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Granville Barker on Theatre: Selected Essays of Harley Granville Barker
Book
Granville Barker on Theatre brings together some of the most important critical theatrical writings...
Alpha Dog (2007)
8.0
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Movie
Based on true events. Gangsta life on a white tip as good white boys pretend to be bad black boys....
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated American Horror Story - Season 1 in TV
Aug 29, 2019 (Updated Sep 17, 2019)
The start of something weird and (sometimes) wonderful
I recently convinced my partner to watch Game of Thrones (she loved it in case you were worried) and the deal was, when we were done with GoT, we would watch one of her favourite shows - American Horror Story.
As we sat down to watch the first season (often referred to as Murder House) of this anthology style series, I wasn't too sure what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying our time with the Harmons.
The season has a suitably creepy tone throughout, and a plot line that keeps you in the dark with what happens throughout, and a pretty impressive amount of violence and horror effects.
The huge positive about this show though is obviously the ensemble cast.
Evan Peters, Taissa Farmiga, Frances Conroy, and Jessica Lange in particular all carve in some really memorable parts to the overall series.
Sarah Paulson doesn't star too much in season 1, but her short time is a nice taster for the important roles she will play moving forwards.
The overall tone can be campy and hammy at times, but that balance throughout Murder House is pretty good.
We ended up watching the whole season in a couple of nights, and I'm glad that I let AHS into my viewing life 👍
As we sat down to watch the first season (often referred to as Murder House) of this anthology style series, I wasn't too sure what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying our time with the Harmons.
The season has a suitably creepy tone throughout, and a plot line that keeps you in the dark with what happens throughout, and a pretty impressive amount of violence and horror effects.
The huge positive about this show though is obviously the ensemble cast.
Evan Peters, Taissa Farmiga, Frances Conroy, and Jessica Lange in particular all carve in some really memorable parts to the overall series.
Sarah Paulson doesn't star too much in season 1, but her short time is a nice taster for the important roles she will play moving forwards.
The overall tone can be campy and hammy at times, but that balance throughout Murder House is pretty good.
We ended up watching the whole season in a couple of nights, and I'm glad that I let AHS into my viewing life 👍
Running: A Novel
Book
From the critically acclaimed author of Be Safe I Love You comes a dark and breathtaking novel of...
essays social issues
Batman: Detective Comics, Volume 5: A Lonely Place of Living
7.0
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Book
As Batman attempts to recover from the devastating loss of his friend and ally Alfred, Two-Face...
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Sleeping with Other People (2015) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
Relationships can be a complicated and challenge for many people. Combined with the pressures of work and modern society, it is a wonder how many people still manage to find one another and make meaningful connections.
In the new film “Sleeping With Other People”, audiences are introduced to Jake (Jason Sudeikis), and Lainey (Alison Brie), who meet by chance in a dorm, and have a very memorable evening with one another.
Flash forward years later and Jake and Lainey are struggling with relationships as Jake is a womanizer and Lainey has issued with fidelity in relationships and her self-destructive nature.
The two reunite by chance and begin a friendship which as time goes on, blossoms into something more. Of course both characters have their share of demons to contend with and have people in their past and present that have to be factored in as they struggle to grasp the rules of modern life.
Sudeikis and Brie work well with one another as their relationship seems natural and forced as they are both people trying to do the right thing yet haunted by their destructive patterns when it comes to love and relationships.
Solid supporting work by Amanda Peet and Adam Scott and the talented and enjoyable ensemble cast make the film a pleasant surprise and one that you should not miss.
http://sknr.net/2015/09/18/sleeping-with-other-people/
In the new film “Sleeping With Other People”, audiences are introduced to Jake (Jason Sudeikis), and Lainey (Alison Brie), who meet by chance in a dorm, and have a very memorable evening with one another.
Flash forward years later and Jake and Lainey are struggling with relationships as Jake is a womanizer and Lainey has issued with fidelity in relationships and her self-destructive nature.
The two reunite by chance and begin a friendship which as time goes on, blossoms into something more. Of course both characters have their share of demons to contend with and have people in their past and present that have to be factored in as they struggle to grasp the rules of modern life.
Sudeikis and Brie work well with one another as their relationship seems natural and forced as they are both people trying to do the right thing yet haunted by their destructive patterns when it comes to love and relationships.
Solid supporting work by Amanda Peet and Adam Scott and the talented and enjoyable ensemble cast make the film a pleasant surprise and one that you should not miss.
http://sknr.net/2015/09/18/sleeping-with-other-people/
Allison Knapp (118 KP) rated Public Secrets in Books
Jan 22, 2019
Well written and complex characters (7 more)
Covers a broad range of social topics such as addiction, domestic violence, and homosexuality in a way which is both well written and accurate with the times
Strong character dynamics
Not nearly as cheesy as the romance novels of which she is known for writing
At times creepy or psychologically disturbing in a way which makes you care even more about the life of the main character
Strong ensemble cast
Great nostalgic look at music and cinema from the 60s up through the 90s
Excellent and unpredictable plot twists
Murder Mystery set in the world of the Music Industry
The illegitimate daughter of a young rock star witnesses the accidental murder of her baby brother when she is still very young, and due to a case of isolated amnesia, cannot identify the murderer. As she grows up under the public eye, amidst the tragedy and its effects on her family, struggling to let go of her nightmares of that fateful night while struggling to find her own identity aside from the shadow of her father and the legendary status of her family, she faces many struggles and challenges just to prove an identity of her own. Yet as she grows up into a mature young woman, she learns that there are some tragedies from her past which were worth suffering through if she were to finally help bring justice for her brother and their family.
PP
Portuguese Painting at the End of the Ancien Regime c. 1799-1807: History, Monarchy and the Empire
Book
Caught in the conflict between France and Great Britain, Portuguese statesmen and diplomats...
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021) in Movies
May 20, 2021
Those Who Wish Me Dead is a pretty solid, if straightforward thriller that hugely benefits from it's top class cast.
Angelina Jolie is always a pleasure, whether she's starring in big dumb action movies, or award baiting material. Her character is someone we've seen countless times before - a no nonsense badass with a tragic backstory who gets a shot at redemption - but she does it predictably well.
Jon Bernthal is great as usual, as is Nicholas Hoult. Aidan Gillen also stars, and makes for a suitably nasty piece of shit. Medina Senghore gets my vote for best "pregnant lady you absolutely wouldn't fuck with". This ensemble cast elevates TWWMD above it's standard thriller trappings, with an excellent Finn Little at the centre of it all.
The firewatch/smoke jumper setting is also a huge positive. It makes for some hugely entertaining set pieces, and a plethora of gorgeous vista shots.
My main criticism is the pacing. When things finally kick off, it's pretty unrelenting, but it takes a while to get there, forcing us to spend a little too much time with unlikable douchey side characters, and the climactic scene almost feels like a mid-runtime moment. It definitely felt like there should have been more.
Overall though, TWWMD is a competent and easily watchable thriller from the unquestionably talented Taylor Sheridan, and was a great choice for my first cinema trip of 2021 (so good to be back!)
Angelina Jolie is always a pleasure, whether she's starring in big dumb action movies, or award baiting material. Her character is someone we've seen countless times before - a no nonsense badass with a tragic backstory who gets a shot at redemption - but she does it predictably well.
Jon Bernthal is great as usual, as is Nicholas Hoult. Aidan Gillen also stars, and makes for a suitably nasty piece of shit. Medina Senghore gets my vote for best "pregnant lady you absolutely wouldn't fuck with". This ensemble cast elevates TWWMD above it's standard thriller trappings, with an excellent Finn Little at the centre of it all.
The firewatch/smoke jumper setting is also a huge positive. It makes for some hugely entertaining set pieces, and a plethora of gorgeous vista shots.
My main criticism is the pacing. When things finally kick off, it's pretty unrelenting, but it takes a while to get there, forcing us to spend a little too much time with unlikable douchey side characters, and the climactic scene almost feels like a mid-runtime moment. It definitely felt like there should have been more.
Overall though, TWWMD is a competent and easily watchable thriller from the unquestionably talented Taylor Sheridan, and was a great choice for my first cinema trip of 2021 (so good to be back!)
Bex Heber (5 KP) rated Good Omens in TV
Jul 12, 2019 (Updated Jul 13, 2019)
I'm a long time Terry Pratchett fan and whilst I haven't read the book, David Tennant and Micheal Sheen were enough of a selling point. They did not dissapoint; the dynamic they have throughout is both entertaining and endearing. However I think this is in large part a credit to the actors rather than the show.
The writing often missed the mark for me, sometimes only by hair but many of the characters never really managed to find their stride. What surprised me most, is that where this was most felt was in dialogue taken directly from the book. Even watching as someone who hadnt read the book I found it noticable and then later confirmed it by reading The Guardian's review. It appears Neil Gaiman was reluctant to take too many artistic liberties, perhaps in tribute to Prattchett but it seemed to hurt the show as a result.
It worked in places, the opening narration felt distinctly and enjoyably Pratchett-esque but even in this case the narration began to become over bearing as it continued to feature heavily in later episodes.
Saying this, I can't pretend I didn't enjoy the show, watching David and Micheal caper around with ridiculous CGI and yellow contacts to boot was always going to be entertaining and there are moments of brilliance, but given the potential of such a ridiculous plot and ensemble, I found the whole thing mostly forgettable.
The writing often missed the mark for me, sometimes only by hair but many of the characters never really managed to find their stride. What surprised me most, is that where this was most felt was in dialogue taken directly from the book. Even watching as someone who hadnt read the book I found it noticable and then later confirmed it by reading The Guardian's review. It appears Neil Gaiman was reluctant to take too many artistic liberties, perhaps in tribute to Prattchett but it seemed to hurt the show as a result.
It worked in places, the opening narration felt distinctly and enjoyably Pratchett-esque but even in this case the narration began to become over bearing as it continued to feature heavily in later episodes.
Saying this, I can't pretend I didn't enjoy the show, watching David and Micheal caper around with ridiculous CGI and yellow contacts to boot was always going to be entertaining and there are moments of brilliance, but given the potential of such a ridiculous plot and ensemble, I found the whole thing mostly forgettable.