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
TELEVISION
WATCHMEN 1×04: "IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY STORY WRITE YOUR OWN"
The arrival of the mysterious Lady Trieu starts to bring Watchmen's endgame into focus.
November 15, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
THE BIG SLEEP (1946)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is celebrating #Noirvember with Bogie & Bacall in Howard Hawks' adaptation of Raymond Chandler's classic detective story.
November 14, 2019
TELEVISION
WATCHMEN 1×03: "SHE WAS KILLED BY SPACE JUNK"
Wanna hear a good joke? The great Jean Smart, playing a familiar face, descends on the world of Watchmen like a brick to the head.
November 10, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
FRIDAY (1995)
In honor of the great John Witherspoon's passing, we're f–ing up the rotation this week, as Nakea introduces Michael to a '90s comedy classic.
November 7, 2019
TELEVISION
WATCHMEN 1×02: "MARTIAL FEATS OF COMANCHE HORSEMANSHIP"
Nothing is what it seems in the second episode of Watchmen, as we begin to question who everyone really is, and what their role is in the larger play.
November 2, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
THE LOST BOYS (1987)
Sleep all day, party all night, never get old, never die. It's good to be the Unenthusiastic Critic.
October 31, 2019
TELEVISION
WATCHMEN 1×01: "IT'S SUMMER AND WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF ICE"
In a textually dense, stunning debut episode, HBO's WATCHMEN announces its ambitious agenda of tackling the narratives of white supremacy in America.
October 28, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
PHENOMENA (1985)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is bugging out, as our Halloween Movie Marathon continues with Dario Argento's weirdest movie.
October 28, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
DON'T LOOK NOW (1973)
Our horror marathon continues with Nicolas Roeg's masterpiece of grief, marital disintegration, and impending doom. (In other words, it's business as usual for The Unenthusiastic Critic.)
October 24, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
A QUIET PLACE (2018)
It's quiet in here—a little TOO quiet—as The Unenthusiastic Critic continues her 2019 Horror Movie Marathon with John Krasinski's muffled monster movie.
October 11, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
FRANKENSTEIN (1931) & BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)
It's alive! The Unenthusiastic Critic's 2019 Halloween Movie Marathon gets underway with a classic creature double-feature from the golden age of the Universal movie monsters.
October 3, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE (1989)
We're recording our deepest, most intimate thoughts on Steven Soderbergh's seminal debut feature, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
September 26, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
The fall's probably gonna kill us, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Newman and Redford's quintessential buddy western with The Unenthusiastic Critic's first viewing.
September 19, 2019
FIRST LOOK/LAST LOOK
THE I-LAND
The I-Land wants desperately to be Lost. Dull, derivative, and dumb, it should be lost, and it should stay lost.
September 13, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
ARMAGEDDON (1998)
It's the end of the world as we know it, and it can't come fast enough for The Unenthusiastic Critic, as she endures her first viewing of Michael Bay's disaster porn.
September 5, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
THE DARK CRYSTAL (1982)
It's the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, muppetational episode of The Unenthusiastic Critic yet.
August 29, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
ARTHUR (1981)
This week, The Unenthusiastic Critic is caught between the moon and New York City, as we sit down for Steve Gordon's dipsomaniacal comedy.
August 22, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is venturing into the heart of darkness for her first viewing of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, released 40 years ago this week.
August 15, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
EASY RIDER (1969)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is firing all of her guns at once at a counterculture classic.
August 8, 2019
FILM REVIEWS
ROCKETMAN (2019)
Dexter Fletcher's Rocketman is endearingly goofy, and occasionally moving, but only rarely transcends the shallow limitations of a jukebox musical.
June 4, 2019
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×06: "THE IRON THRONE"
And now our watch is ended. But did Game of Thrones, or its characters, get the ending they deserved?
May 29, 2019
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×05: "THE BELLS"
The penultimate episode of Game of Thrones demands that we reconsider everything—including our investment in this show and these characters.
May 18, 2019
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×04: "THE LAST OF THE STARKS"
A sometimes infuriating episode reminds us that neither Game of Thrones nor its characters are going to suddenly become perfect at the last minute.
May 12, 2019
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×03: "THE LONG NIGHT"
Visually muddy, and emotionally clichéd, "The Long Night" begs the question: What sort of ending are we hoping for from Game of Thrones?
May 3, 2019