Alongs comes Dumb Money, a biographical comedy-drama film directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo.
Based on the 2021 book The Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich. The book chronicles the GameStop short squeeze of January 2021.
With an all-star cast of some of my favourite comedy and TV stars Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D'Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley, and Seth Rogen.
The film has received generally positive reviews from critics, while having an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
I had heard about this briefly during the random Covid times. This was a seriously intense Keith Gill taking on Wall Street.
Honestly I saw the trailer a number of times. I was not sold. However on a Monday night screening. I was loving the drama. It was a super fine film.
Well under two hours Pete Davidson and Anthony Ramos shone in smaller roles.
I enjoyed the different pace of a non-horror film in this Halloween cinema period. Don't fear though, there are many more horror films on the way.
That said, Dumb Money scores and impressive 4 Stars.
Wolf Like Me recently returned to Stan for season two. With an added extra episode, making the second season a quick seven episode binge.
Gary (Josh Gad), Emma and Mary (Isla Fisher) continue their adventures in Adelaide. This time while juggling pregnancy, moving homes and a special guest star from Edgar Ramírez.
Yes Mary's past captures up with her this season. While in the finale a maternity ward is the worst possible place for Mary to be on a full moon. When an emergency C-section is ordered and the cops show up, there's no other option for Mary, Gary and their imminent baby or wolf?
We do find out in the final minutes of the season, while also opening up the show for a third season? So will Stan and/or Peacock give this pre-Halloween series another go?
I for one hope so. Stan has been churning out a fair amount of content of late. With more on the way before the end of 2023. This series Sizzlin' Summer Streaming 23' will take us all the way to December 31, 2023.
Even though it is not all that warm today!
Wolf Like Me has a tight knit small cast. Enough comedy and drama to keep the show flowing well over it's short 25-28 minute episodes. We all need a short episode series on the go right?
Wolf Like Me might not be the best thing on Stan, however it is damn timely to land around Halloween. Which is honestly getting bigger and bigger. And for some strange reason, the gays are really into. Like really into it!
Billions first started airing on Showtime mid January 2016. A much simpler time. Created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien, and Andrew Ross Sorkin. The series rocked up 84 total episodes. The series set primarily in New York and Connecticut, the series depicts hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis) as he accumulates wealth and power in the world of high finance.
Bobby Axelrod was replaced by Corey Stoll as Michael Thomas Aquinas Prince a business magnate, grew up as small town Indiana farm boy, who seemingly wants to give back to society. Prince becomes Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) next main enemy, then in season seven, he is almost everyone's enemy.
We see end games this season for series favourite psychiatrist turned performance coach Wendy Rhoades (Maggie Siff), market analyst Taylor Mason (Asia Kate Dillon), and Axelrod's right-hand man Mike "Wags" Wagner (David Costabile).
The characters are larger than life the language is Showtime standard rough AF while the series in Australia, all 84 episodes now, stream exclusively on Stan.
This will be Stan's last Showtime streaming now all new Showtime (merging with Paramount anyway) will live/stream on Paramount+. That includes new miniseries Fellow Travelers which launches this week as Billions Sunday screening replacement.
Admirals Fund ends fairly tidy for a series that has wrapped up its seven season run.
No spoilers on this bad boy as it literally just landed on Stan last night. I concluded the 12th and final episode of this season this morning.
Originally there was talk of a Trillions and even Millions spin-off. We will see this uncertain time if those planned series ever see the light of day.
For now Billions has been a reliable series with quick dialogue, awesome one liners and Damian Lewis the king of Showtime. Remember his iconic role in Homeland?
Stan has a number of big series still to come, so in my mind Stan is an ongoing reliable streaming service with plenty of local content and international showstoppers.
From the man behind Yellowstone (including 1923 and 1883), Tulsa King, Mayor of Kingstown and Lawman: Bass Reeves comes Special Ops: Lioness.
Like Rabbit/Hole before, Lioness is a spy thriller television series created by Taylor Sheridan.
Similar to Rabbit/Hole it streams on Paramount+. Commencing back in July, the eight episode run concluded early last month. The series however only just has a pass of 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. So what's it about?
Force Recon Marine Cruz Manuelos is tasked with befriending the daughter of a terrorist financer who is on the CIA’s kill list.
With no second season announced yet, fingers will be crossed now I binged the entire first run. It stars an all-star cast too. Zoe Saldaña leads along with Nicole Kidman, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Hannah Love Lanier, Michael Kelly and finally Morgan Freeman.
With a stellar performance by Zoe Saldaña and Laysla De Oliveira lets hope Paramount+ gives this spy series a second run. That said it's from their leading content provider Taylor Sheridan, so surely that has to count for something right? Speaking of Paramount+ news of some of their returning shows in Australia can be found here.
Two returning series Chucky and American Horror Story are resting after airing only half of their seasons. Presuming this is a casualty to the recent writers strikes, now the continuing actors strike.
Now in its twelfth season, Delicate is the latest American Horror Story offering. Starring (as usual) an all star cast Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Denis O'Hare, and Leslie Grossman. With Matt Czuchry, Kim Kardashian (highlight of the first five episodes - I know right!), Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Cara Delevingne, Julie White, and Maaz Ali.
With 75% currently on Rotten Tomatoes, maybe the half-half season will allow Murphy and the team have a reset, see what is working, what the audiences are reacting to and improve on that for possibly another five episodes. It is definitely loads better than the awful NYC season.
Chucky is also about to reset after this week's fourth episode with another four to come in 2024. Based in the White House this third season. The show is more bat shit crazy than ever before! With Saw like death sequences. It is gory to the absolute MAX!
With the parent show on break already, American Horror Stories returns for a very brief four episode run this week. With all four episodes streaming on Binge later this week, you have to wonder whether it will be back for a fourth season. I don't even remember it getting renewed for a third season.
This season will star Seth Gabel, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Jeff Hiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lisa Rinna, Emma Halleen, Jessica Barden, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Reid Scott, Annie Hamilton, Allegra Heart, Christopher Fitzgerald, Laura Kariuki, Hazel Graye, Rob Yang, Raúl Castillo, Emily Browning, Laila Robins and Havana Rose Liu. So yeah like the parent show, it's gonna be a big, with lot's of blood most likely.
Going back to my high school days Goosebumps is also streaming week to week on Disney+.
While movie wise we still have Saw X, The Exorcist, The Nun II and Five Nights at Freddy's opening Thursday. Yep horror is here, there and everywhere this spooky season!
After reading more about Wilderness I was happy to see this was classed as a miniseries, streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The British six episode run is based on the novel of the same name by B. E. Jones.
Starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen, this landed on Amazon mid last month. So I am slowly catching up on my streaming whilst the actors strike continues. But for how much longer?
So what is Wilderness all about? Is it just based on Taylor Swifts hit Look What You Made Me Do?
Liv and Will Taylor are a young British couple whose marriage is threatened when Liv sees a message on Will's mobile phone revealing his affair with a co-worker. Heartbreak quickly turns into fury and revenge.
Yep it's another revenge miniseries/series based on a woman being wronged. We see Liv and Will take a road trip then head back to NYC.
By episode four and into five the plot is getting a bit thin. Originally I thought it was eight episodes, however I was happy to see the closing scene in episode six as Liv returned to the site of the crime.
This was not the best or worst miniseries I have watched this year. It did take revenge to a new level with multiple plot twists and turns.
Next up I will talk Halloween and horror hitting our small screens. From Chucky to the American Horror Story/Stories brand. Horror is definitely in, this spooky season!
Expend4bles is the poor spelling of the fourth Expendables film. Which speaking of poor, has grossed $49 million worldwide against a budget of $100 million, making it a box-office bomb.
Scoring 13% on Rotten Tomatoes, this film really may be the fourth and final installment. However that said, it was a bit of free air conditioned fun.
I can't believe The Expendables 3 was released back in 2014.
It feels like only yesterday we were watching this mature action stars romp around the screen with big guns and some big muscles.
Following the awful Meg sequel, Jason Statham is back with Tulsa King's Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy García.
50 Cent has had a good run with film & TV with his Power universe, now this pay day!
The Expendables 4 was a bit long, however as I said earlier it was a bit of blow em' up, explosions and motor bike chase screens whilst onboard large boats. Yep motor bike chases whilst on board a boat.
Jason Statham is actually fairly handsome. Megan Fox feels a bit off as his main squeeze. However he is in good nick.
Iko Uwais has some awesome martial arts scenes with some damn fine action choreography.
I will pass this as what the world needs right now is just some damn fine easy viewing right.
2.5 Stars. More TV reviews incoming. Stay cool Sydney, the heat is back on in time for the weekend!
The Newsreader is one of the biggest ABC dramas right now. A third series has already officially been confirmed. The first series was ABC's most-watched drama program of 2021.
The second series, set across 1987 and 1988, the series revolves around Dale and Helen "contending with rising public profiles, intensifying office politics, and a ruthless new CEO of the network.
The season also consisted of six episodes.
News events covered in the series include the 1987 federal election, the stock market crash, the separation of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, the heroin crisis, Australia's Bicentennial celebrations and protests, and the Hoddle Street shootings.
The second series premiered mid-September, with each episode of the series will be accompanied by an official podcast, hosted by journalists Leigh Sales and Lisa Millar. Guess Sales needs a gig now 7:30 is done and dusted! Later in September, all remaining episodes (episodes 3–6) were made available on ABC iView, on-demand, prior to their linear broadcast.
Episode one kicked off with a look back at 8–13 July 1987.
The night is dominated by rivalries as Dale and Helen - now firmly established as 'The Golden Couple of News' - prepare to front the network's federal election coverage, frustrated by unjust pressure from their new CEO, Charlie Tate, as to what the telecast promises viewers - a 7:45pm guarantee on the election outcome - and from their erstwhile colleague and former News at Six icon, Geoff - whose career revival happens to be his own simultaneous coverage on a rival network.
The Six's night goes from bad to worse when they are unable to deliver a projection by the deadline and an opportunity to interview Paul Keating is jeopardised, as Lindsay and Dennis' toadying of Charlie becomes more desperate and Noelene gets on the wrong side of everyone bar Rob.
Variety show host Gerry Carroll's addition to the panel initially annoys Dale, but he finds himself warming to the comic - to an extent that disturbs and unsettles him and Helen in different ways. Meanwhile, Evelyn struggles to accommodate her daughter's homecoming.
The season really got going much earlier on than the first run. The dialogue was snappy, the cast are all excellent! Anna Torv and Sam Reid are just brilliant whilst Stephen Peacocke is the Australian TV star who can do everything. From RFDS to Five Bedrooms to his role in this outstanding local production.
William McInnes as Lindsay Cunningham is just so vile. But has so damn fine one-liners whilst Kath & Kim's Marg Downey as Evelyn Walters, wow!
To be honest, this show is brilliant in its second season. I could not get through this quick enough. I put aside Billions and other shows to just smash through the compelling six episode run.
Michelle Lim Davidson as Noelene Kim also is a true star. Towards the back half of the season, she was a total star!
Sensational stuff. I can forgive the god awful Bay of Fires they ABC rolled out earlier this year. Bring on season three ASAP!
It's spy season on my Sizzlin' Summer Streaming 23' series. Following the fairly average True Lies (below), comes Rabbit/Hole. Kinda like 24 with Kiefer Sutherland. Just instead of 24 episodes, we settle for just 8 in season one.
Also no word on season two yet with the finale airing early May this year.
Created by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra streaming now on Paramount+, Kiefer Sutherland stars as a private espionage agent framed for murder.
The series premiered on late March, as I continue to catch up with series that wrapped earlier in 2023.
John Weir is a corporate spy adept at deception and ruining lives. In his last mission, a mysterious cabal turns the table on him and gives him a taste of his own medicine by framing him for a murder, and he finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game for gaining his freedom.
Sutherland (24) stars alongside Rob Yang, Charles Dance, Meta Golding, Enid Graham, Jason Butler Harner, Walt Klink & Wendy Makkena.
Rabbit/Hole was inspired by political thrillers such as Three Days of the Condor, The Manchurian Candidate, Marathon Man and The Parallax View, according to Sutherland.
Creators Requa and Ficarra describe it as a "paranoid thriller". That's not wrong Sutherland's Weir is extremely all over the shop.
Rabbit/Hole is set in New York City, however it's another proud Canadian project, with filming in Ontario. Taking place primarily in Toronto with additional scenes in Hamilton.
So is it any good? Or worth a free trial on Paramount+?
Look it is left wide open for a second season. However there is no news on that front and TV renewals of late are taking a long time for decisions to be made post/mid strikes.
It's more consistent than 24, it packs a punch in eight whilst shows Sutherland post 24 (and the now cancelled Designated Survivor) has TV appeal.
More spies on Special Ops: Lioness to come with young Nicole Kidman in coming weeks. Also living on Paramount+
Short lived, True Lies is streaming its solo season on Disney+ in Australia. Based on the 1994 film of the same name by James Cameron, itself based on the 1991 French film La Totale! by Claude Zidi, Simon Michaël, and Didier Kaminka.
The series was on CBS Stateside, early March till mid-May this year. My writers, now actors strike TV catch up continues.
Due to low ratings, also maybe an awful script, cheap special effects, the series will not return for a second season. Well whenever CBS series make a return. Of which I currently watch fellow big screen to small screen female version of the Equalizer and the latest fire fighter series, Fire Country.
True Lies revolves around a suburban housewife who discovers her computer consultant husband is a skilled international spy, which leads them to saving the world and their marriage.
The 13 episode run stars Steve Howey, Ginger Gonzaga (in the lead roles), with Erica Hernandez, Omar Miller, Mike O'Gorman, Annabella Didion, and Lucas Jaye. With Scream's Matthew Lillard, OG film star Tom Arnold returning from the 1994 big screen version, plus Keith David, Jackson Hurst, and Tom Connolly all having guest roles.
The 13th (and final EVER) episode Waking Dreams was a continuation from the previous episode Lying Truths.
With the whole Tasker family being in on the "True Lies" spy thing. The season ended with a light cliffhanger that could have lead into a fairly tame season two.
This was typical network (USA) procedural run of the mill stuff. Nothing really special, no stand out performances, however an easy on the train or on while your home doing your life admin kind of thang.
CBS won't be missing this series when their regular programming commences maybe next Autumn/Fall.
With Yellowstone repeats (from years ago, like 2018) rating almost double (if not more) this shows original first airings. Now that's sad.
If you liked the OG film, this modern take may interest you. If so all 13 episodes stream now on Disney+.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is the fifth spin-off and overall sixth television series in The Walking Dead franchise.
This time we head to France as Norman Reedus reprises his role as Daryl Dixon from the original television series.
Coming along for the TWD travelling roadshow to Europe, Clémence Poésy, Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, Laïka Blanc-Francard, Anne Charrier, Romain Levi and Adam Nagaitis playing new characters.
This spin-off was originally set to feature the character of Carol Peletier, but she was written off due to logistical issues involving the actress Melissa McBride, so the focus of the series shifted to Daryl.
But in June, it was reported McBride will appear in the show as her character in some capacity.
The six episode run commenced mid-September on Stan (in AU) while in July 2023, ahead of the first season's release, the series was renewed for a second season which will be titled The Book of Carol.
So how does redneck Daryl Dixon get to France?
Daryl washes ashore in France (the origin of the zombie virus) and struggles to piece together how he got there and why. The series tracks his journey across a broken but resilient France as he hopes to find a way back home.
As he makes the journey, though, the connections he forms along the way complicate his ultimate plan.
SPOILERS BELOW if you are not up to date!
In Coming Home, episode six, after Daryl kills the walker, Daryl and Quinn, chained together, kill several enhanced walkers in the gladiator fight before Fallou kills the guerrier Genet ordered to shoot them.
In the chaos that follows, the group manages to escape with a bitten Quinn sacrificing himself to buy Daryl time, but he reanimates, forcing Laurent to put his biological father down with Daryl's encouragement.
After going their separate ways from Fallou and Emile, Daryl's group resumes their journey towards Mont-Saint-Michel, but are attacked by Genet's men.
Unable to bring himself to kill a child, Codron shoots the other guerriers instead, promising to get his revenge on Daryl at another time.
Upon his return, Genet deduces Codron's betrayal and has him tortured for information. Daryl's group finally reaches the Nest where they settle in and Daryl becomes conflicted between staying in France and returning to America.
Losang is able to arrange passage to Newfoundland for Daryl who chooses to leave despite Isabelle comparing his abandoning Laurent to Daryl's abandonment by his own father.
At the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Daryl visits the grave of his grandfather, William T. Dixon, who died on D-Day.
On Omaha Beach, Daryl prepares to board a boat, but hesitates when Laurent is revealed to have secretly followed him and has a herd of walkers closing in on him. Near Freeport, Maine, Carol Peletier searches for Daryl, finding his motorcycle. After Carol captures the hostile rider, he directs Carol to where he found it.
So ready for season two? AMC have a special approval to keep filming season two, so maybe it won't be a huge wait (like for a number of our other favourite series) for the second run.
This wasn't as good as The Walking Dead: Dead City in NYC, while we will have to wait for 2024 for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Coming next is the final six EVER episodes of Fear the Walking Dead. Man that is a lot of zombies! Until next time. BYYYYEEEEEE
The Exorcist: Believer serves as a sequel to The Exorcist (1973), which I have only seen parts of. Not the entire spook fest. Yes it's Halloween season so the horror TV (Chucky, American Horror Story, Goosebumps and even American Horror Stories) and film are in hyperdrive.
That said horror has been a busy film genre over the last five years or so. Maybe it is reflecting our modern horror society.
See any Peter Dutton photo, you get the vibe!
This is the sixth installment in The Exorcist franchise, starring hottie Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O‘Neill, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz and Ann Dowd, with Ellen Burstyn & Linda Blair reprising their roles from the 1973 film.
The plot follows a photographer who must confront the nadir of evil when his daughter and her best friend are possessed.
Jason Blum is again involved while Ann Dowd drops the Aunt Lydia role for a helpful nurse.
There are now intentions of launching a new trilogy of The Exorcist films. With a sequel, entitled The Exorcist: Deceiver, is scheduled to be released mid April, 2025.
Could that be worth the wait? Is there need for another religious horror film?
The Exorcist: Believer has received negative reviews from critics, however I didn't mind it. It had some modern twists, some freaky moments, all perfect for pre-Halloween. Yes if you go to your local Coles, it's a thing in Australia now!
All in all, this wasn't bad. But not great. An October spook-fest pass, 2.5 Stars.
The Bear is one of the biggest shows streaming now. Season two landed late June, so again I am late to the party playing mad catch up.
The OG, highly praised season one landed back in June 2022, on Hulu, so with COVID, strikes, everything else in between they did well to get the second season out almost a year after the first.
Jeremy Allen White is the young, handsome, award-winning chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the chaotic kitchen at his deceased brother's sandwich shop.
The cast also includes Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, and Matty Matheson. We do get some big special guests in season two. Particularly in a star studded flashback episode, Fishes.
With Bob Odenkirk as "Uncle" Lee Lane, entering in episode Fishes, along with Sarah Paulson as Michelle Berzatto, John Mulaney as Stevie, Michelle's boyfriend while Jamie Lee Curtis has scene stealing performances in this episode along with the season two finale.
Olivia Colman as Chef Terry, the executive chef at Ever, enters in Forks. Alongside Sarah Ramos as Jessica, Andrew Lopez as Garrett, Rene Gube and Adam Shapiro as the chef de cuisine of Ever in Forks.
As stated the series has received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its writing, directing, acting, and production values, as well as its examination of its subject matter. The first season received 13 Emmy nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series and acting nominations for White, Moss-Bachrach, Edebiri, Jon Bernthal and Oliver Platt.
OK as always SPOILERS for episode ten, The Bear below. BE WARNED after the trailer!
The new resturant has been through a hell of a wild ride this season. So on family and friends night, Richie runs the front of house while Sydney runs the kitchen. Issues begin to mount: the restaurant runs out of forks, Sydney and Marcus are forced to assist when a line cook disappears, and the walk-in refrigerator handle breaks, trapping Carmy inside. Richie successfully takes over expediting.
Pete, Natalie's husband, sees Donna outside, but she refuses to go in, feeling she does not deserve to witness her children's success. Pete accidentally reveals Natalie's pregnancy to Donna before she leaves.
Trapped in the fridge, Carmy spirals into self-loathing and rants about how his relationship with Claire has ruined his focus in the kitchen. Claire overhears him and leaves in tears.
Richie sees her leave and has a heated argument with Carmy through the refrigerator door. Carmy is devastated when he plays a missed voicemail from Claire earlier in the day, in which she confesses her love for him.
The service ultimately ends successfully, Marcus receives a gift from Luca (although he misses numerous panicked calls from his mother's nurse), and Sydney feels stressed yet emboldened by the successful opening night.
So will a season three of The Bear happen? You'd have to think Hulu would totally be up for this. It's a critical success, it's a water cooler talking point show. So maybe a third series once the actors strike concludes?
It is left wide open!
So in Australia the series streams on Disney+ as most Hulu titles do. So clear the TV menu this weekend, The Bear is truly awesome TV. Well written (so props to the people behind the scenes) as well as incredibly well acted. Will Jeremy Allen White be the most successful Shameless alumni now the Showtime series is well and truly done and dusted? He is a total star whilst being totally HOT!
RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service has concluded its emotional second series. With Channel Seven to present its plan for 2024 in the next few weeks, here is hoping for a third season of this fine Aussie drama.
Centring around the lives of workers for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We had a long break between seasons with the first season wrapping late September 2021, with this season commencing late August this year.
RFDS follows the lives of doctors, nurses, pilots and support staff living and working in the outback. All of your favourite characters are returning for season two, along with a couple of new cast members who are set to shake things up in beautiful Broken Hill.
With an all star cast including Justine Clarke, the exceptional Rob Collins and mr everywhere Stephen Peacocke as Nurse Pete Emerson. Collins had a particularly standout season.
With the Voice to Parliament vote now days away, RFDS did its best to tell some great First Nations stories.
Something usually not seen on free to air TV, RFDS really stepped up in the second half of this season.
Episode one and two really took a bit to get into, however from episode three it was a really decent second season. With the eighth episode really leaving the door wide open for the stories to continue coming outta Broken Hill, NSW.
It might not be perfect, it is not the best Aussie drama of 2023, however it really had heart this season. Well done to all involved.
The latest Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka) stars in Totally Killer. A black comedy slasher film directed by Nahnatchka Khan.
Totally Killer premiered at Fantastic Fest late September, whilst streaming on Amazon Prime Video on last Friday night!
Produced by horror king Jason Blum, under his Blumhouse Television banner, alongside Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen, and Randall Park star.
Yes Randall FUCKING Park!
Totally Killer follows Jamie (Shipka) who, after her mother’s friends are murdered by the Sweet Sixteen Killer on Halloween, travels back in time to 1987 where she pairs up with her mom to stop the young would-be-killer and get back to her timeline before she's trapped in the past forever.
Filming took place in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. With the Aussie dollar plunging, maybe more series, films will be filmed down under? Just saying. Well once the actors strike is done and dusted.
So is Totally Killer any good?
Well yes and no. It has serious midday movie vibes. Like major midday movie vibes. Sort of the show before Who Wants to Be a Millionaire that pensioners would write into Channel Nine asking WTF did I just watch?
Randall Park must have had some time in his usually busy schedule or maybe it was due to director Nahnatchka Khan previously working on Fresh Off the Boat (2015–2020), and 2019 Netflix film Always Be My Maybe.
Look it had some fun slasher vibes, some super woke Sabrina lines as she headed back to the less woke 80's.
I enjoyed it, but did have the second half on in the background while doing the washing and dishwashing.
2.5 just passable stars. 2023 really needs to serve up a few more 4 or even 5 star films. Is The Dry 2 heading for a release soon Mr Eric Bana???
Fans of John Wick unite, The Continental: From the World of John Wick three episode event series is here on Amazon Prime Video internationally.
However Stateside it's another Peacock original.
So at the end of episode three, I had to ask, what was the point of The Continental ?
It's said to be a three episode, miniseries (developed by Greg Coolidge, Kirk Ward and Shawn Simmons) which serves as prequel in the John Wick.
We do see a comeback from Mel Gibson who stars alongside, Colin Woodell (young Winston Scott), Peter Greene, Ayomide Adegun, Jeremy Bobb, Katie McGrath, Ray McKinnon, Adam Shapiro, with Mark Musashi and Marina Mazepa as Hansel and Gretel.
The Continental: From the World of John Wick tells the background story of how Winston Scott, in an alternate history 1970s, came to his position as proprietor of the New York branch of "The Continental" chain of hotels, safe havens for legal assassins on the grounds of which no business may ever take place.
It explores variations on real-world events, including the Winter of Discontent and the American Mafia's rise to economic power.
Watch out - SPOILERS AHEAD!
In the third and final episode, Winston and Charon (Ayomide Adegun) zeroed in on a tweaked Cormac, who slipped out of his office via a secret annex; Miles and then his dojo-owning sister Lou (Hubert Point-Du Jour and Jessica Allain) slugged it out with, and then shot dead (with their hit man dad’s gun,) the twin Hansel (Mark Musashi), while Yen (Nhung Kate) engaged in an epic fight with Gretel (Marina Mazepa); and Jenkins (Ray McKinnon) from a seized perch across the street used his rifle to pick off the occasional baddie.
In the end, Lemmy (Adam Shapiro) was Team Winston’s only casualty, blown up by a grenade sent to the communications room he had commandeered. The bad guys, however, sustained numerous, oft-brutal losses.
As for Cormac, he was in the process of speeding away in a private subway system — after setting in motion the hotel’s self-destruct sequence — when he was stopped by Winston. But Cormac was really and truly stopped, with a bullet to the head, by police detective Silva, whom we learned was a survivor of the apartment fire that young Winston and Frankie started, operating off bad intel from Cormac.
As morning broke, Winston found himself confronted on the hotel’s front steps by the Adjudicator, who rhetorically asked how he thought this power grab was going to go over with the High Table. Winston responded to that threat with a bullet to the Adjudicator’s temple, then retreated into what was now his and Charon’s domain.
So I go back to what was the point of The Continental ? I really don't know, however it was interesting seeing Katie McGrath in a return to TV following her run in Supergirl. RIP DC shows at The CW.
This was nowhere as good as the last John Wick film, however the action was fairly over the top. With bodies flying each episode it was a wild ride.
Amazon in Australia is serving up some decent content of late. Up tomorrow I return to the series Stay in da House Cinema 2023, with Totally Killer. Yep more horror!
Twisted Metal is my latest catch up from when I went to the USA mid-winter. This was advertised everywhere near my downtown LA hotel.
It did help we stayed near the Peacock Theatre. Twisted Metal was explained to me as a hella-fun, post-apocalyptic action comedy series.
Based on the vehicular combat video game franchise of the same name published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Starring the handsome AF Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Seanoa, Will Arnett and Thomas Haden Church.
John Doe (Mackie), is a talkative milkman with amnesia, is given a mission to traverse the desolate United States to deliver a mysterious package with unknown contents.
He faces a life-altering opportunity but must confront ruthless marauders in deadly and destructive vehicles to secure a chance at a better future.
The series was released on Peacock late July, with all 10 episodes streaming on Stan in Australia. It has no commitment online for a second series. However the way episode ten SHNGRLA goes down, it leaves it wide open!
No doubt this would also have been on of the most popular Peacock series to date. It ticks a lot of boxes!
Spoilers incoming, ALERT, ALERT, ALERT!!!
During a showdown at a racetrack, John and Quiet defeat Stone and leave him with the option to commit suicide.
Sweet Tooth tries to get Stu to kill Mike, but Stu shoots Sweet Tooth instead and leaves him for dead. John and Quiet return to New San Francisco and deliver the package to Raven.
John attempts to bring Quiet into New San Francisco but is not allowed to. He announces that he won't enter either, but Quiet shoots him to force him to be taken into New San Francisco and leaves. A month later, John is bored with his life in the settlement, and Quiet is stealing deliveries from milkmen and giving them to people outside settlements.
John says that he wants to leave, and Raven takes him to his childhood home. She tries to convince him to stay, but he insists on leaving.
Raven has John held at gunpoint and tells him that he will be her driver in a tournament with other cities to win the ultimate prize from Calypso. Outside the city, Quiet's car is hindered by a team of masked women; their leader reveals that she is John's sister. Stu and Mike relax on a beach and are surprised when Sweet Tooth arrives; he kills Mike and drags Stu away.
Even Neve Campbell makes a long awaited return to the small screen after her earlier Party of Five days.
This was ten episodes of pure fun. I totally enjoyed this.
So if you have a Stan subscription and need something new to watch. Give this little beauty a go!
The Creator is my latest step into the cinema for 2023. As the year heads to the silly season, it's time for some science fiction.
The Creator is produced & directed by Gareth Edwards, who co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Weitz.
Starring Tenet's John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, Allison Janney, and Madeleine Yuna Voyles.
Set in a future impacted by war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, follows an ex-special forces agent who is recruited to hunt down and kill the "Creator", who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war by destroying mankind itself, but must choose whose side he is on when he discovers what the weapon actually is.
Los Angeles has been bombed, killing over a million, while Asia is called New Asia.
Is America depicted as the baddies in this war/sci-fi picture?
The film was originally titled True Love, later changed to The Creator.
Filming began on January last year, wrapping on May of the same year. Meaning with all these strikes, the film pipeline is generally a year or so ahead. So we should still have blockbusters for some time.
The Creator has received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising its visual effects, direction, performances and its approach to the subject matter. AI is interesting with this film being way more fresh than the recent overdone superhero picture Blue Beetle.
Whilst it wasn't perfect it was good to see Allison Janney in a different role. With short hair even.
Ahsoka, another Disney+ finale this week following Only Murders in the Building. Disney+ is also ready to hit launch on Loki season two today.
Star Wars: Ahsoka, is yes another set in a galaxy far, far away!
Said to be a miniseries, however there is chatter for a second season.
This is also another spin-off from the series The Mandalorian (2019–present), taking place in the same timeframe as that series and its other interconnected spin-offs after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983), while also serving as a continuation to the animated series Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018).
Ahsoka Tano investigates an emerging threat to the galaxy following the fall of the Empire, while being joined by some newcomers. Rosario Dawson stars as Ahsoka Tano, reprising her role from The Mandalorian.
Ahsoka was billed as an eight episode miniseries, from August till October 3. However there is some talk of a second season from star Dawson.
Ahsoka was created for the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020), voiced by Ashley Eckstein, and made her live-action debut in the second season of The Mandalorian.
The latest Star Wars TV series has received positive reviews from critics. Now to the finale after the trailer. As usual SPOILER ALERT!
Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord commenced with confronting the Jedi, Elsebeth is gifted Mother Talzin's sword by the Great Mothers, while Bridger constructs a new lightsaber using spare parts from his late master, Kanan Jarrus.
After their ship is damaged by a fighter attack, Ahsoka, Wren, and Bridger make their way on foot to the Chimaera, which has docked with the Eye of Sion, but are confronted by Elsbeth and the Night Troopers, whom the Great Mothers keep resurrecting after they are killed.
Wren uses the Force to help Bridger jump onto the Chimaera while Ahsoka kills Elsbeth. The Eye of Sion jumps to hyperspace, leaving Ahsoka, Wren, and Huyang stranded on Peridea. As Thrawn and the Great Mothers arrive over Dathomir, Bridger escapes and reunites with Syndulla and Chopper.
Ahsoka, Wren, and Huyang join the Noti and make their new home on Peridea, watched over by Anakin's spirit. Hati joins the bandits, while Skoll is guided to a mountain by a statue of the Mortis Gods.
So I enjoyed this visually but think like the Marvel series, there is a little too much quantity with the quality and interest in the overwhelming number of series starting to fade.
With the writers strike over, content might be light for a bit, but viewers may be starting to tire of the same old, same old lightsaber fight scenes over and over again. Just my opinion.
I'm off to a few movies this weekend, so expect a change of gear from the small screen to the big screen over the weekend, early next week.
Starstruck is back on ABC iView for a third season. The BBC comedy series created by Rose Matafeo, co-written with Alice Snedden, directed by Karen Maine.
The 30 minute comedy series stars Matafeo, Nikesh Patel and occasionally Minnie Driver.
Last June the series was renewed for a third season. Series three landed on iView recently, however this was a quick long weekend watch in-between my regular week-to-week series. Like Billions, Tommy's version of Power, Res Dogs concluding, Only Murders in the Building and the latest Star Wars series.
This refreshingly unpredictable rom-com has always been a showcase for its creator/star Matafeo as her character, sardonic New Zealander-in-London Jessie, comes to accept the unthinkable: She’s fallen in love with famous actor Tom Kapoor.
Recently Matafeo was awarded a performer of week praise for her acting in the fourth episode of this season. Set two years after their breakup when Jessie’s new beau, Liam, joins her mates for a cabin getaway "Matafeo bares her full range".
Look for me, nothing will beat the OG first season of Starstruck, however there is something that just keeps me coming back. It's a super easy watch. It does have some funny one-liners from time to time. However season one was definitely the most amusing.
In the past I simply smashed seasons one and two of Only Murders in the Building. Now I'm up to date, I can just watch this like any other series, week to week. Good news too for fans of the show, it has already been renewed for a fourth season at Hulu.
Season three landed early August. This time, Charles, Oliver & Mabel investigate a murder behind the scenes at a Broadway show.
We had regulars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez return, with Paul Rudd & Meryl Streep. joining the fun this season!
Season three concluded on Disney+ in Australia last night, or Hulu in the USA.
So how did it go down on Opening Night, the season finale? SPOILER ALERT!
The trio plan on getting evidence to force a confession out of Donna. Fortunately for them, Loretta received the missing hankie from Dickie.
On opening night, they lure Donna into the theater's office, where she admits that she poisoned Ben's cookie. After they show her the hankie with Donna’s own lipstick, she claims that she also pushed Ben.
Donna asks that she be allowed to see the play before getting arrested, revealing she has stage four lung cancer. Before the play starts, Howard tells Oliver that Jonathon cannot perform, so Oliver takes the stage as the lead role.
During the play, Loretta tells Dickie she is his biological mother. Mabel sees Donna talk to Cliff, who then goes in Jerry's room. As Mabel goes after him, she realizes that it was Cliff who pushed Ben instead of Donna.
Not wanting to go to prison, Cliff nearly jumps from above the stage, but is stopped by Donna. After the curtain call, Donna and Cliff are led away by the police.
At the play's after-party, Oliver reads Maxine's review, which is a rave. Dickie, Loretta, and Tobert all have upcoming gigs in Los Angeles, but the trio decide to stay in New York, promising to visit.
Sazz comes to celebrate and tells Charles they need to talk. As the party continues, Sazz enters Charles' apartment and is shot by an unknown assailant.
So we leave season three with Jane Lynch's Sazz bleeding out on Charle's floor.
So with Glee long over and Sazz dead, will we find out more about Jane Lynch's stunt double character in season four? Time will tell. We got Paul Rudd's "first" death at the end of season two, so who knows.
This has been a huge hit for Hulu. The show has attracted big stars, great reviews plus buzz amongst TV lovers, like myself.
So if you need a new series in your life, Only Murders in the Building is streaming now on Disney+.
Blue Beetle is the latest superhero movie after I missed a couple of Marvel ones at the cinema. Based on Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle, this film has big heart, however just not that much going for it.
This is the 14th instalment of the DC Extended Universe starring, Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez. Yes that is right Susan Sarandon. I know right! Sarandon in a superhero film! Thats said she did star in the one and done FOX series, Monarch.
Blue Beetle premiered in mid-August in the US of A, while Australia got it last month. However the film emerged as a box-office bomb. Grossing only $127 million worldwide against a production budget of $104 million and became the lowest-grossing film in the DCEU.
So I can't see a sequel being given the green light anytime soon.
The film did have big heart, it just didn't really go anywhere over its two hour runtime.
Like it just took a long time to get to the final big fight.
It was also a little predictable.
I wanted to like this film a lot more than I did. I am a fan of Cobra Kai (despite the fact it maybe should have ended a season or two ago) so Xolo Maridueña is handsome AF and easy to watch.
That alone, even with the inclusion of Sarandon just wasn't enough to save this, the latest in a long run of superhero films getting a little tired.
The Marvels will be interesting for Marvel as I think the steam is really slowing down for these big budget, special effects heavy two hour romps.
The Other Black Girl's first season landed on Disney+ (in Australia) mid last month.
This ten episode first season based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Zakiya Dalila Harris, focuses on Nella Rogers, who is an editorial assistant at Wagner Books and the only Black woman working for the company until the hiring of Hazel-May McCall.
Following the hiring of Hazel, strange occurrences lead to Nella discovering the truth about Wagner's disturbing history. The story is inspired by Harris' own personal experiences working as an editor and addresses various forms of racism in the corporate world.
Nella Rogers is an editorial assistant at Wagner Books, a successful publishing house located in New York City.
She often feels lonely, undervalued, and marginalized as a result of being the only Black woman working for the company. Nella is excited when Wagner hires Hazel-May McCall, another Black woman, and the two quickly bond and become friends. Shortly thereafter, Nella receives a mysterious message instructing her to leave Wagner Books.
Cracks form in Nella and Hazel's friendship after Hazel's advice gets Nella in trouble with her boss and Wagner's employees begin showing favoritism towards Hazel. This makes Nella question whether Hazel is purposely sabotaging her in order to advance herself. Eventually, Nella begins uncovering Wagner's dark history and sinister secrets.
Rotten Tomatoes gives TOBG an 87% approval rating, while the finale leaves us wondering will there be a second season? Who was on the end of that phone call?
I enjoyed these short little episodes packed with great music and sassy one liners. Not to mention some serious pop culture references.
If you need a new series to add to your dance card, maybe The Other Black Girl from Hulu could totally be up your alley. Creepy, a little, nice to see Hunter Parish from Weeds on the small screen again, yes. Disney+ in Australia serving up decent little series month in, month out!
