February 2018

Love, Simon

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Love, Simon
  • IMDb: link

Love, Simon movie reviewI’m a sucker for a good coming of age story. In many ways Love, Simon is fairly by the book. We’re given a likable high school student dealing with school, friends, and his first crush. The difference from most of these types of mainstream films, is that Simon (Nick Robinson) is gay. What makes the film work is that while Simon frets about what others will think of him if they learn the truth, his gayness doesn’t solely define him as a character.

Simon’s friends include longtime platonic pal Leah (Katherine Langford), jock Nick (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), and newcomer Abby (Alexandra Shipp). He’s also got a loving father (Tad Hamilton), mother (Jennifer Garner), and younger sister (Talitha Bateman). Discovering another closeted gay student at his high school, Simon begins trading emails with “Blue.” As the relationship deepens, Simon imagines various people standing in for the mysterious stranger. Complicating matters are a annoying classmate (Logan Miller) who discovers Simon’s secret and uses it to blackmail Simon into helping him score with one of Simon’s friends. While the weakest aspect of the film, it still contains some genuine moments.

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Lucifer – High School Poppycock

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Lucifer – High School Poppycock
  • wiki: link

Lucifer - High School Poppycock television review

The murder of an author who based her sci-fi series off her own high school experiences leads Lucifer (Tom Ellis) and Chloe (Lauren German) to a high school reunion in search of a killer and the missing manuscript of the series’ finale (which Lucifer hopes may hold the key to solve his own writers block). Getting wrapped up in the soapish sci-fi novels, “High School Poppycock” allows Chloe to be a bit more of the out-of-control fangirl while leaving Lucifer to eventually whittle away all their suspects. The episode’s B-story involving Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt) torturing Linda (Rachael Harris) and Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside) for their secret relationship ties in when she sets the doctor up with one of the murder suspects in an awkward blind date.

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The Cutting Edge

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Cutting Edge
  • IMDb: link

“Those are figure skates, pal.”

The Cutting EdgeThis week’s Winter Olympics inspired Throwback Tuesday post takes us back to 1992’s sports comedy The Cutting Edge starring Moira Kelly as ice queen Kate Moseley and D.B. Sweeney as retired ice hockey player Doug Dorsey who becomes her unlikely figure skating partner in hopes of winning an Olympic Gold Medal.

After an injury at the previous Olympics prematurely ended his hockey before it began, and with the tempermental Kate unable to make it work with any potential partners, the pair get thrown together for an unlikely Olympic run. Terry O’Quinn and Roy Dotrice round out the cast as Kate’s father and her figure skating coach.

The script by Tony Gilroy (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Michael Clayton, The Bourne Ultimatum) doesn’t stray far outside on box featuring and odd couple pairing who come together both on and off the ice. That said, there’s certainly some charm seeing two characters, both rough around the edges in their own way, come together. And while the skating is far from Olympic quality, it works well-enough to sell the story.

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Vampirella #10

/ / Comics

Vampirella #10 comic reviewOkay, I’ve never been much of a horror comic reader in general nor a Vampirella fan in particular. That said, when a comic chooses to celebrate one of my favorite cosplayers with a variant cover I’m all-in to show some support. Way to go Joanie!

For those, like me, a little unsure what they are stepping into, writer Jeremy Whitley does a good job setting the stage for the dystopian future where our heroic vampire now lives and offering a backstory for Pantha who plays a major role in the current plotline. It seems the future is a pretty screwed up shitstorm where no one can die and old friends want you dead.

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The Ballad of Lefty Brown

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Ballad of Lefty Brown
  • IMDb: link

The Ballad of Lefty Brown Blu-ray reviewWriter/director Jared Moshe‘s The Ballad of Lefty Brown is a passable, if forgettable, western starring Bill Pullman as Lefty Brown, a screw-up who vows to avenge the death of his closest friend (Peter Fonda). Meanwhile others, including the man’s widow (Kathy Baker) are more than willing to believe the crime was committed by Brown himself despite the scarcity of evidence (or credible motive). The performances are solid, and the western vistas are pleasant to watch, so even if the journey doesn’t lead anywhere all that interesting it at least makes for a modest diversion.

The film follows the cowboy’s misadventures, eventually leading to him discovering the real reason his friend was murdered and seeking vengeance against one of the most powerful men in the territory. The idea of turning the dimwitted sidekick into the central character goes against the western template, but that’s really the only place The Ballad of Lefty Brown strays from the expected in a rather straightforward revenge tale.

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