4.5 Razors

A Star is Born

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: A Star is Born
  • IMDb: link

A Star is Born movie reviewWhile not the most original of projects, A Star is Born is the fourth movie of that name which older artists help to launch the careers of younger artists, the story is emotionally engaging and expertly told. There is always a challenge with musicals when choosing either actors who can sing or singers who can act. For its two leads, A Star is Born chooses one of each. In the first 10 minutes we learn three things. First, Bradley Cooper can direct. Second, Lady Gaga can act. And finally, Bradly Cooper can sing. All of this results in a compelling film.

Cooper stars as Jackson Maine, a musician who can still sell out arenas but is obviously on the downside of his career. An alcoholic and drug addict, Jackson meets Ally (Lady Gaga) in a drag club one night. Sparks fly nearly immediately as Jackson discovers not only does Ally have a great voice but also a talent for writing personal songs. A friendship and romance blossoms as Jackson pushes Ally into the spotlight launching her career and creating new tensions between the two artists and lovers concerning Ally’s rise to fame and issues and addictions Jackson chooses not to speak openly about.

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Batman: The Animated Series – The Demon’s Quest

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Batman: The Animated Series – The Demon’s Quest
  • wiki: link

Batman: The Animated Series - The Demon's Quest television review

Our Throwback Tuesday post takes us back to Gotham City. When pitting the Dark Knight Detective against Ra’s al Ghul (the perfectly cast David Warner), Batman: The Animated Series looked no further than the man who created the character for inspiration. Based primarily on Dennis O’Neil‘s Batman #232, “Part One” features Batman (Kevin Conroy) working with the mysterious Ra’s and his henchmen Ubu (Manu Tupou) to find the kidnapped Robin (Loren Lester) and Talia (Helen Slater). The episode features quite a bit of globe-trotting as the group follows clues to Calcutta and Malaysia before ending up in a secret stronghold in the Himalayas where the truth behind the kidnapping comes to light and Ra’s true motivations are revealed.

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Danger Man – The Key

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Danger Man – The Key
  • wiki: link

Danger Man - The Key television review

Our Throwback Tuesday post takes us back into the Cold War spycraft of Danger Man. There is victory but no winners when Drake is sent to Vienna to investigate reporter Harry Logan (Robert Flemyng) who is the lead suspect in a series of leaks of classified information smuggled out of the country. Despite evidence of the man’s guilt, Drake’s gut won’t let him believe the reporter is the leak. The truth is more complicated, as the Logan will learn for himself when his wife (Monique Ahrens) is implicated in the plot.

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A Nero Wolfe Mystery – The Doorbell Rang

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: A Nero Wolfe Mystery – The Doorbell Rang
  • IMDb: link

“Does she lie?”
“Certainly.”

A Nero Wolfe Mystery - The Doorbell Rang TV review

Today’s Throwback Tuesday post takes us back to the mid 20th Century New York and the private detective offices located at 454 W. 35th Street. Adapted from Rex Stout‘s original mysteries, A Nero Wolfe Mystery ran for two seasons on A&E. With a small set cast and recurring actors filling in various different roles from week to week, it quickly became one the highest rated and most critically acclaimed series on the cable network. The first episode of the series, adapted Stout’s novel The Doorbell Rang, finds Nero Wolfe (Maury Chaykin) hired by Mrs. Rachel Bruner (Debra Monk) who offers the detective an exorbitant amount of money to pressure the FBI from any further harassment. Over the course of the investigation, Wolfe’s legman Archie Goodwin (Timothy Hutton) would uncover a recent murder which may or may not involve the FBI and will allow Wolfe to fulfill the obligations of his contract and close an unsolved case for the New York Police Department as well.

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The Death of Stalin

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Death of Stalin
  • IMDb: link

The Death of Stalin DVD review

Very often, comedy comes from tragedy. The Death of Stalin is an unusual film. The political satire set during the days immediately before and after Joseph Stalin‘s (Adrian McLoughlin) death in Russia, the film follows the infighting and backstabbing among Stalin’s most loyal subordinates who maneuver to control Russia following the party leader’s death.

Rather than assemble a Russian cast, director Armando Iannucci brings together a group of primarily English and American actors (including Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine, and Michael Palin), allowing each to perform in his natural accent. The result only increases the absurdity of the proceedings which is counter-balanced by the darkness of Stalin’s policies.

While being one of my favorite forms of comedy, satire is hard which is the reason so few are made compared to the glut of physical and romantic comedies. Part satire, part political drama, and part farce, The Death of Stalin is an amazing and improbable piece of filmmaking that must be seen to be believed.

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