Summer Binged 2021/2022 - The Chair

The Chair landed last August in the midst of Lockdown V2.0 on Netflix. So I was seeking familiar easy to watch tales. However easy to watch, light, fun, outstanding entertainment is exactly what The Chair is all about.

Set at the fictional Pembroke University, starring Sandra Oh (I needed my fix before Killing Eve's final season commences later this month) along with an all star cast. Holland Taylor, the one the only, David Duchovny stars as Himself with Jay Duplass as Bill Dobson and the highlight of the series Everly Carganilla as Ju-Hee "Ju Ju" Kim.

A brief over view of the series, Professor Ji-Yoon Kim is the newly appointed chair of the English department at Pembroke University. The first woman chosen for the position, she attempts to ensure the tenure of a young black colleague, negotiate her relationship with her crush, friend, and well-known colleague Bill Dobson, and parent her strong-willed adopted daughter.

Featured on my favourite TV blogs, top 20 one day binge list, The Chair really is an easy watch. According to this blog, all you need is three hours to watch the entire series. Dope.

While I wait for the fourth and final season of Killing Eve, this has tied me over with my Sandra Oh quirky fix. For funny one liners, smart comedy, get onto The Chair. What have you got to lose, three hours?

The Masked Cinema 2022 - Nightmare Alley

Nightmare Alley was released late 2021 (like The Eyes of Tammy Faye, earlier this week) however it just landed in Australia recently. Which is interesting as it stars Aussie royalty Cate Blanchett & Toni Collette.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro from a screenplay by del Toro and Kim Morgan, Nightmare Alley is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham.

Along with Blanchett & Collette, Bradley Cooper as a charming and ambitious carnival worker with a mysterious past who takes big risks to boost his career. Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, and David Strathairn also star.

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, and grossed a total of $14.6 million worldwide with a $60 million production budget.

I enjoyed the style of the film, Blanchett, Collette & Cooper's performances, however the run time was a little long.

It also felt like the film was in two parts, with Blanchett & Collette each starring in a part.

The film was slightly gory towards the end but not overly so. The story of carnivals and the travelling circus has also interested me. So that part of the film sucked me in.

The showbiz side in the second half also had an early Las Vegas feel. Enjoyable but not the best film I have seen, 3 Stars.

Summer Slack TV Finales - The Tourist - Season One/miniseries

Wow Stan has turned it up this summer. With Gold landing this week, The Tourist, Wolf Like Me and more Bump. It's been a hot Stan summer!

The Tourist stars Jamie Dornan as a car-crash victim who wakes up in hospital with amnesia. When a man (Dornan) wakes up with amnesia in an Australian hospital, he must use what few clues he has to discover his identity before his past catches up with him. In the first scene, the protagonist is driving through the outback pursued by a truck whose driver is trying to run him off the road.

Whilst I have been a fan of Bump, didn't mind Wolf Like Me, The Tourist surprised me, in a good way.

Joining Jamie Dornan, Danielle Macdonald, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Alex Dimitriades, and Damon Herriman all starred in this star studded cast.

So if you are looking for an outback Australian thriller with a difference, The Tourist maybe for you. It's nothing like previous Jamie Dornan Fifty Shades stuff. However for fans of his, he does remove his shirt a wee bit. Enjoy!

The Masked Cinema 2022 - The Eyes of Tammy Faye

The Eyes of Tammy Faye was released last year in the USA, however in Australia we are a little behind. The Eyes of Tammy Faye had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2021, and was released on September 17, 2021, here in Australia it opens (officially) today. I saw it on the public holiday Wednesday and adored this film. 

Check out the trailer now!

The biographical drama film, based on the documentary of the same name stars Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Fredric Lehne, Louis Cancelmi, Sam Jaeger, Gabriel Olds, Mark Wystrach & Vincent D'Onofrio.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye is an intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall, and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. 

In the 1970s and '80s, Tammy Faye and her husband Jim Bakker, rose from humble beginnings to create the world's largest religious broadcasting network and theme park, and were revered for their message of love, acceptance, and prosperity. 

Tammy Faye was legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, it wasn't long before financial improprieties, scheming rivals, and scandal toppled their carefully constructed empire.

Jessica Chastain was captivating as Faye. Garfield was alright as Bakker, the film did belong to Chastain. Both shocking and heartbreaking, it was hard to take your eyes off the big screen! 

I was gripped for the entire two hour run time. You wanted to dislike Tammy (especially following recent Hillsong affairs) but then she really redeemed herself. Her life was equally sad and wild.

This really was a standout film of the last few films I have taken in. Could it make my end of year list? Maybe.

4.5 Stars. Fun! 

Summer Slack TV Finales - Wolf Like Me - Season One/miniseries

Wolf Like Me is the latest Stan original (in association with NBCUniversal and Peacock) starring  Isla Fisher and Josh Gad.

Landing on Stan on 13 January 2022, I am happy to say a few days later after a positive review from my parents, I have now completed all six episodes.

What is more to love is the six episodes are less than 30 minutes each. Much shorter than other January Stan original The Tourist.

So what's it about? Here is the trailer, brief plot summary below.

Gary and Mary are in a new relationship but both have baggage. Gary is an emotional wreck and struggles to provide for his daughter since the death of his wife. Mary has a secret she can't bring herself to share with anyone. The universe brought these two together for a reason, they just need to keep following the signs.

The six-part series also stars Ariel Donoghue, Emma Lung and Anthony Taufa, Jake Ryan, Robyn Nevin (killing at the moment, loved her in The End) and local legend Nash Edgerton.

The series was filmed in the Inner West of Sydney in the suburbs of Forest Lodge, Glebe, Ashfield and Ashbury, Western Sydney and regional NSW. Although they claim its Adelaide in the storyline. I had a sneaking suspicion though it wasn't South Australia. Then I did my research, I turned out to be right. For once.

I didn't enjoy this as much as my family did. However it wasn't a bad watch. An easy watch, yes but at end of each episode I wasn't dying to watch the next one.

It has a supernatural twist (the title might give this away) which I wasn't expecting till my parents told me a little about the series.

However all that said, give it a go, you can watch it in one sitting/evening. After Life is a much better watch so maybe just add this to your watch list for a rainy day or public holiday Wednesday next week.

Still good to see a number of new, interesting local series. Just funny that hardly any of them (excluding the ABC and SBS) air on free to air TV anymore.

Summer Slack TV Finales - After Life - Season Three/Series Finale

After Life the British series created, written, produced, and directed by Ricky Gervais, has just concluded. For good.

Tony Johnson (Gervais) started his Netflix journey back 8 March 2019, concluding 14 January 2022.

Set in the fictional town of Tambury, After Life follows newspaper writer Tony Johnson, whose life is turned upside down after his wife dies from breast cancer. He contemplates suicide, but instead decides to spend his life punishing the world for his wife's death by saying and doing whatever he wants regardless of how it makes other people feel. Although he thinks of this as his "superpower," his plan is undermined when everyone around him pities him and tries to make him a better person.

Alongside Gervais, Penelope Wilton, David Bradley, Ashley Jensen, Tom Basden, Tony Way, David Earl, Joe Wilkinson, Kerry Godliman, Mandeep Dhillon, Jo Hartley, Roisin Conaty, and Diane Morgan all star in the three season black comedy.

Episodes one to five this season were savage. Episode six was a real emotional rollercoaster. So after COVID, it was a bit of a tear jerker I have to say.

Ricky Gervais is outstanding as Tony. I have to say I will miss him on our small screens moving forward.

After a year off the streaming service last year, this was a really easy summer watch. Six episodes, all under thirty minutes, meaning you can inhale the entire final series in an evening.

I loved this season, I loved the series, I will miss After Life.

If you need a giggle and maybe a cry all at once, this is the series/season for you. I am hoping to get back to the cinema this weekend along with watching one of those big Netflix summer movies. Next week on my music blog, if you like Australian albums, you will want to drop by. Until then goodnight.

Summer Binged 2021/2022 - Dear White People

Dear White People concluded its fourth and final season back on September 22, 2021. Sadly I was too busy back then to take in the college kids atWinchester University.

Season four took a more musical turn which for me was hit and miss. With fun 90's hip hop tunes like She's a Bitch by Missy Elliot along with Montell Jordan hits, This Is How We Do It, you did find yourself singing along at times.

Starring Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, DeRon Horton, and Antoinette Robertson. There was a large 2 year gap since the third season meaning I completely lost track of where the third season ended.

Anyway I did push on, smashed it, didn't love but was happy to see the series have a satisfying ending. I had given my regular Netflix shows a bit of a miss of late, however it's time to catch up with them now.

With another public holiday around the corner, some shows coming to an end in the coming week, expect a large amount of TV posts, the odd film post, maybe even a rant.

By the way I am all out of the clear of the Rona now, been there done that. Just need to wait for the old booster shot. Here is hoping an overseas trip is somewhere around the corner. Please.

The Masked Cinema 2022 - Scream

Scream (well maybe, Scream 5) has just landed at the cinema. Also marking my return to the cinema following a round of the Rona.

Though billed as a relaunch of the film series, the film is a direct sequel to Scream 4. Which believe it or not came out all the way back in 2011.

This is the first in the Scream film not to be directed by Wes Craven, following his passing.

The film is dedicated to Craven at the beginning of the closing credits.

Scream stars Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, and Jack Quaid, alongside Marley Shelton, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and of course, Neve Campbell.

The film has done well to avoid story leaks/spoilers. With numerous versions of the screenplay were produced and several additional scenes were filmed. Not to mention the fun introduction at the start of the film requesting viewers do not spoil the film for future movie patrons.

Scream has received positive reviews from critics, grossing over $30 million, becoming the second-highest grossing film of 2022. 

Critics praised the film as honoring Craven's legacy and remaining a meta commentary on horror films, with some calling it the best of the Scream sequels.

The storyline was wild, the finale was huge plus there were a few little surprises along the way.

I really enjoyed this edition of Scream (well the second half more). As Scream 4 was fresh in my head watching it on Stan the night before. Oh isolation, so much time to even rewatch subpar sequels.

No spoilers here. If you liked any of the previous Scream films, you will like this one. FOR SURE.

Maybe the horror film of 2022? Maybe, 3.5 Stars.

Summer Slack TV Finales - Emily in Paris - Season Two

Darren Star created some of the best TV in the 90's, in 2021/2022 he is giving us some camp, light, fluff with Emily in Paris.

Now renewed for an additional two seasons over on Netflix,  Emily in Paris is the perfect show for 2022. It transport you somewhere COVID free and easy going.

Set and filmed in Paris, the series stars Lily Collins as Emily (in Paris), an American who moves to France to provide an American point of view to Savoir, a French marketing firm. Filming takes place in Île-de-France, mainly in Paris and its suburbs.

Also staring Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, Lucas Bravo, Samuel Arnold, Bruno Gouery, Camille Razat, and William Abadie.

Emily in Paris season two lifts off with the Gabriel/Camille drama. However season two sees Mindy find some sexy French love in Benoît, whilst Emily finds Lucien Laviscount as Alfie in her French class. 

Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie continues to steal the show, making American boss Kate Walsh as Madeline Wheeler, seem super American/boring.

I enjoyed season two a lot. It was a super easy watch at the end of my Rona-TV fest. However it's back to work, the cinema (take a look tomorrow) and real life. 

I am excited however seasons three and four will continue to make us laugh and smile through "the new normal". Darren Star, you've done it again buddy!

Summer Slack TV Finales - Cobra Kai - Season Four

Netflix's biggest series is back for a fourth season. Cobra Kai was released on Netflix on December 31. What a perfect ways to spend New Years Eve, more binge watching. The fourth season again consists of 10 episodes. 

The season also had guest appearances from other characters in the film series, re-introduced two recurring characters after a season-long absence, and featured a cameo appearance from Carrie Underwood. 

Starring Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Martin Kove Vanessa Rubio & Peyton List.

Thomas Ian Griffith also joined the main cast as Terry Silver, reprising his role from The Karate Kid Part III.

Before this season dropped, Netflix renewed the series for a fifth season, likely to air later (much later) this year.

The season received mostly positive reviews, topping Netflix's global viewership charts within three days of its release, and received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

It took me two or three episodes to get into this season, however once I did, I really smashed it. As I look down the barrel at one and a bit more days stuck at home, I am happy to report this might be one of my last TV binges for a bit.

I need to get back to the movies, the gym, real life.

The final two episodes of the tournament were wild. Introducing new categories, new enemies along with Cobra Kai's dominance with Robby and Tory.

Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene does a big shirtless reveal which shows he has 100% been working on his fitness.

With season five being set up in the last minutes of the season finale, this could be the best season yet to come. With new villains, new alliances, new faces. Season five is a guaranteed hit on Netflix again next summer.

I for one will be tuning into another season this time next year. The wait when you binge a show in a day is a bit much though. At least Afterlife concludes today on Netflix. 

Until next time folks, stay safe, whatever that means in NSW. Or go to a Hillsong event, there are no rules there, apparently.

Summer Binged 2021/2022 - Young Rock - Season One + Xmas Special

Young Rock is maybe the easiest watch of my Rona-binge fest. I have some how on average managed to conclude an entire season a day. Sad.

Based upon the life of professional wrestler and actor Dwayne Johnson, also known by his ring name "The Rock". The series first aired NBC/Binge in February, 2021. Two months later, the series was renewed for a second season. A holiday special episode (the weakest of all 12 episodes) aired on December 15, 2021, ahead of the second season premiere on March 15, 2022.

The sitcom is set in a frame story where Johnson is running as a candidate in the 2032 United States presidential election. 

Each episode involves Johnson participating in an interview (usually with the smooth Randall Park) or other conversation which leads him to flashback to a story from one of three periods of Johnson's life (with occasional episodes where all three periods are shown): as a ten-year-old in Hawaii; as a high school student in Pennsylvania; and as a college student and football player at the University of Miami.

The Rock is played by Adrian Groulx as 10-year-old Johnson, Bradley Constant as 15-year-old Johnson & Uli Latukefu as 18–20-year-old Johnson.

The series was filmed in QLD which is nice for Australia. I think this must have been whilst the filming boom was happening in Australia. I believe that has all to an end now. I will watch the second season week to week in March. It has to be one of the sweetest shows on streaming services right now.

The Rock is highly likeable, Randall Park is great and Queensland does look great on camera. Johnson's islander heritage is also beautifully celebrated. NBC has little of interest for me on its roster (I am still tragic, waiting to binge all the latest Blacklist season 9, yes 9!) since the Chicago series, This is Us or Law & Order don't interest me.

Young Rock streams in Australia on Binge.

Summer Binged 2021/2022 - The End - Miniseries

The End has been on my binge list since it landed on Binge as a Foxtel original.

The 10-part series aired back in February-April 2020, starring an all star cast Frances O'Connor, Harriet Walter and Noni Hazlehurst. Along with Alex Dimitriades, the amazing Robyn Nevin, Luke Arnold, Brooke Satchwell and Roy Biling.

The End centres around three generations of family trying their best to navigate how to live meaningfully and die with dignity. The show was praised for its depiction of ageing and exploration of complex themes including euthanasia and suicide.

Australian doctor Kate Brennan (Frances O'Connor), a senior registrar specialising in palliative care medicine, is passionate in her opposition to euthanasia. Her mother, Edie Henley (Harriet Walter) who lives in England, is just as passionate about her right to die. After an incident occurs, Kate must bring Edie out to Australia to be closer to the family. Edie is placed in a nearby retirement village, which is her worst nightmare. Kate struggles with her own problems and children, while trying to find a way back to a relationship with her mother.

The End also received a 2021 AACTA Award nomination for Best Miniseries, Noni Hazlehurst received a 2021 AACTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her role as Pamela Hardy. Sadly the show was not successful in its 2021 AACTA Award campaign, however it was an awesome miniseries.

Whilst it's a slightly morbid topic, The End is an important discussion that needs to happen. Particularly in NSW where the right to a dignified death is currently being debated.

 Robyn Nevin continued to be a standout whilst Harriet Walter was awesome as Edie. The entire cast are just delightful to watch including Young Rock star Uli Latukefu as Greg the Nurse. Hence I have now started watching the Young Rock.

The End is now streaming on Binge. If you need a good, local watch, give this 10 x 20-something minute episode drama/comedy a go.

Summer Binged 2021/2022 - London Spy - Miniseries

London Spy my latest bed ridden Rona catch up. I was told about this series maybe a year ago or so? Apparently it streams on Netflix along with ABC iview, where I watched it.

The British-American five-part drama miniseries aired on BBC Two from 9 November until 7 December 2015. Making this my biggest step back in time for my Summer Binged 2021/2022 series.

London Spy begins as the story of two young men: Danny (Ben Whishaw)—gregarious, hedonistic, and romantic—falls in love with Alex (Edward Holcroft)—asocial, enigmatic, and brilliant. 

Just as they discover how perfect they are for each other, Alex disappears. Danny finds Alex's body. They lived very different lives: Danny is from a world of clubbing and youthful excess; Alex, it turns out, worked for the Secret Intelligence Service. Although utterly ill-equipped to take on the world of espionage, Danny decides to fight for the truth about Alex's death.

It's a wild ride over five episodes. It was totally different to what I expected. It was also a massive departure from all the USA and Australian series I have been smashing of late.

Ben Whishaw has been in everything including the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die. TV wise I 

recently watched him with Hugh Grant in, A Very English Scandal.

With this being on ABC iview it's free to all to watch. So alongside Total Control, Fisk, The Newreader, Wakefield, Fires and other great Australian series. 

London Spy is a tense, intriguing five part thriller. I was a latecomer, but isolation gives you a lot of time to catch up.

Summer Binged 2021/2022 - Hawkeye - Miniseries

Hawkeye is the latest Disney+/Marvel Comics miniseries based on Clint Barton / Hawkeye and Kate Bishop / Hawkeye. 

It is the fifth television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise and taking place after the events of the film Avengers: Endgame (2019). 

Jeremy Renner is Clint Barton/Hawkeye whilst Hailee Steinfeld is Kate Bishop. Tony Dalton, Fra Fee, Brian d'Arcy James, Aleks Paunovic, Piotr Adamczyk, Linda Cardellini, Simon Callow, Vera Farmiga, Alaqua Cox, Zahn McClarnon, Florence Pugh, and Vincent D'Onofrio reprises his role as Kingpin from the Netflix/Marvel series Daredevil. 

Hawkeye premiered with its first two episodes on November 24, 2021, and ran for six episodes, concluding on December 22. So it was on theme the series had a lot of Christmas vibes going on. I however just caught up with this series in the new year. Thanks Rona!

Disney+ is on a role with The Book of Boba Fett commencing right after Hawkeye concluded.

A spin-off series, Echo, focusing on Cox's character Maya Lopez / Echo, is in development.

I always liked Hawkeye/handsome Jeremy Renner from The Avengers films. Not really a character (unlike the recent streaming only Black Widow film) who would get an entire feature film. This is why these Disney+/Marvel Comics series are great. WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki have all been hits for one of the newest, yet fasting growing streaming services.

WandaVision got mad critical acclaim, whilst others have all been fan favourites. Add the Star Wars series to the mix, you find Disney+ on a winning position in the world of streaming platforms.

With so many options to watch on streaming platforms it's hard to go past these big shiny Disney+ titles. The action scenes were epic, the Christmas music was so-so, overall Hawkeye was so fun escapism.

Check it out now if you have ever enjoyed an Avengers film.

Summer Slack TV Finales - Dexter: New Blood

Dexter: New Blood tries to undo that god awful finale of Dexter back in 2013. Dexter is often listed as one of the worst TV finales of all time. A great TV series that completely lost its way.

Developed as a miniseries (although, of course there is talk of a second season) for Showtime as a continuation of the series Dexter.

Starring Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter reprising their roles as Dexter and Debra Morgan, respectively, alongside new cast members Jack Alcott, Julia Jones, Johnny Sequoyah, Alano Miller and Clancy Brown. 

So how do the ten episodes stack up? For me the series airing overly a slightly quiet summer break was refreshing to have something new to watch.

The plot for the miniseries goes a little like. After faking his death ten years ago in a hurricane, Dexter Morgan has moved to the fictional small town of Iron Lake, New York, hiding his identity under the name of Jim Lindsay, a clerk at a local wilderness sporting gear store. 

He has a romantic relationship with the town's chief of police Angela Bishop, and has been successfully suppressing his vigilante serial killing urges. Dexter's deceased sister Debra has replaced their father Harry as an imaginary presence he often speaks to. 

In the first episode, his estranged son Harrison from his previous life arrives unannounced with mysterious motives. A string of incidents around Iron Lake causes Dexter to fear that the "Dark Passenger" within him, and potentially within his son, will reveal itself.

Jack Alcott as Harrison Morgan is creepy AF, if a second season was to happen he for sure would be seeking more blood. Not so much new blood in a second season.

The episodes were a really easy watch with Alano Miller as Sergeant Logan being so good eye candy along with throwbacks to the original series featuring David Zayas as Angel Batista & John Lithgow as Arthur Mitchell / Trinity Killer.

Did it write all the wrongs of the 2013 finale? Well I am not giving any spoilers here, some may not have had as much time up their sleeves as me on a Sunday night.

Anyhoo Dexter: New Blood is streaming now on Paramount Plus+ along with all new Showtime titles like the much talked about Yellowjackets which I am desperate to watch!

Summer Binged 2021/2022 - Kevin Can F**k Himself - Season One

Kevin Can Fuck Himself is my latest Binge ahead of finally catching the Rona. Yep expect a few more posts as binge watching TV, listening to the new record from The Weeknd is all I have planned for the next seven days.

Set in Worcester, Massachusetts, the show explores the life of Allison McRoberts (played by Annie Murphy, Schitt's Creek), a woman struggling to redefine her life amid an unhappy marriage to her husband Kevin, an insensitive, unambitious man-child. 

The show presents contrasting perspectives of her experience: as a stereotypical sitcom wife when Allison is with her husband Kevin, shown with a multiple-camera setup and canned laughter, and as a woman navigating a difficult personal path, filmed in the single-camera setup more common to television dramas.

Last August, the series was renewed for a second season, along with confirming the series would conclude after two seasons.

I do love a two season run. PEN15, the recent AMC The Walking Dead: World Beyond, along with the unfinished FOX music drama Star all ended up after two, short season runs.

Kevin Can Fuck Himself is fun, whilst being disturbing all within the same episode. Raymond Lee (the hunk in HBO's short lived Here & Now) is great as Allison McRoberts escapism.

The show was a really easy eight episode watch. While my family didn't love the switch in tone, I slayed all eight episodes whilst loving the contrast between the US sitcom format mixed with HBO drama.

Kevin is a totally vile character/husband so you easily side with Allison (even after one episode) time and time again.

The series marks a shift from AMC being obsessed with zombies, Breaking Bad and its spin off along side new Australian vampire series, Firebite.

The drama, the struggle, the dark contrast is well done. I am looking forward to seeing the second and final series, hopefully in 2022.

The Masked Cinema 2022 - West Side Story

West Side Story is the latest musical to hit the big screen. Directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, they are calling in the big guns for this film. Starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler (in her feature film debut) with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, & Rita Moreno. The film features music composed by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

The film has received critical acclaim, it has was named one of the top ten films of 2021 by the National Board of Review. While receiving four nominations at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Picture – Musical/Comedy and tied with Belfast for a leading eleven nominations at the 27th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture.

While critical and awards are fine, the film has been a box-office bomb. Grossing only $10.6 million in its opening weekend. It has grossed a total of $52.7 million worldwide, against a production budget of $100 million, likely resulting in a financial loss for Disney.

However whilst Disney are doing huge business in the streaming game, Marvel movies, the odd bomb is expected.

I had never seen the musical live or listened to the songs prior to attending the film, however I actually really enjoyed it.

Whilst its slightly too long, the choreography is amazing. The songs I thought were familiar really went off with a bang.

I would recommend this if you need to escape the summer humidity. As cases rise so does the humidity factor, 3.5 Stars for this musical, turned big screen feature.

Summer Slack TV Finales - Yellowstone - Season Four

Summer Slack - streaming service multi episode drops/entire seasons/January TV finales.

Yellowstone is the biggest drama streaming right now in the USA. With spinoff prequel series 1883 also airing now, Yellowstone may have another spinoff on the way with the Texas plot lines.

Created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson on the Paramount Network. Starring Kevin Costner, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, and Gil Birmingham. The fourth season opened with a massive bang. A double episode bang!

So despite the series airing later in the year (usually and Australian winter series) Yellowstone has now called it a day. On November 22, 2021, Coupm magazine reported that the fifth season has been renewed with a projected broadcast date set for November 13, 2022. However this is not 100% set in stone. However with the shows monster ratings this season, a fifth season is a no brainer!

So the third season finale set the bar very high for Yellowstone finales. Sadly this season did not pack so much of a punch. However there were some satisfying endings.

The spin-off to 6666 in Texas is now complete, Jacki Weaver finally got a bigger scene after weeks of next to nothing and Kevin Costner rode off into the sunset.

I really hope Yellowstone does return late 2022 as reported above. It makes for great summer, holiday viewing.

I am praying with Jacki Weavers big speech in the finale, we see more of her taking on Beth when the fifth season returns. 

So as I open up my new BLOG series, Summer Slack TV Finales, expect posts about Five Bedrooms (third season which just dropped, only months after season two and moving to the Paramount Plus streaming platform), Emily in Paris, Cobra Kai, Dexter: New Blood along with any other series I smash through on these hot summer days.

Until next time. Bye.

The Masked Cinema 2022 - House of Gucci

House of Gucci was released back in November in the USA. However on Australia Island, it was a New Year's Day film.

Directed by Ridley Scott, based on the 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden. The film follows Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) and Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), as their romance transforms into a fight for control of the Italian fashion brand Gucci. 

Along with the sensation Gaga and Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek, and Al Pacino also star.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the cast's performances (particularly those of Gaga and Leto) but criticised the inconsistent tone and historical inaccuracies. It has grossed over $112 million. This was against a budget of $75 million.

I really enjoyed this film. The running time was slightly off putting, at almost 2 hours 40 minutes, this was long. However Gaga lights up the screen whenever she enters the shot.

Not many singers have been able to pull off what Gaga has. A huge music career, varied genres, worked with everyone who was hot right now, whilst pulling off some random stunts along the way.

Driver is also exceptional. From his Girls days to now, he is a powerhouse. This really was a acting 101 film.

If you are looking for more drama than the current COVID outbreaks, House of Gucci is an outstanding film. The music, the costumes, the true story. Brilliant.

After some rather average films in the back half of 2021, this was a great start to the Masked Cinema for 2022.

4 stars.

Best Movies of 2021 (AC - Before Corona 2.0, Delta Edition)

OK another disrupted year, another spilt year in films. Back in July I gave you my January - June(ish) films of 2021. Now it's time for the second half, well fourth quarter of 2021. As the Sydney lockdown lasted until October, I saw fewer films, the quality wasn't really there. Whilst I also have including a streaming title which did get a selected cinema run.

Nitram got very little cinema screenings (particularly in Tasmania) however it was also a STAN original film. So here we go. In red you can see my picks from earlier in the year.

Tomorrow a new cinema review for my new cinema year (hopefully not interrupted this year) for House of Gucci with the queen Lady Gaga.

Until tomorrow!

BEST hyped film of 2021 (BC) - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings / Cruella 

BEST jump out of the seat film - Halloween Kills / The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

BEST Teen drama/coming of age/comedy blah - Licorice Pizza 

BEST films (tie) of 2021 - Nitram / Licorice Pizza / Promising Young Woman & The Dry

BEST small (budget) film - Licorice Pizza

BEST Aussie Movie - Nitram / The Dry

BEST Music film - Dune (soundtrack - Hans Zimmer) / In the Heights 

BEST controversial film of 2021 (BC) - Nitram / Music

BEST Drama - Nitram / Promising Young Woman / French Exit / Nomadland / The Father

December TV Finales - Love Me

Love Me is the first Binge original to land on the Foxtel branded app. The romantic six-part drama series that follows three different family members as they experience modern love at distinct times of their lives. Based in Melbourne, starring an all star cast, Heather Mitchell, Bob Morley, Hugo Weaving, Bojana Novakovic & Celia Pacquola as Sacha.

Landing on Boxing Day, this summer has proved to be an all Australian buffet of drama. Landing today on Stan is The Tourist with Jamie Dornan.

Love Me was excellent TV. A lot has to be said for this six parter (however I feel a second season is a no brainer) the script, cast, acting, plot, romance. It was great.

This for me is hands down one of the best series I binged in December. And I did binge this like the streaming title suggests. One day and a bit, over coffee's cafe breakfasts this was an easy AF watch.

I love Bob Morley, I miss him in The 100, although I don't miss The 100 in general.

This really was an excellent drama. Six episodes, to the point, no fluff, lot's of laughs with some real heart in there too.

For me this could be my series of Summer. Rankings to come later. I still have a LOT to binge.

Check out Love Me now on Binge, it's worth the free trial and then some!

December TV Finales - Landscapers (miniseries)

Landscapers was one of two final, last minute 2021 binges, which happened to air its finale in December.

Landscapers, true crime miniseries, a black comedy drama written by Ed Sinclair and directed by Will Sharpe. It revolves around the true story of the 1998 murders of Nottinghamshire residents William and Patricia Wycherley.

Starring the sensational Olivia Coleman (recently in The Crown), this four part UK/HBO mini series is a real treat.

Like the mini series, four episodes, super short and sweet. This will be a short and sweet take on the Stan mini series which only concluded last week.

Playing out like a live theatre play, these four episodes are skilfully shot, well acted, intriguing, well done television.

It really is peak TV season with so many series landing on the streaming service for a true Hot Girl Summer.

So do yourself a favour and give this a quick viewing. You won't regret it.

Happy new year readers, happy 2022. May it be less shit than 2020 and 2021.