On The Line: This Is What Killed The Radio Star

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A radio host, played by Mel Gibson, has his family held hostage live on air.

Man this film is hard to get through. Mel Gibson love him or hate him, is absolutely unbearable here and has one of his worst and hardest to like characters ever, honestly it feels so much like the cliched old man complaining about kids today that at times I had to check and see whether the film was a parody of something. This characters is awful to everyone around them and then we are supposed to care when his family get taken hostage and want him to save them, no honestly I just felt nothing.

Then as the film progresses we get the twist, and boy is the twist going to annoy you. Everything that has happened up until that point in the end of the second act has just been one big prank, surprise. This is terrible because it feels in line with one of those dumb it was all a dream plots and makes you feel like you have wasted your time which is the worst part for sure.

In terms of Gibson’s performance there is a question to be asked here about less being better. Gibson makes so many of these straight to DVD films or straight to streaming that he doesn’t turn up and not only that but he feels angry to be there and that comes through in his performance, not in a good way.

Overall, if this is the sort of trash Gibson is putting out these days then his career as a movie icon is well and truly dead.

Pros.

It is unintentionally hilarious at times

Cons.

The twist is awful

Gibson is loathsome

Gibson doesn’t bother to give a performance here he is just there reading lines

It is too long

It doesn’t respect the audience even a tiny bit

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Bleeder: Ah To Have Worked In A Video Store

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The film follows a working class group of friends who live in Denmark as they try and find a way through life, with lashings of gritty drama thrown in for good measure.

I enjoyed this film quite a bit, before watching I had seen a lot of comparisons to Refn’s other film Pusher with this film coming off less favourably, however, I think this film may be just as good if not better in a few ways. Additionally I think both are quite different beasts so that a strong comparison between the two is impossible.

I think the reason this film spoke to me personally so much is because of Mads Mikkelsen’s Lenny who I related to in far too many ways. Lenny’s journey over the course of the film was for me the best bit, and I enjoyed it more than the central storyline of Leo, played by Kim Bodnia, becoming self-destructive and imploding his life. I suppose the two contrasting storylines show different pathways in life and how everyone’s journey can take them to different places both good and bad, and of course there is a lot to say about masculinity as there is in most if not all of Refn’s work.

I felt myself in many ways applauding the bad things that happen to Leo later in the film as he really does become a love to hate them sort of character as the film progresses, and unlike with Bodnia’s character in Pusher doesn’t really have any redeemable qualities.

My one criticism of this film, which might seem silly when thinking more broadly about Refn’s filmography, is that the darkness here feels all-consuming, though content wise it likely isn’t this feels like Refn’s most sombre and melancholy film which at times can border on the depressing.

Overall, a good film and one that fans of Refn will surely love, if a little depressing.

Pros.

Mikkelsen

The hopeful ending

A sense of karmic justice in the fate of Leo

The long discussions about film

Cons.

It can be a little depressing at times

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The Long Kiss Goodnight: Is It Really Christmas Without A Shane Black Film?

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

An amnesiatic school teacher, played by Geena Davis, must team up with a private detective, played by Samuel L. Jackson, in order to get to the bottom of a sinister conspiracy.

A lot of these sort of Neo-Noir films do tend to blend together, they all have similar features, characters and themes and ultimately struggle to feel truly different to one another. That is the main issue with this film, in that I feel like nothing about it is organic, nothing is fresh and unseen.

However, though that is a problem for the film Shane Black’s writing helps to save it, as it is spot on not just in terms of tone and pace but also in terms of crafting characters and a world that you end up caring about even if it is just the same old same old.

Furthermore, the words are really brought together by the performances of both Davis and Jackson and not only do they end up embodying the characters but also give such immersive performances that you forget you are watching a film and feel like you are looking through a window in the real world outside.

Overall, though generic and formulaic in many ways Black’s strong writing and Davis and Jackson’s commendable performances help to make this a good film.

4/5

Pros.

The writing

The performances

The ending

The tone and the emotion

Cons.

It is very cliched and generic at times

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Chucky: Doll On Doll

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Chad Chucky and Good Chucky, voiced by Brad Dourif, face off.

I think following on from last week’s episode this was definitely a step back, though the episode was not all bad.

I enjoyed the fight between the two Chuckies, however, I thought the idea of Good Chucky slowly starting to turn bad again was super obvious as it would break the status quo of the show to have Good Chucky permanently amongst the heroes roster for this universe, he always needs to be evil. The crucifixion turned raising from the dead was a nice touch though.

I also liked that Andy, played by Alex Vincent, makes a return right at the end of the episode, I knew the series wouldn’t just kill him off, hopefully he can be a larger part of the last few episodes of the season. Moreover, I thought the Colonel was chilling certainly an interesting take on Chucky and a fun persona to follow, hopefully they are not just one and done.

I would say what held this episode back for me is the very obvious fact that it is a filler episode more content with setting things up for later in the season then delivering for this episode in particular, when thinking about it it is hard to say very much of anything happens in this episode.

Overall, a few neat moments and its nice to see Andy return but other than that a fairly dull episode.

3/5

Pros.

Andy is back

The Chucky fight

Seeing the Glen/Glenda doll return

Cons.

The Tiffany stuff grinds the plot to a standstill

It feels very filler esque

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Chucky: Death On Denial

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Tiffany, played by Jennifer Tilly, hosts a party for her children’s birthday but during the festivities things start to go awry.

I think this was easily the best episode so far this season for a number of reasons. Firstly, Tiffany and her ever further descent into madness and her relationship with Nica, played by Fiona Dourif, is easily becoming the best thing about the show and is also far more entertaining than any of the school stuff with the kids, plus we get the much waited for return of Kyle, played by Christine Elise, so that is easily an extra point in my book.

Secondly, when Glen/Glenda was mentioned at the end of last season I was slightly apprehensive about how the show was going to handle them, but I have to say Lachlan Watson does a terrific job as both characters and really is the standout star of the episode, they encapsulate the perfect personification imagining of what Glen and Glenda would be like in human form from how they are depicted as in Seed Of Chucky.

Finally, I really enjoyed the beginning and ending of the episode where Chucky, played by Brad Dourif, addressed the audience and did his little bit with WWE superstar Liv Morgan I thought it was quite funny and helped to juxtapose the more serious elements of the episode.

Overall, easily the best episode so far, mostly because it didn’t feature the kids very much at all.

4/5

Pros

The return of Kyle

Tiffany and Nica

Watson

The opening and ending Chucky bits

Cons.

Some of the guest stars other than Morgan were a little annoying

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Strange Worlds: Disney’s Fear Of LGBTQ+ Kisses Reaches New Heights

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

3 generations of a family of explorers go on an adventure to save their planet.

This film is fine, just fine. In terms of family adventure films it hits all the areas you would expect it to, but it doesn’t do anything new or exciting with the concept. Likewise in terms of thematic narratives, the idea of fathers and sons being different and having to recognise and accept that difference in order to have healthy relationships is nice to see repeated but again a message that a lot of other films have hit better before.

Moreover, this film does two things I really don’t like and that I think hurt it dramatically. Firstly it is gutless in its LGBTQ romance, it has a Gay male romance sheerly to use it as a smoke screen to show off how progressive as a company Disney are, but then when it comes to the big final moment at the end of the film where these chaps would kiss the film instead opts for an arm around the other instead. Why is that? Well frankly it is because Disney is gutless and wants to have their cake and eat it to, they want to appear progressive but also not offend the Chinese market or the right wing western market that might have a problem with this. It doesn’t cut both ways. I would have liked this film more and respected Disney more as a company if the two guys had kissed at the end.

Secondly, I dislike how the entire second and third act is an incredibly thinly vailed message about the environment, that not only reads as shallow and without anything new to add, but also as preachy and condescending. The vast bulk of the latter stages of the film just boil down to a lecture on how we are killing the planet, as though this is something the average moviegoer can change, it isn’t by the way that’s a job for world leaders but hey.

Overall, gutless and poor.

2/5

Pros.

It is watchable

There are a few endearing characters

Cons.

Disney is too afraid to have its same sex characters kiss

The environmental message is irritating and blatant

It has pacing issues

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Your Christmas Or Mine: Whoever Wrote This Doesn’t Understand England As Country Or How People Interact

1.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

After parting at Christmas a young couple decide to surprise each other by getting onto the other’s train, but are then both surprised when the other isn’t there and has to spend Christmas with their families.

I found this film infuriating, the writing is so damn poor that any chance it ever had of being a new Christmas based rom-com to be remembered for years to come is quickly squandered in the first few minutes. The fact that it takes them a long time to even have the character explain the mix up to their other halves’ family and until that point just has them be a stranger in the household that no one questions is baffling.

Asa Butterfield does make for a likeable lead but the rest of the cast are either miscast, going through the motions or are non-entities, what is really shocking is how the film wastes some veteran performers as well.

The central romance is fairly weak and all the trials and tribulations the pair have to go through are nothing you haven’t seen done better before.

Overall, an incredibly poorly written Christmas rom-com.

Pros.

Butterfield is trying

It is unintentionally hilarious

Cons.

The writing is terrible

It wastes some great actors

The wider casting is all wrong

The pace is very much off

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Pieces: Peril In The Parish

2/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The film follows the disappearance of a priest’s wife.

Whilst this film is watchable, the mystery really isn’t anything to write home about at all. Everything that happens over the course of the film feels like a checkbox that the writers are ticking off as they go along whilst constantly referring back to the how to write a cliched mystery film guide book. Nothing feels surprising or organic whenever something happens it is met with a well obviously.

In addition the film finds it hard to maintain a sense of tension and for the most part struggled to keep my attention. I found myself getting distracted a lot whilst watching or just switching off because the film was not engaging me in anyway. What makes this worse is the incredibly slow pace that only draws out these problems to a point where they become unbearable.

The film isn’t awful and the performances do raise the bar somewhat and try and make up for the other weaker elements but even they aren’t enough.

Overall, a weak and incredibly obvious mystery film.

Pros.

It is watchable

The performances are mostly good

Cons.

It is obvious

It is cliched

It is boring

The pace is painful at times

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Blockbuster: The Irony Of Netflix Making A Streaming Series About A Company They Put Out Of Business

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A comedy series revolving around the last remaining Blockbuster.

In many ways this show reminded me of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, not just because Melissa Fumero is in both, however, I should follow that comparison up by saying that it reminded me off the early seasons of that show when it was still finding its feet because whilst this show has some promise it is by no means perfect.

In my view the main draw of the show is the relationship between Fumero’s Eliza and Randall Park’s Timmy, the will they wont they aspect. I think both of these two characters are well developed and are interesting enough for you to care about their lives and want to see them end up together. The rest of the cast, however, are far weaker and less explored, they quickly become the definition of take them or leave them and they add little of value to the show.

The comedy of the show is again patchy there are a number of great bits spread over the run of the first season, but there are also a lot of misses, probably more misses than hits in terms of the season as a whole.

Overall, this is fine background viewing, but becomes a little bit harder to watch if you start paying attention. Not without charm and promise but very rough around the edges.

3/5

Pros

Fumero

Park

A few funny jokes

Cons

The supporting cast are mostly non-entities

There are also a number of misses when it comes to the comedy

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Rick and Morty: Analyze Piss

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

After seeing a therapist Rick decides to give Jerry a win and let him become a superhero of sorts, however, Rick then sees the result of these actions and becomes a hero himself to try and out perform him and to redeem the origin suit wearer he has taken over from.

I think that this was the best episode of Rick and Morty in a long time, it was everything I liked about the show it was funny, it had some real emotional depth and it didn’t feel gimmicky or as thought the writers were trying to show off some science fiction concept they had just learnt about.

I like that we are being show Rick as a character growing, he is talking to a therapist, he is giving Jerry wins, he is trying to redeem himself and be a better person and I think that highlights the character journey he has been on since season one, it has been long going but it feels rewarding to see.

My only complaint of the episode is the way the family turn on Rick at the end, yes he hands in the suicide note so they know his reasons for doing what he did were mixed but I would still say it didn’t warrant that response. The writers seem to be trying to redeem Rick this season whilst also making the family more and more unlikeable. Maybe the show is leading up to a point where Rick will leave his family and head out on his own again and we will follow him, I am imagining a science fiction version of Bojack.

Overall, a very good episode. Perhaps even a modern classic.

4.5/5

Pros.

Rick’s journey

The Adventures of Piss Man

The humour

The emotional depths

The return of the therapist

Cons.

The family as a group are becoming more unlikeable

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