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linomatthew
Reviews
The Idol: Daybreak (2023)
Dude, no.....
So this episode represents both the best and the worst of this show so far, but unfortunately severely oversteps in its final scene to become what it has been accused of being all along: torture porn. The first chunks of the episode spend time Establishing the dominance of Tedros over Jocelyn, and developing his control mechanisms over her. That aspect of the episode feels shallow and isn't convincing, largely due to Tesfaye's continually underwhelming performance. The show then gets kinda philosophical through a couple scenes, one focused around Moses sumney and his little friend group, the other at a dinner table scene with most the crew, the best scene of the show yet. The show wisely comments on the state of society and humanity with a fairly cynical lilt to it, but never gets too heavy handed. It's all been said before, but that shouldn't take away from this show doing it well. The second to last scene, the aforementioned dinner table scene, really is tremendous. It's the first time The Weeknd almost acts well, and it's observations about power dynamics in unhealthy relationships are very solid. The writing here is good, and the situation is very provocative. It explores trauma very thoroughly and quite well, though under some tense circumstances.
Then, when the show could opt for a somewhat interesting spanking scene or the like given the hairbrush trauma revelations, instead they opt for raping her with the brush? Nah man. It's stupid. It's gross, and it's unnecessary and it's a clear overstep. Could the show pull it off? I'd be shocked. But as for now, it's a debauched and poorly measured decision. So unnecessary. Edgelord garbage.
The Other Two: Cary & Brooke Go to an AIDS Play (2023)
A culmination of loose threads.
This episode takes all of the wild swings from the preceding four episodes and coalesces into something disarmingly good. The best episode of tv comedy in a very, very long time had me in stitches no less than 5 times, culminating with a joke that had me and my husband cackling for about 20 seconds. For Streeter, Chase and Cary, this episode signifies their finest moments. For Brooke and Lance, there's a scene that should not just get them nominated, but have them both securing their respective Emmys. This is an episode like no other from a show like no other, and now we just gotta wonder: how good can this show possibly get?
Mandy (2018)
GRINDHOUSE PERFECTION!!!!!!!!
We saw this movie at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival........ twice. Yeah, we walked out of our first screening, drove straight to the box office and bought tickets for the next screening. There is nothing like being in an audience watching Mandy. This is THE midnight movie. I wouldn't hesitate to say it is on the level of Rocky Horror Picture Show as far as potential cult status. From 15 minute psychedelic trips filmed with a second lag and a pinkish filter, to two unspeakably amazing weapons, there is nothing on its level. Cosmatos' direction and the cinematography are better than 95% of studio movies nowadays. This is what watching movies is all about. And let's just say, every single cast member is pitch perfect, creating the infernal hell that the movie is. God willing, this movie will get the distribution it deserves so we can see it once a year at midnight in our favorite art house cinemas. Instantly nostalgic.