Golden globes 2023 winners Reaction

Another year of me staying up definitely too late on a weekday to watch the Golden Globes, but also another year of seeing people I love win, and big shocks when some don’t. This year was a fairly predictable one, with a lot of pretty guaranteed winners ahead of the ceremony. However, we also had a few major surprises, at least based on what I thought would happen.

So how well did I predict things this year?

Best Motion Picture – Drama

My Prediction: Avatar: The Way of Water

Winner: The Fabelmans

Everything was going along pretty safely for most of the evening (as you will see most of my predictions were correct) but then all of a sudden, right at the very end The Fabelmans decided to turn up to the party.

This genuinely surprised me. While it’s a movie that a lot of people are enjoying, I’ve not seen many say it’s their best film of the year, more like top 5. There was more interesting choices in this category, artistically or technically and this feels very safe. It’s a movie about making movies. It’s an autobiography. It’s Spielberg! I think he’s got a lot of goodwill with voters, and Hollywood loves movies about themselves.

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

My Prediction: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Winner: The Banshees of Inisherin

I’m not as shocked with this one, as even though I was sure Everything Everywhere was a lock in for this award, Banshees was the one I did say could potentially beat it. I’m not mad at it, because it was a beautiful movie, but it’s not what I wanted.

Everything Everywhere losing does make me nervous for the rest of the awards calendar. I think there’s a danger that it’s been hyped up too much going into the season so people are starting to turn on it. We’ll have to see how the BAFTAs and the SAGs go but an Oscars sweep is maybe looking less likely sadly.

Best Actor – Drama

My Prediction: Austin Butler – Elvis

Winner: Austin Butler – Elvis

Some people were shocked by this one, calling it an upset for Brendan Fraser. Obviously, this is what I guessed based on Fraser’s feelings toward the globes so I’m not shocked.

But above that, this really is well deserved. Butler’s performance was so performative and captivated so many people he needs recognition for it. He transformed into Elvis so much that he still sounds like him. He may just be a frontrunner for the Oscar now!

Best Actress – Drama

My Prediction: Cate Blanchett – Tár

Winner: Cate Blanchett – Tár

No surprise here. The great Cate keeps on greating. There’s not really much to say about her win because she did an Anthony Hopkins and didn’t turn up. She’s maybe the greatest actress working today, I’ve never not seen her put in a good performance.

The only question now is will she beat Michelle Yeoh for Best Actress in March and get herself a third Oscar. It really is a two-horse race between them at this point.

Best Actor – Musical or Comedy

My Prediction: Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin

Winner: Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin

Both comedy lead wins were pretty much guaranteed, this was Farrell’s from the get go. None of the other performances in this category were as notable this year, despite a few of them being very good, and Farrell is the only one getting this kind of attention, and will likely the only one of them nominated at the Oscars. Whether he can win there over the drama leads is another story.

Best Actress – Musical or Comedy

My Prediction: Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All At Once

Winner: Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All At Once

Again, this was Yeoh’s award from the moment she was nominated. As I’ve said she’s in a two horse race with Blanchett for the Oscar.

This is a long time coming for Yeoh, too long. Her speech highlighted as much, when she talked about her experience coming to Hollywood from Asia and the ignorance she faced, as well as the struggle to get roles and build the career she has now. It really makes you realize how hard she’s worked to get to this moment and what it means to her, and to the people in her community too who see her as this beacon of Asian representation. I hope the Academy were listening!

Best Supporting Actor

My Prediction: Key Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All At Once

Winner: Key Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All At Once

Ke Huy Quan was the one to beat for this award, even though I did say it could go to Brendan Gleeson. Quan seems to be sweeping this award at every turn so he’s definitely winning the Oscar.

And what makes that so magical is that Stephen Spielberg is in the room every time. It was really beautiful to see him able to thank Spielberg for starting his career as a child in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and to in turn see Spielberg witness that kid he discovered live this moment of glory. It was real life movie magic. And he is going to make people cry for sure at the Oscars.

Best Supporting Actress

My Prediction: Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All At Once

Winner: Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

This was a pleasant surprise. I discounted Angela Bassett because no one has ever won a major award for a performance in a Marvel movie, because the industry usually dismisses them as lowbrow. But for them to finally acknowledge that some people actually turn in some great performances in superhero movies is a big deal.

On the other hand I’m not sure whether this has more to do with recognizing the genre or the actress. Bassett is someone who is so beloved and who many consider understated by awards bodies, so her lauded performance in both Black Panther films might just be an excuse to give her her flowers, rather than a sign of how these films are going to be viewed in the future.

Best Director

My Prediction: James Cameron – Avatar: The Way of Water

Winner: Steven Spielberg – The Fabelmans

This is where The Fabelmans upset began! While Angela Bassett’s win pleasantly surprised me, this was more of a disappointing shock. I never really enjoy when someone who’s won a bunch of times wins again, because it’s not exciting, but I did predict that someone like that win this with Cameron so I guess I have no leg to stand on. I think the globes really like celebrity, and the incredibly famous Spielberg directing a movie about is own life is such a flashy narrative I see why they picked it for the win.

The film is getting shut out of a few other awards nominations already though, so this may the only place he’s going to come out on top. If that’s the case the. I guess it’s nice for him to get some recognition for it. But I’m still bored.

Best Screenplay

My Prediction: Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin

Winner: Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin

Like I predicted, I guess the golden globes really love scripts about Ireland!

In all seriousness, I think banshees is the most writingest movie in the bunch this season, so this is the award it certainly deserves to sweep.

Best Original Song

My Prediction: Lift Me Up – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Winner: Naatu Naatu – RRR

I was very close to guessing Naatu Naatu to win because RRR has gotten a lot of buzz. But I assumed that foreign films would not be favored outside of their own category (which RRR did not actually win in). Perhaps I perceived a bias that was not there. I’ll be looking to RRR to receive a few more wins as the season goes on; as well as Germany’s All Quiet on the Western Front, which has started showing up on a few shortlists too.

Best Animated Feature

My Prediction: Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio

Winner: Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio

There was very little competition for Guillermo Del Toro in this category, as Disney didn’t put up much of a fight, so it was an easy win. But that shouldn’t undermine how deserving this film would be of winning in any other year.

I love how Del Toro felt so passionate about animation when he gave a speech, which is nice considering he’s someone who’s made his career in live action films who could easily see the new medium as an experiment rather than have deep respect for it. There seems to be a third Oscar in his future.

TV Wins

On the TV side of things, I was so happy to see Abbott Elementary win so many awards, especially Quinta Brunson for playing the lead, which she lost at the Emmys (although she did win there for writing). I was bummed that neither Sheryl Lee Ralph or Elizabeth Debicki won supporting actress but I’m sure they’ll both still be in the category next year, and this was Julia Garner’s last chance to win for Ozark.

Jennifer Coolidge winning was a such a beautiful moment. Much like Michelle Yeoh, her speech gave such a beautiful portrait of a woman who’s been working for a long time finally getting some recognition. Coolidge is such a lovable person it’s impossible not to be happy for her, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for her with this awards boost.

I also need to say how touching it was for Ryan Murphy, who was being given the Carol Burnett achievement award, to use his speech to not talk about his own achievements but to highlight and praise the LGBTQ+ (particularly POC) talent that he’s worked with and inspire him. Making sure MJ Rodriquez got the ovation that she didn’t get to have when she won and made history last year was a particularly beautiful moment,

 

So 7 out of 12 correct isn’t as good as I hoped I would fo, but it is exactly the same amount as I got right last year. What this tells me is that the globes continue to be fairly predictable but a little bit wild. I think we’re beginning to see a picture of how the Oscar nominations will shake up next month and at least a few sure fire wins.

Golden Globes 2023 predictions

It’s awards season once again which means it’s time to play my favourite game of guessing who’s going to win.

Despite the scandals that kept the event from being televised last year not having completely gone away, the Golden Globes are back in person again on 10^th January. The real question this year is who is actually going to attend the ceremony. But let’s have a look at who’s nominated.

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Nominees: Avatar: The Way of Water, Elvis, The Fabelmans, Tár, Top Gun: Maverick

Tár is getting a lot of attention this season. It doesn’t come out in the UK until the end of Jan so I can’t speak of my own feelings about it (although I do love me a bit of Cate Blanchett), but I expect this to be a major contender for this category.

However, they might want to go for a film that is more of a crowd-pleaser and a bit flashier, and I think that will be Avatar: The Way of Water. It’s already making loads of money, just like the first one; and back in 2009, this same award went to Avatar over The Hurt Locker, the movie that eventually won Best Picture at the Oscars.

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Nominees: Babylon, The Banshees of Inisherin, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Triangle of Sadness

Everything Everywhere All At Once needs to win this. It’s genuinely one of the best movies of the year; equally funny, entertaining and poignant. Everyone else I know who has seen it loved it just as much as I did and the fact that it came out back in March and we’re still talking about it shows how much it blew people away.

If it doesn’t go to Everything Everywhere, it will probably go to The Banshees of Inisherin which is a great movie in its own right. I also wouldn’t be too upset if Glass Onion took it because I also really enjoyed it, but seeing as Knives Out didn’t win, I can’t see the sequel winning either.

Best Actor – Drama

Nominees: Austin Butler – Elvis, Brendan Fraser – The Whale, Hugh Jackman – The Son, Bill Nighy  – Living, Jeremy Pope – The Inspection

So this is interesting. If you didn’t know, Brendan Fraser (who many expect to be a major contender with The Whale) has spoken openly about how he was sexually assaulted by the former president of the HFPA (which votes on the Globes) and how he understandably wants nothing to do with this award.

The obvious response is that they won’t give it to him because he doesn’t want it. But I can also see them being kind of tone-deaf and giving it to him as a kind of apology for what happened.

The most likely I think is Austin Butler. I don’t think he’s getting the Oscar but I think he is the most deserving of recognition for how he transformed into Elvis Presley, singing and all.

Best Actress – Drama

Nominees: Cate Blanchett – Tár, Olivia Colman – Empire of Light, Viola Davis – The Woman King, Ana de Armas – Blonde, Michelle Williams – The Fabelmans

I’m fairly certain that Cate Blanchett is taking this category. It’s being called her greatest performance ever, and this is someone with two Oscars, who is already considered one of the best actresses of all time.

Blanchett is one of my personal favourite actresses, so I’m happy for her to have another award. But I’m really upset that this is the only nomination The Woman King got, so I would quite like Viola Davis to win for that brilliant film to get some recognition.

And I have to say, Ana de Armas getting a nomination for Blonde is so confusing. That movie was so horrendous and insulting I didn’t even finish it. God bless her though, she tried her best with the garbage she was given.

Best Actor – Musical or Comedy

Nominees: Diego Calva – Babylon, Daniel Craig – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Adam Driver – White Noise, Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin, Ralph Fiennes – The Menu

This is another foregone conclusion for me, it’s Colin Farrell’s award to lose. His performance in Banshees is so delicate and heart-warming it really touched me. I’m just not as interested in the idea of any of the other nominees winning and I don’t see it for them. Farrell is also one of those actors that’s been working for so long, and we’re only just starting to appreciate him. I think he’s got a very strong chance at an Oscar, especially if he wins here.

Best Actress – Musical or Comedy

Nominees: Lesley Manville – Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Margot Robbie – Babylon, Anya Taylor-Joy – The Menu, Emma Thompson – Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All At Once

Michelle Yeoh!

If anyone else takes this I will be genuinely shocked and upset. When the movie came out everyone said, “Michelle Yeoh best actress”, and they’re still saying that because she was incredible. She did emotion, she did comedy, she did action and she played multiple versions of herself, it was everything. She’s been an icon for so long and this awards season is her moment of glory.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees: Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin, Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin, Brad Pitt – Babylon, Key Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All At Once, Eddie Redmayne – The Good Nurse

I’m torn here, because I feel like it’s between Brendan Gleeson and Key Huy Quan. I feel like you can’t acknowledge Colin Farrell’s performance without recognizing Gleeson as they really were an acting unit. Likewise, Quan did a lot of the same stuff that Michelle Yeoh was doing just in a smaller role, so if she’s going to win (which she will) then he should get the same. Short of there being a tie I’m going to guess at Quan for the win.

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees: Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin, Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All At Once, Dolly de Leon – Triangle of Sadness, Carey Mulligan – She Said

This is always a tough category to peg. I’m pleasantly surprised to see Angela Bassett here, but I think it’s unlikely she’ll win. I think it’s between Carey Mulligan and Jamie Lee Curtis.

I’m surprised this is She Said’s only nomination, as it was such a powerful and well put together movie. So I would like them to recognize what Mulligan brought to the table. However, Curtis is having such a career resurgence right now and the Globes love a celebrity, so I think it’s more likely to go her way.

You know, if Everything Everywhere All At Once wins everything everywhere, I’m not going to be mad. I’m just sad that Stephanie Hsu didn’t get a nomination in this category alongside Curtis.

Best Director

Nominees: James Cameron – Avatar: The Way of Water, Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All At Once, Baz Luhrmann – Elvis, Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin, Steven Spielberg – The Fabelmans

I think this is probably going to go to James Cameron for the technical feats of Avatar: The Way of Water. just like the first one (which won this award) it has been lauded for its use of technology in Cameron’s directing, and people clearly are just as captivated. Personally, I didn’t feel much of a difference from the first movie so I don’t think he needs to win again.

If it’s not Cameron, it should and would be the Daniels. I’m also disapointed to see no women in this catagory once again, especially after the progress made last year.

Best Screenplay

Nominees: Todd Field – Tár, Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All At Once, Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin, Sarah Polley – Women Talking, Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner – The Fabelmans

If The Fabelmans is going to win anything it could be this category, because it’s Spielberg and it’s an autobiography and people usually lap that up.

However, I think this is going to go to Martin McDonagh. The writing for Banshees was really touching and very clever in the way it worked as an analogy for the Irish civil war. Also, it’s very, Irish! Which shouldn’t mean anything but Belfast just won last year so they might have a thing for it.

Best Original Song

Nominees: Carolina – Where the Crawdads Sing, Ciao Papa – Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, Hold MY Hand – Top Gun: Maverick, Lift Me Up – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Naatu Naatu – RRR

This category gets less and less interesting every year. All of these songs are fine but nothing really stands out to me as an iconic track. I think Taylor Swift’s fans will get very excited if she wins it for Carolina but the song that I think has had the biggest cultural impact (which I think is what makes a good movie song) is Lift Me Up. People were very excited for Rihanna to be releasing music again and captured people’s attention, especially as it was the theme for a much-anticipated movie.

Best Animated Feature

Nominees: Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, Inu-Oh, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Turning Red

It should be surprising to see only one Disney movie here, but seeing as Lightyear and Strange World absolutely tanked it really isn’t. I haven’t even seen Strange World yet and I’m usually first in line for Disney.

I can see Turning Red taking it because it was a good movie and it’s Pixar. But the movie that I think could and should edge it out is Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. Though it was dark and a little depressing, it was an interesting new and artistic take on an existing story that didn’t just rehash what we’d seen before (like Disney’s lame Pinocchio remake that also came out this year). The stop motion is also gorgeous and deserves recognition as an art style that really blended well with Del Toro’s aesthetic.

TV

I’m not going to predict all the TV categories, because there are a lot, but I anticipate a lot of wins for The Crown because the globes LOVE that show. I hope to see Abbott Elementary win best comedy series and Quinta Brunson win best actress in a comedy. I want to see Jennifer Coolidge win supporting actress in a limited series.

The one category I’m nervous about is supporting actress in a series. Elizabeth Debicki was amazing as Diana in The Crown, and I think she’s most likely to win. However, Sheryl Lee Ralph is so good in Abbott Elementary that it makes me really wish they separated this category into drama and comedy because they both deserve it.

So those are my thoughts on this year’s batch of Golden Globe Nominees. I’m excited for awards season to kick off again and to see how things shake up. I’m pretty confident with my predictions but no doubt they’ll throw some curveballs my way as usual. I guess we’ll see on the 11^th how I did.

Dead to Me season 3 review: An emotional farewell

It feels very much like the end of an era, as Dead to Me season 1 was one of the first shows I ever wrote about. And my love for the show only grew with its second season. Two years later the third and final season is out on Netflix and it’s time to say goodbye Jen Harding and Judy Hale.

The plot

(Neck)Brace yourself

This series picks off right where the last left off, with Jen and Judy involved in a hot and run caused by a drunken Ben. And the discovery of Steve’s body, now being investigated by the FBI, means they’re not off the hook for murder. But it’s visits to the doctor that end up causing personal drama for both women that will change their lives completely.

Unlike the last season, there’s no big switch up in the cat and mouse game, and it basically just a continuation of last time’s storyline. The story itself is the weakest part of this season, especially the crime part. I think they out-twisted themselves in the first two seasons and the plot really ran it’s course, so a lot of the twists that come up to keep the season going this time seem a little random or silly. The part that does work is the drama of the women’s personal lives, which really becomes the focus, and for good reason. And of course, the wit and the comedy writing from Liz Feldman and the writers is just as strong as ever.

The characters

I think one of the main things that made me fall in love with this show way back in season 1 was the characters. It can be hard for a show to go multiple seasons and keep the characters consistent but also give them growth, but that’s something this program achieves. They feel like the same fundamental people we know but they have been changed enough by their journey that they feel new each time.

When you realise your search history is public

The stand-out this season (as if she wasn’t the last two) has to be Christina Applegate as Jen Harding. You may not know but last year she was sadly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and she’s spoken about how hard that made it for her to film this season, as well as how the cast and crew really helped her get through the filming schedule. Watching it, you can kind of tell that she’s going through it, but luckily Jen is a character that’s going through a lot too, so it works. The fact that she was able to turn out a performance that’s on par with the last two seasons, just funny, just as raw and emotional, is a testament to her abilities. If this isn’t worth an Emmy I don’t know what is.

The wooden bird is the word

Like Jen, there’s not too much more development for all the other characters, and there’s not really any new characters added, because they need to wrap up the story rather than send it somewhere new. So while there’s not much to say about everyone that I haven’t said before, I can say I’m going to miss them all.

Judy is the character I’m going to miss the most; her positive energy in the face of every hardship and pain is what makes her a good foil, but also the perfect partner, to Jen. Seeing them on screen together, in such a strong show of female friendship and love (something that we still need to see more of) is what I think made this show so special. If Linda Cardellini doesn’t get more leading roles from this show I don’t know what’s going on, because she has always been an underappreciated star. If you can watch this show, particularly this season, without absolutely falling in love with her I don’t know who you are.

The ending

I’m not crying you are

Without giving too much away, I do want to try and talk about the final episode. Most of the main story wraps up right before the finale so that the ending can focus on saying goodbye to Judy and Jen and bringing their journey together to a close. Even though I don’t think the rest of the season was as strong as the first two, the finale really was the perfect epilogue to the whole series. It’s one the most heart-wrenching and emotional things I’ve watched, I think in part because the show has done such a good job at getting me invested in these women and their story. It’s safe to say I was a crying child after the show finished.

This series has always been about grief, and the thing about the ending is that it brought that theme completely full circle. Jen ends the series essentially where she was at the beginning, except in many ways she is a completely different person. She has a new way of handling grief and new things have come from it. We end on the idea that though grief is painful and it never leaves us, it can also pull us forward and our memories can keep our loved ones alive forever.

After season 2 I said I could only see this show going for one more season and I think I was right. This season felt like its time. And I’m glad they decided to end it on a good note without letting it get stale and leaving with a whimper.
I don’t think there’s a chance of it ever coming back. It wouldn’t be the same if they tried. I know I’ll definitely be coming back to rewatch it in the future, for some comfort and some fun.
If you haven’t seen it at all now is the perfect time to go

Only Murders in the Building season 2 review: They’ve still got it!

As you could tell from my review, last year, I fell in love with the first season of Only Murders in the Building. The set-up, the characters and especially the writing were near perfection to me, so I was very excited to come back to this show. However, there is always the worry that they won’t capture that lightening the second time around. So how did all these elements stack up this time?

The story

This would be a killer road trip!

This season follows directly on from the cliff-hanger of the last, with the murder of the buildings board president Bunny. But, since she was found with Mabel, in her apartment, she and the group are prime suspects in the murder investigation this time around. So, as well as investigating the murder for their podcast, the trio now have the added task of clearing their names of suspicion.

This extra layer is a great way of upping the anti for the second season, making it different enough but not changing the premise too much. It did make the story a little more complicated this time, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The drawback for me was that it did mean there was less time focussed on the podcasting, which was the main framing device of the first season, and I did miss it a bit. Overall though still a compelling story with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

The characters

The main trio of characters is just entertaining and engaging as the last time, but importantly, they did manage to still reveal things about the characters we didn’t know before. This was in the form of things from their past as well as how they handle things into the present, leading to their journeys through this series. By the end of the season, each of them feels like they’re in a different place than they were at the end of the last one, which is really exciting for moving the show forward.

In terms of new characters, we have Cara Delevigne as Mabel’s new love interest, and art gallery owner Alice. To be honest I’m not a big Cara Delevigne fan so I wasn’t super jazzed about seeing her here. Alice as a character was fine, she was just there. I don’t think she really added much to the story and I wouldn’t be bothered about having her come back next season. However, I do appreciate them adding more people in Mabel’s age range to interact with the group, to make her feel a little less out of place.

Guess who’s coming to podcast!

But the new character I enjoyed the most was Zoe Colletti as Charles’ teenage ex-stepdaughter(ish) Lucy, who re-enters his life after falling out with her mother. Adding kids into things can be a risk as they sometimes end up being annoying, but I think Lucy was old enough to not be too needy and Collette has enough experience to play the role well. I really loved Lucy’s dynamic with the rest of the group, as the three different generations now clash but also find that common ground like the older guys did with Mabel previously. And what’s key to Lucy is that she actually helps with the case, meaning she serves a purpose in the main storyline as well as with Charles’ sub plot.

Finally, I have to give a mention to the legend that is Shirley MacLaine who appears in two episodes this season. She’s not onscreen for long, but she’s of course completely captivating when she is.

The writing

Didn’t have Amy Schumer AND Shirley MacLaine on my bingo card

Like last time, most of the comedy comes from the meta jokes on murder mystery shows, using the titular podcast as a way to do that. Of course, there are plenty of jokes about the nature of a second season, with characters talking about the expectations being higher or complaining that the second season wasn’t as good. The way the writers impeccably worked these in so naturally to the dialogue is just chefs kiss to me, and it always makes me laugh.

I do have to agree with some of the character’s complaints though, as I did feel the mystery wasn’t as tight as the last one. Some things tended to just with not much explanation, and especially some things that I find weird that they come up last time around. For example, Mabel has a few blackouts where she can’t remember what’s happened to her, which is supposedly something she’s always done. But I don’t remember that ever happening last time when it easily could have. The mystery overall wasn’t as compelling for me, until I reached the final few episodes, and I found myself often more interested in the side stories going on.

However, the set up for the next murder mystery in the already greenlit season 3 was very fun and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

If you haven’t watched this show already, or you haven’t caught up on the second season, I will continue to recommend. It’s such an entertaining show, and it’s so charming that it becomes really comforting.

I don’t know how many more seasons the premise can handle so I have a feeling the next season will be it’s last. It say watch it now while it’s at its peak and get hyped for the next season to drop in 2023.

Moon Knight review: Ambitious Egyptian mind exploration

Marvel is really on a roll this week with a show coming to an end and a movie being released. It’s a lot to talk about and to review, but that’s what I signed up for as a fan of this franchise.

The show coming to an end this week is Moon Knight, the first marvel Disney+ show focused entirely on a brand-new character, soon to be followed by Ms. Marvel next month. Establishing an entirely new corner of this universe on the small screen is a challenge, so did they pull it off?

Plot

The show follows museum gift shop employee, Steven Grant (Oscar Issac), as he discovers that he has an alternate personality known, Marc Spector, who serves the Egyptian moon god Khonshu as his Moon Knight. Marc is on a mission to stop cult leader Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), who plans to release the goddess Amit, so she can judge souls before their death and rid the world of who she deems to be evil.

Because of his multiple personalities, stemming from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Moon Knight is a really unique superhero to adapt. This is why people have been asking marvel to do something with him for a while. Focusing on Marc/Steven’s psyche and his mental health is at the forefront of the storytelling of this series and it is handled very well. It’s another example of marvel using their Disney+ shows as a way to experiment and take risks in a way that they perhaps can’t in their blockbuster movies.

Marc/Steven

Of course, the standout aspect of the show is Oscar Isaac’s performance as both Steven and Marc. It’s terrific how he manages to portray such wildly different personalities without visually changing anything about himself, just using voice and body language.

I think it’s impossible not to fall in love with Steven from the very first episode. He’s charming and sweet and shy, but his loneliness is what makes you just want to give him a big hug. The emptiness in his life is of course coming from the fact that he doesn’t truly know who he is and what his life is. I loved how, as he learns more about Marc and Khonshu, we go on a journey of discovery with Steven and we can see him growing building his confidence.

Marc on the other hand is the typical jaded, mercenary, reluctant hero type, so he’s not as fun to spend time with. However, we do get to see his journey in the reverse of Steven, opening up and becoming softer. You cannot have either personality without the other and that’s a really important part of exploring why DID exists and how it affects helps those people who have it.

Characters

Marc and Steven are of course not the only main characters in the show. We of course also have our villain, Harrow. As villains go, I wasn’t hugely impressed by him. I did like the idea of basing him on a cult leader, and his argument of ridding the world of anyone who has the potential for evil was an interesting philosophical question. However, he felt more like a plot point to get the characters from A to B more than a fully realized character. We never really learned that much about him, and he didn’t have that strong a characterization.

By far the best character besides Marc/Steven is their love interest Layla El-Faouly (May Calamawy). For starters, it’s important that they realized they needed to have at least one Egyptian character in a story about Egypt. But more than what she represents, Layla is just a great character to follow. Because she has a history with only one of the personalities, it’s as much her journey of discovery as it is theirs. We get to know so much about her past and what she wants from life, which makes her more than just a tough lady, she is three-dimensional. I think it’s great for women of Egyptian and of middle eastern descent, to have a character like this to see themselves in, and everyone else can enjoy what she brings to the table too. I can’t wait to see more of her.

Mythology

As well as focusing on mental health, this show serves as a way to explore and introduce ancient Egyptian mythology into the MCU. Ancient Egypt and its belief system is one of the most fascinating periods of history to explore, so it was fun to see that layered onto the superhero genre. The Moon Knight costume itself is a great example of a melding of the two ideas, as it’s the build of a super-suit but with the aesthetics of mummy’s wrapping as and royal jewellery.

The MCU had tackled gods before, with Norse gods in the Thor movies and various other gods in Eternals, so I am a little confused as to how all these different mythologies coexist within the same universe. Perhaps that is something that will be addressed in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder which seems to be introducing even more gods into the mix.

There is some discussion of the irony of Marvel making a whole series dedicated to Egypt, only for the country to ban the next Marvel movie due to its LGBTQ+ aspects. The situation is obviously upsetting to me, however, I don’t feel the actions of a government should mean that Egyptian people and those of Egyptian heritage around the world should be denied representation and visibility in our media. The more people are seen and we have that exchange of cultures, the more I truly believe things will start to improve for everyone.

Pacing

I think the problem I have with this show is the number of episodes. Six, roughly 45min episodes, didn’t seem enough to effectively do everything they wanted to do and it threw the pacing way off for me. The beginning was a very steady introduction where not a lot happened, then it picked up the pace and a lot of story started to happen, and finally, it felt to me like it ended very abruptly because they ran out of time.

The issue with pacing is that it didn’t allow for everything to be explored effectively. They obviously wanted to explore Marc’s psyche and DID because that was the main focus of most of the show, and as I said they did it very well. However, because of this, there wasn’t much focus on the Moon Knight, superhero side of things, which is probably why a lot of people wanted to watch in the first place. I also think they didn’t explore the Egyptian mythology as much as they could have if they’d had more breathing room.

Pacing seems to be a recurring issue with marvel’s Disney+ shows. In future, I’d say they either need to commit to making more episodes or try to be less ambitious with the stories they’re trying to tell.

MCU

In terms of connection to the wider universe of the MCU, there is very little reference to the wider universe or story of this franchise. Besides a few water eggs in the background and off-hand remarks, you could easily believe this is a standalone project with no connection at all.

Now obviously this does not make it a bad show, it completely stands and works on its own, but it would be hypocritical of me not to include it as a critique when I did the same for Eternals.

I think what makes it an issue is that this MCU relies so much on fans watching every installment, to follow the story or at least meet the characters that are going to play a part in it. So when something feels like it’s not part of it, it can tend to feel like it’s not important and therefore irrelevant. I think you’ll find a lot of people skipping this show because it doesn’t really tie in, at least not yet.

Future

The show was originally billed as a limited series, meaning there would only be one season. While There’s no doubt that the intention is for moon knight to show up in other marvel stories, as the marvel brand is built for crossover, not being able to revisit the story and characters in another season would be rather unsatisfying. The abrupt ending left a lot of things unexplored within this story, and hints at more things to come. Things were not wrapped up neatly to where you couldn’t go back and do more, as they were in WandaVision for example. I don’t think the things that need exploring could be addressed successfully within another story where Moon knight is not at the forefront.

I can’t say if they will do a season 2 but it felt like they were setting up the possibility. Where we’ll see Moon Knight before then remains to be seen, I can’t really think of another character/world he would work alongside that is already present in the MCU.

Despite its small issues, I do believe this was a successful introduction to the character of Moon Knight and his world. This is evidence that Disney+ could be a viable place to start Marvel stories, rather than just expand on them. What remains to be seen is how many people will watch the shows, as well as all the movies, and whether that will affect their ability to follow the wider story.

The Book of Boba Fett review: A series of disjointed chapters

It’s been over a year since we’ve had new Star Wars content to talk about, 2021 really ended up being the year of Marvel on Disney+. But now it seems Disney’s other billion-dollar franchise acquisition has caught on to the MCU trick of releasing a constant stream of content, with the first of many shows releasing on the streaming service this year.

After the success Disney+ has had with The Mandalorian, I was excited to see how its first direct spin off The Book of Boba Fett turned out!

Story

Following on from the end credits scene of the Mandalorian season 2, Boba Fett has now taken over the palace and territory formerly belonging to Jabba the Hutt. Along with his right-hand woman, assassin Fennec Shand, Boba now seeks to form new alliances to secure the territory as his own, and fight off those that would wish to take it from him.

To say this is the story that the show follows throughout would be misleading, as in truth the show does a lot of deviation from the main storyline. For the first 3 episodes it spends a lot of time on flashbacks explaining how Boba Fett escaped the sarlacc pit and his time spent with the Tusken Raiders. Then once it gets to episode 5 the Mandalorian himself is brought in and we instead follow his continuing story and the show quickly becomes The Mandalorian season 2 point five. What’s more these deviating storyline actually ended up being more engaging than the main plot of the show which I found honestly quite boring.

The galaxy

As with any Star Wars content, the strength of this show lies with the universe in which it is set. Star Wars is such an expansive world at this point so many beloved characters and locations, that its always fun to see who or where will show up in a new project. They did a great job here utilising the deep bench of Star Wars mythology to bring in characters that are fan favourites for cameos or to even to enhance the story with bigger roles. There was a character brought in in the penultimate episode that I did not expect to see that made me very excited!

The downsides for me here were the use of locations and the new characters. Location wise, almost the entire show is set on Tatoinee. Now I would find setting a whole Star Wars show on one planet boring anyway, but this was made worse by it being the one planet we have spent the most time on in the films already. In terms of the new characters, I found they were just rather unmemorable in general, perhaps because none of them were really strongly utilised. Due to the story chopping and changing so much, most of them were forgotten about for large periods of time, or dropped entirely, in favour of characters we already know and love.

Boba Fett

The biggest problem I had with this show is the decisions it made around its main character. In the original Star Wars trilogy, Boba was a mysterious character with very little screentime but was alluded to as a ruthless and dangerous Bounty Hunter. Because of the lack of information about him, he quickly became a character that many latched onto with people having their own idea of who the character was. So, while I understand the decision, I don’t think it was wise of Disney to try and put more of a focus on and flesh out his character, as I think in this show he ended up not being what many of us had expected of him.

Far from being the menacing criminal we was billed as in the movies, here Fett has become a mild and pure hearted gentleman who wishes to lead with dignity and legality. I think they do an okay job of using the flashbacks to justify this change in attitude, so I’m not to mad at it but I can understand some fans being disappointed with the change. What irritated me about the character was how incompetent a leader he ended up being. He spent the season making bad decisions, and trusting people who we’re obviously not to be trusted, only to get double crossed. It just made me confused as to why he bothered trying to be this big crime boss if he had no idea how to do it. it didn’t inspire confidence or likability in his character.

The intention

Because of the lack of focus on one story and the abundance of characters being pulled in for very little screentime, I did find myself wondering why they wanted to make this show. There is a theory floating around that because season 3 of The Mandalorian had to be delayed, they quickly through this together so that they had something to put out in its place. Whether that’s true or not, the show does feel poorly put together and it does seem like they wanted to do a kind of prologue to the next season of The Mandalorian to keep people invested in the story. But this ultimately feels like they didn’t actually want to tell a Boba Fett centric story, and they couldn’t fully commit to it. The best episodes, in terms of entertainment and story are the ones that have nothing to do with Fett at all.

In the end I just find myself feeling the really sorry for Tamuera Morrison. This must have been a really big deal to him to bring this character back. So it seems almost insulting that he ended up getting basically written out of his own show as the series goes on, not appearing in one episode and having one scene with no dialogue in another.

The future

I don’t know whether they are going to, or if they should, make another series of this show. As I’ve mentioned it really felt more like Mandalorian sub chapter than a show in its own right, so the future of this show really lies in the continuation of that one. I would like to see Morrison get another shot at the show if the next series actually cares about his character, however based on this effort I think he would do better continuing to show up as a supporting playing in other Star Wars shows, and there’s a lot of them coming.

I’ve been quite scathing here but I do think, however disjointed this show is put together, it is worth a watch if you’re a fan of Star Wars and you want to follow the story. If you enjoy The Mandalorian you almost have to watch episodes 5-7 if you want to follow what going to happen next season, but don’t worry those are the best episodes. 5 & 6 in particular are some phenomenal Star Wars content!

It’s long until we get the Obi-Wan show (coming in May), and I’m just hoping they put the effort into focussing on the title character this time, and making sure his story is cohesive and above all entertaining.

Only Murders in the Building review: A fun new mystery show

I’ll be honest, I’m not the best at watching shows rather than movies, I often find them too time consuming and a lot of work to get through. But I had a feeling it was time I got into a new show besides the Marvel content that keeps being put out, but what of the many things on my list should I watch. Well, from the moment I heard about the cast and premise of the new show on Star (Disney+), Only Murders in the Building, I was intrigued. With the finale this week I sat down to watch all 10 episodes, and I was not disappointed.

Story

Only icons in this building!

The series follows Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez), a group of true crime lovers who live in the same apartment building. When someone in the building it is deemed a suicide, but the trio all believe it was murder and come together to investigate. They decide to document their investigation in a true crime podcast, like the ones they all enjoy. Along the way secrets are revealed about not just the buildings inhabitants, but about the trio themselves.

The mystery itself is very compelling and unravels at a good pace which makes it’s really fun to follow. All the clues are considered and do come back around by the end, so though I’m not a crime writing expert, I’d say it’s a good solid mystery. Is it the best part of the show? No, because to me it was all about the characters. Seeing them interact with the mystery and solve it together was what made the show so enjoyable for me. So let’s talk about them.

Characters

Steve Martin looking at his pay check for creating and starring in this show

Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) is the first character we get introduced to on the show. His character type is one that we’ve kind of seen before, he’s a retired actor who was famous for a show in the 90s but has now faded and lives a lonely curmudgeonly life. What makes the set up funny is that he is famous for playing a TV detective, so you can imagine that informs a lot of his investigative tendencies. Charles, as the straight man of the group becomes in many ways the heart of the show as he opens up to the group and builds bonds as the story unfolds. I particularly liked the fatherly relationship his begins to develop with Mabel, caring for her in a way that he doesn’t care for anyone at the beginning. And that also ties in to some of the back story he reveals later on.

Where Charles is the straight man, Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) is most definitely the comic relief. Oliver is a theatre director who has fallen on hard times after he created a show that phenomenally flopped. In his desperation for some income and another shot at stardom, he drives the plot by being the one to suggest the three team up to crate the podcast. It could be very easy to make a character who’s main motivation is money and fame unlikable, but Short plays the character with such a cheery and excitable attitude to everything he instead becomes kind of adorable. The way he practically bounces around the scenery as they solve the mystery and his flamboyant style just made him a character that I not only enjoyed but related to.

Gotta keep an eye out for Selener

Finally we come to my favourite of the trio, Mabel Mora. People like to unfairly rag on Selena Gomez a lot but think she did a really great job here particularly as she had the heavy lifting of not only being the only woman in the main trio but also being a lot younger than her co-stars. Mabel is the most mysterious of the three, I fact you know very little about her until you get a few episode in. This immediately makes her the most compelling character, and gives Gomez a lot of dramatic scenes to chew on. But her drama never hinders her ability to also be funny, she is able to use her differences to her cast mates to play off some fun lines and reactions. One running gag is that she is the only one who knows how to use technology properly and has to explain things as basic as texting.

Writing

As I’ve mentioned, the comedy is what made the show compelling to me, and that doesn’t just come from the characters but from the way it’s set up. I think the best way to describe the setup of this show is that it’s a parody of a murder mystery show that is also a good murder mystery show. So while the characters are silly and comical, you can still believe they exist and you’re never taken out of the story by them.

When you realise you’re underdressed for the funeral

My favourite thing about the writing of this show is how they use the podcast. Each episode of the show coincides with an episode of the groups podcast. Even the name of the podcast is the same as the show. This allows them to make lots of clever self referential jokes about the show itself, like referring to someone as a character in the story or even ending an episode saying it will be a good ending for the episode. Every time they did it made me chuckle, and also tip my hat because it’s difficult to pull off well.

Viewing

Remembering someone has to die to make a Season 2

The thing about this show is that it’s really easy watching. It never gets overly stressful or dramatic as other murder shows do. The episodes are also fairly short so you can get through them pretty quickly. Even thought it released weekly, I binged the whole season in 2 days. That’s not something I’m usually good at doing but I got so invested and I had so much fun. I don’t know whether I was robbed of something by not watching it week to week, but I enjoyed myself so I don’t feel it was needed.

The show starts setting up a season 2 as early as episode 1. That can be a risky move but luckily they have confirmed a second season is coming. I’m really excited to revisit these characters and I hope they can recapture the fun and magic of this first season. It also sets up another intriguing mystery that im sure will build off what was set up this time around.

 

If you’re looking for something fun to watch that won’t be to time or emotionally consuming, then I would definitely recommend this show. Come for the mystery stay for the characters and the laughs. All the episodes are up on Star on Disney + now!

Loki review: A Terrific Time-bending Trip

From one MCU review to another, yes after a year off from Marvel we’ve now had both Black Widow (2021) and the Loki finale in one week! But after not getting around to reviewing the last MCU Disney+ show I felt I should make an effort with this one. I loved WandaVison, and while I thought The Falcon and the Winter Soldier had important messages that were very well handled, I found the overall story and pacing a bit lacklustre. So how does Marvel Studios’ third time around stack up?

The story

It’s not easy being green

The story picks up directly after the scene in Avengers: Endgame (2019) where Loki from The Avengers (2012) takes the tesseract and escapes. Almost immediately after his escape however he is arrested by a mysterious organisation known as the Time Variance Authority (TVA) and labelled as a variant, as punishment for his going against the order of how events were meant to happen. There he is interrogated by TVA analyst Mobius M Mobius (Owen Wilson) and eventually recruited to help track down another evil variant who is attacking TVA soldiers across time.

Having a premise that involves time travel as a key feature allows this show to become something really unique within the MCU, as though we had time travel in endgame it was very rigidly set to events we’d already seen. With this show we can travel to both the past and future, and any to location that we have yet to visit as the TVA hop around to investigate disturbances. If I’m honest, we didn’t get to visit as many places and times as I expected we would, but what we got was enjoyable enough, and it sets the groundwork for more time hopping in the future.

The characters

I’ll be honest, and maybe upset some people, but I’ve never really been a huge fan of Loki. I like him and I think he’s a fun character, but he’s always had such an intense fanbase and I’ve never really got the hype. After this show, I wouldn’t say im his biggest fan yet but I do get what’s to like about him a lot more. He’s immensely charming, mostly due to Tom Hiddleston’s innate charm before he even starts acting, and yet as you dive deeper into his psyche you realize that he’s very broken and really is just crying out for love an acceptance. I think that’s relatable for a lot of people.

WOW!

My favourite characters in this particular show were actually the TVA employees. Owen Wilson’s Mobius was I think the perfect foil to Loki, who always needs to be the smartest person in the room. He knew how to use Loki’s narcissism to get information out of him but also to mould him into a better person, which put Mobius into this delicious grey area. This show was apparently based on a crime procedural, and in that I see Mobius as being both the good and bad cop simultaneously. And his relationship with Loki only grows closer as the season progresses and they bond over shared goals, honestly, I ship them.

I also loved Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Judge Ravonna Renslayer, the de facto villain of most of the season, at least from Loki’s perspective. As a high-ranking member of the TVA, (perhaps the highest ranking below the almighty time keepers, it’s never quite made clear) she is stern and forceful, as someone in power should be. Yet, like Mobius she has this element of charm to manipulate situations her way, however her motivations are unclear, but clearly dubious. She doesn’t get much to do this season, but they’ve set her up for something important down the line. As someone who’s been a fan of Mbatha-Raw for a while, I’m very excited to see where Ravonna goes next.

Clock my flair, I love this gal

Finally I do want to mention the animated mascot of the TVA, a talking clock named Miss Minutes (Tara Strong). Its really fun to see an animated character be a major role in the MCU, one of the ways this show isn’t afraid to experiment and try new things for the franchise. Much like the rest of the TVA her true intention is unclear, but that sinister feeling is completely juxtaposed (and somewhat amplified) with the cutesy cartoon character she is. I also like that she was a reference to classic animation, like a self-referential nod to the early days of Mickey Mouse, which as a Disney super fan makes me geek out.

The pacing

Always bring a knife to a sword fight

One problem the MCU Disney+ shows has faced thus far as they get there footing has been pacing. WandaVision I felt suffered from having episodes that were too short to allow for much progression of the story each week, whereas The Falcon and The Winter Soldier had long episodes but with whole weeks where barely anything happened in the story which made it oftentimes dull. It seems third times the charm because the pacing of this show and its story were near perfect for me. The only dud for me, as it took time out for a side quest and some exposition. I can forgive it though as every other episode really hit the nail on the head for moving the story and having engaging mixes of both action and character moments.

The name of the game with these shows, and any weekly shows in this competitive market, is having big reveals. Having exciting developments as well as cliff-hangers each week keeps people talking about the show and wanting to watch the next episode. Each week, and especially the last 3, had a major character, story or location to explore then or look forward to next time. I think this works both for people who want to binge later or those like me who enjoy the anticipation week to week. It’s important to hit both those audiences.

The future

I’m gaga for Gugu!

Like the other marvel Disney+ shows, this show takes place within the universe and continuity of the MCU. However, as this show takes place outside of the timeline with characters that don’t interact with the main story, I expected this show to become more of a side project, a story that could happen while everything else ticks on. So, I was surprised to realise by the end of the season, that this show has more of an impact than either of the previous shows on the MCU going forwards. It really sets the groundwork for where the whole story is going, and brings in a lot of possibilities for it that are very exciting.

As well as setting forward the future of the MCU, this is also the first Disney+ show to get a second season confirmed. I’m hoping to see more exploration of various time periods and alternate realities in season 2 as things get crazier and crazier within the TVA. I’m also interested to see how season 2 will fit into the wider story and how connected Loki’s story will be to the wider MCU, as they have stated that the shows aren’t essential viewing for anyone following the movies.

As much as I hate to admit it, as I have a deep love for WandaVision (it’s still my favourite), being objective, I do think this is the best of the Marvel shows so far, both with it’s scope and the way it was put together. I know a lot of Loki fans are just so happy to see him in the limelight, which is how I felt about Wanda.

Next month we get the next show, What If…, so we will see if Loki can hold on to this position as the best in my eyes. Whatever happens we can safely say that fans of this franchise are being fed, and as Loki would say, its glorious.

Jez recommends – Film Documentaries.

As you can tell from the fact that I have a blog about movies, I watch a lot of things. With the advent of streaming services, entertainment has become more accessible, meaning there is a lot more available to watch. For example, this week I’ve been expanding my mind and watch some documentaries.

So, in the spirit of sharing, I thought id try a new thing where I recommend some things that I think are worth watching and you may not have known were available.  Seeing as I talk about Movies and TV, I though id recommend some documentaries I have watched about film, television and entertainment from the two streaming services I can currently afford, Netflix and Disney+. I’ve picked 3 from each service.

Disclosure (Netflix)

Disclosure takes a look at the history of how trans people have been represented in entertainment from the birth of film until the modern day. You are taken through this history by trans celebrities and scholars who detail their experiences and how this media both informed and affected them and the world around them.

What I think is so important about this documentary is that it really highlights the importance of good representation in media and what it can do for a group, but more importantly the damage that irresponsible or intentionally negative representation can have on a group of people in the real world. It highlights the important of hiring trans people to have a say in telling these stories, rather than just assuming things about them however good your intentions. If you think about it that’s also a lesson, we can apply to all minority groups, to be authentic to their real lives to present an accurate picture of who they are.

I also found it interesting that it highlighted that not everyone interacts with media in the same way. There were many times that one individual said they identified with a character or story in the same beat that another interviewee found it problematic. It shows the importance of having a wide array of trans voices in this space, not just one or two token hires.

I think everyone should give this a watch to not only understand why there is a need for trans representation on screen, but also why it needs to be good.

Waking Sleeping Beauty (Disney+)

When it comes to Disney+, Disney of course has a lot of documentaries about themselves. They have a long history and a lot of stories to tell. Waking Sleeping Beauty details the turbulent years at Disney Animation between 1984-94, when animation was very nearly shut down. If details the creative individuals and the events that breathed new life into the artform and lead to the Disney renaissance of the 90’s, as well as all the drama that was going on all the while.

Living in the era of Frozen, Moana and Pixar, it’s hard to imagine a world where Disney animation was not popular or lucrative but that’s where they were. It’s a really interesting part of Disney’s history to know about, where things were just not being run properly and creative ideas were being steamrolled. It’s also refreshing to see Disney (a company that traditionally has a rigid control of its image) be so open about its turbulent history and how things are not always going well within their ranks, even when things on the outside are on such a high note.

The standout part for me was the way that the late Howard Ashman (along with Alan Menken) was able to shape and enhance these movies with the visons for his music and songs. You can really see what he meant to the studio in the short time that he was there and how deeply his tragic death affected them. There’s another documentary on Disney+ specifically about him called Howard that you could also check out.

Dolly Parton: Here I Am (Netflix)

This is perhaps a slight pivot away from explicitly talking about movies, however, remember that Dolly has had a strong film and TV career too. This Documentary takes you through Dolly Parton’s long and varied career, using her iconic songs to focus on specific moments in her life and aspects of her personality.

I love Dolly, in fact can’t think of anyone I’ve ever encountered that didn’t at least have a passing appreciation for her, which is a testament to how well she connects with people. As well as just being a portrait of Dolly as a person it really acts as a representation of how a woman could, and can, navigate themselves through a career in the entertainment business. She was able to learn from those around her, adapt to new trends and career moves, yet manage to stay true to her own beliefs and not let herself get walked over by those who would view themselves as above her.

In terms of movies, there is of course a whole section on her famous song 9 to 5 and the movie that inspired it. If you haven’t seen 9 to 5  before, it’s available on Star on Disney+ and it’s well worth a watch. In this doc they detail how the film came to be and why Jane Fonda wanted Dolly to be in it, despite never being in a movie before. On top of learning about the making of the film, and how Dolly wrote the theme song, you also get interviews with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, who are icons in their own right.

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (Disney+)

Tuesday was May 4^th, AKA Star Wars day, so I wanted that evenings documentary to fit the theme of the day, hence this pick. It’s certainly the longest doc on this list at 2 ½ hours, and its fairly old, being made in the early 2000s, however the story it tells is s moment in time that is worth knowing about.

The documentary follows the journey George Lucas too to crate the first three Star Wars movies, where the ideas came from, the struggle he took to get studios to believe in them and the difficulty creating something that had never been done before. I think it’s amazing to see how a franchise we all take so much for granted now came into existence and the passion that so many people had to push it through, despite everything that was against them. It puts the original trilogy even more up on a pedestal for me, for how groundbreaking it was, not just for sci-fi and fantasy, but for cinema in general.

An interesting takeaway I got was the struggle Carrie Fisher faced with her weight. How she was told that she needed to be less chubby to play Leia and how that affected her throughout all 3 movies and beyond. The interviews with her on this subject had that typical cynicism and wit she innately had and it made me empathise with her and further miss the spark that she brought to the world.

Road to Roma (Netflix)

I love Roma, it’s a beautiful and cerebral film and I find it so comforting even in its darker moments. So, I wanted to take some time to learn about how the movie itself was made and what inspired it. If you haven’t seen the Roma you might not be that into this so I definitely would recommend checking it out on Netflix first. Both the films are in Spanish so if you’re not into subtitles I apologize, but I believe it’s very accessible.

I knew the movie was inspired by director Alfonso Cuarón’s childhood, but I didn’t realize until watching this documentary just how personal he made it. For example, about 80% of the furniture in the main house in which it’s set was actual furniture acquired from Cuarón’s family. Not only is this movie an in-depth conversation with a director about his process but there’s also a lot of information about Mexico in the 70s and it’s political landscape.

I was interested to learn that when he cast Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo he used the fact that she could speak both Spanish and Mixtec. Having her switch from Spanish to a language the family she works for do not understand was a way for him to highlight the racial divide affecting the indigenous people of Mexico. As someone who does not speak either language, this bilingual aspect of the film is something I missed when I watched the film, so this, along with other revelations from the documentary served to deepen my understanding of the film.

The Pixar Story/ Inside Pixar (Disney+)

The reason I included both of these together is that I feel together they tell a more complete story of Pixar Animation Studios. The Pixar story takes you from the studios very beginnings up to 2005 when they released cars. Even if you have some knowledge of Pixar, it’s amazing to see just how much of a risk this company was to build and how it so very nearly never came together at multiple stages. It makes you appreciate where this massive company came from and what pushed it to the heights it reached. But at the same time, the documentary is quite old, so it represents a Pixar that is very different from the one that exists today. A lot of the people featured are no longer working there and some are dead, which is why I would also recommend Inside Pixar.

Inside Pixar is a documentary series of short 15 min episodes that takes you through Pixar as it is today spotlighting different people who work their and what they do, from writers, to production assistants to even the pastry chef and the employee café. It really paints a picture of what goes into running such a big studio now, and how diverse the group of people that work there have become, as well as what that diversity brings to the screen. My particular favourite episodes were kemp powers talking about how he used his experience as a black man to write a scene in Soul, and Jessica Heidt discussing a tool she created to evaluate how balanced their scripts are in terms of distributing lines between male and female characters. Also the one about Marylou the pastry chef made me super hungry. The episodes are really short and bite size so you can easily watch them on a break or before bed.

I hope you feel inspired to check at least some of these documentaries out, if not all of them. When I feel able to subscribe to more services, I may return share what the likes of Amazon have to offer. But until then I hope you enjoy my recommendations and learn something new.

WandaVision review: I don’t think you understand, I’m obsessed!

This year, Disney+ finally started airing their original Marvel content, something fans have been desperately waiting for since the service began. The first MCU original Disney+ show, WandaVision began airing in January, and if you haven’t been hearing people talk about it everywhere, I don’t know where you’ve been.

For the past 8 weeks I have been absolutely obsessed with this show, loosing sleep from excitement and waking up early to watch it before work. I have been so excited to talk about it, but wanted to wait until I had seen the whole thing to get my opinions down. So, now that the finale has aired and I’ve had time to digest it, it’s time for my review.

I’ve tried to be as spoiler free as possible in case people haven’t seen it yet, but it’s difficult with a show like this. So if you want to watch it completely blind, id suggest coming back here when you’ve finished

Plot

They are an unusual couple

So the plot of this show was an unusual one for those familiar with the MCU movies and for those who are not. Wanda Maximoff and Vision, two avengers, are now inside a sitcom, having hilarious wholesome family hijinks as the genre demands. But everything is clearly not what it seems, and things slowly start to unravel over the course of the season. Elsewhere, S.W.O.R.D Agent Monica Rambeau (the little girl from Captain Marvel  now all grown up) is called to investigate a missing persons case in a small new Jersey town.

The sitcom genre is so outside of what we all have come to expect from the MCU, that this show solidified itself straight away as something different for the franchise. As the first television series from Marvel Studios (although it was supposed to be the second) and the first instalment in Phase 4, it is giving us this idea that Marvel is going to start  being a little bit more experimental going forward, at least when it comes to their Disney+ shows, of which there are many still to come.

Characters

Stop hurting my baby, Marvel

While the show is called WandaVision, it really is all about Wanda, serving somewhat as a belated origin story for her as The Scarlet Witch. I for one couldn’t be happier in that fact. Wanda has always been my favourite avenger, since her introduction, but until now, she has been somewhat of a side character, now she’s taking charge in her own story. People are saying that Elizabeth Olsen deserves an Emmy (at least a nomination) for her role here and I totally agree. She manages to portray Wanda through so many lenses and so many emotions skilfully. From the comical 50s sitcom housewife to the crushing grief you know she’s eventually going to have to face based on hoe she left Avengers: Endgame.

Paul Bettany also does a stellar job as Vision, but particularly in the comedic side of things. I never realised Bettany had such an affinity for comedy, and to see a stoic and thoughtful character like Vision embodying it made it all the more delightful.

Name a more iconic trio, I’ll wait…

All the side characters were also excellent, particularly nosy neighbour Agnes, played by Katherine Hanh, who just deserves so much more credit for how hilarious and brilliant she is. She was the best guest character in Parks & Recreation after all. I also loved the trio of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Paris), Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) & Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), all side characters that never got much to do in their original movies, proving that they bring something to the table and contribute significantly to the overall world of the MCU. Its also fun to note that Park & Dennings got their starts on sitcoms, Fresh of the Boat and 2 Broke Girls, a fun nod to the Sitcom aspect of the series.

Sitcoms

Speaking of sitcoms, its impossible to talk about the show without mentioning how deeply it dove into the world of the American sitcom. Each week it took the form of a sitcom from a different time period, each being inspired by a real life show from that era. For example, the 70s episode was inspired by The Brady Bunch and the 50s by The Dick Van Dyke Show. Now this is obviously something that you can either love or feel ambivalent to depending on how much love you have for classic sitcoms. I personally really enjoyed the 60s Bewitched inspired episode as that’s a show I personally love.

I could see a lot of people towards the beginning of the season not gelling with the idea as it was so different from what the MCU usually is, which made me nervous. But as more of the Marvel style elements came in around episode 4, I think most people got on board with the show. What I think everyone should appreciate though, is the care and detail that went into recreating the look and feel of these old sitcoms. It really deserves some awards recognition from a production design perspective when the time comes. They didn’t have to put this much effort in but you can tell how much love they had for these shows, which just made them all the more entertaining to watch.

Every Avenger should get an animated title sequence

Also every episode had its own unique era inspired theme song, written by Frozen (2013) songwriters Robert & Kristin-Anderson Lopez.  Just had to give a shout out to them for doing such a good job on every single song, evoking the feel of the original song, yet having a familiar arrangement throughout and of course being incredibly catchy. There’s a reason they’ve won Oscars, Grammys and Tonys together.

Format/Pacing

While Netflix set the standard for streaming shows to be released entirely on one day, allowing people to binge view, Disney+ and Amazon have defied this convention and chosen to release their shows weekly. This worked with shows like The Mandalorian and The Boys, and continues to be a strong play with this show. Ending each episode with a strong cliff-hanger or reveal, sets up anticipation for the next one, and a whole week to discuss and dissect. This kind of pattern continues week to week, allowing the conversation to continue, building momentum for the show.

The real villain of this show

The one draw back of pacing like this, for this show in particular, is that the episodes were very short. Each was around half and hour, meaning you get little nuggets of information each episode and not a whole lot of time to flesh everything out. This leads to the second point. Because of all those weeks spent agonising over details and creating theories, meant that when a lot of the things people thought were going to happen didn’t happen by the finale, I can see a lot of people feeling unsatisfied with the show as a whole.

Taking a step back from it though and looking at the show as it was, not what people wanted it to be, I don’t think everything that was set up was nicely rounded off. It told the story it wanted to tell very effectively, and I think repeat viewing will make more people appreciate that in the long run.

The Future

Ok now I need to talk with some major spoilers for the finale, so stop reading now if you haven’t seen it.

Like every MCU release, the show ends by setting up what’s coming next in the franchise. It seems Monica is going to be heading into space with Nick Fury and the Skrulls. We already know she’s going to be playing a part in Captain Marvel 2, but does this mean she will also be showing up in the Secret Invasion show, staring Fury (Samuel L Jackson) and Skrull leader Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). Now that she has powers, it will add some much-needed super heroics to that line up.

Me entering my depressive phase until I can see Wanda again

More importantly, Wanda is now finally fully powered up as the Scarlet Witch and we know she will be showing up in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. You can hear the WandaVision theme transition into the Doctor Strange theme at the end of the final end-credits scene as a nod to that. But as Spider-Man No Way Home is rumoured to be part of the multiverse, does that mean she’ll be showing up there too? I sure hope so. Did I mention I love her?

In the real world, this shows nature has, as I said, set a president for Marvel to be more experimental with their future projects. The next Marvel show we’re getting is Falcon and the Winter Soldier in just 2 weeks. That show looks a lot more typical Marvel based on the trailers we’ve had, and as it was supposed to be the first Disney+ show, I wonder if that was the intention, so as to start off in familiar territory. It will be interesting to see what the reaction is to something more familiar, will it pale in comparison or will find it more accessible.

I’m also interested to see how integrated these shows will become with the movies. In the past TV projects were ignored by the movies, but now they are made by the same studio, and star the same characters. Will the shows stories flow directly into the films, or will the films be separated in a way that doesn’t make those who haven’t seen the shows feel like they are missing something. I think Wanda will be the key to the answer when she shows up in Doctor Strange.

I don’t know what I’m going to do next Friday without another episode of this show to obsess over, perhaps I will just get some sleep instead.

If you are a marvel fan and you haven’t seen this show then you should definitely watch it. if you’re not, you might be entertained by all the sitcom aspects and the action, but I’d recommend watching some of Wanda’s previous movie appearances first. You’re already going to be on Disney+ so why not?