Get Outta da House Cinema 2023 - Barbie

Barbie has literally taken the world by storm. The PINK marketing campaign was the most insane saturation I have EVER seen. While the soundtrack has brought back the original soundtrack charting experience. Even Aussies Tame Impala and the Kid Laroi feature on the lengthy OST.

So is the fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach any good?

Based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel, this is the first live-action Barbie (however something tells me, not the last) film.

Starring Australia's own Barbie (Margot Robbie) and USA heartthrob Ken (Ryan Gosling) on a journey of self-discovery following an existential crisis. Also starring in the big budget smash hit, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Simu Lu, Dua Lipa, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, & Will Ferrell.

Wo when I saw this film I was into my 30th hour of being awake after landing in LAX. I was tired, a bit delirious, had driven on the wrong side of the road (again - but first time in ages) and needed a nap ASAP.

That said, this was an enjoyable (close to) 2 hour pink romp. The storyline was decent, the music was fun, the sets incredible. Margot Robbie really is EXCELLENT. Even after Babylon and Amsterdam being box office bombs, Barbie has grossed over $516 million worldwide, becoming the ninth-highest grossing film of 2023. Not to mention the simultaneous release with Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer led to the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon on social media.

Which has encouraged audiences to see both films as a double feature, while returning to the cinema in droves. At the cinema on a Saturday night (last night) the foyer was a buzz. Buttered popcorn was flying off the shelves. The place was a buzz. Back to pre-Covid with multiple big films screening.

Barbie might not change the world (however with friends (grown ass friends) telling me of Barbie hens nights, pink clothes selling like hot cakes and that marketing campaign) but, the film will make you smile. Even sing along to Dua Lipa or Lizzo. This has been marketing 101, get people out, get people spending. Mixed with Taylor Swift's current tour, surely the world is getting a little more economically stable?

3.5 Stars.

Album of (NEXT) Week - TRAVIS SCOTT {Utopia}

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Secret Invasion - Miniseries

Secret Invasion is a bit of a mess. Let's get into why and what it's all about below. Firstly the six part Phase Five of the MCU commenced late June, concluding this week.

Nick Fury works with Talos (Aussie Ben Mendelsohn), a shapeshifting alien Skrull, to uncover a conspiracy by a group of renegade Skrulls led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) who plan to gain control of Earth by posing as different humans around the world.

Streaming now on Disney+, Secret Invasion is based on the 2008 Marvel Comics storyline of the same name. 

This makes the ninth television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Following Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Talos as they uncover a conspiracy by a group of shapeshifting Skrulls to conquer Earth. Bradstreet serves as the head writer with Ali Selim directing.

Also starring an all-star cast with Killian Scott, Samuel Adewunmi, Dermot Mulroney, Richard Dormer, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman (yes the one from The Crown, Queen Lizzy), Don Cheadle, Charlayne Woodard, Christopher McDonald, and Katie Finneran. 

Like there is Aussie Mendelsohn, the king Samuel L. Jackson, even the GOT dragon lady plus the Queen, well from The Crown. But it all just feels messy. With the ending so abrupt, so short, so random. However....

After seeing Barbie yesterday and the trailer for The Marvels, this is where Jackson reprises his role as Fury, also serves as a continuation of Secret Invasion, in addition to narrative threads established in Avengers: Endgame and the Disney+ series WandaVision (2021) and Ms. Marvel (2022).

So like Marvel has previously done.

So now if you want to see a Marvel film, you would have basically needed to be a Disney+ subscriber and invest in three miniseries. Lame.

Don't get me wrong Disney+ is seriously the shit. I am so happy with my subscription. That said if you can't see a standalone movie without investing hours (plus subscriber dollars) then your box office will suffer. E.G. recent Ant-Man box office!

O'lidays - Part II

Yep, the day has come. I'm officially on O'lidays!

Before that I saw the incredible Tove Lo at the UNSW Roundhouse. The first gig I have seen there in decades. Last time I was there I believe was the Queens of the Stone Age gig in the early 2000's.

Anyway all posts from my other blog Flashing off the Record will live here again for a bit. Feature albums, music videos etc.

I'm also off to Katy Perry so I may post her highlight tracks from her Play Las Vegas residency.

See you stateside. BYE!

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Platonic - Season one

I'm on holidays from tomorrow, so posts may slow. However for now there is one more TV review for an Apple TV+ comedy series, Platonic.

Apple TV+ is really leading the way with 30-ish minute comedy series. Loot, Shrinking, Bad Sisters (to a degree, plus longer form), apparently Ted Lasso is also awesome!

Sp with that list, Apple TV+ is slaying in the comedy department! This series with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogan as leads, commenced late May. Concluding earlier this month, I just wait till all ten episodes concluded (along with my parents have a first viewing) to smash all episodes in around a week!

In the finale, When Will Met Sylvia, Sylvia and Charlie, having reconciled, purchase a new home. They throw a housewarming party, which Will attends. 

He and Sylvia think they see a UFO, but Will causes a scene and he and Sylvia argue. Andy and Katie ask Sylvia to plan their wedding. She is contacted by someone investigating accusations against Johnny Rev for inappropriate behaviour. 

Sylvia informs Will that Johnny Rev has been ousted and his VP Jenna, who had taken a liking to Will, is now CEO of the company. She convinces him to go to San Diego and talk about a potential job. Will is offered the job and reluctantly realizes he will have to move to San Diego. 

A year later, Sylvia is a successful event planner and has planned a beautiful wedding for Katie and Andy. Will arrives with Jenna, and he reveals that they are now engaged. He and Sylvia reminisce about the importance of their friendship and how it helped them through a difficult time.

This was a nice, refreshing series about ageing, maintaining friendships with the opposite sex along with friendships in your 40's in general. It's hard!

Byrne and Rogen are joined by Luke Macfarlane, Tre Hale, Carla Gallo, and Andrew Lopez.

Alongside Alisha Wainwright, Guy Branum, Janet Varney, Emily Kimball, and Vinny Thomas. It's a great little cast, a great series which I hope returns for a second season. With Byrne's Physical ending soon, Apple TV+ needs more Byrne.

Happy mid-Winter. Summer is coming!

Winter Watchlist Warmers - The Walking Dead: Dead City - Season one

The Walking Dead: Dead City is based on The Walking Dead characters Maggie and Negan. 

It may be the first sequel to The Walking Dead, however it is the fifth series in The Walking Dead franchise.

Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan reprise their roles as Maggie and Negan from TWD, while Gaius Charles, Željko Ivanek, and Mahina Napoleon also star. 

The first season (even though I thought it was a miniseries) commenced mid last month. Concluding in Australian on Stan today. At roughly 4pm. The spin-off, sequel has also been renewed for a second run.

This time around with the zombies overrunning the world, Maggie and Negan traveling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan cut off from the mainland in search of Maggie's kidnapped son, Hershel. 

The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror. Spoilers below BEWARE!

This was a much better watch the FTWD and recent TWD seasons/episodes! In the finale, after reuniting with Ginny, Negan reveals that he was the one who had murdered her father in a harsh effort to get her to leave. 

Perlie transports Ginny to the Bricks before returning to New Babylon where he lies that he had killed Negan and the New Babylon leader shows interest in the methane that the Burazi are able to produce which is a better fuel source than ethanol. 

Maggie and Negan track the Croat to the Staten Island Ferry terminal where Negan deduces that Maggie is luring him into a trap and overpowers her. Acknowledging that Maggie should never forgive him for his actions, although disappointed as together they could've rescued Hershel for real, Negan allows Maggie to trade him to the Croat for her son who berates Maggie for caring more about her obsession with Negan than him for his whole life. After returning to the Bricks, Maggie realizes that Hershel is right, and she decides to find a way to end her feud with Negan for good so that she can finally find peace. 

The Croat delivers Negan to the Dama who explains that she wants Negan to unite the various communities in Manhattan to stand against the New Babylon Federation and others who would come for their natural resources. Having learned the story of Glenn's murder from Hershel, the Dama reveals that she has cut off Hershel's toe and she threatens to go after him again if Negan doesn't comply, using Negan's care for the boy as leverage against him. 

At the same time, Maggie discovers Hershel's drawings of the Dama, and she realizes the continuing threat to her son.

So where will season two take us in New York City? Time will tell! How long will we need to wait for season two? Time will also tell. Hopefully I'll have another TV post ahead of the US trip! Where maybe I can get a photo at the said strike!

Winter Watchlist Warmers - The Ex-Wife - Miniseries

It's almost time for my trip to the USA, so before that one more Winter Watchlist Warmers for a recent UK miniseries.

The Ex-Wife is another little discover on Paramount+. Based on Jess Ryder's book of the same name the series aired last October. So in my prime time of catching up on missed series. Let's get into The Ex-Wife.

Starring Céline Buckens, Tom Mison, Janet Montgomery, Jordan Stephens, Clare Foster, Adam Drew and Sam Hoare. 

The miniseries is an easy, breezy watch of only four episodes. Fun fact,  the book was adapted to TV by Downton Abbey's Catherine Steadman.

The Ex-Wife follows a young woman, Tasha (Buckens) who is married to middle-aged Jack (Mison). Their marriage appears happy, but Tasha is haunted by Jack's ex-wife, Jen (Montgomery). 

However, as the plot unfolds, the true villain appears not to be Jen. Also the drama/action really gets dialled up to eleven as the series gets to a close.

There is also that moment before the end credits, you just knew was coming!

Usually I am not that great at keeping up on my UK dramas, however all these recent Channel Ten co-pro's Riptide and North Shore, my interest has peeked.

So as we approach the end of 2023 (or at least the new financial year) with all my US network series M.I.A (for now) I feel I may have a little more time to catch up on some recent/upcoming UK series.

For now it's almost time to say goodbye to Riverdale, Nancy Drew, Secret Invasion and The Righteous Gemstones. So stay tuned for those soon. I have a feeling my RATED list for the Winter Watchlist Warmers may be off the chart, this season!

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Riptide - Season one

Riptide is the second recent AU/UK co-production to air on Network 10/Paramount+. Only last month I posted about North Shore which lacked something. However Riptide is a much easier, engaging watch. With few main characters, the four episode (miniseries?) gets straight into action.

Alison has just married Australian Sean Weston. Both of their children struggle with the new family situation, and Alison's former husband wants her back. When Sean disappears during a morning surf, it is not clear if he got caught up in a rip tide or if there is more to his disappearance.

Let me tell you. There was way more to the disappearance. By episode two you find out who killed Sean, by episode three and four, the bodies start to pile up!

Created by Jason Herbison, Riptide was broadcast over four consecutive days from 27 December 2022 on Channel 5 in the UK. We had to wait an entire six months to the series locally.

Starring UK soap star Jo Joyner, Peter O'Brien, Ciarán Griffiths, David Berry, Ben Turland, and Asher Yasbincek. 

Filmed in locations across the state of Victoria, like North Shore it gives UK viewers a look at Aussie beaches and sights.

Riptide was far more enjoyable than the longer North Shore for me. Incoming is Heat which looks a little average, however like Riptide this has just finished airing in the UK over four nights. So here is hoping it lands on our screens before the end of 2023. Paper Dolls is also still to come for Network 10, whilst they have just announced the return of Five Bedrooms to network TV.

Network/Channel Ten/Paramount+ is doing good work with producing good local content. With the writers strike in the USA seeing no end in sight, maybe more local productions will get more air time overseas. Or people will watch re-runs of Friends and Seinfeld. I'm scared the second option is the most likely one.

More TV incoming soon, with the recent (very recent) renewal of the latest The Walking Dead series. Which I honestly thought was a miniseries.

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Mayans M.C. - Season Five/Series Finale

The fifth and final season of Mayans M.C., commenced back in late May. It concluded on Binge lat last night. By late I mean the episodes start streaming at 8pm.

Like the previous four seasons, the final consisted of ten episodes.

Taking place in the same fictional universe as Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C. focuses on the rival motorcycle club.

Blow contains spoilers of the final episode, Slow to Bleed Fair Son.

So the lead up to (SPOILER) EZ’s death, included more deaths like the entire season. It felt like death after death, after death. Some of the deaths this season, you barely even got to k now the character, before BANG! They were gone!

EZ (the total hunk of burning love) had successfully led the Mayans through the final stretch of their war with the Sons. After EZ delivered a rousing speech to his brothers, he and the Mayans and the Grim Bastards descended upon a club where the Sons were partying, and they proceeded to shoot, beat or stab every Sons member they could grab. 

EZ took the liberty of finishing off big, bad Isaac, who he chased outside and threw down a stairwell.

After the Mayans had celebrated their victory, Angel and EZ took a bike ride together, for the first time in a long time. Angel told EZ that, with the Sons war officially behind them, he planned to leave the club life behind and go someplace where he and Maverick could be safe. 

That night, EZ, Angel and the rest of Santo Padre’s head members gathered around the club table, where Angel tearfully announced his decision to the group. Tranq also suggested patching in Nestor, for the way he put the club above all else and handled the situation with Jess — the presumed rat — earlier in the season.

…but the celebration was cut short when Gilly suddenly grabbed EZ and got him in a chokehold, while Nestor and the others held Angel back. 

Bishop who had gotten a visit earlier in the episode from Kody/Katie, delivering a message from Creeper revealed that they all finally knew EZ was the real rat, and they didn’t believe for a second that Angel wasn’t aware of EZ’s deal with the feds. 

So, in an especially gut-wrenching moment, Angel was handed EZ’s knife, and Bishop demanded that he prove you’re loyal to the club over blood. 

EZ seemed to quickly come to terms with his own imminent death, insisting to Angel that this was the only way he and Maverick could truly escape the club lifestyle.

And Angel who had a gun to his head this entire time did what needed to be done, grabbing EZ by the shoulder and driving the knife into his stomach. He apologised the whole way through, and after Angel stepped back, the rest of the men in the room each approached and took their turn stabbing EZ, until it was finally done, and EZ was gone. 

Then more blood was to spill. Bottles then headed to EZ’s trailer, where Sofía had been waiting all day to tell EZ that she was pregnant. Her smile faded when she instead saw Bottles at the door, holding an assault rifle that he used to shoot Sofía instantly. 

Like all series finales, next up was a montage, we later saw that Bishop had taken EZ’s place as Santo Padre president the role he’d wanted all along. 

There was a bright side, though: Angel got out, after all. He and Maverick looked out on the ocean together in the episode’s final scene and as Angel stared at the water, we found that he’d covered up the Mayans club name on his back tattoo.

Tattoo removal is totally on the rise. Farewell to all those bad Bali tattoos peoples!

The finale was full of death (like the entire season) and not just EZ's. Emily fatally shot Miguel and the family’s bodyguard, who she’d discovered was responsible for killing her sister. And thanks to Emily’s months of planning, and those strategically placed security cameras in her home, she looked blameless in both deaths. Instead, the cameras only showed Miguel collapsing, followed by Luis collapsing, followed then by a screaming Emily appearing on camera to hold Miguel’s body. For now, at least, the cops suspected it was a murder-suicide at Luis’ hand.

This season really was just one death after the next. Some more violent than others. Or like EZ some characters you got to know more than others.

Mayans M.C. the full run streams completely on Binge. If Sons of Anarchy was your bag, this was not a bad sequel series. However let's call it a day now Kurt Sutter.

Winter Watchlist Warmers - American Born Chinese - Season One

American Born Chinese is my latest binge! Man did I get through this one quickly! The eight episodes premiered on Disney+ on May 24, 2023. I believe it is set to be just one season, however the final episode, really left room for the story to continue!

American Born Chinese follows tenth-grader Jin Wang (Ben Wang), who is struggling to fit in with his peers. When he is tasked with showing new exchange student Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu) around, he is unexpectedly thrust into a battle between mythical Chinese gods, including Sun Wukong (Daniel Wu) and Guanyin (Michelle Yeoh). 

Based on the 2006 graphic novel American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, who drew inspiration from his own adolescent years in the 1990s, incorporating elements from Chinese folk tales and mysticism found in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

So a little more about the storyline? Jin Wang (played by Ben Wang), a son of Taiwanese immigrants, who for the most part is a typical high school kid. He collects manga, tries to join the soccer team, and is on a journey dealing with his own identity as he tries to figure out who he is. 

One day, Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu), an exchange student, arrives at Jin's school. Unlike Jin, Wei-Chen didn't grow up in America, is loud and open by nature, and doesn't exhibit Jin's self-doubt and insecurities. At times, this causes Jin to feel embarrassed being associated with Wei-Chen.

Not convinced to jump on Disney+ to give it a go yet? Well episode one is below to watch for free, now!

In the finale, The Fourth Scroll, Jin gets a message in a dream from Guanyin that the Autumn Equinox is near, which is when Niu Mowang will enact his plan to destroy, not just Heaven, but Earth as well. 

Jin manages to recruit Anuj to help him locate Wei-Chen where they see him in his true monkey form. Realizing that Niu Mowang's plan is similar to his depictions in manga, they figure out that he will activate the staff's magic at the soccer tournament that night. 

Meanwhile, Simon and Christine try looking for the pendant and discover Sun Wukong and revive him back to health. Afterwards, they decide to head to the game. Jin has a brief encounter with Amelia where the two of them admit their love to each other. Jin then stages a cosplay sketch with Anuj and they draw out Niu Mowang as a fight between him, Wei-Chen and Sun Wukong breaks out. 

Jin realizes he is the fourth scroll and saves heaven and earth by taking the staff's blast. After Sun Wukong defeats Niu Mowang, Wei-Chen says goodbye to Jin, but as the latter enters his house, he finds his parents missing and Princess Iron Fan, who demands that he come with her if he wants to see his parents again.

So where did Jin's parents go? How much fun did Ronny Chieng have playing a drunk?

This was loads of fun, while being one of the best offerings on Disney+. So if like me, you missed this one back in May. All eight episodes are streaming right now! While episode one is streaming above!

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Rain Dogs - Season One

Rain Dogs is BBC One and HBO co-production which streams on Binge in Australia.

The British comedy-drama series created, written, and executive produced by Cash Carraway.

It aired in early March this year, concluding around Anzac Day with an eight episode run.

Starring Daisy May Cooper, Jack Farthing, Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo and Fleur Tashjian.

Rain Dogs has received critical acclaim, with particular praise for the writing and performances of its cast.

So whats the series about? It's an unconventional love story between a working-class single mother, her young daughter, and a privileged gay man.

The show can be a little depressing at times, however inspiring at other times. Daisy May Cooper who plays Costello, gives a memorable performance.

It's also interesting seeing another HBO pairing with the BBC, as Industry (season three apparently still moving forward despite the strikes) also pairs with BBC Two in place of BBC One in this case.

So to avoid HBO running out of content will there be more partnerships with the BBC?

I'm not sure whether the humour would translate in the states from Rain Dogs, along with some of the cultural references. However it does have the common grit that other HBO series have.

Rain Dogs is not really an easy watch (that will be next with American Born Chinese) but an interesting watch.

Binge really does have it all. Blockbusters, quality TV, all the HBO content! See you next time!

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Jack Ryan - Season Four/Series Finale

From an action film to an action TV series, airing its last (sort of) episode. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan concluded it's short, six episode over three week run late last week.

Ahead of the third season, Amazon renewed the series for a fourth season,  it was confirmed the series would end after its fourth season. However a spin-off starring Michael Peña as Ding Chavez is in development. Chavez played a big role in season four, so the sort of last ever episode is like when the Walking Dead called it a day. Only to announce three spin-offs.

This season, Jack, now the CIA's acting deputy director, will face his most dangerous mission yet, which involves a foe operating both in the United States and further afield. 

The trouble begins after he begins investigating rumours of internal corruption, during which he and his trusted associates uncover evidence of an alliance between a drug cartel and a terrorist organization.

John Krasinski as Ryan get reunited in season four with Abbie Cornish, reprising her role as Dr. Cathy Mueller.

Wendell Pierce also continues as James Greer in the final six episode run. This was the first season to be released week to week, also being the shortest of all four seasons.

This was also a return to a quick turnaround between seasons. We did have a monster three year wait between seasons two and three.

Action TV has never looked more polished than Jack Ryan. The budget is big, Amazon and Paramount TV studios must have deep pockets.

All four seasons now stream on Amazon. You can do all four seasons back to back.

Until next time, we are halfway through the Winter Watchlist Warmers series.

Get Outta da House Cinema 2023 - Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Tom Cruise was recently called the man who saved the box office with the recent Top Gun film. Now Cruise returns for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

This is the sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), while being the seventh instalment in the Mission: Impossible film series. 

Dead Reckoning Part One (almost three hours long!) sees Tom Cruise return as Ethan Hunt, whose IMF team matches wits with a powerful rogue AI known as "the Entity". 

Alongside Cruise in this jam packed action film, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Mariela Garriga, and Henry Czerny all star.

The estimated budget for this film is $291 million, making it, one of the most expensive films ever made. While the most expensive in the franchise.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is the latest film by Paramount Pictures. The film received widespread critical acclaim and has grossed $122 million worldwide. Still a few million against Barbie to make budget yet!

When will the  direct sequel, Dead Reckoning Part Two be released you ask? Despite the current strike, the release date is currently set for June 28, 2024. So not that long to wait now. 11 months and counting!

Until then, my verdict? Well you know, this was big budget, high energy action. Done by the numbers, but done well. There are several completely amazing scenes including the finale on the train, mixed with a blown up bridge.

The airport scene is particularly amazing too.

Honestly the whole big budget, big action film delivers on all accounts. I was grateful my bladder behaved itself allowing me to watch the whole film uninterrupted.

This does need to be seen at the cinema. Mainly for those big action sequences. It comes against heavy competition this Thursday at the box office with the pink marketing machine in overdrive for Barbie. While Oppenheimer (another three hour Christopher Nolan epic) also lands this Thursday.

Cinema is back baby! Well for now, depending on how the strike pans out! Until then Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a hit. 3.5 Stars.

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Run the World - Season Two

Run the World has just concluded its second season. Streaming on Stan in Australia while in the USA, it's on Starz. Which both this Friday will launch into Minx, the rescued second season.

Season two premiered on late May, concluding on Friday evening. It's a random day, time for new episodes to drop. However for this sassy 30 minute drama-comedy, set in Harlem, it kind of works.

Andrea Bordeaux, the highlight for me in season one, sadly chose to leave the series due to the mandate that the cast and crew be vaccinated against COVID-19. Bordeaux disputed those reports and stated that she was fired for refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate.

The role of Ella McFair would not be recast, however she was referenced a few times during the season. This left the group of friends (portrayed by Amber Stevens West, Bresha Webb, and Corbin Reid) to navigate relationships and their respective high powered jobs.

Additional cast members for season 2 included Tika Sumpter, Comedian CP, Isha Blaaker, Cree Summer and Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins. However none really replaced the large hole left by Bordeaux.

I really enjoyed season one, however season two did feel a little flat. Maybe it was just due to missing Bordeaux.

However it could have also done with the entire year the series was MIA from our streaming platforms between season one and two.

With the current Hollywood strike situation, for me sees this series a long-shot for a third season. If a third was to happen, it would be a while off, whilst also most likely being its last. Depending on Minx finding its feet on the new home, I think Starz does Power and hour dramas a little better than their half an hour offerings.

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Class of '09 - Miniseries

Class of '09 is one confusing ass miniseries. Not to be confused by Class of '07. The Australian random series that put climate change into pop culture.

This miniseries created by Tom Rob Smith concluded on FX on Hulu last month, while streaming in Australia in full recently on Disney+.

Class of '09 takes place across three distinct time periods: The Past (2009), The Present (2023 and 2025) and The Future (2034), and follows the lives and careers of a team of FBI recruits whilst focusing on the transformation of the U.S. criminal justice system, as it is altered by the rise of artificial intelligence.

In episode eight, Graduation, the class are sworn in as special agents at graduation, with Gabriel remarking the final test is what they make of themselves. 

Tayo's mother meets Vivienne for the first time. Lennix's parents, working high profile jobs abroad, are too busy to attend. Poet visits her mothers grave afterwards.

Having survived the attack, Tayo deduces that someone in the government or intelligence community tried to have him killed in response to the system being implemented. 

He reluctantly accepts promotion to Director to expand the program, but on the condition he stop investigating his attacker and allow certain people to be exempt from being considered suspects. This decision tarnishes his relationships with both Vivienne and Amos.

Vivienne is arrested and put on trial due to a legal book she wrote criticising AI. The group breaks into an FBI data centre and uses an EMP to shut down and reprogram the system to remove exemptions using Amos' keycard. 

Rather than have everyone be treated equally, the government reluctantly deactivates the program. All predictive arrests and cases based on AI calculations are nullified. 

Poet becomes an instructor at Quantico teaching the class of 2034, the first intake after the deactivation, emphasising the strong refocus on the human element in the role of law enforcement.

Starring Brian Tyree Henry, Kate Mara, Raúl Castillo, Jake McDorman, Sepideh Moafi, Brian J. Smith, Jon Jon Briones, Brooke Smith, and Rosalind Eleazar.

It's an all star cast with the magnificent Mara leading the pack. Unlike ABC's Quantico series a few years back, this is way more adult, more intense while with all the different ass timelines at times confusing AF.

If you currently subscribe to Disney+ this one may be for you. I am about to start American Born Chinese whilst continuing Marvel's latest Secret Invasion week to week. Disney+ has really served up some excellent content lately, so if you are a streaming whore like me, Disney+ might be a much need winter nights warmer!

Emmys 2023 Nominations | Predictions

My predictions in red and bold.....

Drama Series

Andor

Better Call Saul

The Crown

House of the Dragon

The Last of Us

Succession

The White Lotus

Yellowjackets

Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary

Barry

The Bear

Jury Duty

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Only Murders in the Building

Ted Lasso

Wednesday

Limited Series

Beef

Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Daisy Jones & the Six

Fleishman Is in Trouble

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jeff Bridges (The Old Man)

Brian Cox (Succession)

Kieran Culkin (Succession)

Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)

Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us)

Jeremy Strong (Succession)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters)

Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets)

Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us)

Keri Russell (The Diplomat)

Sarah Snook (Succession)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Bill Hader (Barry)

Jason Segel (Shrinking)

Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)

Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Christina Applegate (Dead to Me)

Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)

Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face)

Jenna Ortega (Wednesday)

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Taron Egerton (Black Bird)

Kumail Nanjiani (Welcome to Chippendales)

Evan Peters (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story)

Daniel Radcliffe (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story)

Michael Shannon (George & Tammy)

Steven Yeun (Beef)

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Lizzy Caplan (Fleishman Is in Trouble)

Jessica Chastain (George & Tammy)

Dominique Fishback (Swarm)

Kathryn Hahn (Tiny Beautiful Things)

Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & the Six)

Ali Wong (Beef)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Carrigan (Barry)

Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso)

Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso)

James Marsden (Jury Duty)

Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)

Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary)

Henry Winkler (Barry)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)

Janelle James (Abbott Elementary)

Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary)

Juno Temple (Ted Lasso)

Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)

Jessica Williams (Shrinking)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

F. Murray Abraham (The White Lotus)

Nicholas Braun (Succession)

Michael Imperioli (The White Lotus)

Theo James (The White Lotus)

Matthew Macfadyen (Succession)

Alan Ruck (Succession)

Will Sharpe (The White Lotus)

Alexander Skarsgård (Succession)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus)

Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown)

Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus)

Sabrina Impacciatore (The White Lotus)

Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus)

Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul)

J. Smith-Cameron (Succession)

Simona Tabasco (The White Lotus)

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Murray Bartlett (Welcome to Chippendales)

Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird)

Richard Jenkins (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story)

Joseph Lee (Beef)

Ray Liotta (Black Bird)

Young Mazino (Beef)

Jesse Plemons (Love & Death)

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Annaleigh Ashford (Welcome to Chippendales)

Maria Bello (Beef)

Claire Danes (Fleishman Is in Trouble)

Juliette Lewis (Welcome to Chippendales)

Camila Morrone (Daisy Jones & The Six)

Niecy Nash-Betts (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story)

Merritt Wever (Tiny Beautiful Things)

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Bernthal (The Bear)

Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

Nathan Lane (Only Murders In The Building)

Pedro Pascal (Saturday Night Live)

Oliver Platt (The Bear)

Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso)

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Becky Ann Baker (Ted Lasso)

Quinta Brunson (Saturday Night Live)

Taraji P. Henson (Abbott Elementary)

Judith Light (Poker Face)

Sarah Niles (Ted Lasso)

Harriet Walter (Ted Lasso)

Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Murray Bartlett (The Last of Us)

James Cromwell (Succession)

Lamar Johnson (The Last of Us)

Arian Moayed (Succession)

Nick Offerman (The Last of Us)

Keivonn Montreal Woodard (The Last of Us)

Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Hiam Abbass (Succession)

Cherry Jones (Succession)

Melanie Lynskey (The Last of Us)

Storm Reid (The Last of Us)

Anna Torv (The Last of Us)

Harriet Walter (Succession)

Variety Talk Series

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Late Night With Seth Meyers

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

The Problem With Jon Stewart

Reality Competition Program

The Amazing Race

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Survivor

Top Chef

The Voice

Outstanding Animated Program

Bob’s Burgers • The Plight Before Christmas

Entergalactic

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal • Shadow Of Fate

Rick And Morty • Night Family •

The Simpsons • Treehouse Of Horror XXXIII

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Bupkis - Season One

Bupkis was not really on my radar to binge hardcore. However this comedy that dropped a little while back on Binge (in Australia), Peacock in the USA, was addictive AF!

The first episode was like whoa!

Last month, the series was renewed for a second season. 

Bupkis is described as a heightened fictionalised version of Pete Davidson's life. In episode eight, season one's finale, Show Me the Way, Pete goes to rehab and finds himself unable to avoid misadventures as his old friend Machine Gun Kelly shows up intent on getting him high. Meanwhile Pete's sister, Casey, is set to graduate without him there.

Of course one of the big draw cards here is Nurse Jackie AKA Edie Falco plays Davidson's mother, while Joe Pesci was added to the cast as Davidson's grandfather. This is Pesci's first time starring in a television series in 37 years.

I'm looking forward to seeing the second season, following how easy this first season was to watch.

If you have Binge, this is one hell of a ride. Falco has a real tough run in episode one. I feel that scene will stay with me for a while. I have a feeling this one scene was largely the reason the series is rated R!

Davidson is an interesting guy. He dated Ariana, he has had mental health struggles, he apparently has a huge penis. All of this is covered, made fun of, while focusing on his celebrity status.

It's an interesting idea for a series. Davidson is interesting. Let's hope the writers strike doesn't delay the second season too much.... That said I still have a pile of things to catch up. On Binge I am currently working through all my thirty minute series, whilst Disney+ I am cracking on. Expect a piece of Class of 09 soon.

Till then!

Winter Watchlist Warmers - The Clearing - Miniseries

The Clearing is an eight-part thriller, the first Australian series produced for Disney+.

Inspired by the dark story of a real-life cult Australian New Age group The Family. Based on the book In the Clearing by J. P. Pomare

The series premiered late May, concluding last week.

Starring an all star Australian cast. Miranda Otto, Teresa Palmer, Guy Pearce, Kate Mulvany, Xavier Samuel, Mark Coles Smith, Claudia Karvan and Gary Sweet.

While also having appearances by Doris Younane and Matt Okine. Miranda Otto did completely shine in this role as Adrienne, who is based on the charismatic leader Anne Hamilton-Byrne. 

Sadly this aired weekly alongside the brilliant 5 Star Deadloch. Otherwise this would be purely outstanding Australian entertainment. Gosh I hope Disney+ continues to create more Australian content.

However The Clearing, the miniseries was exceptional Australian television. It's worrying times for local content makers like the ABC having some serious competition now from the likes of Disney+ and Prime giving us top notch Aussie content. As much as I didn't like his political party, he is right. Trent Zimmerman from North Sydney wrote a good piece last week that the Liberal Party and the ABC need to gain a younger audience.

Shows like The Clearing and Deadloch are premium dramas, young viewers will flock to. Sadly yet another Marta Dusseldorp drama is not going to make young viewers sign up for a free iView account.

I am quick to judge this new ABC drama. However a mystery in Tasmania. Kinda, been there done that recently. Also The Messenger just looked awful. I can't bring myself to watch that one. A bit like Savage River last year.

Thats said this isn't about Australian dramas, more about The Clearing. This is now an excellent binge living on Disney+. Eight episodes, beautifully shot in Victoria with a haunting look into a kooky ass cult. We thought we saw it all with Hillsong recently, right?

Get Outta da House Cinema 2023 - Joyride

Joy Ride is the second "sex" comedy in as many weeks. However this is leaps and bounds above No Hard Feelings.

This is Adele Lim feature directorial debut, starring Emily in Paris queen Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wu, Ronny Chieng, Meredith Hagner, David Denman, Annie Mumolo, Timothy Simons, and Daniel Dae Kim.

Joy Ride has received positive reviews from critics, who praised the lead performances, humor, and heart.

Also a plus for this film is two Aussie hunks in the basketball bus scenes, Alexander Hodge & Chris Pang .

This film has real heart, while remaining fairly horny too.

Lori Tan Chinn also stars as Nai Nai, Lolo's grandmother. It's not been that long since we farewelled (most likely for good) her on Awkwafina's series Nora from Queens.

This is maybe not ideal for a school holidays film, however it is a damn lot funnier than the recent Jennifer Lawerence film.

While it packs a punch with the comedy lines, the Ashley Park as Audrey Sullivan searching for her birth mother was actually really sweet, while being handled in a sensitive manner. In between dildo and vagina jokes this is an art.

Ronny Chieng has really done well from his stand up days. Good on you!

No spoilers here.Just expect to laugh, smile and see some damn fine men on the big screen.

4.5 Stars. A return to good cinema, praise be!

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Deadloch - Season One

Deadloch may very well be my favourite show if 2023! Will it be the Winter Watchlist Warmers number one series. Right now, NO DOUBT! Even though fellow Australian series The Clearing was also outstanding.

Firstly please can there be a Northern Territory version, season two of Deadloch, please Amazon? You have enough cash. Well more than enough cash.

Yes the eight outstanding episodes all stream on Amazon Prime Video. This is the latest work from the exceptional comedy duo Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan. Ladies I love you!

Deadloch centres around the small Tasmanian town of the same name.

Deadloch, is left reeling when a local man turns up dead on the beach. Two female detectives are thrown together to solve the case.

Fastidious local senior sergeant Dulcie Collins (Kate Box, Wentworth) and a rough-as-guts blow-in from Darwin, senior investigator Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) along with their overeager junior constable Abby (Nina Oyama). 

As the town prepares to launch the annual arts, food, and culture event, Winter Feastival, the trio have to put their differences aside and work together to find the killer.

The Kates were largely inspired to write a comedy from a set-up similar to that of the UK series Broadchurch after they both watched the series.

There is a huge cast joining Kate Box and the rough as guts Madeleine Sami. Nina Oyama already mentioned is outtsnading alongside Alicia Gardiner as Cath York, Dulcie's wild girfriend. Who sends tit pics and calls Box sexy at every given chance. She is a real character!

Former Triple J host Tom Ballard is Sven Alderman, the worst gay cop, EVER! Also from the comedy scene and The Project, Susie Youssef is female mayor, Aleyna Rahme. Great lines from Susie Youssef while Wentworth royalty, Pamela Rabe plays celebrity chef, Margaret Carruthers.

The cast is so big, so diverse, so awesome! This is a GREAT local series, I am so happy others in the world (through Amazon) will get to experience. The liberal use of cunt doing this show is wild too.

I loved all eight episodes, I never guessed the killer, I just want another season. Based in the NT where we leave off. However Tasmania looked bloody amazing! So amazing! I was so in love with this series. 

So much show all the below excelled in their respective roles. This was an all class, Australian effort. I never grade the TV series with a star rating, however this deserves it. An easy 5 Stars! Brilliant from the opening minutes of episode one!

If next year at the Logies this doesn't clean up for Amazon, it's criminal!

Hollie Austin as Skye O'Dwyer

Astrid Wells Cooper as Claire Connelly

Duncan Fellows as Ray McLintock

Kris McQuade as Victoria O'Dwyer

Shaun Martindale as Phil Mcgangus

Kartanya Maynard as Miranda Hoskins

Mia Morrissey as Nadiyah Zammit

Naarah as Sharelle Muir

Katie Robertson as Vanessa Latham

Nick Simpson-Deeks as James King

Leonie Whyman as Tammy Hampson

Harvey Zielinski as Gez Rahme

Stephanie Jack as Megan Lang

Mick Davies as Mike Nugent

Harry Radbone as Tom O'Dwyer

Harry Prior as Callum Robertson

Barry Wheeler as Trent Latham

Jackson Tozer as Gavin Latham

Bryce Tollard-Williams as Dolph Latham

Ned Ward as Hunter Patterson

Lisa Gormley as Michelle Buckley

Sinsa Jo Mansell as Fay Hampson

Carla Di Domenico as Adele

Zindzi Okenyo as Kate

Nathan Maynard as Ted Hopkins

Darius Williams as Jeremy Hodge

Matt Burton as Jimmy Cook

Grace Naoum as Daniela Kehlmann

Winter Watchlist Warmers - Barons - Season One

Barons is my catch-up Australian drama this month. It aired last April to June on the ABC. While in the USA, the series premiered on 29 May 2023 on The CW. Following the sale of the network, overseas acquired content is all the rage.

However on 21 June 2023, the series was pulled from the network's schedule after four episodes. Sad face for Australian content abroad.

Barons parallels the story behind the Billabong and Quiksilver surf labels, in which Australian surfers in the 1970s turned their personal rivalries into professional rivalries as they built competing surfwear companies.

Former Triple J breakfast host, Marieke Hardy is one of the co-writers. Which for me along with the hot boy cast, this was a drawcard.

The cast is full of familiar faces like leads Sean Keenan as Bill "Trotter" Dwyer and Ben O'Toole as Snapper Webster. With Jillian Nguyen as Tracy Dwyer, Trotters wife, poor thing, his a dick in the show, but very hot.

Hunter Page-Lochard as Reg Thompson, joins Last King of the Cross/Home & Away alumni Lincoln Younes as Buddy Fraser, with a dodgy Kick Gurry as Mac.

Catherine Van-Davies is Shirley Kwong who is mainly known in the series as S Kwong, the famous surf photographer.

Apparently more seasons were planned however it's been over a year since season one's eight episodes have aired.

It was a decent little show however nowhere near up to the new Aussie standard of The Clearing and Dead Loch.

It streams for free on ABC iView along with some other great dramas and recent series I have watched. Winter Watchlist Warmers blog series is all about clearing my streaming services watchlists, binge lists, my lists, so I can start a fresh at the end of this writers strike.

So far I am getting through the series fairly fast. Incoming week to week, above mentioned Dead Loch and The Clearing should have reviews posted next week. Ahead of my USA holiday you'll see my thoughts on the final Mayan's MC season, Run The World and the latest Walking Dead spin off. Spoiler alert the Negan/Maggie series is actually good....

Enjoy the weekend!

Get Outta da House/Stay in da House Cinema 2023 - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Why have I featured both blog series Get Outta da House & Stay in da House Cinema for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania? Well....

Back on the 9th of March I attempted to see one of the latest Marvel films. However I ended up watching it on Disney+. So why an attempted viewing? Well Broadway Shops had a fire drill.

To be honest it saved me two hours plus, side note at home I could skip to the mid credits and end credit scenes! Life hack!

OK, I enjoyed the previous Ant-Man films, however this one..... was AWFUL!

Like the first fifteen minutes I saw on the big screen were just one big CGI mess! It was honestly god awful. Not even Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd could save this Marvel effort.

It's not just me, however who thought it was bad. Despite grossing around $476 million worldwide, it underperformed at the box office. It became one of the few films in the MCU not to break even in its theatrical run. Sad right!

The earlier films Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) were really a lot better than this third Ant-Man film.

Alongside Paul Rudd and Michelle Pfeiffer, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, Katy O'Brian, William Jackson Harper, Bill Murray, Corey Stoll, and Michael Douglas all star in this CGI red-hot mess! 

In the film, Lang, Van Dyne, and their family are accidentally transported to the Quantum Realm and face off against Kang the Conqueror (Majors).

The third Ant-Man film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its performances visual effects, and musical score, but criticised its plot, screenplay, and tonal departures from earlier instalments in the franchise. 

I might have finally ditched seeing Marvel films in the cinema. I also missed Guardians of the Galaxy too, so I think I will continue to miss these films. As we have now officially headed into comic book overload!

I can't pass this sorry Paul Rudd. 2 Stars. If you are interested it streams on Disney+

Winter Watchlist Warmers - The Betoota Advocate Presents - Season One

The Betoota Advocate delivers some of the best social media posts around. The four part Paramount+ series also delivers.

Tackling the rise and fall of the Hillsong Church, the Rugby League VS the Super League, the Cronulla Riots, and the Fine Cotton scandal. Some real interesting topics.

From brainwashing to scandals, there is some fun to be had here.

So thank you Channel 10/CBS/Paramount+ for delivering something local and different. Very different.

Akubra-wearing editors Clancy Overell and Errol Parker (Archer Hamilton and Charles Single) host the show, think a more upmarket ACA following the publication being labelled an outback media heavyweight, as well as Australia’s oldest and most trusted newspaper. If you have ever read the Daily Telegraph, the Betoota Advocate actually is a load more factually correct.

I enjoyed this series week to week on Wednesday's. Four episodes however was just not enough.

I really hope like previous local Paramount+ title, Five Bedrooms, this gets a renewal. There has been loads of hype, so fingers crossed the regional newspaper lands a second run.

I have to say Paramount+ has really delivered on local content of late. With North Shore not being great, the latest Australian/UK co-pro Riptide is a vast improvement. That streams weekly now.

I mentioned Five Bedrooms, 6 Festivals was a cute teen movie, while I still wait to hear if there will be second seasons of More Than This and Spreadsheet. While Last King of the Cross has just been given a second season.

So if you need a new streaming service now that interest rates are on hold Paramount+ really delivers if you like Australian content.

Stay in da House Cinema 2023 - Run Rabbit Run

Run Rabbit Run is the latest Australian content to appearing on a streaming service. This almost 2 hour local horror film is streaming now on Netflix.

Directed by Daina Reid, written by Hannah Kent, while starring Succession's own Sarah Snook.

Now Succession has concluded it's time for Snook to land some new roles. Alongside Sarah (who also plays a Sarah in this film) Run Rabbit Run stars Lily LaTorre, Damon Herriman and Greta Scacchi. 

Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, it landed on Netflix last week.

The basic plot for the local horror film is, Snook, a fertility doctor notices strange behaviour in her own child. Wearing a creepy rabbit mask along with finding a random rabbit at their family home for her seventh birthday.

The same age Sarah's sister vanished at their remote home.

With some random flashbacks, we piece together the mystery of Sarah's missing sister while her estranged mother Joan's health deteriorates in an aged care facility.

Elisabeth Moss was originally attached to the film, having previously worked with Reid on The Handmaid's Tale. However in December 2021, Snook was announced as on board the project after Moss had to pull out due to scheduling issues.

Don't be turned off by the Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 37%. Snook does a solid job, I did jump at least three times, so the horror factor was there.

If you are already missing Shiv Roy on your TV, Netflix may very well have the medicine you require. This isn't a perfect film, however it looks grand.

3 Stars.

Winter Watchlist Warmers - The Idol - Season One

The Idol is maybe HBO's biggest misstep in a while. Created by Sam Levinson (Euphoria), Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim. 

The five part The Idol, focuses on an aspiring pop idol (Lily-Rose Depp) and her complex relationship with Tedros (Tesfaye), a self-help guru and cult leader. 

Joining the musical and non-musical cast are Suzanna Son, Troye Sivan, Moses Sumney, Jane Adams, Dan Levy, Jennie Ruby Jane, Eli Roth, Rachel Sennott, Hari Nef, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Mike Dean, Ramsey, and Hank Azaria.

HBO have had an extremely solid start to 2023, with The Last of Us, final season of Succession, critical acclaim for the final run of Barry along with one of my favourite TV comedies returning, Somebody Somewhere. So for this series (in my opinion) to start strong then just go bat shit crazy! Like real bat shit crazy!

With The Weeknd releasing the outstanding single Popular with mad old Madonna and Playboi Carti, along with Lily-Rose Depp's single World Class Sinner/I'm a Freak.

The Idol premiered its first two episodes at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, then starting on Binge in Australia early June.

Originally meant to run for six episodes, something happened, then episode five served at the season finales. Well in my mind this will be a series finale. I can't see this returning for a second run. Receiving negative reviews from critics for its script, direction, and sexual content, loads of hate comments online along with really, really bad press.

Although the cinematography, production design, and Depp's performance were praised.

Now the first three episodes were decent, however the final two were just plain AWFUL.

In the finale. Spoilers ahead if you can get through all five episodes. 

Jocelyn Forever opens with Jocelyn recording “Tough Love” with Tedros’ (The Weeknd) hand-picked producer Mike Dean.

The song is coming together, but when Tedros tries to get involved, she abruptly turns on him. Maybe Jocelyn is over The Weeknd?

Then Jocelyn gets an urgent call from her Live Nation rep Andrew Finklestein, who needs to meet her face-to-face to discuss her tour. Leia tries to tell her something, but she coldly cuts her off.

Jocelyn assembles Tedros’ "cult" and offers them a showcase with her team, snapping at Tedros when he tries to speak. Tedros pulls Xander aside and urges him to stand up for himself and grab this opportunity.

A fleet of luxury cars pull up to Jocelyn’s house, and the cult warmly greet Chaim, Destiny, Nikki and Andrew with warm hugs — and plenty of sexual innuendo. 

Tedros immediately attacks Nikki, though, for being algorithm cunt for signing Dyanne without his approval. Andrew cuts him off, telling him he’s leaving in five minutes if Jocelyn doesn’t show up. While they wait, Destiny asks Chloe to sing the song she was working on, and Chaim is impressed, but Andrew is growing impatient — and Leia is fielding frantic calls from Jocelyn’s ex Rob, saying he’s been accused of rape at Jocelyn’s house and he needs Joss to clear his name.

Jocelyn finally emerges, telling Andrew she wants Chloe to be her opening act and asking him to listen to Izaak before she sings. 

He reluctantly agrees, and yes, Izaak is wildly talented, but Andrew is concerned about Jocelyn’s state of mind and how it affects his bottom line. But eventually, the talent wins everyone over — even Nikki, who offers Tedros an olive branch and makes plans with him while Destiny and Chaim conspire to keep these kids for themselves. 

The mood in the room changes, though, when Nikki gets word about Rob’s rape accusation. Jocelyn is stunned and stares daggers at Tedros, who throws Rob under the bus. 

While Xander grabs the mike and sings a dreamy version of “My Sweet Lord,” Jocelyn grabs Tedros and accuses him directly, ordering him to leave. 

Jocelyn threatens to call the cops, and he says he’ll kill her before they get to him. So she goes straight to Chaim and tells him, “Pay him whatever the fuck he wants to get out of my life forever.” Chaim chats with Tedros, telling him the twisted story of the Big Bad Wolf that comes across as a thinly veiled threat, and security hauls him away while Jocelyn dances and writhes to a new song for Andrew. 

Chaim gives Tedros half a million dollars to disappear, but Tedros defiantly tears up the check. Chaim will go to Plan B.

Andrew loves the song and loves Jocelyn’s new direction, and the tour is back on. Chaim tells Jocelyn that Tedros is done, though he doesn’t get into specifics, and Leia leaves Jocelyn a note that looks like a resignation letter. 

Nikki breaks the news to Dyanne that they’re holding the release of her song due to a nebulous legal matter and Dyanne knows it’s about Jocelyn. 

Chaim meets with Vanity Fair writer Talia and tells her he has a bigger story for her.

Time jump, six weeks later, with Joss about to embark on a sold-out stadium tour with a trio of hit singles and Chloe, Izaak and Xander as her opening acts. 

Tedros is firmly out of the picture, too, after Talia’s Vanity Fair article exposed his past as a pimp and made him lose his club. Andrew and her team celebrate his downfall, but Tedros still shows up at the stadium, asking if Joss left an artist pass for him. 

There’s nothing under “Tedros,” but there is a pass under his real name, Mauricio Jackson. 

He goes to see Jocelyn, only to find Destiny, who threatens to kill him if he hurts Joss.

Jocelyn finally comes out to see him, telling him she’s glad he came and intimately cradling his face. He notices she still has the hairbrush her mom supposedly beat her with.

So that story was made up? They hold hands as she rides off to the stage before facing an adoring crowd chanting her name. She wants to introduce them to “the love of her life,” bringing Tedros on stage with her and kissing him while her team looks on with disbelief. 

“You’re mine, forever,” she tells Tedros before ordering him to stand off to the side.

So it was a weird AF final hour and five minutes. I really would be surprised if HBO gave this another few episodes. It has been relatively popular however it was a real red hot mess. With the writers strike, awful reviews and HBO already cancelling series like Perry Mason, this could also be a one and very expensive done!

Get Outta da House Cinema 2023 - No Hard Feelings

No Hard Feelings is the latest sex comedy, however it is actually not that sexy. I know right. Although Jennifer Lawrence (who also produces) is damn sexy and pulls off this just over an hour and a half drama/comedy.

Down-on-her-luck young woman (Lawrence, imagine that for a second, Lawrence down and out, I know right!) answers a listing to date an introverted 19-year-old (Andrew Barth Feldman) in order to get him out of his shell prior to college. 

There is not a huge supporting cast however Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, and Matthew Broderick (with super awful hair) join Lawrence.

The film has received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed over $33 million, close to reaching its budget! That is a good thing in 2023.

Look after seeing so many of these "sex" comedies, there is little new ground to be covered. However Lawrence does a great job as someone in their 30's trying to connect with some in their late teens.

It's hard these days. There is a massive disconnect from us who partied without being filmed, every moment of our drunken wild nights kept for all eternity. 

So with the generational gap explored, along with Lawerence really being able to play any role thrown at her, this wasn't a bad film. It just struggled with the laugh out loud moments. As they kinda never happened. That said the friendship, the growing older, while still feeling young, felt sort of fresh.

3 Stars.

Album of (NEXT) Week, Music Posts....

Return mid to late July as part of my USA holidays BLOG hiatus.

In the meantime July, is where I will see so much live music! Tove Lo, Lastlings and Lizzo!

Next week The Idol, The Clearing and Dead Loch all conclude so stay tuned for more Winter Watchlist Warmers posts.

Happy EOFY!