Welcome to the Weekend Watch, where we try to point you toward the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage). In light of the global health crisis and the consequential movie theater closures, this week we wanted to each recommend some quality streaming content you might enjoy. Continue reading →
This week is a little bit different. Loren records a short episode on his own amid the social distancing created by the Covid-19 Pandemic. He talks about:
Everything that has been delayed or shut down
Seriously it’s everything
Like the whole country
But also A24 Hopes to rerelease First Cow after the pandemic settles
New Scream movie from the team behind Ready or Not
America Ferrara’s Superstore exit might come later now
New Supergirl?
WWE moves Wrestlemania to the Performance Center, nixes crowd
Lost in Space renewed for a 3rd and final season
Disney releases Star Wars and Frozen II early
Universal follows suit with VOD for first run films
Richard E. Grant joins Loki
All that, plus Loren’s Weekly Watch and a message from The Wu Tang Clan. Stay safe and healthy out there everyone and we’ll hopefully be back to full force next week.
Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).
Movies
Wide Release
Onward (Released 03/06/20)
Loren: So we missed this last week, sorry about that. It’s doing well though so maybe we won’t miss seeing it this week.
Rick: I’m always happy when something original comes out, but this isn’t ringing my bell. I may throw it on once it hits the Disney+, but I’m in no hurry to see it.
Jen: This feels like it’s right in my wheelhouse, Pixar, fantasy, a hot Chris… but I’m probably going to wait till it’s on Disney+ and watch it with my family rather than blow money at the theater.
Bloodshot
Loren: I never got into this or really any of the Valiant Comics. I was mostly a Marvel/DC and Image kid. Where are my good Image adaptations? Anyway this looks pretty ok. Not amazing or anything just ok. Also, since when does Winny the Bish have a British accent?
Rick: Pretty certain I have a good chunk of the original run of this comic boxed up somewhere. Haven’t read it in close to twenty years, so I can’t comment on the quality of the adaptation, but I feel like we got all of the big action pieces in the trailer. And given that there’s been zero buzz around this release, my guess it’s mediocre at best. I’ll watch from my couch.
Jen: I was sure I’d have zero interest in this film, but, aside from Vin Diesel, I was interested. Not run-to-the-theater interested, but certainly on-my-couch interested. The rest of the cast looks fun, no one is taking it too seriously and the premise, which is similar to so many films, seems to mash them together in a way that appeals to me.
I Still Believe
Loren: I’ve gotten so accustomed to seeing KJ Appa with that horrible Archie hair that he looks weird when he has normal hair. Also this looks terrible.
Rick: A faith-based movie disguised as a sappy romance. Super-meh.
Jen: Eeeeeyyyyyyeeeee-rrrroooollllll. Nope.
The Hunt
Loren: I’m not going to lie, the marketing on this has sort of worked on me and I’m curious. Not $20 curious, but I’ll probably see it eventually.
Rick: I’m glad this is getting released. By all accounts it’s actually good. I’ll make time for this one.
Jen: I love Betty Gilpin and this looks like an awesome vehicle for her, but not sure I need this much violence with my satire.
The guys are back with all the entertainment and pop culture news from the week that was. They also talk about a litany of other things so jump on in and check out stories like:
No Time to Die delayed to November
My Spy delayed as well, but only a month
Covid Cancellations
Chris Evans going to Bermuda
Jurassic World: The Series?
HBO adapting The Last of Us
The Magicians cancelled
Taika Waititi rebooting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).
Movies
Wide Release
First Cow
Loren: Not really my cup of milk per se but it looks excellent.
RDT: I have no thoughts. No feelings. No opinion or snarky comments. This is a movie. Good for it.
Rick: Kelly Reichardt is kind of a master at quiet character dramas. There’s nothing flashy or overwrought in her style. She’s incredibly deft at eliciting strong performances and letting the camera act as an observer (Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy and Kristen Stewart in Certain Women are particular standouts). You can’t go wrong with anything she’s directed, and I suspect this will be just as satisfying an experience.
Jen: I, like AJ, really thought this was about a cow president. However, this looks much quieter than that would, no doubt, be. This does look like a lovely little film I just can’t see myself running out to see it.
AJ: Oh goodness. I have seen many of the rave reviews on this and obviously the trailer is peppered with some seriously enthusiastic critic quotes. But all of it is lost on me. I just cannot get into this. And how is a movie called First Cow a period drama and not a Jim Carrey/Jonah Hill vehicle about a cow accidentally being elected to the White House? (Which, let’s face it, would be preferable to what we’re currently working with.)
The Way Back
Loren: Hey you guys ever see a sports movie? Also I just have a bit of an issue with Affleck these days. I don’t think this one is going to be for me.
RDT: I’m a sucker for a good sports movie which is, I think, ironic given how much not a sports guy I am. And, I like Ben. His brother seems like a real piece of shit. But I’m pulling for the elder Affleck.
Rick: So, it’s basically a riff on The White Shadow/Hoosiers, but with addiction thrown in. Not that that’s a bad thing. If you have to borrow, borrow from something good. It’s challenging to make a sports movie stand out. You’re ultimately tied to the “will they or won’t they win the big game” element. Everything else comes down to character. Not sure I’ll ever see this, but I’ll keep an eye on reviews.
Jen: I feel a good amount of credit is due to the fact that Ben Affleck, a real-life addict, is dealing with his personal demons in such a raw way through this story, but that being said I get it, they’re scrappy underdogs.
AJ: If addiction wasn’t present in this story, I would guess it was one of those sentimental Disney live action sports flicks like Remember the Titans, Million Dollar Arm or The Rookie. And that’s not a bad thing. Looks like a really strong performance from Affleck whom I believe is capable of way more than that mediocre-at-best Batman, so it’s nice to see.
Limited Release
The Burnt Orange Heresy
Loren:
RDT: At first, I was all “Too artsy fartsy.” Then I was all “heisty-weisty?” And, by all accounts, Mick Jagger hasn’t given a performance of this level since Freejack.
Rick: I enjoy a good heist, and I’m a sucker for them if there’s a long con involved. I’ll give this a spin.
Jen: It seems like this trailer is hiding some more details about the plot – some bigger twist and I like that they aren’t giving away the farm here, but the only thing that really drew me in was the fact that Mick Jagger is involved. How good was the script that he decided THIS would be his return to acting? Although, I guess I thought the same thing about The Man From Elysian Fields and that film did nothing for me.
AJ: MICK JAGGER?! Okay, let’s just shove that to the side. And the weird title – let’s shove that aside, too. And also — never mind. I’m never going to see this. That trailer bored me. Continue reading →
