Ben’s Column: Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 10: “No Weddings and a Funeral” – Review
The show returns after last week’s divergence with some mostly positive character drama
The Obsessive Viewer Podcast – Ep 352 – Malignant (2021) – 30th Heartland Film Festival Announcements and Heartland Horror – Guest: Sam Watermeier (Midwest Film Journal)
In this episode, I welcome my friend and colleague from the Indiana Film Journalists Association, Sam Watermeier to the show to discuss James Wan’s latest film, Malignant in all its crazy glory. We also discuss the upcoming Heartland Film Festival, Sam’s involvement with the Heartland Horror category, and some recent movies he’s seen.
Ben’s Column: Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 9: “Beard After Hours” – Review
A weird Scorsese riff comes out of nowhere after the emotional highs of last week’s episode.
Movie Review: Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) – Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films 6
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster sets an intriguing pace from the start and carries the human side of the plot through the majority of its runtime. Despite holding back on introducing the titular monster until nearly the end of the film, Ghidorah still manages to be engaging by focusing on the human story without devolving into melodrama like films before it.
Ben’s Column: The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021) – Review
A mostly conventional biopic that seeks to redeem its main subject, featuring one of the year’s best performances.
The Obsessive Viewer Podcast – Ep 351 – Ebert’s Great Movies Part 10 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Solaris (1972), and Dog Day Afternoon (1975) – The Matrix Resurrections Trailer, and RIP Michael K Williams
In this episode, Tiny, Ben, and I continue our journey through Roger Ebert’s Great Movies List. In this installment, we discuss Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Tarkovsky’s Solaris, and Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon. We also pay tribute to Michael K Williams, discuss the trailer for The Matrix Resurrections, and share our thoughts on the latest Christopher Nolan news.
Ben’s Column: Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 8: “Man City” – Review
Ted Lasso’s longest episode yet may also be its best.
The Obsessive Viewer Podcast – Ep 350 – CODA (2021) & Candyman (2021) – Spider-Man: No Way Home Trailer, Eternals, and MCU Fatigue
In this episode, Mike and I review CODA (currently on AppleTV+) and Candyman (currently in theaters. We also discuss the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer and mounting MCU fatigue!
Ben’s Column: Mogul Mowgli (2021) – Review
While the film invites direct comparisons to Sound of Metal, Mogul Mowgli has different ambitions on its mind.
Ben’s Column: Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 7: “Headspace” – Review
“Headspace” doesn’t introduce new conflicts; rather, they feel like natural extensions of what the show has been building towards throughout the season.
Ben’s Column: Anne at 13,000 Ft. (2021) – Review
A dynamic central performance and a solid directorial effort makes Anne at 13,000 Ft. a film that’s not to be missed.
Ben’s Column: Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 6: “The Signal” – Review
If anything, “The Signal” shows that Ted Lasso can handle dramatic turns as well as it can the comedic moments.
Movie Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings brings the MCU’s first Asian superhero to the screen in a film that dazzles with elaborate set pieces and an energetic buddy energy between leads Simu Liu and Awkwafina. With impressive visual effects in its third act, Shang-Chi is certainly one of the MCU’s best looking films to date (outside of the colorful and vibrate Guardians of the Galaxy films). But even with fantastic action and visual effects, the film suffers a bit from origin story issues and, specifically, its handling of important exposition through inconsistent and repetitive flashbacks.
Ben’s Column: Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 5: “Rainbow” – Review
Season two juggles new plot developments and ignores newer ones, to mixed results.
Ben’s Column: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) – Review
A solid entry to the beginning of a new era for Marvel
The Obsessive Viewer 