Irrelevant But Awesome

Alexa:  I straight-up ugly cried as the credits started rolling, so “Lion” clearly resonated with me. Sometimes truth provides a more inspiring story than any fiction, and this movie is a prime example of that. I knew little of Saroo’s story going into it, and from the opening scenes I was firmly invested in his journey. I give major kudos to Sunny Pawar, the young actor who plays Saroo as a child, for carrying nearly half the film. So many stories based on true events hop back and forth between past and present as a framing device, so it was refreshing to see Lion actually take a more linear approach. But consequently, it’s up to Pawar to hook the audience and ensure they care about this remarkable young man, and he’s more than up to the challenge. Dev Patel seamlessly transitions into the role as Saroo enters adulthood and delivers an outstanding performance in his own right. “Lion” is harrowing and heartfelt without beating you over the head with its message of love and per...

One of the biggest announcements coming out of Hollywood this past month was that Disney would be ending their deal with Netflix to start their own streaming service. Now, before everyone starts to panic, this isn’t going to take place right away. Disney movies that are on Netflix (including the Marvel and Star Wars movies) will still be there when you get home. Disney movies and shows should still continue to be on Netflix through the end of next year and, depending on how certain deals were written, some even longer than that. (For example, the Marvel Defenders series will remain on Netflix) But this news about a potential new streaming service drowned out an announcement from another streaming service that happened this past month as well. See So, the comedy based streaming service announced that they would be shutting down at the end of the year. While most people can name the three big streaming services (Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu) and maybe a handful of others, the fact of t...

Chris:  The money is in the chase, it’s one of the oldest yet effective booking strategies in wrestling history and I’m so glad that it made it’s way into the end of the episode because it’s one thing to have a good first episode but it’s another to make the audience tune into the next episode. That’s really all wrestling boils down to, every show is mostly an advertisement for the next show and so on and so on. Even when a show features the end of a feud, if the rivalry was successful then the audience should be looking forward to what each wrestler will be up to next. I’m so pleased with how the first season of Glow turned out, not only does it feature pro wrestling, it explains why certain things are done in the industry in a way that the audience can connect with it. It exposes the business that would’ve angered promoters/bookers back in the day and I’m sure even now, some old school wrestling guy that hasn’t mattered in over a decade is going to say a show like this wil...

Alexa:  When I first started watching “The Founder” and got caught up in the nostalgia of the original McDonald’s restaurant, all I wanted was to journey to the nearest golden arch and grab a burger and fries. By the end of the movie, I pretty much never wanted to see another Big Mac again. The movie recounts how Ray Kroc transformed McDonald’s from a humble little burger stand into what is arguably the nation’s most recognizable franchise, but ultimately at the expense of the two brothers who actually founded the fast food restaurant and its innovative approach to speed and convenience. It juxtaposes two distinct incarnations of the American dream - one rooted in name recognition and financial success and the other a smaller, more personal endeavor in which its creators take a great amount of ownership and pride. “The Founder’s” greatest asset is its story. Everyone knows McDonald’s, but not everyone knows how it came to be, and the movie does a solid job of conveying it. But...

Chris:  The big reveal in this episode wasn’t one that I saw coming in previous episodes but the longer this particular episode went on, the more obvious it came to be and the more that Sam’s movie explanation felt more like foreshadowing. This felt like another heavy episode but the speech by Ruth at the end of the party was a home run and I felt a sense of relief that Debbie and Ruth made more progress in fixing the damage. The dialogue between the two at the party gave a sense of how lonely it’s been for both women having their best friend become the person they’d least wanna be in the same room with. And the dialogue achieved that without saying exactly that. Also, I never thought I feel such giddiness at Debbie admitting that she liked wrestling. I mean, sure, we’ve seen a change in her behavior that exemplified as much but to actually have her say it is a big step for her character. Joel: The past two episodes have had pretty much zero wrestling between the two of th...

Chris:  I honestly wasn’t expecting such a serious episode out of a show like this but Alison Brie and Marc Maron really nailed it in the last couple scenes. And it makes sense that while Debbie and her almost ex-husband are dealing with the damage the infidelity caused that Ruth would be doing the same on an entirely different level. And even though this episode has such a heavy subject matter there’s not a whole lot of tension thanks to the birthday party and Marc Maron. I’ll admit that I never really saw the appeal of Maron, I wasn’t a huge fan of his IFC show and I only listened to his podcast unless I was interested in his guests and even then, I’d cut off most of those because he came off as condescending. I suppose that’s what he fights into this role so well, he’s basically playing himself but I will say, I’m actually starting to like him as this show progresses. I’m starting to dig him not only because of how he handled things in the doctor’s office but I like the way...

Alexa:  “ Frailty” is a deeply disturbing movie that should leave viewers with plenty of layers to dissect about faith, family and morality, but something about it feels empty. The story is chilling and original but falls short in its execution. It’s certainly possible to create a quality low-budget thriller, but the filmmaking here is so rough around the edges that it comes across as amateurish. Those repetitive fade in-fade out transitions grew cringeworthy, second only to the shot of young Fenton’s head floating in the darkness to convey his isolation. Much of the delivery is a little too in-your-face rather than allowing the audience to intuit the film’s themes as they unfold. The scenes that took place in the past felt particularly stilted, while the interactions between Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe were much more nuanced and compelling. “Frailty” has many of the building blocks to create a superb thriller - including a couple of stellar twists I did not see comi...

Alexa:  “Best Worst Thing that Ever Could Have Happened” is a compelling tell regardless of whether or not you’re familiar with the musical at its center. There is something immensely relatable about youthful idealism and journeying toward a future you may not have imagined. On paper, “Merrily We Roll Along” sounds like it should have been a surefire hit. It has an intriguing structure that plays with time. The choice to cast teens and young adults playing older versions of their characters rather than the other way around adds an extra layer of interest. And of course, the original Broadway production had two of theater’s most prolific minds at the helm. The documentary does a solid job of exploring the show’s problems without diminishing the young cast’s enthusiasm for it and the lasting impact it had on their lives. The movie is a love letter to a transformative experience, but it’s also honest. It almost functions as a reverse “Merrily We Roll Along” in structure, beginnin...