KING KONG (1933) & GODZILLA (1954)
On a new episode of the podcast, we witness a clash of the titans, as The Unenthusiastic Critic meets two timeless movie stars for the very first time.
THE RULES OF THE GAME (1939)
As my Independent Study in World Cinema continues, I dive deep into Jean Renoir's tragicomic critique of French society on the eve of the Second World War.
WHEN WINTER WAS COMING: A LOOK-BACK AT THE PILOT EPISODE OF GAME OF THRONES
On the 10th anniversary of Game of Thrones, we look back at the episode that started it all, and see how the thematic template for the series was there from the start.
WEEK 10: PANDEMIC WALLFLOWER
In a belated new edition of the blog/newsletter, I share some thoughts on hitting the pandemic wall, as well as quick takes on It's a Sin, Allen v. Farrow, For All Mankind, Minari, Nomadland, and other stuff.
DEADWOOD 1×11:
"JEWEL'S BOOT IS MADE FOR WALKING"
The penultimate episode of Deadwood's first season examines selfishness, sacrifice, and the ongoing problem of shitheels.
OTHER RECENT POSTS
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
IT'S A "STRANGE CASE" OF JEKYLL IN HYDE PARK ON A CHALLENGING LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
Questions of identity, duality, and transformation abound in a disturbing and surprisingly complicated episode of Lovecraft Country.
September 22, 2020
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS (1995)
This week we're revisiting Carl Franklin's sorely under-appreciated neo-noir, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month.
September 14, 2020
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY GETS LOST DOWN A GIANT PLOT HOLE IN "A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE"
With its weakest hour yet, Lovecraft Country turns in a story that is at turns dull, derivative, and disturbing (but not in a good way).
September 12, 2020
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY HITS ITS STRIDE, AND JURNEE SMOLLETT SHINES, IN "HOLY GHOST"
Jurnee Smollett gives a stunning performance in the strongest, most emotionally compelling episode of Lovecraft Country so far.
September 6, 2020
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
SPIRITED AWAY (2001)
This week we're getting Ghibli with it, as we sit down for The Unenthusiastic Critic's first viewing of Hayao Miyazaki's weird and wonderful animated classic.
September 2, 2020
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
IN "WHITEY'S ON THE MOON," LOVECRAFT COUNTRY INTEGRATES ITS HEROES INTO A BURNING HOUSE
In its second episode, Lovecraft Country tackles racism as a tool of capitalism, and asks the important question: Whose birthright is America, really?
August 30, 2020
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
MISHA GREEN WELCOMES US TO LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, WHERE ONLY MOST OF THE HORRORS ARE HUMAN
Taking a genre-fiction approach to serious subjects, Lovecraft Country promises to be a thrilling guided tour through the racist horrors of America.
August 23, 2020
FILM REVIEWS
WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS (2020) LANGUISHES AT THE PERILOUS BORDER BETWEEN FILMS AND NOVELS
Great films are rarely made from great books, and Ciro Guerra's film of J.M. Coetzee's novel underlines the perils—and even the pointlessness—of many literary adaptations.
August 16, 2020
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
BATMAN (1989) AND BATMAN & ROBIN (1997)
This week, we're watching a dynamic duo of movies: the film that started Hollywood's love affair with superheroes, and the film that almost ended it.
August 11, 2020
FILM REVIEWS
RADIOACTIVE GENERATES LIGHT, BUT LITTLE HEAT
Marjane Satrapi tries—but not, ultimately, hard enough—to build something interesting around the standard biopic formula.
August 6, 2020
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
DRESSED TO KILL (1980)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is dressing down Brian De Palma's controversial thriller, released 40 years ago this week. Will she find it brilliant, offensive, both, or too ridiculous to be either?
July 28, 2020
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
HAMILTON (2020)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is back, to face the ultimate test of her musical-hating convictions.
July 8, 2020
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
ROPE (1948)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is contemplating murder, as we sit down for Alfred Hitchcock's taut exercise in sustained suspense.
January 16, 2020
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
DINER (1982)
This week, Nakea and I are making much ado about nothing, as we revisit one of the most influential comedies of the 1980s.
January 9, 2020
TELEVISION
THE 50 BEST TV SHOWS OF THE 2010S
It was the biggest, most ambitious, most diverse, and best decade in television history. And these were my 50 favorite shows.
January 1, 2020
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971)
If I were a rich man, The Unenthusiastic Critic would probably be less resentful about having to watch a Broadway musical on her Christmas vacation.
December 27, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is contemplating divorce—not for the first time—as we sit down for her first viewing of Robert Benton's Christmas-tangential classic on its 40th anniversary.
December 19, 2019
TELEVISION
WATCHMEN 1×08: "A GOD WALKS INTO ABAR"
In a surprising penultimate episode, Watchmen reminds us that every love story is a thermodynamic miracle.
December 15, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
THE APARTMENT (1960)
A serious comedy about loneliness, infidelity, predatory men, workplace harassment, and attempted suicide? Sounds like the perfect Christmas movie for The Unenthusiastic Critic.
December 12, 2019
TELEVISION
WATCHMEN 1×07: "AN ALMOST RELIGIOUS AWE"
Past, present, and future collide as Watchmen sets up for the endgame and heads into the blue.
December 7, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is making first contact with Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic, and asking the question: Is it about a space-age prophet, or just an intergalactic deadbeat dad?
December 5, 2019
TELEVISION
WATCHMEN 1×06: "THIS EXTRAORDINARY BEING"
In one of the best episodes of TV in many years, Watchmen brilliantly explores black anger, the insidious conspiracy of pop culture, and the poisonous nature of nostalgia.
November 30, 2019
TELEVISION
WATCHMEN 1×05: "LITTLE FEAR OF LIGHTNING"
A contemplative episode of Watchmen locates the roots of white supremacy in the fears and fragility of the white American male.
November 24, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982)
This week we're discussing "Magical Negroes," and The Unenthusiastic Critic is eyeballin' Taylor Hackford's 1982 romantic military melodrama.
November 21, 2019