All posts by Ben Sears

Movie Reviews

Flamin’ Hot – Movie Review

1 Comment

Flamin’ Hot

  • Director: Eva Longoria
  • Writers: Lewis Colick, Linda Yvette Chavez
  • Starring: Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, Tony Shalhoub, Emilio Rivera, Matt Walsh

Grade: B-

2022 was the year of the miniseries and television show centered on infamous real-life grifters, ranging from the enjoyable to the forgettable. Whether it was exploring Elizabeth Holmes (The Dropout) or Anna Delvy (Inventing Anna) or Anna and Rebekah Neumann (WeCrashed) – plus an extra few that I’m likely forgetting – something compelled the television gods into telling these stories all at the same time. Now, in 2023, the focus has shifted to the true stories behind some of our most iconic brands and products. First it was Nike with Air, then Nintendo and Tetris, then BlackBerry. Naturally, the next in line would be the true story of *checks notes* the creation of the “Flamin’ Hot” varietal of Cheetos with Flamin’ Hot.

Continue reading Flamin’ Hot – Movie Review →
Best of 2023, Special Features

Best Movie Scenes of 2023 So Far

1 Comment

The first half of the year usually produces one or two solid hits that may make it into the bottom half of critics’ end-of-year lists. While maybe not as strong as the first half of 2022, 2023 so far has produced some solid material that gives hope to the second half of the year. Here are, in alphabetical order, the best movie scenes of the year so far.

Continue reading Best Movie Scenes of 2023 So Far →
TV Reviews

Ted Lasso: Season 3, “So Long, Goodbye” – TV Review

Leave a comment

“So Long, Goodbye”

  • Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly
  • Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Sarah Niles

Grade: B+

Warning: Reviews of Ted Lasso season 3 will contain spoilers.

Continue reading Ted Lasso: Season 3, “So Long, Goodbye” – TV Review →
TV Reviews

Ted Lasso: Season 3, “International Break” – TV Review

Leave a comment

“International Break”

  • Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly
  • Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Sarah Niles

Grade: B-

Warning: Reviews of Ted Lasso season 3 will contain spoilers.

Continue reading Ted Lasso: Season 3, “International Break” – TV Review →
Film Festivals, Movie Reviews

Master Gardener – Movie Review

1 Comment

Master Gardener

  • Director: Paul Schrader
  • Writer: Paul Schrader
  • Starring: Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, Quintessa Swindell

Grade: B+

Stop me if you’ve seen this one before: a hollow shell of a man, sitting alone in a mostly empty room, writing in a journal, accompanied by a voiceover narration. Yes, you’re watching a Paul Schrader film – more specifically, you’re watching Master Gardener, the third film in Schrader’s unofficial “man in a room” trilogy. The first was the excellent First Reformed, starring Ethan Hawks and dealing with a man’s crisis of faith in a doomed world. The second was 2021’s The Card Counter with Oscar Isaac as a gambler hiding from the world and his past. Now, with Master Gardener, Joel Edgerton stars as a man caught between his regretful past and his future.

Continue reading Master Gardener – Movie Review →