Thursday, March 6, 2025

What We Do In the Shadows, Seasons 1-6

What We Do in the Shadows, Seasons 1-6 (Taika Waititi, et al 2019-2024)
Click here for the basics
Rating: CSS=12, CSQ=7 / Double Whoopee
Scale F=4, Scale G=4, Scale H=4, Scale I=3, Scale J=4
Comedy, Horror, Mockumentary, Fantasy

Vampire stories don't usually interest me. I enjoyed reading Dracula and watching many film versions of the tale, but never got into Buffy or Twilight or any other. I don't dislike macabre or Gothic stories, but perhaps the over-saturation of vampire (and other undead) films and TV shows is just too much...which means many of them aren't very good. Anyway, when I first heard of Taika Waititi's film What We Do in the Shadows, I didn't initially look into it or stop everything to watch it. I thought, I'll eventually get around to it. But then I later heard the about the TV series and that Matt Berry was in the cast... well, that did it. We started watching. It took us a few months, but we watched the entire six seasons and laughed A LOT.

This show is one of the best comedies of recent years. I'd put it in the category with my favorite British comedies from the 2000-2009 era (Black Books, The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd, etc.). It really is bust-out-laughing hysterical. Much of the humor is crude, profane, gross, or even smutty, but it is also witty and wacky and awkward. Each character has their thing--their sense of humor and style. And all of them together make a weird and beautiful family. A very strange, insane, hilarious family.

It's impossible to say which season or episode is my favorite. SO many good ones to choose from. Each season finale is epic, but there are some great moments in every episode. Brilliant show. I have a special fondness for Nandor the Relentless and find Colin Robinson's character simply perfect with all his energy-sucking awkwardness. But I love them all together.
Image source: https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-fx.jpg?w=1000&h=562&crop=1

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Monday, March 3, 2025

Oscar Dash 2025: The Results

And the winner for Best Picture 2025 is...Anora!

I can't wait to watch this film from all the things I've read and now after so many accolades.

Image source: https://static1.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/this-easter-egg-connects-anora-to-a-previous-sean-baker-film.jpg 

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Roald Dahl Short Stories by Wes Anderson

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Wes Anderson, 2023)
Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough
Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

The Swan (Wes Anderson, 2023)
Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

The Rat catcher (Wes Anderson, 2023)
Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Poison (Wes Anderson, 2023)
Click here for the basics

Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

This collection of Roald Dahl shorts is very entertaining--weird, unexpected, and poignant. Each story leaves you with questions but not necessarily wanting more. They are beautifully visualized by Wes Anderson's striking style. While Henry Sugar is clearly the best of these shorts, they all have moments. I especially liked the choice to have the actors narrate and act much like a stage production.

--Don't understand the ratings? Click here

Image from: https://medium.com/@kaethish/review-of-the-wonderful-story-of-henry-sugar-c3902d82333c 

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Oscar Dash 2025: The Nominations

It's that time of year again...The Oscar nominated films were released. Like the last few years I'm not compelled to do an Oscar Dash. I just hope to watch all the films eventually. And I do plan to post about each one once I do watch, so you can anticipate those throughout the year and beyond. And don't forget to watch the awards on March 2, 2025!

Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Perez
I'm Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked