4.5 Razors

The Favourite

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Favourite
  • IMDb: link

The Favourite movie reviewSet during the reign of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), The Favourite is a sly period dramedy focused on the rivalry between two cousins (Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone) over position and the affection of the Queen. Filled with backstabbing, political maneuvering, and deception, the story begins with the arrival of Abigail (Stone), a former lady now forced into the role of a servant. Abigail is given a position in the palace by Lady Sarah (Weisz) who underestimates just how far her cousin will go to increase her station.

Set between the two women, and also the two political factions fighting over the war in France, at the heart of the film is Anne herself. Presented as a broken woman, who may not have been all that smart to begin with, Coleman infuses her with unexpected depths as we begin to wonder just how much of the manipulation she suspects. Beautifully shot by cinematographer Robbie Ryan, the look of The Favourite offers sharp contrast to the more vile machinations under the surface (not unlike its lead characters). Although there are men present, mostly in Parliament, the script views them as largely superfluous and spends little effort to hide where the true power in England lies.

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The Other Side of the Wind

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Other Side of the Wind
  • IMDb: link

The Other Side of the Wind movie reviewIt may have taken an extra 40 years, but the last film from Orson Welles is finally available to be seen. While it is nearly impossible to separate the film from its history (covered in detail in the new documentary They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead), The Other Side of the Wind has the benefit of working despite this potential limitation and delivering a fitting last chapter to Welles’ career with a biting satire and visual smorgasbord finally pieced together more than three decades after the director’s death.

Never one to back away from a challenge, Welles’ The Other Side of the Wind offers a layered feast, which can be devoured all at once but is best digested over multiple viewings. The experimental project delivers one or two small missteps (most notably the horrific performance by Cathy Lucas in a, thankfully, small role) but also yields terrific results. The narrative follows the final days of an aging director struggling with his latest film while make statements about the change in Hollywood culture from the old school studio system to the rise of a New Hollywood.

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Daredevil – A New Napkin

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Daredevil – A New Napkin
  • wiki: link

Daredevil - A New Napkin television review

Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) has won. With the charges against him wiped away, anyone who could do damage to him has been killed or discredited. And with the FBI firmly under his thumb, the Kingpin prepares for his wedding. With Fisk’s victory all but complete, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) plans on attacking the Kingpin on his wedding day and putting down the villain for good. To do so means on relying on the help of Poindexter (Wilson Bethel) who Daredevil has just the right leverage to push over the edge and aim straight towards Fisk. Meanwhile, one last chance at taking Fisk down legally falls directly into the laps of Foggy (Elden Henson) and Karen (Deborah Ann Woll) with a dying confession by Ray Nadeem (Jay Ali) that can unravel the Kingpin’s entire operation.

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The Good Place – The Worst Possible Use of Free Will

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Good Place – Chapter 34: The Worst Possible Use of Free Will
  • wiki: link

The Good Place - The Worst Possible Use of Free Will TV review

“The Worst Possible Use of Free Will” takes us back to the Neighborhood as Michael (Ted Danson) restores some of Eleanor (Kristen Bell) memories in an attempt to convince his friend that she can indeed love. The result is the best episode of the show’s Third Season so far with revelations (Sam the Eagle, Elanor? Really?) as the show takes the characters back to the show’s original set-up. There’s certainly some character development for both Michael and Eleanor as well as the process helps her come to grip with her insecurities while showcasing just how far Michael has come as well. Great moments include Eleanor getting her head fried, Mirror Centaur, the return of the more philosophical Eleanor, the coolest thing Michael has ever done, and the purple space bubble of pain.

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The Wild Storm #18

/ / Comics

The Wild Storm #18 comic reviewWith open war between Skywatch and I.O. all but certain at this point, tensions continue to rise and sides will be chosen. For John Lynch that means another throwdown with an enhanced human. For Henry Bendix that means readying himself to put his weapons into action and slave them to his commands. And for Angela Spica that means accepting an offer from Jenny Mei Sparks and helping to form the backbone of an Authority. It looks like Angie’s former pals will have to get along without her.

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