Premise: A couple on a backpacking trip discovers a magical town in which everyone acts like they’re in a classic musical.
Creators: Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul
Cast: Keegan-Michael Key, Cecily Strong, Fred Armisen, Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose, Ann Harada, Jane Krakowski, Martin Short, Aaron Tveit, Tituss Burgess, Patrick Page.
What it reminds me of: Big Fish, 30 Rock, Sound of Music, Chicago.
Why I like it: This show has been on my list for a long time now. I have and will watch anything with Keegan-Michael Key. I am not a big of musicals, but I am a big fan of satire and that’s what this is. But it doesn’t lack anything. The costumes, set design, music, choreography are all fantastic. The set designs on this show are, by far, my favorite thing. It is like being back in Spectre from Big Fish, which is one of my favorite movies.
The show has some of the same cast as 30 Rock and a lot of the same feels. Witty, quick jokes. Characters that are fun to watch, but you would never want to be around in real life.
One of my favorite jokes of the show is making fun of how quickly people break into song and how, throughout songs, things make less and less sense.
Review: I wound up seeing this instead of Trap. There weren’t any good showtimes left or Trap, but I also heard it wasn’t. great. Twisters was a lot of fun. It knew what it was. I wish I had seen it in 4D to make it even more enjoyable. I didn’t see really any 3D or IMAX options for it, just 4D at the limited theaters across the country.
I love Glen Powell. He is my new Channing Tatum. He chooses perfect roles and this was one of them. There is a cool twist to the story, revealed early on that really makes you root for him. I also really love Anthony Ramos ever since seeing him in Hamilton and A Star is Born. The cast is all around very stacked. Maura Tierney is in it. Kiernan Shipa, who I didn’t even know until right before I saw it. David orenswet who is the new Superman. Paul Scheer has a fun cameo at the end. And even Bill Pullman’s son has a cameo, to pay homage to the late actor who starred in the first film.
The synopsis is pretty much a John Wicks/heist type of movie. The protagonist, a now retired storm chaser, goes back for one last job. But we all know what one last job is like. Also, she loses people in a tornado and seeks revenge on tornados once and for all. I was surprised there wasn’t a scene where she punched a tornado.
The VFX editor for the film was told by the director not to add a cow to the film, but did so anyway. And got it past the director. I spent most of the movie looking for it. Now, I will just look it up.
The soundtrack to this movie is all country music. It is fitting, as the movie takes place in middle America. It’s not overly done, though, and fits the movie and scenes where it is played.
This is a popcorn movie. You go to it for fun, you don’t overthink it, and you have a good time.
Writer: Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, Shawn Levy
Director: Shawn Levy
Premise: Deadpool is offered a place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by the Time Variance Authority, but instead recruits a variant of Wolverine to save his universe from extinction.
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Aaron Stanford, Matthew Macfadyen.
Review: I very much enjoyed this movie. It was absolutely hilarious, very fun, had a great soundtrack, and it was over the top. I believe that it was a little too over the top with it’s pop culture references and breaking the fourth wall, but that’s what it is.
The movie has a very similar synopsis to the last Spider Man movie and some of the other recent Avenger films: A character goes back in time and/or visits different timelines to alter their own. That being said, this had a different feel as it plays out more like a comedy than anything and also because this is the movie that was supposed to and did help get the next Avengers phase going and get viewers back on board.
This movie is packed with pop culture references, nods to Disney now taking on the Deadpool character, a soundtrack that will make you wonder how any of it was acquired, and forgotten and never brought to life Marvel/Sony charcters.
Premise: In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.
Cast: Maika Monroe, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Nicolas Cage.
Review: Well, I was super disappointed in this movie. I hate the marketing strategies that horror movie use now. Before Midsommar was released, there were ads talking about people passing out in theaters, vomiting, being taken to the hospital. And there was one scene in the whole movie that grossed me out a little. With Longlegs, there were ads about Maika Monroe’s heartbeat on set and then on set seeing Nicholas Cage for the first time. I say that these marketing campaigns don’t work on me, but I guess they still subconsciously get to me. I was super excited for this one. It was hailed as the new Silence of the Lambs. I guess the only part of it that was similar was it featured a female detective who happened to know the killer.
There are scenes in the movie with Monroe or Cage where I didn’t know where or not to laugh or not. Nicholas Cage’s character not only looked like a Batman villian, but also had a similar name to one of the main antagonists in Gotham.
I was disappointed to find out the film had a certain element/theme to it that it did. I really wish it stuck to being more realistic.
And the whole third act was just full of plot holes.
And the jump scares in the movie felt very cheap. The only jump scenes were flashbacks that showed up quickly on screen with a loud, shrieking sound to scare viewers.
Review: My dad grew up a fan of Bob Marley. He saw him twice back in the day. Once, at Harvard. He loves to tell the story of how high the smoke was in the crowd that day. My dad also went to Jamaica a few times and even saw Peter Tosh play down there. We got tickets last summer to see The Wailers at The Range and were very disappointed when it got rained out.
Since last year, we have been counting down the days until the show and we were not disappointed. We have been going to The Range for decades. The place had always been great for hitting golf balls and enjoying seafood and ice cream. Over the past few yers, the establishment starting putting on concerts. The lineups that have been put on there over the years have really been incredible. Bands I remember were announcing shows at Red Rocks when I lived in Colorado. But this was the first concert I ever attended here.
I went up front for the last few songs by the Dis-n-Dat band. Holy talent. The band is fronted by a brother-sister duo, ‘Sista Dee’ and 4 time grammy nominated ‘Rangotan.’ ‘Sista Dee; is sang lead vocals, played steel drums, eyboard, and drums And her brother played drums and sang backup.
The Wailers came on around sundown. Mitchell Brunnings is a great frontman. He knew how to get the crowd pumped. Including changing the lyrics of “No Woman, No Cry” to ‘Cause, ’cause, ’cause I remember when we used to sit / In the government yard in New Hampshire’. Brunnings was discovered on Holland’s version of The Voice where he auditioned with “Redemption Song.” Aston Francis Barrett is the drummer and leader of the band. He is one of the many children of “Family Man,” the former bassist and bandleader of The Wailers. Wendell “Junior Jazz” Ferraro plays lead for the band and also supplies back-up vocals. During one song, Junior Jazz took on lead vocals and Brunnings moved his microphone stand to the back. I found this super respectable, as he let Junior Jazz have the spotlight, front and center.
The band played everything you would want them to: “Is This Love,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “I Shot the Sherriff,” “Three Little Birds,” “Jamming,” “Get Up, Stand-Up,” with an encore including “Buffalo Soldier” and “Could You Be Loved.” I also loved hearing the beautiful, slower “Exodus” and “Redemption Song.”
The band already announced an upcoming show in Boston at City Winery and I want to see them again.
Premise: In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.
Cast: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Bacon.
Review: I really wanted to like this one. I really enjoyed X. I enjoyed a lot of aspects of Pearl. Mostly the cinematography and Mia Goth’s acting and her character’s slow dive into madness. Neat fact: The film was made with the crew from Avatar 2 while they were on break. And another one: Final Destination 5 was the second film done with James Cameron’s 3D cameras after Avatar.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the cinematography, score, soundtrack, and set and costume design for Maxxxine. And, I know I am not the first review to point this out, this movie did not use Mia Goth to her full potential. Or really half of her potential. She more played an NPC in the film.
Kevin Bacon was great. I was very surprises to see a Bobby Cannavale movie without Rose Byrne. They are always in one another’s projects. Halsey had a cool supporting role.
The movie had some good kills. But it wasn’t a horror movie. What I like about this trilogy is that each film has been it’s own genre. I knew this was going for an 80’s crime noir type of film, but I would have liked some more horror in there. Some more scares.
One day, I will watch the trilogy in order. I technically did that, but over the years. Maybe as a marathon would make me appreciate this more.
Where to watch: Free: Starz. Subscription: YouTubePrimetime, Hulu Premium, Sling TV Pemium, Roku Premium, Amazon Prime. Rent/Buy: Google Play, Apple, Fandango at home
Premise: In 1932, two strangers are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Ned Beatty, R. Lee Ermey, Obba Babatundé, Bernie Mac, Anthony Anderson, Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Bokeem Woodbine, Guy Torry, Michael Taliferro and Barry Shabaka Henley.
Writer: Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone
Director: Ted Demme
What it reminds me of: Let’s Go to Prison
Why I like it: This is one of my favorite movies from the 90’s. And it’s just one of my favorite movies. I could watch it over and over again. What I love so much about this movie is that it is the perfect dramedy. You would think it is just a comedy from the trailer and the cast. But this movie has so much heart. I also love it because it has another formula of a favorite type of movie of mine: It takes place over decades.
The movie also has Bernie Mac in it and he was a hero of mine growing up. He plays such a great role in this movie. Anthony Anderson plays a small, but memorable role in the film. And the soundtrack is done by Wyclef Jean. And Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are at their best here, in my opinion. I know it isn’t “Beverly Hills Cop: or “Bad Boys,” but it is still a classic to me.
This movie will make you laugh, but it will also make you tear up. It will make you think about friendship, love, loss, and more. Oh, and cornbread!
This summer, Hootie & the Blowfish has reunited and is touring with Edwin McCain and collective soul on a tour called. When I saw the lineup, I thought it would be a fun throwback show to go to, but didn’t have a ton of interest. Then, Barenaked, ladies who happens to be one of my favorite bands, announced that they would be joining the tour for this one stop at Fenway Park. It would also be there only Boston stop on their own summer tour. I bought tickets almost immediately after this was announced.
I had seen Barenaked Ladies at Red Rocks and the summer before at Leader Bank in Boston. This would be the third time that I would be seeing them and would be the third person I would bring to see them who would tell me that they are now a big fan. it is kind of like the hotdogs at target. Which actually kind of relates to this, as this concert was at Fenway. Some Target locations have a Pizza Hut inside of them with the best hotdogs you will ever have. I know everybody likes Costco hotdogs because they are cheap and the foot-long and they aren’t wrong but the ones from Target are the best ones you will ever have. They taste just like a ballpark Frank. Anytime I am with somebody at Target, I mentioned to them how good the hotdogs are and they tell me that I am disgusting. I told them that I will buy them on and if I am wrong, I will buy something in the store. I have never had to buy anything in the store for anyone. Now I want a hot dog. Even though it is only 10:00 AM.
Anyway. Fenway puts on a lot of concerts throughout the summer. Two of the ones that I wanted to go to this year or Noah Con, and then Green Day with the Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and the Linda Linda. But both shows were just too expensive. But the Hootie show was reasonably priced. I wasn’t on the lawn, but got good seats at $75 each.
My friend and I unfortunately missed Edwin McCain and Collective Soul as the concert started pretty early. It surprisingly didn’t take me long to get into Boston after work, though even though this was the same day as the Celtics parade. I was driving against the traffic the whole time.
When we got to the show, it started to rain. Barenaked ladies were just about to take the stage or delayed for about 30 minutes. my friend and I decided to go grab some food while we waited. Everyone in line watch the rain, as well as the broadcasted Red Sox away game they were showing in the stadium. We waited in line for about 10 minutes just to find out, it was only for alcohol.we then got into one of the two lines. I was presently supplies surprised at how affordable the food was there. I think it came out to around $36 for a Red Sox hat, memorabilia cup filled with french fries, hotdog, a pretzel, and two waters.
While at our seats and waiting in line for food, I struck up a conversation with a few strangers. As I do. I asked who they were here to see and was excited to hear how many people were also there for BNL. That’s what the true Barenaked Ladies heads call them.
The Canadian rockers kicked off their set with “The Old Apartment” For so long now, I thought that was a perfect break up song. But I learned earlier in the day that it is not a breakup song. As usual, Barenaked Ladies did an improvised rap song. When they did this at Red Rocks a few years back, they had bought an expensive drone to fly around and film. Immediately, they broke the drone and made up a whole rap song about it. The band played all of the hits including “Lovin’ Life,” the single off of their latest album, “In Flight.” The Barenaked Ladies were there to get the crowd pumped and they did just that. The last song, or songs, they played was a massive of medley of Vampire / Flowers / As It Was / Take On Me / Climb Ev’ry Mountain / So Long, Farewell / Rock of Ages.
Hootie came on at 9:25 PM and played until 11:00 PM. I wish he played for so much longer. After seeing them, I am a total Hootie head now. They played a bunch of covers including “For What It’s Worth,” “Wagon Wheel” and “Losing My Religion.” They played the hits. They played on Darius Rucker song.
At one point, I looked out at the crowd of people singing along to Hootie and I totally understood the hype around country concerts and festivals. Not saying that this is in my future, but damn, was this a fun time.
I do not like being recommended music. Maybe by friends, but not by a computer or algorithm. It is why I never understood Pandora. But recently, the Instagram algorithm has really recommended some great bands to me and I wanted to showcase some of them.
Genre: Pop Punk, Emo.
About: Good Hangs is a love letter to kids who came up in the local scene and now slog through mid-level management. The raw but earnest vocal harmonies, catchy guitar riffs, and poignant lyrics amp up the nostalgia for life as a millennial before society’s descent into dystopia. Because even when everything else is sh*t, you and your best friends can still crack open some PBRs, crank up the volume, and sing at the top of your lungs.
When there’s nothing to look forward to, look back. There’s no hope, just good hangs.
Members are Michael “Stein” Steinheiser (Singer/Frontman), Anthony Pierri (Guitar), Dominic Pierri (Bass/Backup Singer), Matt Ackman (Guitar), and Jack Mancuso (Drums).
Where are they from: Illinois
Remind me of: Brand New, Blink-182, every band you loved growing up who played at Warped Tour and now plays at When We Were Young.
Premise: A young artist gets stranded in an extensive, immaculate forest in western Ireland, where, after finding shelter, she becomes trapped alongside three strangers, stalked by mysterious creatures each night.
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré, Oliver Finnegan.
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. The early reviews had me a little questionable. I have been very excited for this movie and for her father’s movie, Trap, coming out later this year with Josh Hartnett. This movie has some great cinematography and some really creepy scenes. I do wish that they was more backstory. We really didn’t know anything about the history here. Some things are explained in the third act, however.
The movie felt like a blend of Lost and From – Both similar shows starring Harold Perrineau and directed and executive produced by Jack Bender and showrun and executive produced by Jeff Pinkner. And it also reminded me of The Village and Wayward Pines both from Ishana’s father, M. Night Shyamlan. It even had some Annihilation feels to it.
I would watch a prequel or sequel and I am intrigued to read the book.
