. TV Shows Watched: Duster: S1E8 (MAX) with audio description, Murderbot: S1E9 (Apple Plus) with audio description, tires: S2E5 (Netflix) with audio description, Adults: S1E5 (Hulu) with audio description, Lazarus: S1E13 (MAX) with audio description, Ginny and Georgia: S1E10 (Netflix) with audio description, Peaky Blinders: S1E6 (Netflix) All Of Us Are dead: S1E1 (Netflix) with audio description, King Of The Hill: S2E1 (Hulu) no audio description, Breaking Bad: S1E7 (Netflix) with audio description, Yellowstone: S5E13 (Peacock) with audio description Best Episode: … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 07/04/25

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Jackpot

John Stark

I realize the expectation you have is that you have come here to hear me once again lament another misguided and mismanaged straight-to-streaming title, and I forgive you. These streamers, especially with the resurgence of the box office, are sending almost everything with a pulse to theatres. However, every once in a while one of these films just works for me. I’m not claiming this is some deep celluloid wonder that will be dissected in film schools for years to come. It was just fun. Jackpot is exactly the kind of film we should be having during the summer. It … Continue reading Jackpot

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Tarot

John Stark

Holy Hell Batman! We have got ourselves a true blue contender for the worst film of the year. I say contender, because, *spoiler alert* it is the worst film of 2024 thus far. I do not like to give a film an F grade, because with all the artists working on set, it is like saying there’s no redeemable quality here. I’m suggesting your life will be more rewarding if you do not watch this film. Staring off into space for 90 minutes is more productive. This film is terrible, but it does have audio description. So, a win for … Continue reading Tarot

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I Am Celine Dion

John Stark

You might think this is a confession, letting you know after all these years, these mediocre stream of consciousness reviews are actually being written by Celine Dion. I mean, they are, but that’s not it. It’s not so much that Celine Dion is my ghost writer, but rather I’ve trained my AI to write reviews in the style of Celine Dion. So, because you loved me enough to read this, I’ll do this all by myself. Before streaming services, we used to have thoughtful conversations on our documentary subjects. Now, this is almost like content creation, with aspiring documentarians being … Continue reading I Am Celine Dion

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For Love And Life: No Ordinary Campaign

John Stark

It is pretty hard to dislike a documentary that is centered around a disabled group fighting for their own lives, and advocating to Congress, when you are a blind film critic consistently advocating for the needs related to your disability. Going into this, I wasn’t sure what I would get to see of Brian and Sandra, the central couple at the heart of the documentary. Brian was diagnosed in his 30’s with ALS, and as someone already working in the political spectrum, he started to piece together a campaign to fund a debilitating diagnoses that has no cure. It’s funny … Continue reading For Love And Life: No Ordinary Campaign

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The Blue Angels

John Stark

I always try to go into a movie with a clear mind, and the idea that any movie can swing any way for me. but, we are still a product of a series of experiences, and our tastes are what they are. I was intrigued by The Blue Angels because it had been given at least some kind of an IMAX screening, and it had audio description by The Media Access Group, narrated by Ingir Tudor. But I have to admit that I don’t have a desire to ever go to an air show, sighted or not. I even had … Continue reading The Blue Angels