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Movie Reviews

The Kitchen Review

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The Kitchen

  • Director: Daniel Kaluuya, Kibwe Tavares
  • Writers: Daniel Kaluuya, Joe Murtagh
  • Starring: Kane Robinson, Jedaiah Bannerman, Henry Lawfull, Rasaq Kukoyi, Richard Lawrie

Grade: C+

January of any year typically serves as a bit of cinematic wasteland, a time when studios dump their projects in the hopes that they’ll generate a quick buck or two – and Netflix is no different, as evidence by their latest release, The Kitchen. From trashy genre films to failed Oscar bait, it’s usually difficult to find a worthwhile new release that will stick in the culture past winter. Thankfully, the film, from first-time directors Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares, has a number of thoughtful ideas at play that makes it more than just background noise.

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Best of 2023, Special Features

Trevor Stucker’s Top 10 Movies of 2023

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As much as I have wanted to watch every movie that was released in 2023, there are some major films that I have yet to see. Films like Poor Things, The Zone of Interest, and The Color Purple are ones that I haven’t seen that could potentially belong on this list. Out of the 160+ movies I have seen, these ten stood out due to their creativity and emotional impact.  

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Movie Reviews

Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire Review

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Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire

  • Director: Zack Snyder
  • Writers: Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Shay Hatten
  • Starring: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Honsou, Charlie Hunnam, Michiel Huisman, Ed Skrein, Bae Doona, Ray Fisher, Cleopatra Coleman

Grade: D-

Zack Snyder’s most basic impulses as a filmmaker seem to revolve around one guiding principle: make the coolest-looking image at any given moment. This is part of what makes him a filmmaker that audiences flock towards (and that’s all I’ll say about his fans in this review). But it’s what makes him so often frustrating, because his instinct for visual flair comes at the expense of thought-provoking storytelling. Though the bulk of Snyder’s films come as comic book and graphic novel adaptations, could he fare any better when making a wholly original work with the backing of Netflix?

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Best of 2023, Special Features

Top 10 TV Shows of 2023

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When ranking the best TV of 2023, I have to mention once again that, while I’ve done better than years before in TV watching, there are still some major titles missing from this list. I do plan to get around to shows like Shrinking, Abbott Elementary, Reservation Dogs, and The Righteous Gemstones, but that day is not today. Judge the following list accordingly.

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Movie Reviews

The Iron Claw Review

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The Iron Claw

  • Director: Sean Durkin
  • Writer: Sean Durkin
  • Starring: Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson, Jeremy Allen White, Lily James, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany, Maura Tierney

Grade: B+

It’s human nature, when in the aftermath of an unexpected, tragic event, to ask ‘could this have been prevented?’ It’s a kind of coping mechanism to try to make sense of the unimaginable, a way to find some peace of mind when answers may not be readily available. Biopics tend to attempt to find their own answers, whether by re-contextualizing the facts, or unveiling what was previously forgotten.

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Best of 2023, Special Features

Indiana Film Journalists Association 2023 Awards

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The Indiana Film Journalists Association has named “Poor Things” the best film of 2023, a strong showing that also included Best Lead Performance for Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo for Best Supporting Performance, Best Director for Yorgos Lanthimos, Best Adapted Screenplay (Tony McNamara), Original Vision and Best Ensemble Acting. 

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TV Reviews

The Crown Season 6, “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” Review

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“Sleep, Dearie Sleep”

  • Creator: Peter Morgan
  • Starring: Imelda Staunton, Leslie Manville, Jonathan Pryce, Dominic West, Ed McVey, Luther Ford

Grade: B+

Warning: Reviews of The Crown season 6 will contain spoilers.

There’s many reasons why I’ll never be the show runner of a television series, but one major factor is the anxiety of crafting a series finale. The show runner has to balance a great number of things when making a series finale: fan expectations, lingering plot threads, and providing a sense of finality that fits the overall tone of the show. Thankfully Peter Morgan was given the leg room to end The Crown on his own terms, as opposed to any number of shows that end prematurely. That he had real-life events to fall back on doesn’t hurt either. 

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TV Reviews

The Crown Season 6, “Hope Street” Review

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“Hope Street”

  • Creator: Peter Morgan
  • Starring: Imelda Staunton, Leslie Manville, Jonathan Pryce, Dominic West, Ed McVey, Luther Ford

Grade: C+

Warning: Reviews of The Crown season 6 will contain spoilers.

The Crown has made its reputation with its use of juxtapositions. How Peter Morgan has taken seemingly disconnected stories and finding a thematic connective tissue has paid off tremendously throughout its run. This batch of episodes hasn’t utilized the stylistic choice so explicitly yet, so it’s a bit curious to see the juxtaposition within Hope Street, as the results don’t always work.

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TV Reviews

The Crown Season 6, “Ritz” Review

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“Ritz”

  • Creator: Peter Morgan
  • Starring: Imelda Staunton, Leslie Manville, Jonathan Pryce, Dominic West, Ed McVey, Luther Ford

Grade: B+

Warning: Reviews of The Crown season 6 will contain spoilers.

You had to wonder when The Crown would ever give Leslie Manville’s Princess Margaret the spotlight. You don’t cast a celebrated actor like Manville and have her sit in the background, occasionally delivering a line or two. And, given the show’s fondness for stories of Margaret, you had to wonder if there would be one final send-off for her before the finale. Thankfully we have Ritz, which examines Margaret’s still exorbitant lifestyle as she struggles with her health, and gives Manville the runway to deliver some Emmy-worthy moments.

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