Movie Fail https://moviefail.com We have opinions. Wed, 27 Apr 2016 14:29:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2 https://i0.wp.com/moviefail.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-Movie-Fail-Site-Icon.png?fit=32%2C32 Movie Fail https://moviefail.com 32 32 The Movie Fail Podcast features in-depth reviews, interviews, analysis and discussion of film and television. Our contributors are authors, filmmakers, critics and academics. Come join the conversation! Please direct feedback and inquiries to moviefailreviews@gmail.com. Movie Fail Staff yes Movie Fail Staff moviefailreviews@gmail.com moviefailreviews@gmail.com (Movie Fail Staff) © Movie Fail Podcast by http://moviefail.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. We have opinions. Movie Fail http://moviefail.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Movie-Fail-Podcast-Album-Artwork2.jpg https://moviefail.com moviefailreviews@gmail.com The Movie Fail Podcast features in-depth reviews, interviews, analysis and discussion of film and television. Our contributors are authors, filmmakers, critics and academics. Come join the conversation! Please direct feedback and inquiries to moviefailreviews@gmail.com. Yes TV-14 62362243 Stark Contrast: Episode 31 “The Last of the Starks” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-last-of-the-starks/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-last-of-the-starks/#respond Thu, 09 May 2019 09:15:06 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15528 "The Last of the Starks" struggles to justify its own existence as Game of Thrones meanders in the wake of its climactic battle with Death itself.

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 31 “The Last of the Starks” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-last-of-the-starks/feed/ 0 "The Last of the Starks" struggles to justify its own existence as Game of Thrones meanders in the wake of its climactic battle with Death itself. "The Last of the Starks" struggles to justify its own existence as Game of Thrones meanders in the wake of its climactic battle with Death itself. Esther, Søren and guest podcaster AJ discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:16:58 "The Last of the Starks" struggles to justify its own existence as Game of Thrones meanders in the wake of its climactic battle with Death itself. Esther, Søren and guest podcaster AJ discuss. 15528 Stark Contrast: Episode 30 “The Long Night” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-long-night/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-long-night/#comments Thu, 02 May 2019 11:00:59 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15478 Release the confetti, folks: Miguel Sapochnik is back for “The Long Night.” This week we’re treated to 80-ish minutes of Game of Thrones‘ best remaining director choreographing the largest and most complex battle sequence in the show’s history. The results are immediately evident as a striking opening shot of Sam Tarly’s (John Bradley) shaking hands […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 30 “The Long Night” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-long-night/feed/ 2 Release the confetti, folks: Miguel Sapochnik is back for “The Long Night.” This week we’re treated to 80-ish minutes of Game of Thrones‘ best remaining director choreographing the largest and most complex battle sequence in the show’s history. "The Long Night" marks Miguel Sapochnik's long awaited return to Game of Thrones with a battle that merges visual innovation with the show's tortured logic. J, Søren and guest Diego Crespo discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:36:25 "The Long Night" marks Miguel Sapochnik's long awaited return to Game of Thrones with a battle that merges visual innovation with the show's tortured logic. J, Søren and guest Diego Crespo discuss. 15478 Stark Contrast: Episode 29 “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2019 13:00:11 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15452 After a rough season premiere, Game of Thrones veteran Bryan Cogman turns the show in a positive direction with “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” Cogman is responsible for writing some of the show’s best episodes (including Season 1’s “Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things” and Season 4’s “Oathkeeper”). His dialogue and character work shows a […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 29 “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/feed/ 3 After a rough season premiere, Game of Thrones veteran Bryan Cogman turns the show in a positive direction with “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” Cogman is responsible for writing some of the show’s best episodes (including Season 1’s “Cripples, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is a marked improvement over the Season 8 premiere, mixing fantastic character moments with a few questionable decisions. J and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:18:34 "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is a marked improvement over the Season 8 premiere, mixing fantastic character moments with a few questionable decisions. J and Søren discuss. 15452 Stark Contrast: Episode 28 “Winterfell” http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-stark-contrast-winterfell/ http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-stark-contrast-winterfell/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:00:01 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15419 Welcome back to Stark Contrast! We’re happy to return to our perennial podcast show where we discuss Game of Thrones. This week, we’re kicking off with the Season 8 premiere, “Winterfell.” It’s a slow burn re-introduction to the denizens of Westeros and Essos that never managed to get J and me excited about the series […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 28 “Winterfell” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-stark-contrast-winterfell/feed/ 2 Welcome back to Stark Contrast! We’re happy to return to our perennial podcast show where we discuss Game of Thrones. This week, we’re kicking off with the Season 8 premiere, “Winterfell.” It’s a slow burn re-introduction to the denizens of Westeros an... Game of Thrones struggles to take off in its Season 8 premiere, "Winterfell," a poorly crafted episode filled with repetitive jokes and uneventful reunions. J and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:10:28 Game of Thrones struggles to take off in its Season 8 premiere, "Winterfell," a poorly crafted episode filled with repetitive jokes and uneventful reunions. J and Søren discuss. 15419 Hoopleheads: Episode 24 “Boy the Earth Talks To” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-boy-the-earth-talks-to/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-boy-the-earth-talks-to/#respond Wed, 17 Apr 2019 13:00:01 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15403 After last week’s dirge, Deadwood closes out Season 2 with the fantastic “Boy the Earth Talks To.” Director Ed Bianchi is back and it’s immediately apparent. His clever use of depth of field and of framing immediately permeate event he more mundane scenes. Tonally the show also strikes a contrast with its predecessor, trading day […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 24 “Boy the Earth Talks To” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-boy-the-earth-talks-to/feed/ 0 After last week’s dirge, Deadwood closes out Season 2 with the fantastic “Boy the Earth Talks To.” Director Ed Bianchi is back and it’s immediately apparent. His clever use of depth of field and of framing immediately permeate event he more mundane sce... "Boy the Earth Talks To" is another of Deadwood's searing indictment of proto-robber barons, but it's also an upbeat rejoinder to last week's dirge. J and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:25:06 "Boy the Earth Talks To" is another of Deadwood's searing indictment of proto-robber barons, but it's also an upbeat rejoinder to last week's dirge. J and Søren discuss. 15403 Hoopleheads: Episode 23 “The Whores Can Come” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-the-whores-can-come/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-the-whores-can-come/#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2019 18:20:09 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15229 Watching “The Whores Can Come” in such proximity to the finale, “By the Earth Talks To,” draws a striking contrast. This episode is a funeral: a sunny daytime tale where black clothes contrast with a bright backdrop. The joy of its successor is nowhere to be found; Seth (Timothy Olyphant) and Martha (Anna Gunn) languish […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 23 “The Whores Can Come” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-the-whores-can-come/feed/ 1 Watching “The Whores Can Come” in such proximity to the finale, “By the Earth Talks To,” draws a striking contrast. This episode is a funeral: a sunny daytime tale where black clothes contrast with a bright backdrop. "The Whores Can Come" is an emotional episode of Deadwood that brings Seth and Martha together while exposing the sheer injustice of mortality. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 58:23 "The Whores Can Come" is an emotional episode of Deadwood that brings Seth and Martha together while exposing the sheer injustice of mortality. Josh and Søren discuss. 15229 Hoopleheads: Episode 22 “Advances, None Miraculous” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-advances-none-miraculous/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-advances-none-miraculous/#comments Sat, 06 Apr 2019 19:09:37 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15189 J and I both enjoyed “Advances, None Miraculous” from writer Sarah Hess and Deadwood film director Dan Minahan, J going to far as to call it their favorite episode. The episode features a distinct technical touch, embracing techniques like rack focus and dolly shots to set emphasize characters and set scenes, respectively. These little moments […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 22 “Advances, None Miraculous” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-advances-none-miraculous/feed/ 1 J and I both enjoyed “Advances, None Miraculous” from writer Sarah Hess and Deadwood film director Dan Minahan, J going to far as to call it their favorite episode. The episode features a distinct technical touch, "Advances, None Miraculous" uses film technique and the good will built up for Deadwood's characters to construct a devastating exploration of loss. Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:10:29 "Advances, None Miraculous" uses film technique and the good will built up for Deadwood's characters to construct a devastating exploration of loss. Josh and Søren discuss. 15189 Hoopleheads: Episode 21 “Amalgamation and Capital” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-amalgamation-and-capital/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-amalgamation-and-capital/#respond Sat, 30 Mar 2019 20:19:55 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15165 Director Ed Bianchi does excellent work with “Amalgamation and Capital.” The episode focuses on Seth’s (Timothy Olyphant) nephew and adopted son, William (Josh Eriksson), whose amiable interactions with different players in the camp put a lighter spin on the Deadwood cast. To build the tension of several plot threads, Bianchi uses clever editing reminiscent of […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 21 “Amalgamation and Capital” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-amalgamation-and-capital/feed/ 0 Director Ed Bianchi does excellent work with “Amalgamation and Capital.” The episode focuses on Seth’s (Timothy Olyphant) nephew and adopted son, William (Josh Eriksson), whose amiable interactions with different players in the camp put a lighter spin ... "Amalgamation and Capital" is an excellent episode of Deadwood that uses clever cinematographic technique while borrowing blocking from live theater. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:20:48 "Amalgamation and Capital" is an excellent episode of Deadwood that uses clever cinematographic technique while borrowing blocking from live theater. Josh and Søren discuss. 15165 Hoopleheads: Episode 20 “Childish Things” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-childish-things/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-childish-things/#respond Sun, 24 Mar 2019 11:23:47 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15150 “Childish Things” is outstanding television. Director Tim Van Patten and writer Regina Corrado offer beautiful vignette-like portraits of human relationships within Deadwood. Meanwhile, the denizens of the camp — enemies and allies alike — coalesce around a charming wager as to whether or not Tom Nuttall (Leon Rippy) can ride his newfangled bicycle across the […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 20 “Childish Things” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-childish-things/feed/ 0 “Childish Things” is outstanding television. Director Tim Van Patten and writer Regina Corrado offer beautiful vignette-like portraits of human relationships within Deadwood. Meanwhile, the denizens of the camp — enemies and allies alike — coalesce aro... In "Childish Things," director Tim Van Patten and writer Regina Corrado offer beautiful vignette-like portraits of human relationships within Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:02:40 In "Childish Things," director Tim Van Patten and writer Regina Corrado offer beautiful vignette-like portraits of human relationships within Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss. 15150 Hoopleheads: Episode 19 “E.B. Was Left Out” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-eb-was-left-out/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-eb-was-left-out/#comments Sat, 16 Mar 2019 23:47:04 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15138 “E.B. Was Left Out” is a generally fantastic episode of Deadwood, even if both J and I found the subplot about the new prostitutes in the Chinese part of camp to be distasteful in presentation. Director Michael Almereyda adds small touches here and there to keep things interesting, particularly in his framings of otherwise ordinary […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 19 “E.B. Was Left Out” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-eb-was-left-out/feed/ 1 “E.B. Was Left Out” is a generally fantastic episode of Deadwood, even if both J and I found the subplot about the new prostitutes in the Chinese part of camp to be distasteful in presentation. Director Michael Almereyda adds small touches here and the... "E.B. Was Left Out" deals with the fallout of Mr. W's horrific acts, presenting Joanie Stubbs as a woman without any hope or direction. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:18:23 "E.B. Was Left Out" deals with the fallout of Mr. W's horrific acts, presenting Joanie Stubbs as a woman without any hope or direction. Josh and Søren discuss. 15138 Hoopleheads: Episode 18 “Something Very Expensive” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-something-very-expensive/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-something-very-expensive/#comments Sun, 10 Mar 2019 01:35:02 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15131 “Something Very Expensive” is an explosive episode that finally delivers on the foreboding promise of Mr. W (Garret Dillahunt). Here we finally see his truest colors, only hinted at before. He sees the world as transactional; there are proclivities he would like satisfied, and George Hearst provides the capital to cover for his indulgences. Sometimes […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 18 “Something Very Expensive” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-something-very-expensive/feed/ 2 “Something Very Expensive” is an explosive episode that finally delivers on the foreboding promise of Mr. W (Garret Dillahunt). Here we finally see his truest colors, only hinted at before. He sees the world as transactional; there are proclivities he ... Al begins to reorient himself in Deadwood while Mr. Wolcott reveals his true colors in the bloody "Something Very Expensive." J Rosenfield yes 1:09:38 Al begins to reorient himself in Deadwood while Mr. Wolcott reveals his true colors in the bloody "Something Very Expensive." 15131 Hoopleheads: Episode 17 “Complications” (Formerly “Difficulties”) http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-complications/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-complications/#respond Sun, 03 Mar 2019 14:04:04 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15095 Following a more by-the-numbers episode last week, Deadwood is back with a vengeance in “Complications” under the excellent direction of Gregg Fienberg. Al (Ian McShane) has risen from the near-dead and summoned Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) back into the fray. But as their yin and yang begin to take shape again and set the camp to […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 17 “Complications” (Formerly “Difficulties”) appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-complications/feed/ 0 Following a more by-the-numbers episode last week, Deadwood is back with a vengeance in “Complications” under the excellent direction of Gregg Fienberg. Al (Ian McShane) has risen from the near-dead and summoned Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) back into the... Deadwood is back in fine form with "Complications" under Gregg Fienberg's steady direction. Al awakens to chaos and recruits Bullock to keep things in line. Søren Hough yes 1:01:40 Deadwood is back in fine form with "Complications" under Gregg Fienberg's steady direction. Al awakens to chaos and recruits Bullock to keep things in line. 15095 Hoopleheads: Episode 16 “Requiem for a Gleet” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-requiem-for-a-gleet/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-requiem-for-a-gleet/#comments Sat, 23 Feb 2019 23:09:32 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15067 “Requiem for a Gleet” lives up to its name this episode, highlighting a deeply agonized Al (Ian McShane) as he struggles to hold on to consciousness in the face of extreme pain. Indeed, this episode serves as a finale to the Kidney Stone Arc, as it were, finally offering Al a gleet-ful release from his […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 16 “Requiem for a Gleet” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-requiem-for-a-gleet/feed/ 1 “Requiem for a Gleet” lives up to its name this episode, highlighting a deeply agonized Al (Ian McShane) as he struggles to hold on to consciousness in the face of extreme pain. Indeed, this episode serves as a finale to the Kidney Stone Arc, Søren and Josh discuss how "Requiem for a Gleet" ends Al's suffering as Mr. Wolcott continues to roil Deadwood in George Hearst's (and his own) interests. J Rosenfield yes 55:58 Søren and Josh discuss how "Requiem for a Gleet" ends Al's suffering as Mr. Wolcott continues to roil Deadwood in George Hearst's (and his own) interests. 15067 Hoopleheads: Episode 15 “New Money” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-new-money/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-new-money/#comments Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:07:20 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15052 After a two-part transition from Season 1 to Season 2, we’re finally off to the races with “New Money.” This episode sees the unlikely return of Garret Dillahunt to Deadwood. He previously portrayed the coward Jack McCall, but here he debuts an equally consequential character: Mr. Wolcott, also known as Mr. W. He enters the […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 15 “New Money” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-new-money/feed/ 1 After a two-part transition from Season 1 to Season 2, we’re finally off to the races with “New Money.” This episode sees the unlikely return of Garret Dillahunt to Deadwood. He previously portrayed the coward Jack McCall, Josh and Søren discuss "New Money," and episode features the arrival of newcomer Mr. W whose connections to powerful interests and personal proclivities make him a threat to Deadwood's status quo. Søren Hough yes 1:01:19 Josh and Søren discuss "New Money," and episode features the arrival of newcomer Mr. W whose connections to powerful interests and personal proclivities make him a threat to Deadwood's status quo. 15052 Hoopleheads: Episode 14 “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 2” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-a-lie-agreed-upon-part-2/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-a-lie-agreed-upon-part-2/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2019 13:30:42 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=15033 If “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1” is the mountain of conflict, “Part 2” is the valley. The episode plays like a series of deflations. As Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) slowly makes his way across camp to retrieve his weapon and badge from the Gem, he’s waylaid by friends and supporters who do what they can […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 14 “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 2” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-a-lie-agreed-upon-part-2/feed/ 1 If “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1” is the mountain of conflict, “Part 2” is the valley. The episode plays like a series of deflations. As Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) slowly makes his way across camp to retrieve his weapon and badge from the Gem, Josh and Søren discuss "A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 2," a tension-releasing complement to last week's episode that sees Bullock making hard choices about letting grudges go and living a new life with his family. J Rosenfield yes 1:09:53 Josh and Søren discuss "A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 2," a tension-releasing complement to last week's episode that sees Bullock making hard choices about letting grudges go and living a new life with his family. 15033 Hoopleheads: Episode 13 “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-a-lie-agreed-upon/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-a-lie-agreed-upon/#comments Sat, 02 Feb 2019 16:57:54 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14879 After a literal year away from the mic, J and I are very happy to be back! For the next few weeks, we will be covering Season 2 of Deadwood, beginning with “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1.” Since last we entered the frontier town, a lot of news — both positive and negative — has emerged around the show. This […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 13 “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-a-lie-agreed-upon/feed/ 1 After a literal year away from the mic, J and I are very happy to be back! For the next few weeks, we will be covering Season 2 of Deadwood, beginning with “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1.” Since last we entered the frontier town, In this episode of Hoopleheads, Josh and Søren discuss the Season 2 premiere of Deadwood. "A Lie Agreed Upon, Part One" does a lot of strong character work as Joanie Stubbs strikes out on her own, Al and Seth come to blows and Martha Bullock arrives in Deadwood. Søren Hough yes 1:16:47 In this episode of Hoopleheads, Josh and Søren discuss the Season 2 premiere of Deadwood. "A Lie Agreed Upon, Part One" does a lot of strong character work as Joanie Stubbs strikes out on her own, Al and Seth come to blows and Martha Bullock arrives in Deadwood. 14879 Interview with Nora Twomey, Director of The Breadwinner http://moviefail.com/nora-twomey-director-the-breadwinner/ http://moviefail.com/nora-twomey-director-the-breadwinner/#respond Tue, 13 Feb 2018 15:40:07 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14666 Cartoon Saloon has knocked it out of the park ever since they hit the scene in 2009 with The Secret of Kells. Their feature-length movies have consistently garnered praise from critics. Nora Twomey, who co-directed Kells, is back as a solo director on the studio’s third film: The Breadwinner. The Breadwinner is an adaptation of […]

The post Interview with Nora Twomey, Director of The Breadwinner appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/nora-twomey-director-the-breadwinner/feed/ 0 14666 Star Wars: The Last Jedi http://moviefail.com/star-wars-the-last-jedi/ http://moviefail.com/star-wars-the-last-jedi/#respond Fri, 29 Dec 2017 14:00:27 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14625 “Let the past die,” says Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) to Rey (Daisy Ridley) at a pivotal moment in The Last Jedi. It’s a surprising line to hear in the eighth episode of a 40-year-old saga. It also perfectly captures writer-director Rian Johnson’s approach to Star Wars. Unlike J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens, a showcase for […]

The post Star Wars: The Last Jedi appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/star-wars-the-last-jedi/feed/ 0 14625 Interview with Astrid Goldsmith, Writer/Director of Squirrel Island http://moviefail.com/astrid-goldsmith-writer-director-squirrel-island/ http://moviefail.com/astrid-goldsmith-writer-director-squirrel-island/#respond Mon, 04 Dec 2017 12:42:52 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14571 In a garage somewhere in Folkestone in Kent, a grey squirrel named Dot begins to move, blinking and stumbling forward as she comes to life. Dot looks around an impenetrable, foreboding forest, rife with do-it-yourself artistry. A human hand reaches over to adjust her fabric-covered arms just so. The hand belongs to Astrid Goldsmith, an […]

The post Interview with Astrid Goldsmith, Writer/Director of Squirrel Island appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/astrid-goldsmith-writer-director-squirrel-island/feed/ 0 14571 Ghostwood Radio: Episode 5 “The One-Armed Man” http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-one-armed-man/ http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-one-armed-man/#respond Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:00:21 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14456 In contrast to the previous episode’s elegiac tone, “The One-Armed Man” is a heated affair. Several plotlines kick into gear, and the lives of the town’s residents begin to intersect. Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) spends most of the episode following up on the leads from his dream. He meets up with the eponymous one-armed man, who […]

The post Ghostwood Radio: Episode 5 “The One-Armed Man” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-one-armed-man/feed/ 0 In contrast to the previous episode’s elegiac tone, “The One-Armed Man” is a heated affair. Several plotlines kick into gear, and the lives of the town’s residents begin to intersect. Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) spends most of the episode following up on ... Twin Peaks turns dreams into reality with "The One-Armed Man," offering an explosion of revelations that make the supernatural seem natural. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 59:54 Twin Peaks turns dreams into reality with "The One-Armed Man," offering an explosion of revelations that make the supernatural seem natural. Josh and Søren discuss. 14456 London Film Festival 2017 Highlights http://moviefail.com/london-film-festival-2017-highlights/ http://moviefail.com/london-film-festival-2017-highlights/#respond Sun, 05 Nov 2017 14:00:06 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14327 The London Film Festival sprawls across the city, from the café-laden streets of Shoreditch to the glamour of Southbank, by the Thames. Cult cinemas like the Prince Charles and megaplexes like the Odeon off Leicester Square premiere films from around the world. This year, festival darlings like Sally Potter (The Party) and Azazel Jacobs (The Lovers) found themselves front […]

The post London Film Festival 2017 Highlights appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/london-film-festival-2017-highlights/feed/ 0 14327 Ghostwood Radio: Episode 4 “Rest in Pain” http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-rest-in-pain/ http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-rest-in-pain/#respond Fri, 03 Nov 2017 15:00:05 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14326 “Rest in Pain” is a melancholy installment of Twin Peaks. This week we see many of Laura Palmer’s friends and family cry out in anguish as she is finally put to rest. Meanwhile, Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) uses the funeral as a litmus test as he continues to scope out suspects for her murder. Prior to the […]

The post Ghostwood Radio: Episode 4 “Rest in Pain” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-rest-in-pain/feed/ 0 “Rest in Pain” is a melancholy installment of Twin Peaks. This week we see many of Laura Palmer’s friends and family cry out in anguish as she is finally put to rest. Meanwhile, Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) uses the funeral as a litmus test as he con... The citizens of Twin Peaks gather for Laura Palmer's funeral as Cooper and Sheriff Truman continue to dive deeper into the town's criminal underbelly. Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:14:44 The citizens of Twin Peaks gather for Laura Palmer's funeral as Cooper and Sheriff Truman continue to dive deeper into the town's criminal underbelly. Josh and Søren discuss. 14326 Austin Film Festival 2017: Lady Bird http://moviefail.com/lady-bird/ http://moviefail.com/lady-bird/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2017 13:00:10 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14325 Lady Bird is more than a time capsule. Writer-director Greta Gerwig plumbed her own Sacramento adolescence for a work of fiction that’s self-reflective but rarely precious. She renders the inextricable pain and joy of family, home and growing up in careful strokes. Gerwig’s proxy is Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a spunky senior at […]

The post Austin Film Festival 2017: Lady Bird appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/lady-bird/feed/ 0 14325 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 http://moviefail.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2/ http://moviefail.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2/#respond Sat, 21 Oct 2017 13:00:42 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14304 I wanted to like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. I really did. And I enjoyed it enough when I was watching it at the theater. But moments after the credits rolled (and I’d sat through all the mid and post-credit scenes), I left feeling empty. Guardians Vol. 2 is visually stunning, with bright colors […]

The post Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2/feed/ 0 14304 Ghostwood Radio: Episode 3 “Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer” http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-zen-or-the-skill-catch-killer/ http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-zen-or-the-skill-catch-killer/#comments Wed, 18 Oct 2017 13:00:43 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14187 Twin Peaks continues to juggle the jovial tone of last week’s episode with the crime serial seriousness in “Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer.” In this episode, Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) employs a special technique for identifying the next lead in his case. His bizarre antics lead him to Leo (Eric DaRe), an abusive and violent […]

The post Ghostwood Radio: Episode 3 “Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-zen-or-the-skill-catch-killer/feed/ 2 Twin Peaks continues to juggle the jovial tone of last week’s episode with the crime serial seriousness in “Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer.” In this episode, Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) employs a special technique for identifying the next lead in his... Agent Cooper steps from Twin Peaks into the world of supernatural dreams and unexplained visions with "Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer." Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:13:45 Agent Cooper steps from Twin Peaks into the world of supernatural dreams and unexplained visions with "Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer." Josh and Søren discuss. 14187 Ghostwood Radio: Episode 2 “Traces to Nowhere” http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-traces-to-nowhere/ http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-traces-to-nowhere/#respond Sun, 08 Oct 2017 11:21:35 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=14092 In this week’s episode of Twin Peaks, we see a shift from the pilot. A lighter tone has begun to seep into the show with “Traces to Nowhere,” with obvious moments of levity, a bouncier soundtrack and a brighter, more colorful visual palette. For my part, I welcomed the change from the dour season opener […]

The post Ghostwood Radio: Episode 2 “Traces to Nowhere” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/twin-peaks-traces-to-nowhere/feed/ 0 In this week’s episode of Twin Peaks, we see a shift from the pilot. A lighter tone has begun to seep into the show with “Traces to Nowhere,” with obvious moments of levity, a bouncier soundtrack and a brighter, more colorful visual palette. "Traces to Nowhere" diverges in tone from the dour Twin Peaks pilot, but never forgets to stoke sinister fires with those who profit off of tragedy. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:22:39 "Traces to Nowhere" diverges in tone from the dour Twin Peaks pilot, but never forgets to stoke sinister fires with those who profit off of tragedy. Josh and Søren discuss. 14092 Ghostwood Radio: Episode 1 “Pilot” http://moviefail.com/ghostwood-radio-twin-peaks-pilot/ http://moviefail.com/ghostwood-radio-twin-peaks-pilot/#comments Sun, 24 Sep 2017 12:52:36 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=13971 Grab some of that damn good coffee, folks — we’re headed into Twin Peaks! Join us for our new series, “Ghostwood Radio,” in which we’ll be discussing the wildly influential show from David Lynch and Mark Frost. J is a longtime fan of Twin Peaks, a show which in many ways changed the landscape of […]

The post Ghostwood Radio: Episode 1 “Pilot” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/ghostwood-radio-twin-peaks-pilot/feed/ 4 Grab some of that damn good coffee, folks — we’re headed into Twin Peaks! Join us for our new series, “Ghostwood Radio,” in which we’ll be discussing the wildly influential show from David Lynch and Mark Frost. J is a longtime fan of Twin Peaks, With "Ghostwood Radio," Josh and Søren take a quiet drive into the world of David Lynch's mysterious Twin Peaks, a show that changed the television landscape for decades to come. J Rosenfield yes 1:50:59 With "Ghostwood Radio," Josh and Søren take a quiet drive into the world of David Lynch's mysterious Twin Peaks, a show that changed the television landscape for decades to come. 13971 Hoopleheads: Episode 12 “Sold Under Sin” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-sold-under-sin/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-sold-under-sin/#comments Sun, 10 Sep 2017 14:24:19 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=13885 “Sold Under Sin” reveals the shattered backstories of several key character in Deadwood. From Joanie’s (Kim Dickens) abuse at the hands of her father and subsequently Cy Tolliver (Powers Boothe) to Alma Garret’s (Molly Parker) chattel-like status in Otis’s (William Russ) eyes, we begin to see how Deadwood tells the story of characters breaking free of […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 12 “Sold Under Sin” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-sold-under-sin/feed/ 4 “Sold Under Sin” reveals the shattered backstories of several key character in Deadwood. From Joanie’s (Kim Dickens) abuse at the hands of her father and subsequently Cy Tolliver (Powers Boothe) to Alma Garret’s (Molly Parker) chattel-like status in Ot... Deadwood wraps its first season with a ringing endorsement of freedom, as "Sold Under Sin" illuminates and liberates the denizens of the town from their past. Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:19:43 Deadwood wraps its first season with a ringing endorsement of freedom, as "Sold Under Sin" illuminates and liberates the denizens of the town from their past. Josh and Søren discuss. 13885 Stark Contrast: Episode 27 “The Dragon and the Wolf” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-dragon-and-the-wolf/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-dragon-and-the-wolf/#comments Sun, 03 Sep 2017 19:34:49 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=13648 Game of Thrones caps off a landmark season with “The Dragon and the Wolf.” Jeremy Podeswa’s feature-length conclusion certainly exceeds the episode that came before, although it never quite matches the import of its reveals and final moments with the level of filmmaking we know the show can achieve. “The Dragon and the Wolf” finally […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 27 “The Dragon and the Wolf” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-dragon-and-the-wolf/feed/ 14 Game of Thrones caps off a landmark season with “The Dragon and the Wolf.” Jeremy Podeswa’s feature-length conclusion certainly exceeds the episode that came before, although it never quite matches the import of its reveals and final moments with the l... A capably-executed "The Dragon and the Wolf" brings Game of Thrones back from the brink, revealing major information and offering long-awaited payoffs to viewers. Josh and Søren dive into the feature-length finale. Søren Hough yes 1:59:41 A capably-executed "The Dragon and the Wolf" brings Game of Thrones back from the brink, revealing major information and offering long-awaited payoffs to viewers. Josh and Søren dive into the feature-length finale. 13648 Stark Contrast: Episode 26 “Beyond the Wall” http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-beyond-the-wall/ http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-beyond-the-wall/#comments Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:00:15 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=13405 Game of Thrones finally lives up to its namesake novels with “Beyond the Wall” as the forces of ice and fire clash. Josh and I waste no time diving into the episode’s particulars. We generally skate past the timeline issues (1, 2, 3) discussed and debated elsewhere, instead focusing on inconsistencies with characters and narrative. I continue […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 26 “Beyond the Wall” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-beyond-the-wall/feed/ 15 Game of Thrones finally lives up to its namesake novels with “Beyond the Wall” as the forces of ice and fire clash. Josh and I waste no time diving into the episode’s particulars. We generally skate past the timeline issues (1, 2, With "Beyond the Wall," Game of Thrones brings the forces of ice and fire together for the first time — but leaves a lot to be desired in the execution. Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 2:00:14 With "Beyond the Wall," Game of Thrones brings the forces of ice and fire together for the first time — but leaves a lot to be desired in the execution. Josh and Søren discuss. 13405 Stark Contrast: Episode 25 “Eastwatch” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-eastwatch/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-eastwatch/#comments Sat, 19 Aug 2017 13:31:12 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=13222 Every episode this season of Game of Thrones has in some way involved a battle sequence, the biggest among them arriving last week. In “Eastwatch,” the show slows down and instead focuses on the fallout of last week’s conflict. In some ways this is to Game of Thrones‘ benefit: we see Davos (Liam Cunningham) demonstrate his smuggling […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 25 “Eastwatch” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-eastwatch/feed/ 13 Every episode this season of Game of Thrones has in some way involved a battle sequence, the biggest among them arriving last week. In “Eastwatch,” the show slows down and instead focuses on the fallout of last week’s conflict. Game of Thrones slows down in "Eastwatch" as characters begin plotting their next course of action, however silly those plans may seem. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:19:08 Game of Thrones slows down in "Eastwatch" as characters begin plotting their next course of action, however silly those plans may seem. Josh and Søren discuss. 13222 Stark Contrast: Episode 24 “The Spoils of War” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-spoils-war/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-spoils-war/#comments Sat, 12 Aug 2017 13:00:15 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=13013 Game of Thrones throws some kindling on the fire this week with “The Spoils of War.” Unlike “The Queen’s Justice,” Josh and I found myriad plots and emotional arcs to interrogate this time around. We pay particular attention to family reunions and how context and time have shaped characters we’ve known since Season 1. We […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 24 “The Spoils of War” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-spoils-war/feed/ 10 Game of Thrones throws some kindling on the fire this week with “The Spoils of War.” Unlike “The Queen’s Justice,” Josh and I found myriad plots and emotional arcs to interrogate this time around. We pay particular attention to family reunions and how ... "The Spoils of War" delivers on promise after promise, finally giving viewers closure on multiple threads while fulfilling epic fantasies. Josh and Søren discuss one of the best episode of Season 7 so far. J Rosenfield yes 1:43:20 "The Spoils of War" delivers on promise after promise, finally giving viewers closure on multiple threads while fulfilling epic fantasies. Josh and Søren discuss one of the best episode of Season 7 so far. 13013 Hoopleheads: Episode 11 “Jewel’s Boot is Made for Walking” http://moviefail.com/deadwood-hoopleheads-jewels-boot-is-made-for-walking/ http://moviefail.com/deadwood-hoopleheads-jewels-boot-is-made-for-walking/#comments Wed, 09 Aug 2017 13:00:51 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12447 After a drawn-out hiatus, “Hoopleheads” is back with our second to last episode covering Season 1. This week we discuss “Jewel’s Boot is Made for Walking,” an engaging episode that hints at Al’s (Ian McShane) backstory as another side characters take center stage. The titular Jewel (Geri Jewell) gets a particularly intriguing storyline as she […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 11 “Jewel’s Boot is Made for Walking” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/deadwood-hoopleheads-jewels-boot-is-made-for-walking/feed/ 1 After a drawn-out hiatus, “Hoopleheads” is back with our second to last episode covering Season 1. This week we discuss “Jewel’s Boot is Made for Walking,” an engaging episode that hints at Al’s (Ian McShane) backstory as another side characters take c... The penultimate episode of Deadwood Season 1 shines a light on secondary characters as Jewel takes things into her own hands and the reverend slips further into tragic delirium. Søren Hough yes 1:37:17 The penultimate episode of Deadwood Season 1 shines a light on secondary characters as Jewel takes things into her own hands and the reverend slips further into tragic delirium. 12447 Stark Contrast: Episode 23 “The Queen’s Justice” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-queens-justice/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-queens-justice/#comments Sat, 05 Aug 2017 12:05:28 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12872 J and I enjoyed last week’s “Stormborn” as it both drove the plot forward at an explosive pace while offering something more for us to chew on as viewers. This week, the pace hasn’t let up — but “The Queen’s Justice,” alas, never digs deeper than the surface. In fact, the episode undercuts the enormity […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 23 “The Queen’s Justice” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-queens-justice/feed/ 18 J and I enjoyed last week’s “Stormborn” as it both drove the plot forward at an explosive pace while offering something more for us to chew on as viewers. This week, the pace hasn’t let up — but “The Queen’s Justice,” alas, Game of Thrones hurtles through major plot points without spending much time giving any one moment much depth in "The Queen's Justice." Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:07:27 Game of Thrones hurtles through major plot points without spending much time giving any one moment much depth in "The Queen's Justice." Josh and Søren discuss. 12872 Warehoused http://moviefail.com/warehoused/ http://moviefail.com/warehoused/#respond Mon, 31 Jul 2017 13:00:45 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12854 For reasons that boil down to my own naïveté and exposure to imperialist propaganda (better known as the American education system), I grew up assuming that entities like the United Nations and its member countries were infallibly dedicated to the welfare of human beings. That line of thought has since been killed, which makes Warehoused […]

The post Warehoused appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/warehoused/feed/ 0 12854 Stark Contrast: Episode 22 “Stormborn” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-stormborn/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-stormborn/#comments Sat, 29 Jul 2017 13:00:59 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12774 Game of Thrones hits hard this week in “Stormborn” as major houses begin to band together and devious enemies already begin making their moves. Before we get into the episode itself, J and I open this week’s podcast discussing the controversy around Confederate, a new show recently announced by HBO from the creators of Game of Thrones. […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 22 “Stormborn” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-stormborn/feed/ 17 Game of Thrones hits hard this week in “Stormborn” as major houses begin to band together and devious enemies already begin making their moves. Before we get into the episode itself, J and I open this week’s podcast discussing the controversy around Co... In this episode of "Stark Contrast," Josh and Søren discuss race, politics and drama in "Stormborn," a heartbreaking episode that treads close to old worn tropes of Game of Thrones. J Rosenfield yes 1:13:37 Josh and Søren discuss race, politics and drama in "Stormborn," a heartbreaking episode that treads close to old worn tropes of Game of Thrones. 12774 Stark Contrast: Episode 21 “Dragonstone” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-dragonstone-game-of-thrones/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-dragonstone-game-of-thrones/#comments Sat, 22 Jul 2017 14:10:42 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12743 “Stark Contrast” is back! Following an unusually long delay, J and I are once again discussing Game of Thrones. The Season 7 premiere immediately strikes a positive note as Arya (Maisie Williams) executes the family that killed her own. We discuss the bizarre magic of the Faceless Men and how the show missed a chance […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 21 “Dragonstone” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-dragonstone-game-of-thrones/feed/ 6 “Stark Contrast” is back! Following an unusually long delay, J and I are once again discussing Game of Thrones. The Season 7 premiere immediately strikes a positive note as Arya (Maisie Williams) executes the family that killed her own. Game of Thrones returns with "Dragonstone," a strong season premiere that may indicate a tonal shift for the typically nihilistic fantasy series. Tune in as Josh and Søren continue the annual Game of Thrones podcast series at Movie Fail, "Stark Contrast. Søren Hough yes 1:17:49 Game of Thrones returns with "Dragonstone," a strong season premiere that may indicate a tonal shift for the typically nihilistic fantasy series. Tune in as Josh and Søren continue the annual Game of Thrones podcast series at Movie Fail, "Stark Contrast. 12743 London Film Festival 2016: Dog Eat Dog http://moviefail.com/dog-eat-dog/ http://moviefail.com/dog-eat-dog/#respond Sat, 13 May 2017 13:00:30 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12300 Paul Schrader’s Dog Eat Dog might have one of the best openings in recent memory. Without tediously itemising the whole sequence, let’s just say it involves a totally wired Willem Dafoe armed with a large knife in a lurid suburban setting where bold neon glows battle for supremacy. It’s like Schrader ingested David Lynch, Douglas Sirk, Michael Moore […]

The post London Film Festival 2016: Dog Eat Dog appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/dog-eat-dog/feed/ 0 12300 I Am Not Your Negro http://moviefail.com/i-am-not-your-negro/ http://moviefail.com/i-am-not-your-negro/#comments Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:00:50 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12723 I Am Not Your Negro, a movie which cannot spell out its own true name, sanitizes itself for the sake of the MPAA and declares itself at once a film catered to a certain audience. And yet that is perhaps where the film’s greatest strength lies. Director Raoul Peck makes an impassioned plea through the […]

The post I Am Not Your Negro appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/i-am-not-your-negro/feed/ 1 12723 London Film Festival 2016: The Ghoul http://moviefail.com/the-ghoul/ http://moviefail.com/the-ghoul/#respond Tue, 18 Apr 2017 13:00:37 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12244 You’ve may not have realised it, but you’ve probably seen Gareth Tunley plenty of times on television. He’s appeared in everything from Hustle and The Thick of It to Peep Show (memorably as “more cor anglais” Gog) in the last decade. It turns out Tunley, perpetually stuck in bit parts, has now moved behind the camera and made a curiously intense psychological […]

The post London Film Festival 2016: The Ghoul appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/the-ghoul/feed/ 0 12244 Mulan Brazenly Challenges Gender and Sexuality http://moviefail.com/mulan-brazenly-challenges-gender-and-sexuality/ http://moviefail.com/mulan-brazenly-challenges-gender-and-sexuality/#respond Mon, 16 Jan 2017 14:00:18 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12216 Disney’s Mulan came out right around the time my generation started watching movies in earnest. Long after Disney’s Golden Age (1937-1942), Millennials’ grew up during the animation giant’s important soul searching phase: the Disney Renaissance (1989-1999). We saw non-traditional families, people of color in lead roles and a general break from the norms of Disney princess […]

The post Mulan Brazenly Challenges Gender and Sexuality appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/mulan-brazenly-challenges-gender-and-sexuality/feed/ 0 12216 Café Society http://moviefail.com/cafe-society/ http://moviefail.com/cafe-society/#respond Sat, 24 Dec 2016 14:00:14 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12041 Woody Allen is at his best when he identifies a universal truth of love. In Annie Hall, it was the inevitability of separation. In Midnight in Paris, it was the desperate, idealistic longing for a time that never was. It’s because of this that Café Society never quite stumbles despite its meandering, clumsily delivered story. Cut through the fat and you’ll […]

The post Café Society appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/cafe-society/feed/ 0 12041 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story http://moviefail.com/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story/ http://moviefail.com/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2016 14:17:47 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12567 Halfway through Rogue One, I started to futz with my hair (my habit for coping with boredom). After another 20 minutes I’d flipped the part of my mophead from right to left. This movie—a reckless jaunt through the Star Wars saga’s style with none of its substance—felt like an off-brand version of Disney World’s Star Tours ride. My nausea-prone stomach begged for mercy. […]

The post Rogue One: A Star Wars Story appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story/feed/ 1 12567 London Film Festival 2016: The Autopsy of Jane Doe http://moviefail.com/the-autopsy-of-jane-doe/ http://moviefail.com/the-autopsy-of-jane-doe/#respond Mon, 21 Nov 2016 14:00:32 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12242 Like Ronseal, The Autopsy of Jane Doe does exactly what it says on the tin. Writers Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing have done their research and come back with a horror film based on the meticulous process of sleuthing through a cadaver. Of course there’s more to the film than a mere autopsy — just […]

The post London Film Festival 2016: The Autopsy of Jane Doe appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/the-autopsy-of-jane-doe/feed/ 0 12242 Luke Cage: Season 1 with Hailey and Okwudili http://moviefail.com/luke-cage/ http://moviefail.com/luke-cage/#respond Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:00:25 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12303 This week, Okwudili and I delve into Marvel’s latest Netflix original series, Luke Cage. We unpack every nook and cranny of the show. We give particular attention to its highs (particularly its exploration of black culture) as well as its faults (at times weak writing and inconsistent in pacing). Though Luke Cage seemingly has the […]

The post Luke Cage: Season 1 with Hailey and Okwudili appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/luke-cage/feed/ 0 This week, Okwudili and I delve into Marvel’s latest Netflix original series, Luke Cage. We unpack every nook and cranny of the show. We give particular attention to its highs (particularly its exploration of black culture) as well as its faults (at ti... Luke Cage wrestles with its own history in blaxploitation as well as the current political climate to produce a show unlike anything Marvel has done before. Hailey and Okwudili discuss. Hailey Duran yes 1:05:19 Luke Cage wrestles with its own history in blaxploitation as well as the current political climate to produce a show unlike anything Marvel has done before. Hailey and Okwudili discuss. 12303 London Film Festival 2016: Brimstone http://moviefail.com/brimstone/ http://moviefail.com/brimstone/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2016 13:00:08 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12240 One of cinema’s greatest characters, let alone villains, is Robert Mitchum’s insidious preacher Harry Powell in Night of the Hunter. With ‘love’ and ‘hate’ emblazoned on his knuckles, Powell stalks the Southern Gothic landscape with sinister desires and an ominous aura of dread. Mitchum’s performance is one not easily forgotten or trumped. That was until […]

The post London Film Festival 2016: Brimstone appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/brimstone/feed/ 1 12240 Hoopleheads: Episode 10 “Mister Wu” http://moviefail.com/deadwood-mister-wu/ http://moviefail.com/deadwood-mister-wu/#respond Mon, 31 Oct 2016 13:00:55 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12320 “Mister Wu” opens up the Deadwood universe to some of the most iconic characters and lines from the show. This week introduces Richardson (Ralph Richeson), Hostetler (Richard Gant) and, most notably, a fully fleshed-out Mr. Wu (Keone Young). For many fans of the show, these names are inextricable from the fabric of the frontier town. I’m terribly excited […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 10 “Mister Wu” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/deadwood-mister-wu/feed/ 0 “Mister Wu” opens up the Deadwood universe to some of the most iconic characters and lines from the show. This week introduces Richardson (Ralph Richeson), Hostetler (Richard Gant) and, most notably, a fully fleshed-out Mr. Wu (Keone Young). "Mister Wu" establishes some of the best-known personalities and lines from Deadwood as Keone Young's iconic character takes the spotlight. Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:28:02 "Mister Wu" establishes some of the best-known personalities and lines from Deadwood as Keone Young's iconic character takes the spotlight. Josh and Søren discuss. 12320 Hoopleheads: Episode 9 “No Other Sons or Daughters” http://moviefail.com/deadwood-no-other-sons-or-daughters/ http://moviefail.com/deadwood-no-other-sons-or-daughters/#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2016 13:00:40 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12247 “No Other Sons or Daughters” puts the brunt of its focus on the new ad hoc government of Deadwood. As the United States begins to move further westward, Al (Ian McShane) and the other leaders in the town worry about what sort of outside forces and order that might bring to the town. In the meantime, Reverend […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 9 “No Other Sons or Daughters” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/deadwood-no-other-sons-or-daughters/feed/ 1 “No Other Sons or Daughters” puts the brunt of its focus on the new ad hoc government of Deadwood. As the United States begins to move further westward, Al (Ian McShane) and the other leaders in the town worry about what sort of outside forces and orde... "No Other Sons or Daughters" continues the inevitable march toward civilization as Al uses every trick available to him to retain power and autonomy in Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:26:33 "No Other Sons or Daughters" continues the inevitable march toward civilization as Al uses every trick available to him to retain power and autonomy in Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss. 12247 High Concept on the Down Low: Steven Spielberg http://moviefail.com/hcdl-steven-spielberg/ http://moviefail.com/hcdl-steven-spielberg/#respond Fri, 07 Oct 2016 13:00:54 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12122 Welcome to the first episode of “High Concept on the Down Low,” a podcast that focuses on the modern Hollywood scene. We will explore everything from big-name directors to composers. If it’s happening in Hollywood, we’ll talk about it. Everyone is familiar with Steven Spielberg and his numerous films. Yet people might not be aware of how […]

The post High Concept on the Down Low: Steven Spielberg appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hcdl-steven-spielberg/feed/ 0 Welcome to the first episode of “High Concept on the Down Low,” a podcast that focuses on the modern Hollywood scene. We will explore everything from big-name directors to composers. If it’s happening in Hollywood, we’ll talk about it. Welcome to the first episode of “High Concept on the Down Low,” a podcast that focuses on the modern Hollywood scene. We will explore everything from big-name directors to composers. If it’s happening in Hollywood, we’ll talk about it. Everyone is familiar with Steven Spielberg and his numerous films. Yet people might not be aware of how […] Hailey Duran yes 28:56 12122 Hoopleheads: Episode 8 “Suffer the Little Children” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-episode-8-suffer-the-little-children/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-episode-8-suffer-the-little-children/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2016 13:00:34 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12172 “Suffer the Little Children” earns its darkly ironic title. Flora (Kristen Bell) and Miles (Greg Cipes) finally reveal their true colors to the townspeople and the fallout affects everyone differently. Cy Tolliver (Powers Boothe) immediately reacts with unbridled rage, while Joanie (Kim Dickens) finds herself pitying Flora for her chosen path. Al (Ian McShane), on the other hand, […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 8 “Suffer the Little Children” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-episode-8-suffer-the-little-children/feed/ 3 “Suffer the Little Children” earns its darkly ironic title. Flora (Kristen Bell) and Miles (Greg Cipes) finally reveal their true colors to the townspeople and the fallout affects everyone differently. Cy Tolliver (Powers Boothe) immediately reacts wit... "Suffer the Little Children" brings a brutal end to the story of Flora and Miles, the alleged siblings who abuse the trust of the people of Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss how their actions impact parallel storylines throughout the town. J Rosenfield yes 1:13:19 "Suffer the Little Children" brings a brutal end to the story of Flora and Miles, the alleged siblings who abuse the trust of the people of Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss how their actions impact parallel storylines throughout the town. 12172 Hoopleheads: Episode 7 “Bullock Returns to the Camp” http://moviefail.com/deadwood-bullock-returns-to-the-camp/ http://moviefail.com/deadwood-bullock-returns-to-the-camp/#respond Wed, 28 Sep 2016 13:00:05 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12151 In “Bullock Returns to the Camp,” Deadwood seems to have found its fresh start. Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) has let off some steam and Alma Garret (Molly Parker) is mostly recovered from addiction leading to marked changes in their demeanors (and chemistry). Meanwhile the doctor (Brad Dourif), Jane (Robin Weigert) and Reverend Smith (Ray McKinnon) seem to have […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 7 “Bullock Returns to the Camp” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/deadwood-bullock-returns-to-the-camp/feed/ 0 In “Bullock Returns to the Camp,” Deadwood seems to have found its fresh start. Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) has let off some steam and Alma Garret (Molly Parker) is mostly recovered from addiction leading to marked changes in their demeanors (and c... In "Bullock Returns to the Camp," many of the denizens of Deadwood seem changed following the burial of Brom Garret and capture of the coward Jack McCall. Meanwhile, new characters appear in town who aren't quite what they seem. Josh and Søren discuss Søren Hough yes 59:55 In "Bullock Returns to the Camp," many of the denizens of Deadwood seem changed following the burial of Brom Garret and capture of the coward Jack McCall. Meanwhile, new characters appear in town who aren't quite what they seem. Josh and Søren discuss 12151 Søren Discusses Animation with The Talk Film Society http://moviefail.com/animation-talk-film-society/ http://moviefail.com/animation-talk-film-society/#respond Sun, 25 Sep 2016 19:58:36 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12138 A few months ago, I had a chance to make a guest appearance with The Talk Film Society podcast. It was an incredibly fun conversation that covered everything from Song of the Sea and the state of international animation to Sing Street and more. You can find TFS on Soundcloud here or subscribe on iTunes (click here for Hey Whatcha Watchin). […]

The post Søren Discusses Animation with The Talk Film Society appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/animation-talk-film-society/feed/ 0 12138 Gene Wilder: A Retrospective http://moviefail.com/gene-wilder-retrospective/ http://moviefail.com/gene-wilder-retrospective/#respond Fri, 23 Sep 2016 13:17:28 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12086 Søren Hough My earliest memories of Gene Wilder exist in a land of pure imagination. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was consummate entertainment as a child. The effects were colorful and fun, the subject matter was candy and the adventure was exciting, strange and engrossing. And leading us through this world was an eccentric but ultimately […]

The post Gene Wilder: A Retrospective appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/gene-wilder-retrospective/feed/ 0 12086 Hoopleheads: Episode 6 “Plague” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-plague/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-plague/#respond Wed, 21 Sep 2016 13:00:49 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12069 “Plague” foretells chaos in Deadwood. As small pox breaks out, local business leaders (and religious figures) step in to keep order. Meanwhile, Jane (Robin Weigert) reenters camp and looks into the girl she helped save. Alma (Molly Parker) continues to wrestle with addiction; Trixie (Paula Malcomson) offers support at risk to her own life. Out in the frontier, Bullock […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 6 “Plague” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood-plague/feed/ 0 “Plague” foretells chaos in Deadwood. As small pox breaks out, local business leaders (and religious figures) step in to keep order. Meanwhile, Jane (Robin Weigert) reenters camp and looks into the girl she helped save. There's an irony to the darkly humorous "Plague," a name that reflects an inaccurate description of the small pox outbreak in Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss this new threat to order in the frontier town. J Rosenfield yes 1:21:01 There's an irony to the darkly humorous "Plague," a name that reflects an inaccurate description of the small pox outbreak in Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss this new threat to order in the frontier town. 12069 Hoopleheads: Episode 5 “The Trial of Jack McCall” http://moviefail.com/deadwood-the-trial-of-jack-mccall/ http://moviefail.com/deadwood-the-trial-of-jack-mccall/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2016 19:56:04 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12047 After a brief hiatus, “Hoopleheads” is back! “The Trial of Jack McCall” is a heavy episode. It directly handles the consequences of the shocking events in “Here Was a Man” as it splits attention between four primary storylines. First, the trial itself: Jack McCall (Garret Dillahunt) has been caught and held prisoner as the camp decides his fate. Al […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 5 “The Trial of Jack McCall” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/deadwood-the-trial-of-jack-mccall/feed/ 2 After a brief hiatus, “Hoopleheads” is back! “The Trial of Jack McCall” is a heavy episode. It directly handles the consequences of the shocking events in “Here Was a Man” as it splits attention between four primary storylines. First, "The Trial of Jack McCall" deals with the direct fallout of Bill's death, questioning the role of law and morality in a frontier town. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:00:36 "The Trial of Jack McCall" deals with the direct fallout of Bill's death, questioning the role of law and morality in a frontier town. Josh and Søren discuss. 12047 Hoopleheads: Episode 4 “Here Was A Man” http://moviefail.com/deadwood-here-was-a-man/ http://moviefail.com/deadwood-here-was-a-man/#comments Sun, 07 Aug 2016 13:02:03 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12022 Keeping quiet about the events of “Here Was a Man” was an exercise in restraint for me. For weeks, Josh and I have discussed Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine). We’ve explored his relationship with Charlie (Dayton Callie) and Jane (Robin Weigert) and wondered at whatever drove him to come to Deadwood. And now, with one capricious […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 4 “Here Was A Man” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/deadwood-here-was-a-man/feed/ 1 Keeping quiet about the events of “Here Was a Man” was an exercise in restraint for me. For weeks, Josh and I have discussed Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine). We’ve explored his relationship with Charlie (Dayton Callie) and Jane (Robin Weigert) and w... In a similar vein to "Baelor," Alan Taylor shatters audience expectations with "Here Was a Man." Josh and Søren discuss as Bill falls out of focus and Alma Garret takes the spotlight in this week's Deadwood discussion. J Rosenfield yes 1:11:01 In a similar vein to "Baelor," Alan Taylor shatters audience expectations with "Here Was a Man." Josh and Søren discuss as Bill falls out of focus and Alma Garret takes the spotlight in this week's Deadwood discussion. 12022 Hoopleheads: Episode 3 “Reconnoitering the Rim” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-reconnoitering-the-rim/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-reconnoitering-the-rim/#respond Thu, 28 Jul 2016 22:18:50 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=12000 Following the tight two-episode arc from last week, “Reconnoitering the Rim” introduces what feels like a broader glimpse at the plot of Season 1. Both “Deadwood” and “Deep Water” functioned as good character studies. We got a glimpse into the lengths that Al Swearengen (Ian McShane will go to defend his fiefdom and learned about […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 3 “Reconnoitering the Rim” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-reconnoitering-the-rim/feed/ 0 Following the tight two-episode arc from last week, “Reconnoitering the Rim” introduces what feels like a broader glimpse at the plot of Season 1. Both “Deadwood” and “Deep Water” functioned as good character studies. In "Reconnoitering the Rim," Al Swearengen reassesses who his real enemies are. Meanwhile, Søren and Josh discuss how Deadwood accidentally explains Twitter fan culture. Søren Hough yes 1:10:02 In "Reconnoitering the Rim," Al Swearengen reassesses who his real enemies are. Meanwhile, Søren and Josh discuss how Deadwood accidentally explains Twitter fan culture. 12000 Hoopleheads: Episode 2 “Deep Water” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deep-water/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deep-water/#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2016 13:00:33 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11979 Davis Guggenheim takes the wheel this week in “Deep Water,” an episode that feels like a direct follow-up to the series pilot. Now we’ve got a better handle on the characters, from Al (Ian McShane) and Seth’s (Timothy Olyphant) fiery relationship to Jane (Robin Weigert) and the Doc’s (Brad Dourif) unlikely alliance. J points out that […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 2 “Deep Water” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deep-water/feed/ 3 Davis Guggenheim takes the wheel this week in “Deep Water,” an episode that feels like a direct follow-up to the series pilot. Now we’ve got a better handle on the characters, from Al (Ian McShane) and Seth’s (Timothy Olyphant) fiery relationship to Ja... Davis Guggenheim picks up the thread with "Deep Water," a more focused episode that delineates clear relationship dynamics, positive and negative, of the citizens of Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:21:26 Davis Guggenheim picks up the thread with "Deep Water," a more focused episode that delineates clear relationship dynamics, positive and negative, of the citizens of Deadwood. Josh and Søren discuss. 11979 The Neon Demon http://moviefail.com/the-neon-demon/ http://moviefail.com/the-neon-demon/#comments Sun, 10 Jul 2016 13:00:24 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11954 The Neon Demon kills Jesse (Elle Fanning) before the movie begins. I can’t think of a film that dared to off its protagonist in the opening shot. No, this isn’t a spoiler, and anyway, The Neon Demon isn’t the kind of film you can spoil like that. It’s a psychosexual thriller in the vein of Satoshi Kon’s […]

The post The Neon Demon appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/the-neon-demon/feed/ 2 11954 Hoopleheads: Episode 1 “Deadwood” http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood/ http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2016 11:10:18 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11938 After wrapping up “Stark Contrast” (our Game of Thrones podcast) for the year, J and I have decided to take a detour out West. We’re delving into Deadwood, David Milch’s off-kilter Western series set in the historical frontier town of the same name. I’m a big fan of the show; I own the full box set […]

The post Hoopleheads: Episode 1 “Deadwood” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hoopleheads-deadwood/feed/ 2 After wrapping up “Stark Contrast” (our Game of Thrones podcast) for the year, J and I have decided to take a detour out West. We’re delving into Deadwood, David Milch’s off-kilter Western series set in the historical frontier town of the same name. Josh and Søren head into Deadwood, a renowned Western series from the early 2000s that addresses fundamental questions about law, civilization and freedom. The "Hoopleheads" series will cover this show on a weekly basis and builds on the conceit that Josh has never seen the show while Søren has. Søren Hough yes 1:17:25 Josh and Søren head into Deadwood, a renowned Western series from the early 2000s that addresses fundamental questions about law, civilization and freedom. The "Hoopleheads" series will cover this show on a weekly basis and builds on the conceit that Josh has never seen the show while Søren has. 11938 Stark Contrast: Episode 20 “The Winds of Winter” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-winds-of-winter/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-winds-of-winter/#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2016 10:00:47 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11908 Game of Thrones comes to a satisfying conclusion with “The Winds of Winter” from director Miguel Sapochnik. Once again he puts focus on framing and makes stylistic choices we rarely if ever see in this show including locked-down shots and montages. This helps elevate an already quality set of narrative moments as Thrones moves into its final stretch. […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 20 “The Winds of Winter” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-winds-of-winter/feed/ 3 Game of Thrones comes to a satisfying conclusion with “The Winds of Winter” from director Miguel Sapochnik. Once again he puts focus on framing and makes stylistic choices we rarely if ever see in this show including locked-down shots and montages. "The Winds of Winter" concludes a standout Game of Thrones season with another off-beat tour-de-force episode from director Miguel Sapochnik. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 2:15:01 "The Winds of Winter" concludes a standout Game of Thrones season with another off-beat tour-de-force episode from director Miguel Sapochnik. Josh and Søren discuss. 11908 Stark Contrast: Episode 19 “Battle of the Bastards” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-battle-of-the-bastards/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-battle-of-the-bastards/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2016 13:00:58 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11865 Thank god for Miguel Sapochnik. Almost every week J and I tend to harp on the editing and camerawork in Game of Thrones. It’s been a bit better this season, but in general we’re both fairly underwhelmed with the technical side of the show. That’s why it feels like a breath of fresh air having […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 19 “Battle of the Bastards” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-battle-of-the-bastards/feed/ 1 Thank god for Miguel Sapochnik. Almost every week J and I tend to harp on the editing and camerawork in Game of Thrones. It’s been a bit better this season, but in general we’re both fairly underwhelmed with the technical side of the show. "Battle of the Bastards" marks the return of Miguel Sapochnik, a fantastic filmmaker whose expert craftsmanship permeates the whole epic episode. From camerawork to editing, every corner of Game of Thrones receives a cinematic face lift. Josh and Søren discuss.<br /> <br /> This is a much longer podcast than we normally put out. With that in mind, the episode generally splits into "Gender, Power and Meereen" from 0:00–1:12:46, "Sapochnik and Wagner" from 1:12:47–1:26:24 and "The Battle of the Bastards" from 1:26:25–2:33:11. J Rosenfield yes 2:33:11 "Battle of the Bastards" marks the return of Miguel Sapochnik, a fantastic filmmaker whose expert craftsmanship permeates the whole epic episode. From camerawork to editing, every corner of Game of Thrones receives a cinematic face lift. Josh and Søren discuss.<br /> <br /> This is a much longer podcast than we normally put out. With that in mind, the episode generally splits into "Gender, Power and Meereen" from 0:00–1:12:46, "Sapochnik and Wagner" from 1:12:47–1:26:24 and "The Battle of the Bastards" from 1:26:25–2:33:11. 11865 Stark Contrast: Episode 18 “No One” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-episode-18-no-one/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-episode-18-no-one/#respond Sat, 18 Jun 2016 18:39:13 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11843 “No One” continues an unfortunate lull in Game of Thrones, a character episode that has as many brilliant moments as it does head-scratching. The plot inches forward for characters like The Hound (Rory McCann) while going almost nowhere for the likes of Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and the Blackfish (Clive Russell). Despite this, we […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 18 “No One” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-episode-18-no-one/feed/ 0 “No One” continues an unfortunate lull in Game of Thrones, a character episode that has as many brilliant moments as it does head-scratching. The plot inches forward for characters like The Hound (Rory McCann) while going almost nowhere for the likes o... "No One" marks a lull for Game of Thrones, where plot has come to a crawl as various character moments rise or fall on the swords of their own logic. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:52:26 "No One" marks a lull for Game of Thrones, where plot has come to a crawl as various character moments rise or fall on the swords of their own logic. Josh and Søren discuss. 11843 Stark Contrast: Episode 17 “The Broken Man” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-broken-man/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-broken-man/#respond Fri, 10 Jun 2016 06:33:32 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11756 This week J and I split on “The Broken Man.” It’s a great episode in many ways, but J lays out some of the same criticisms we discussed for “Blood of my Blood” — repetition, slow plots and hanging threads. I counter that it’s well-written and well-shot (thank cinematographer P.J. Dillon), much like the excellent […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 17 “The Broken Man” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-the-broken-man/feed/ 0 This week J and I split on “The Broken Man.” It’s a great episode in many ways, but J lays out some of the same criticisms we discussed for “Blood of my Blood” — repetition, slow plots and hanging threads. I counter that it’s well-written and well-shot... Josh and Søren split on "The Broken Man," a low key but significant episode filled with great character moments and subtle plot development. J Rosenfield yes 1:20:08 Josh and Søren split on "The Broken Man," a low key but significant episode filled with great character moments and subtle plot development. 11756 Stark Contrast: Episode 16 “Blood of My Blood” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-blood-of-my-blood/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-blood-of-my-blood/#comments Sat, 04 Jun 2016 18:43:00 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11736 The sixth episode of this season of Game of Thrones didn’t quite manage to top the highs of last week. Still, a healthy dose of reveals managed to keep “Blood of My Blood” afloat. My complaints about editing aside, this was hardly the worst episode of the season and maintains the much higher quality standard we’ve […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 16 “Blood of My Blood” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-blood-of-my-blood/feed/ 6 The sixth episode of this season of Game of Thrones didn’t quite manage to top the highs of last week. Still, a healthy dose of reveals managed to keep “Blood of My Blood” afloat. My complaints about editing aside, "Blood of my Blood" is a slower Game of Thrones episode plagued by some strange editing and repeat sequences, but it still manages to sneak in major reveals. Søren Hough yes 1:19:23 "Blood of my Blood" is a slower Game of Thrones episode plagued by some strange editing and repeat sequences, but it still manages to sneak in major reveals. 11736 No Future: Green Room and Punk Nihilism http://moviefail.com/no-future-green-room-punk-nihilism/ http://moviefail.com/no-future-green-room-punk-nihilism/#respond Sun, 29 May 2016 13:00:19 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11627 “No future” is one of punk’s most distinctive calling cards. Originally borrowed from the lyrics of the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen,” the slogan captures the nihilistic ideologies that fueled this cultural movement and its offshoots across other artistic media. For the punks, there’s not much hope in a capitalistic hellscape—but there is some […]

The post No Future: Green Room and Punk Nihilism appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/no-future-green-room-punk-nihilism/feed/ 0 11627 Stark Contrast: Episode 15 “The Door” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-door/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-door/#comments Fri, 27 May 2016 13:00:14 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11680 “The Door” gets Game of Thrones back on track after last week’s slower, odder diversion. This week we saw stronger editing on action scenes and compelling reveals about the world of the show. But perhaps most importantly, “The Door” affirmed important character development that J and I have worried about for two or three seasons. This comes […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 15 “The Door” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-the-door/feed/ 1 “The Door” gets Game of Thrones back on track after last week’s slower, odder diversion. This week we saw stronger editing on action scenes and compelling reveals about the world of the show. But perhaps most importantly, "The Door" gets Season 6 of Game of Thrones right back on track, delivering on plot and reaffirming important character arc progression for some of the most put-upon people in Westeros. Josh and Søren discuss. J Rosenfield yes 1:48:52 "The Door" gets Season 6 of Game of Thrones right back on track, delivering on plot and reaffirming important character arc progression for some of the most put-upon people in Westeros. Josh and Søren discuss. 11680 Stark Contrast: Episode 14 “Book of the Stranger” http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-book-of-the-stranger/ http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-book-of-the-stranger/#comments Thu, 19 May 2016 13:35:52 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11617 After the high of last week’s excellent Game of Thrones episode, we were bound for some disappointment. Fortunately it took the form of “Book of the Stranger,” a mediocre but hardly terrible episode that felt like treading (and retreading) water more than anything else. J and I delve into what makes this such a strange and […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 14 “Book of the Stranger” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-book-of-the-stranger/feed/ 1 After the high of last week’s excellent Game of Thrones episode, we were bound for some disappointment. Fortunately it took the form of “Book of the Stranger,” a mediocre but hardly terrible episode that felt like treading (and retreading) water more t... Game of Thrones finally spins its wheels this season, stuck in the mud as it gives us the same big moments we've seen while moving little else forward. Søren Hough yes 1:02:41 Game of Thrones finally spins its wheels this season, stuck in the mud as it gives us the same big moments we've seen while moving little else forward. 11617 Stark Contrast: Episode 13 “Oathbreaker” http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-oathbreaker/ http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-oathbreaker/#comments Sat, 14 May 2016 15:32:51 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11581 One of the biggest problems with Game of Thrones has always been its shackled approach to its source material. While the series has diverged from the books at points, it was never quite ready to shift around the narrative for the sake of better television. This was especially clear in earlier seasons which stuck to about one […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 13 “Oathbreaker” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-oathbreaker/feed/ 3 One of the biggest problems with Game of Thrones has always been its shackled approach to its source material. While the series has diverged from the books at points, it was never quite ready to shift around the narrative for the sake of better televis... Josh and Søren discuss the best episode of Game of Thrones Season 6 so far, "Oathbreaker." It's an entry light on twists but heavy on narrative momentum - exactly what we've been asking for from the show for years. J Rosenfield yes 1:21:22 Josh and Søren discuss the best episode of Game of Thrones Season 6 so far, "Oathbreaker." It's an entry light on twists but heavy on narrative momentum - exactly what we've been asking for from the show for years. 11581 Stark Contrast: Episode 12 “Home” http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-home/ http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-home/#comments Thu, 05 May 2016 13:00:35 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11574 Game of Thrones has never been shy about its twists, but this week was particularly eventful. The second episode of Season Six continues the momentum of the premiere as it veers back and forth between leftover over plots about the Iron Islands to uncharted territory with Bran, Arya and the Night’s Watch. The good news is that […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 12 “Home” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-home/feed/ 2 Game of Thrones has never been shy about its twists, but this week was particularly eventful. The second episode of Season Six continues the momentum of the premiere as it veers back and forth between leftover over plots about the Iron Islands to uncha... Game of Thrones delivers an episode that offered sudden deaths and un-deaths of key characters, all set against a stunning cinematographic backdrop. Josh and Søren discuss. Søren Hough yes 1:28:51 Game of Thrones delivers an episode that offered sudden deaths and un-deaths of key characters, all set against a stunning cinematographic backdrop. Josh and Søren discuss. 11574 Stark Contrast: Episode 11 “The Red Woman” http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-the-red-woman/ http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-the-red-woman/#comments Sat, 30 Apr 2016 13:00:09 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11512 Game of Thrones is back, which means so is our annual podcast, “Stark Contrast.” Remember the gimmick here: J has read the books, and I haven’t. This usually translates into him mocking me for not anticipating major deaths and events, but I savor the victories when the show goes in a wildly different direction that […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 11 “The Red Woman” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/game-of-thrones-the-red-woman/feed/ 1 Game of Thrones is back, which means so is our annual podcast, “Stark Contrast.” Remember the gimmick here: J has read the books, and I haven’t. This usually translates into him mocking me for not anticipating major deaths and events, Game of Thrones is back, which means so is our annual podcast, “Stark Contrast.” Remember the gimmick here: J has read the books, and I haven’t. This usually translates into him mocking me for not anticipating major deaths and events, but I savor the victories when the show goes in a wildly different direction that […] J Rosenfield yes 1:35:02 11512 The Jungle Book Succeeds Where Jurassic World Fails http://moviefail.com/jungle-book-succeeds/ http://moviefail.com/jungle-book-succeeds/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2016 13:00:28 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11485 Dinosaurs are by far the largest and most spectacular creatures ever to walk this earth. Consider the magnificent Brontosaurus; up to 90 feet and 35 tons worth of saurian majesty. Elongated neck on one side, whip like tail on the other, legs like pillars of an ancient temple in between. As for the color of […]

The post The Jungle Book Succeeds Where Jurassic World Fails appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/jungle-book-succeeds/feed/ 16 11485 High-Rise http://moviefail.com/high-rise/ http://moviefail.com/high-rise/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2016 13:00:41 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11437 In all the mayhem and carnage of High-Rise one scene in particular stands out. As society teeters perilously close to total collapse, we find Dr Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) brawling over a tin of grey paint during the looting of the supermarket. “It’s my paint!” Laing exclaims as he bludgeons a rival to a bloody […]

The post High-Rise appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/high-rise/feed/ 1 11437 Zootopia with Ben and Søren http://moviefail.com/zootopia/ http://moviefail.com/zootopia/#comments Sun, 20 Mar 2016 13:00:58 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11399 Podcast Review In this podcast, Søren and Ben discuss Disney’s animated film, Zootopia. Be sure to scroll down and read more about their respective opinions in more detail. As always, you can subscribe to our podcast feed using iTunes or by copying this link into your RSS reader. Alternatively, you can check out the episode online or download it here. Happy listening! […]

The post Zootopia with Ben and Søren appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/zootopia/feed/ 3 Podcast Review In this podcast, Søren and Ben discuss Disney’s animated film, Zootopia. Be sure to scroll down and read more about their respective opinions in more detail. As always, you can subscribe to our podcast feed using iTunes or by copying thi... Zootopia takes on gender and race with a loose series of metaphors grounded in the animal kingdom. But does it work, or does it leave us hopping mad? Søren Hough yes 1:00:53 Zootopia takes on gender and race with a loose series of metaphors grounded in the animal kingdom. But does it work, or does it leave us hopping mad? 11399 Deadpool with J and Søren http://moviefail.com/deadpool/ http://moviefail.com/deadpool/#respond Wed, 09 Mar 2016 14:00:58 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11357 Podcast Review J and Søren sit down to discuss Fox’s Deadpool in this dueling review. Below that you’ll find both of their written opinions for a more detailed look at their perspectives. As always, you can subscribe to our podcast feed using iTunes or by copying this link into your RSS reader. Alternatively, you can check out the episode online or […]

The post Deadpool with J and Søren appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/deadpool/feed/ 0 Podcast Review J and Søren sit down to discuss Fox’s Deadpool in this dueling review. Below that you’ll find both of their written opinions for a more detailed look at their perspectives. As always, you can subscribe to our podcast feed using iTunes or... While Søren felt Deadpool easily surpassed expectations, Josh says it's exactly the bad joke generator he thought it would be. Søren Hough yes 1:15:16 While Søren felt Deadpool easily surpassed expectations, Josh says it's exactly the bad joke generator he thought it would be. 11357 Movie Fail Live Tweets the 88th Academy Awards http://moviefail.com/academy-awards-2016-live/ http://moviefail.com/academy-awards-2016-live/#respond Sun, 28 Feb 2016 17:28:03 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11376 In light of the massive controversy around #OscarsSoWhite, host Chris Rock reportedly tossed his plans for the 88th Academy Awards in favor of a brand new set of material. We’re all psyched to see what he has in store. The festivities begin at 7 pm EST on ABC (or online). The full list of 2016 Oscar […]

The post Movie Fail Live Tweets the 88th Academy Awards appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/academy-awards-2016-live/feed/ 0 11376 The Best New TV Shows of 2015 http://moviefail.com/best-new-tv-shows-2015/ http://moviefail.com/best-new-tv-shows-2015/#respond Fri, 15 Jan 2016 14:00:33 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11301 The Golden Age of television doesn’t seem to be losing steam. In fact, the era of captivating TV has crossed over to streaming services which stepped up their presence in 2015; many of the year’s best shows were provided by sites like Netflix. These days their appeal doesn’t come solely from our ability to binge watch […]

The post The Best New TV Shows of 2015 appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/best-new-tv-shows-2015/feed/ 0 11301 Spotlight http://moviefail.com/spotlight/ http://moviefail.com/spotlight/#respond Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:00:51 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11236 Spotlight might be the ugliest film of 2015. It’s so wrapped up in its own aesthetic of reality—washed out faces that blend in with pale, drab wallpaper, garish orange furniture clashing with a painfully ordinary office—that you might cry foul that it’s meant for the big screen at all. Yet Tom McCarthy, the visionary director behind […]

The post Spotlight appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/spotlight/feed/ 0 11236 London Film Festival 2015: Green Room http://moviefail.com/green-room/ http://moviefail.com/green-room/#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2016 14:00:33 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11028 Punk Music has always had an uneasy relationship with violence, but for all the bravado, safety pins and rioting it’s never been explicitly tied to outright murder. That was until ultra-violent thriller Green Room hit theaters. Following on from his widely praised debut, Blue Ruin, Jeremy Saulnier cranks the drama up to eleven and produces an exhilarating, albeit […]

The post London Film Festival 2015: Green Room appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/green-room/feed/ 2 11028 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 http://moviefail.com/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2/ http://moviefail.com/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2/#respond Sat, 26 Dec 2015 14:00:05 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11148 I’ve had an interesting relationship with The Hunger Games film series. The first (and titular) entry caught my attention for bringing Suzanne Collins’ dystopian world to such initially vibrant life, but director Gary Ross’ shaky camerawork kept me from lauding the film too heavily. Francis Lawrence took up the directing reigns afterward, and crafted Catching Fire into a […]

The post The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2/feed/ 0 11148 London Film Festival 2015: The Lobster http://moviefail.com/the-lobster/ http://moviefail.com/the-lobster/#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2015 14:00:03 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11024 “If you were an animal, what animal would you be?” Whether it’s the whirling infantile mind or the daydreams of a bored office worker, this thought holds a primitive interest. Clearly it’s been on Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’ mind. The Lobster places us in a world where relationships are so important that those who haven’t found […]

The post London Film Festival 2015: The Lobster appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/the-lobster/feed/ 1 11024 Star Wars: The Force Awakens http://moviefail.com/star-wars-the-force-awakens/ http://moviefail.com/star-wars-the-force-awakens/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2015 14:00:09 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11200 I paid attention to the little things in The Force Awakens. Some of these were visual — the small creature with eyes set apart like a hammerhead shark poking its head out of the sand, the vulturous creature picking at the remains of a ship as if it were a carcass. Others were musical, like […]

The post Star Wars: The Force Awakens appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/star-wars-the-force-awakens/feed/ 4 11200 Is Attack of the Clones Really That Bad? http://moviefail.com/attack-of-the-clones/ http://moviefail.com/attack-of-the-clones/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2015 16:46:07 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11186 Last week, Diego Crespo of The Waffle Press invited me to share my thoughts on one of the most maligned Star Wars films, Attack of the Clones. I dreaded suffering through the film again and anticipated a bloodbath of a conversation, but I have to say – even I was rather surprised at my reaction to revisiting one of the […]

The post Is Attack of the Clones Really That Bad? appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/attack-of-the-clones/feed/ 7 11186 Experimenter http://moviefail.com/experimenter/ http://moviefail.com/experimenter/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2015 14:00:19 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11049 If we define postmodernism as art which questions and critiques established formal rules, Michael Almereyda’s Experimenter might accurately be described as post-postmodern. It deconstructs the impulse towards deconstruction; instead, Almereyda asks his audience why they consider some rules worthy of clinging to and not others. The obedience experiments of Stanley Milgram may be the subject, but […]

The post Experimenter appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/experimenter/feed/ 1 11049 The Good Dinosaur http://moviefail.com/the-good-dinosaur/ http://moviefail.com/the-good-dinosaur/#respond Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:00:43 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11076 While I prefer to judge a film on its own merit, nothing exists in a vacuum. An artist’s work is always weighed against their past efforts or, in the case of Pixar, against the reputation of the studio. And indeed, no review of The Good Dinosaur will print without comparing it to Inside Out. Nor […]

The post The Good Dinosaur appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/the-good-dinosaur/feed/ 0 11076 London Film Festival 2015: Observance http://moviefail.com/observance/ http://moviefail.com/observance/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2015 14:00:36 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11018 Alfred Hitchcock, the master of the thriller film, once commented on the idea of voyeurism in a conversation with Francois Truffaut. He said, “I’ll bet you that nine out of ten people, if they see a woman across the courtyard undressing for bed, or even a man puttering around in his room… They could pull down […]

The post London Film Festival 2015: Observance appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/observance/feed/ 2 11018 London Film Festival 2015: Anomalisa http://moviefail.com/anomalisa/ http://moviefail.com/anomalisa/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2015 14:00:18 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11020 Standing in the queue for the London Film Festival’s mysterious secret screening, all the talk was unsurprisingly concerned with what lay ahead on the mammoth screen at the Odeon in Leicester Square. Packed together like cattle, there were murmurs of The Hateful Eight or, perhaps most widely suspected, The Danish Girl. But of course you can’t second guess the […]

The post London Film Festival 2015: Anomalisa appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/anomalisa/feed/ 2 11020 London Film Festival 2015: The Ones Below http://moviefail.com/the-ones-below/ http://moviefail.com/the-ones-below/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2015 14:00:27 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11022 Sometimes a film is intrinsically indebted to another. The Ones Below owes such gratitude to Roman Polanski’s pregnancy horror classic, Rosemary’s Baby. Building directly from another film, especially one as renowned and distinctive as Polanksi’s, adds a certain amount of pressure and expectation to a film; unfair or not, audiences expect you to either trump your predecessor or add to its legacy. […]

The post London Film Festival 2015: The Ones Below appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/the-ones-below/feed/ 2 11022 Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation http://moviefail.com/mission-impossible-rogue-nation-2/ http://moviefail.com/mission-impossible-rogue-nation-2/#respond Sat, 07 Nov 2015 15:53:11 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=11070 In the opening scene of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), leading man and superspy for the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), jumps onto the wing of a jet and hangs on for dear life as it takes off. A shot of this, incidentally, is featured on one of the promotional posters for this movie. And what […]

The post Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/mission-impossible-rogue-nation-2/feed/ 0 11070 Queen of Earth http://moviefail.com/queen-of-earth/ http://moviefail.com/queen-of-earth/#respond Thu, 15 Oct 2015 13:00:14 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10930 2015 is turning out to be the year of the 70s throwback. Between the old-school scares and menacing zooms of It Follows and Magic Mike XXL’s offbeat narrative and warm but dim lighting, Alex Ross Perry’s Queen of Earth comes to us at the ideal moment. And like those two films, Queen of Earth aspires […]

The post Queen of Earth appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/queen-of-earth/feed/ 0 10930 Straight Outta Compton http://moviefail.com/straight-outta-compton/ http://moviefail.com/straight-outta-compton/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2015 13:00:34 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10901 In 1988, N.W.A released the album “Straight Outta Compton.” The album’s titular first track opened with the spoken line “You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge” and ended with the bold full stop, “Damn that sh*t was dope!” In the four minutes in between, NWA redefined more than just hip hop […]

The post Straight Outta Compton appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/straight-outta-compton/feed/ 1 10901 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. http://moviefail.com/the-man-from-uncle/ http://moviefail.com/the-man-from-uncle/#respond Mon, 21 Sep 2015 13:00:46 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10894 It might be tempting to spend the night with The Man from U.N.C.L.E.—it’s attractive, stylish and has a great soundtrack—but the experience won’t satisfy you. This slapdash movie throws its scrambled narrative into your lap and expects you to do all of the work to figure it out. Neither director Guy Ritchie nor cowriter Lionel Wigram […]

The post The Man from U.N.C.L.E. appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/the-man-from-uncle/feed/ 0 10894 The Vaudevillian Heroes of Silent Film http://moviefail.com/vaudevillian-heroes-silent-film/ http://moviefail.com/vaudevillian-heroes-silent-film/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2015 13:00:54 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10826 One of cinema’s most enduring and iconic images is Harold Lloyd, donning his trademark boater and circular spectacles, hanging precariously from a clock face above bustling streets below. In this timely snapshot we can see the silent era’s greatest strengths: absurdity, comedy and physicality. While trying dramas such as Birth of a Nation (1915), Sunrise (1927) and The […]

The post The Vaudevillian Heroes of Silent Film appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/vaudevillian-heroes-silent-film/feed/ 1 10826 The Freedom of Movement in Chris Marker’s La Jetée http://moviefail.com/freedom-of-movement-la-jetee/ http://moviefail.com/freedom-of-movement-la-jetee/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2015 13:00:52 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=6581 Movies as we know them today are a trick. They do not technically depict motion, but rather a series individual images shown in succession. Chris Marker evokes this idea as he tells the story of La Jetée (1962) through a series of still frames. By almost entirely removing motion from his film, Marker challenges the idea that cinema is solely the domain of the […]

The post The Freedom of Movement in Chris Marker’s La Jetée appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/freedom-of-movement-la-jetee/feed/ 2 6581 Jurassic World http://moviefail.com/jurassic-world/ http://moviefail.com/jurassic-world/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:00:28 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10801 Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was a cultural phenomenon. It remains an impressive movie that has captured the imagination of every child and adult, dinosaur-obsessed or not. While its sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, didn’t manage to captivate audiences like its predecessor did, it remained an entertaining dinosaur-themed diversion. (Jurassic Park III, on the other hand, does not exist.) So when Universal Studios […]

The post Jurassic World appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/jurassic-world/feed/ 1 10801 Debating Avengers: Age of Ultron with The Waffle Press http://moviefail.com/debating-the-merits-of-avengers-age-of-ultron-with-the-waffle-press/ http://moviefail.com/debating-the-merits-of-avengers-age-of-ultron-with-the-waffle-press/#comments Sun, 09 Aug 2015 14:35:06 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10812 Diego Crespo of The Waffle Press is a stalwart defender of Age of Ultron, a film he believes qualifies as one of the best and most thematically rich MCU films released thus far. I, on the other hand, found Joss Whedon’s Avengers follow-up utterly hollow, terribly confusing and altogether disappointing. Diego invited me onto his show to discuss […]

The post Debating Avengers: Age of Ultron with The Waffle Press appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/debating-the-merits-of-avengers-age-of-ultron-with-the-waffle-press/feed/ 1 Diego Crespo of The Waffle Press is a stalwart defender of Age of Ultron, a film he believes qualifies as one of the best and most thematically rich MCU films released thus far. I, on the other hand, found Joss Whedon’s Avengers follow-up utterly hollo... Diego Crespo of The Waffle Press is a stalwart defender of Age of Ultron, a film he believes qualifies as one of the best and most thematically rich MCU films released thus far. I, on the other hand, found Joss Whedon’s Avengers follow-up utterly hollow, terribly confusing and altogether disappointing. Diego invited me onto his show to discuss […] Diego Crespo yes 10812 It Follows http://moviefail.com/it-follows/ http://moviefail.com/it-follows/#comments Sun, 19 Jul 2015 20:00:03 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10449 It Follows taught me to fear everything onscreen. The film’s visual language elicits constant unease and feeds off our growing existential dread. The movie takes you in and traps you, leaving you addicted to its inescapable paranoia. The film opens with an unassuming shot of a suburban street in early autumn. Birds chirp and all seems […]

The post It Follows appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/it-follows/feed/ 7 10449 Stark Contrast: Episode 10 “Mother’s Mercy” http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-mothers-mercy/ http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-mothers-mercy/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2015 11:00:47 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10684 Season 5 of Game of Thrones concludes with “Mother’s Mercy,” a crowded episode that delivers in some ways while squandering potential in others. In our discussion, J talks about how the television Game of Thrones universe seems to not only tolerate but reward evil. We then both commend and debate Cersei’s (Lena Headey/Rebecca Van Cleave) walk of shame. I […]

The post Stark Contrast: Episode 10 “Mother’s Mercy” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/stark-contrast-game-of-thrones-mothers-mercy/feed/ 4 Season 5 of Game of Thrones concludes with “Mother’s Mercy,” a crowded episode that delivers in some ways while squandering potential in others. In our discussion, J talks about how the television Game of Thrones universe seems to not only tolerate but... Season 5 of Game of Thrones concludes with “Mother’s Mercy,” a crowded episode that delivers in some ways while squandering potential in others. In our discussion, J talks about how the television Game of Thrones universe seems to not only tolerate but reward evil. We then both commend and debate Cersei’s (Lena Headey/Rebecca Van Cleave) walk of shame. I […] Søren Hough yes 10684 Child 44 http://moviefail.com/child-44/ http://moviefail.com/child-44/#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2015 15:26:12 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10357 Cigar chain-smoker and all-around war hero Winston Churchill once mused, “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” While Child 44 isn’t quite that indecipherable, Churchill’s sentiments perfectly summarise the disjointed and fragmented adaptation of Tom Rob Smith’s U.S.S.R.-based novel. Director Daniel Espinosa fails to utilise the superb cinematic tools at hand—including […]

The post Child 44 appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/child-44/feed/ 1 10357 Hannibal Review: “Primavera” http://moviefail.com/hannibal-review-primavera/ http://moviefail.com/hannibal-review-primavera/#respond Thu, 18 Jun 2015 00:14:22 +0000 http://moviefail.com/?p=10613 If last week’s “Antipasto” was the appetizer for Season 3 of Hannibal, “Primavera” is the first course. The two episodes complement each other in many ways, the most obvious being that the first focused entirely on Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) while the second shifts its attention back to Will (Hugh Dancy). Hannibal’s melancholic longing for Will danced around […]

The post Hannibal Review: “Primavera” appeared first on Movie Fail.

]]> http://moviefail.com/hannibal-review-primavera/feed/ 0 10613