4 Razors

The Sessions

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Sessions
  • IMDB: link

the-sessions-posterSex is a mysterious, terrifying, and wondrous thing, especially for someone like Marc O’Brien (John Hawkes) who has lived nearly his entire life unable to move a single muscle below his neck. After contracting Polio at the age of six, Marc has spent most of his life in an iron lung or strapped to a gurney. At the age of 38, inspired while writing an article about the sex lives of people with physical disabilities, he decides it’s about time he lost his virginity.

After getting the consent of his priest, Father Brendan (William H. Macy, in another terrific supporting performance), Marc engages the services of Cheryl (Helen Hunt), a sex surrogate. Marc’s journey is far from an easy one, with both sad and humorous obstacles to be overcome.

Based on the true experiences of Marc O’Brien, adapted and directed by Ben Lewin, this little film about sex turns out to be a funny and sweet character study of a man and his relationships with the three most important women in his life (Hunt, Moon Bloodgood, and Annika Marks).

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Covert Affairs – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Covert Affairs – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
  • tv.com: link

“I told you a long time ago that there’s no such thing as trust among spies.”

covert-affairs-scary-monsters

The fallout from last week’s botched drone bombing of a suspected terrorist continues as Arthur (Peter Gallagher) is ordered in front of a Senate Oversight Committee, Joan (Kari Matchett) orders Annie (Piper Perabo) to return to the Blue Bonnet facility to resume her complete Moscow debriefing, and Annie’s asset (Michelle Nolden), who is now targeted for death by the man (Haaz Sleiman) the CIA failed to kill, has disappeared. As Auggie (Christopher Gorham) and Barber (Dylan Taylor), and a boatload of CIA agents, are called into help circle the wagons Annie is left a difficult choice to play it safe, keep her head down, and follow orders or head out without support to find the missing journalist. For our heroine it’s no choice at all.

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Covert Affairs – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) Read More »

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012 Annual

/ / Comics

tmnt-annual-2012-coverFor the first time in years co-creator Kevin Eastman does double duty writing and providing the art for a Teenage Mutant Turtle comic. The annual is set in the current IDW timeline as Raphael and Casey Jones accidentally get the Turtles involved in a skirmish between the Savate Clan and Foot Clan all due to an unfortunate traffic accident and a missing briefcase.

Although it’s very well done, the story certainly isn’t central to the ongoing plot of the current IDW series. This one is for longtime fans of the characters as we’re able to see the Turtles, in stark black and white, as those of us old enough to remember them from their original comic run in the mid-1980’s.

I’m not the biggest fan of the Rashomon storytelling angle Eastman uses here, but I I love the look and feel of the characters and their surroundings. At $9 it’s certainly going to scare off a few buyers, but Eastman fills the comic with as many of the reintroduced characters as possible and provides tons of story and action, along with a great wrap-around cover, longtime fans should enjoy. Best of the week.

[IDW, $8.99]

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Castle – The Final Frontier

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Castle – The Final Frontier
  • tv.com: link

“I was a sci-fi-loving, costume-wearing geek.”

castle-final-frontier

The mysterious murder of a young woman (who was apparently killed with a phaser) at a sci-fi/pop culture convention where Castle (Nathan Fillion) is hawking his latest graphic novel brings Beckett (Stana Katic), Ryan (Seamus Dever), and Esposito (Jon Huertas) to investigate. The case also brings out Beckett’s inner-geek and her love for a short-lived sci-fi series on whose “fan experience” the body was found.

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Castle – The Final Frontier Read More »

Fatale #9

/ / Comics

fatale-9-coverAfter Suzy is captured and comes to an unfortunate (but not completely unexpected) end, Josephine and Miles come up with a new plan to use the film stolen from the cult to draw them out into the open.

Miles struggles with how different his life has become since meeting Josephine and his inability to fear or grieve for Suzy in the right way. Hansel’s displeasure grows at the death of Suzy and the end to his link to Josephine and his revenge. As Hansel prostrates himself for forgiveness from his god, Josephine and Miles attend a swank Hollywood party where they put their plan into play.

I expected the cult would be making their move in this issue, but even if writer Ed Brubaker has drawn out events a little longer than originally planned (the twelve issue series could now number more than twenty when all is said and done), the continued look at these characters, particularly Miles who has begun to question what is happening to him, is well done. Worth a look.

[Image, $3.50]

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