Binged 2021 - The Haunting of Bly Manor

I didn't love The Haunting of Hill House, I can't even recall when I watched it, it could have been throughout the blur that was 2020. However following my absence this week, I did finish The Haunting of Bly Manor the other day.

This is the second entry in Flanagan's The Haunting anthology series. Acting as a follow-up to the 2018 series mentioned above. It features a number of Hill House's same cast, but the two series' narratives are not connected.

Landing on Netflix in October, 2020 I was knee deep in Normal People on Stan, Wentworth concluding its first part of the 8th season and whatever I could get my hands on.

The Haunting of Bly Manor follows the events occurring in a countryside manor in the United Kingdom. With the arrival of a young American hired as an au pair for the two children living at Bly. Whilst being unaware that the manor is haunted. 

It stars Victoria Pedretti, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Amelia Eve, T'Nia Miller, Rahul Kohli, Tahirah Sharif, Amelie Bea Smith, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, and Henry Thomas; Pedretti, Jackson-Cohen and Thomas returned from Hill House as different characters, as did Kate Siegel, Carla Gugino, and Catherine Parker in recurring roles.

There are no plans at this stage for a third haunting story however the critics love these series and the show was a hit again in its second season.

I enjoyed this way The Haunting of Hill House, it wasn't perfect but it felt like bloated than the first season. Cutting an episode in the count also helped binged this bad boy nice and quick. If unlike me you still have access to a Netflix log in, give it a go if Horror is your bag.

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: Returns next Monday

Well for a one off special at this stage. My other blog features another long running series, the Sunday Spotlight. In 2021 I kicked off early, thus far featuring Luca Brasi, South Australia's finest, Sia, Perth's best named band Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and finally the Foo Fighters.

So on Monday we will shine the spotlight (right here) on the wonderful Robbie Miller. His debut album was recently the feature record on Double J.

As we head into March there will be more film reviews on the way, more TV posts and from time to time the old favourite (Mini) Monday Spotlight.

Until next time, peace.

Return to Cinema 2021 - Minari

Minari (Korean: 미나리, lit. 'water dropwort', [minaɾi]) is simply delightful. Honestly this makes me want to fight for the survival of cinema. Seeing this beautiful movie on the big screen is an experience I hope generations to come can also experience.

Starring Glenn from the Walking Dead, AKA Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Youn Yuh-jung, and Will Patton. The film was written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, a semi-autobiographical take on Chung's upbringing.

Minari centres around a family of South Korean immigrants who try to make it in rural America during the 1980s.

Minari has been nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. For Alan Kim as David alone, the film is a winner in my books.

If you are looking for a good drama, with some amazing determination at the heart of the film, Minari is just a perfect night out at the cinema. Or morning session, if you know me, you know I love a 10am screening.

With Australian films doing so well at present, The Little Things (which I still need to see ASAP) dominating screens, it's important also to seek out these important smaller films.

Steven Yeun was fantastic in Burning, however alongside the beautiful Han Ye-ri as Monica Yi, Yuen shines in this role.

I loved this film, 4.5 Stars.

Return to Cinema 2021 - Bridesmaids

*Originally released in 2011, screened at Westpac Open Air

As Westpac Open Air cinema prepares to close for another season, it was time to revisit one of the best films ever made. Yes ever, 2011's Bridesmaids.

Has anyone not seen this remarkable film directed by Paul Feig and written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig.

It was produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, and Clayton Townsend. 

Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey, Chris O'Dowd, Rebel Wilson and Matt Lucas, all star in this five star film.

The film has a budget of $32.5 (US) million, eventually earning over $288 million worldwide, the film is a certified hit.

If you haven't seen this film, I'm sure it's on Stan or otherwise it's on some digital renting platform, so do yourself a favour, have a laugh and forget the troubles of 2021.

Also go visit Westpac Open Air in the last few days, The Dry or old school Bond Casino Royale. Just get there it's truly iconic Sydney.

Until next time.

Binged 2021 - Industry

Binge in Australia has just added HBO/BBC Two title Industry. Season one is an easy eight episode watch. The series has already been renewed for a second season.

The UK (although with a very American feel) series follows a group of young graduates competing for a limited set of permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in London.

Lena Dunhan directs the pilot so it's no surprise the series is packed with sex and nudity.

The show explores the graduates from all walks of life compete over the limited amount of full-time employment opportunities and focuses on Harper Stern (Myha'la Herrold).

Harper is a black upstate New York native who uproots her life to pursue success at the London branch of Pierpoint despite not having graduated from where she claims to have graduated.

Other graduates at Pierpoint include, Hari Dhar, a state-school graduate and child of Urdu-speaking immigrants; Augustus "Gus" Sackey, a gay black British graduate of Eton and Oxford; Robert Spearing, a white working-class Oxford graduate who is eager to please but taken by surprise by the change in social mores concomitant with high finance; and Yasmin, a privileged, well-connected child of Lebanese parents with an underachieving, drug-addled boyfriend.

All the characters (like most HBO shows) have flaws. The show is addictive whilst being fast paced loaded with sharp dialogue in line with Succession.

HBO needed another decent series on its books now Insecure is also set to conclude either this year or next.

Industry like Betty was annoying to have to wait for Binge to decide the series was worth Australians to view.

I would strongly recommend this series to anyone looking for something new to add to their list of series to catch up on.

Return to Cinema 2021 - The Prom

The Prom is the latest offering on Netflix from Ryan Murphy. It follows Ratched as well as the very average Netflix film The Boys in the Band.

The Prom got a small cinema release in Australia as well as playing a few outdoor cinema venues. 

Adapted to the screen from Matthew Sklar's 2018 Broadway musical of the same name, starring an all star cast. Lead by Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana DeBose, Kerry Washington, and introducing Jo Ellen Pellman as Emma Nolan.

The Prom commenced streaming on Netflix on December 11, 2020, so I gave this a minute before starting it. However I was pleasantly surprised, unlike some of the critics.

I still don't know how I feel about Netflix made movies. The movies in Australia is in real trouble. Like serious trouble. If you care about experiencing movies on the big screen, support independent cinemas HERE.

The Prom tackles some big issues, has some fabulous musical numbers and really showcases a different side of Nicole Kidman and Kerry Washington. This was fun and easy viewing. 3 Stars.

February/March TV Finales - Your Honor

Your Honor is limited series, streaming now on Stan. Starring Breaking Bad king, Bryan Cranston whilst being adapted from the Israeli TV series Kvodo (Hebrew: כבודו‎).

The ten episode thriller premiered back in December, 2020. With a chain reaction plot based on when the teenaged son of a prominent New Orleans judge accidentally kills another teen in a hit-and-run. The judge urges him to turn himself in to the police, but changes his mind when he learns the victim was the son of a local mafia kingpin. The judge's attempts to dispose of the evidence leads to tragic consequences for another teen.

Joining Cranston, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Carmen Ejogo and Isiah Whitlock Jr., Hope Davis, Lilli Kay, Amy Landecker, Tony Curran, Keith Machekanyanga, Lamar Johnson and Benjamin Flores, Jr. and The Affairs Maura Tierney also rounding out an all star cast.

Only taking a week off around the Australia Day holiday, this has been a welcome Sunday night addition to Stan. Showtime (in the USA) has had limited hits of late. With Shameless being drip fed over the couple of months, City on a Hill returning late next month whilst a reboot of Dexter is on the cards in 2021.

Bryan Cranston plays a Michael Desiato who is put in the most awful position. The final is bold, to the point and ultimately a bit of a tragedy.

The show unravels for a number of characters, who are all mostly unlikable. This tradition of shows having mostly unlikable leads is a bit tough. You as the viewer don't know who to root for.

If you have missed Your Honor over the previous weeks on Stan, maybe give the ten episodes a binge. It's high class drama based outside New York or LA which is also a nice change.