Author Archives: Kip

TV Recap: Feb. 26-Mar. 4, 2023

CURRENT SHOWSParty Down – “Kyle Bradway Is Nitromancer” (A) / season premiereComedy reboots don’t have the strongest track record as of late. But this premiere is an encouraging sign, with the show’s trademark blend of cringe and empathy in fine … Continue reading

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Streaming Picks: March 2023

FILMS Top Picks Triangle of Sadness – Hulu 3/3 All the Beauty and the Bloodshed – HBO Max 3/19 These two Oscar nominees won’t have any chance in their respective categories despite critical acclaim, but they’re two of the most … Continue reading

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TV Recap: Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2022

NEW SHOWS & SPECIALSNate Bargatze: Hello World (B+)As delightful (and clean) as ever. He’s just out to tell funny stories, and that’s enough. BINGEINGMad Men – Season 6 (A- average)This season occasionally felt as distracted as Don, but it snapped … Continue reading

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Streaming Picks: February 2023

FILMSTop PickCinema Paradiso – Paramount+ 2/1Anyone who loves movies simply must see Giuseppe Tornatore’s magnificent ode to post-WWII Italy and the movies that served as the background for the protagonist’s life. If you’re not a weepy mess by the end, … Continue reading

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Reactions to the 2023 Oscar Nominations

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their nominations for the 95th Oscars on Tuesday. There wasn’t a whole lot to get too mad about. Seven of the 10 Best Picture nominees made my own top 10 list, … Continue reading

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TV Recap: Jan. 15-21, 2022

NEW SHOWSThe Last of Us – “When You’re Lost in the Darkness” (A) / series premiereAs a non-gamer, I didn’t know what to expect. Though as a fan of Chernobyl, my expectations were pretty high. This 90-minute pilot is about … Continue reading

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Final Oscar Picks 2023

BEST PICTUREAll Quiet on the Western FrontAvatar: The Way of WaterBabylonThe Banshees of InisherinElvisEverything Everywhere All at OnceThe FabelmansTÁRTop Gun: MaverickWomen Talking Dark Horse: Triangle of SadnessLong Shot: The WhaleTotal Shock: RRR The skinny: It’s a little funny to me … Continue reading

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The Best Film Performances of 2022

Ensemble in a DramaWomen TalkingTrying to single out a performance here is a fool’s errand, because what makes the movie so powerful is each individual’s grief, frustration and determination revealing themselves throughout. Another clear example of why the Oscars need … Continue reading

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The Best and Worst Movies of 2022

10. Avatar: The Way of Water (dir. James Cameron) and Nope (dir. Jordan Peele)Is this cheating? Maybe. But in a cinema landscape dominated by disposable blockbusters, Cameron and Peele delivered big-budget films made to last. Both are films about family, … Continue reading

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The Best TV Performances of 2022

Ensemble in a Comedy Series Abbott ElementaryMany comedies take a while to find their footing and figure out the balance of their ensembles. Not Abbott. It joins a rare club – whose members include Arrested Development and Brooklyn Nine-Nine – … Continue reading

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