Film and TV Reviews and Podcasts
COVID-19 is sweeping the nation. So, naturally, I am coping by watching movies and podcasting about them as if they were part of a Film Festival Here is day 1.
1931’s Dracula, the beginning of the Universal Classic Monster films, is a work of stunning beauty and dread from the outset. The detail in the backdrops of the opening scenes is awe-inspiring and lends to an impressive scale and cinematography that has aged extremely well.
This week, frequent guest and OV contributor Ben Sears joins Tiny and me to discuss several topics in an Extended Potpourri episode. Topics include: Devs, Dave, The Outsider, McMillions, The Way Back, Mythic Quest, The Warrant, Fail Safe, and more.
Although The Invisible Man is not without many missteps in its storytelling and attempts (or lack thereof) to be socially relevant, Leigh Whannell has delivered an effective and scary thriller.
Although Onward may not be the best Pixar offering in recent years, it’s led by spectacular voice work from Holland and Pratt. It leaves a memorable impression on audiences with its emotional resolution and will have you yearning for more original content from Pixar.
This week, Tiny and I reflect on this year’s Oscar ceremony, which we were both pleased with. We then discuss several topics in an Extended Potpourri segment. Topics include: The Witcher, Gretel and Hansel, Terminator: Dark Fate, Downhill, Fantasy Island, and Mike Birbiglia’s The New One.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a strong teen romance film that doesn’t just pay homage to what’s come before it, but proves it can hold its own in the pantheon of strong teen romance films.
Troop Zero is a sweet, paint by numbers story with some decent performances and a less than stellar script wrapped around a positive message. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Troop Zero. Unfortunately, there is not much that’s memorable about it either.
Blumhouse’s reimagining of 70s & 80s television show Fantasy Island is at best a passable cheese fest depicting beautiful people in peril. At its worst (and, sadly, most frequent), it’s the dull presentation of an uninspired thriller that’s more concerned with revealing its mystery than creating compelling characters.
Aside from a few scant comedy beats and a delightfully over the top performance from Jim Carrey, Sonic the Hedgehog feels like a slapped together adaptation of a video game franchise for which no one seemed to be clamoring.
This week, Ben joins me to rundown the 2020 Oscar Nominees! We also commiserate on Joker’s success, Star Wars’ whatever, and some of the snubs from this year’s Academy Awards.
Color Out of Space is the classic tale of the Gardner family, a meteorite that lands on their property, and the havoc it unleashes. Through wonderfully vibrant visual effects and strong body horror elements, Color Out of Space leaves the viewer with a lot of dread to digest.
Happy 2020 and welcome to The Obsessive Viewer’s 2019 Year in Review episode! It’s our annual episode where Tiny, Mike, and myself share our movie viewing stats for the year, our top ten favorite movies list, and otherwise just nerd out about our year in movies and life! So buckle in and prepare yourself for the episode we always looking forward to and enjoy!
The underlying message of honor and perseverance in the face incredible odds in 1917 is a noble undertaking and a worthy tribute to the people who fought in WWI. Although that message does get slightly lost in the spectacle, the single shot technique is a wonder to behold and impressive in and of itself.
Merry Christmas! In this episode, Kyrsten and I review Tom Hooper’s abysmal adaptation of Cats in a non-spoiler review. Then we cover Bong Joon-ho’s incredible Parasite in a full review. We also discuss Mike Birbiglia’s 2016 film Don’t Think Twice and have our usual nonsense.
The Obsessive Viewer 