FACE/OFF (1997)
We have met the enemy and he is me, as I use a MAGA conspiracy theory as an excuse to introduce Nakea to John Woo's preposterous action thriller.
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.
WEEK 7:
THE BEST SLAYED PLANS
In which I offer quick takes on stuff I've been watching (including Judas and the Black Messiah, Saint Maud, and Clarice), and explain at some length why I won't be writing about Buffy the Vampire Slayer this year after all.
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.
WEEK 6: BURIED
This week's blog/newsletter features some labored thoughts on the writing process, and quick takes on The Dig, Malcolm & Marie, The Little Things, I May Destroy You, and other things I've been watching.
OTHER RECENT POSTS
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
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×02: "A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS"
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is Game of Thrones at its absolute best. It is a last chance to remember—before all hell breaks loose—that this show was always about people, not special effects.
April 24, 2019
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×01: "WINTERFELL"
"Winterfell" feels a little too much like a box-checking prologue to the final season of Game of Thrones, not the exciting opening chapter.
April 21, 2019
BLOG
NEW BOOK, NOW AVAILABLE: THE UNAFFILIATED CRITIC'S GUIDE TO SEASONS 1-3 OF GAME OF THRONES
Announcing the first of three e-books, collecting all my writing on Game of Thrones.
April 20, 2019