Three movies with A Ghost Story, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, and Dunkirk. Andy kind of hated A Ghost Story. Rooney Mara eats a pie. Casey Affleck wears a sheet. It’s a boring, pretentious mess. Valerian is visually amazing but has some problems. Dunkirk is amazing, but Andy has some problems with it.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
One holiday movie, one Oscarbait ths week. Office Christmas Party throws a bunch of jokes and funny people together and hopes it works. It mostly does, and its saving grace is Kate McKinnon, but the plot sometimes gets in the way of the funny. Manchester by the Sea is going to make you depressed and wow you with amazing acting skills of Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams. Get that Oscar!
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
We’ll get you a Rogue One episode as soon as the embargo lifts! Special Edition later this week!
Gods of Egypt, Eddie the Eagle, and Triple 9. We’re joined again by Brooks Bird of The Cinenerd’s REEL Voice and Brooke Heym.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Gods of Egypt is horrible and worthy of all the scorn heaped on it. Racist, sexist, incomprehensible, and boring. No. Just no. Andy gives it 1/10 and Brooks is afraid of what movie is worse than this: 0/10.
Eddie the Eagle is just fun. Jackman and Edgerton are just fun to watch. Somewhat predictable sports hero story, (and so 80’s!) but they sell it so well. Andy gives it 7.5, Adam and Brooks are both at 8/10.
Triple 9 is a little confusing plotwise, but so intense it’s worth it. Great acting, especially by Anthony Mackie and Casey Affleck. Andy and Brooks both give it 8.5/10
Kung Fu Panda 3, The Finest Hours, and from Sundance: Project Avalanche, Werner Herzog’s Lo and Behold: Reveries on the Connected World, and Newtown.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Kung Fu Panda 3 – not as good as the first two, but still very good. Bryan Cranston and JK Simmons steal the movie. Kung Fu movie tropes and the zen existential question “Who am I?” Gorgeous animation. A longer review here, but Andy gives it 7 out of 10
The Finest Hours – the true story of the heroic rescue of the SS Pendleton, so spoiler alert that the rescue is successful? It’s Disney, so the sailors don’t swear. Chris Pine is great as the Coast Guard captain, but even better is Casey Affleck as the ship’s engineer trying to keep the ship afloat and crew alive long enough to be rescued. And then it all screeches to a cheesy halt in the last 10 minutes. Fuller review here, Andy gives it 7 out of 10.
And we have a trio of films from Sundance:
Lo and Behold: Reveries on the Connected World – Werner Herzog’s 10-part documentary on the history of the internet, and where we’re going. Good, but lacks a through line. Werner Herzog impressions.
Newtown – the effects of the Sandy Hook shooting. Incredibly emotional what these families are going through, including the families of survivors dealing with the guilt as their friends and neighbors go through the pain. 9/10
Project Avalanche – foudn footage movie about faking the moon landing, featuring Stanley Kubrick via cleverly edited on-set interviews during 2001.
The Sundance acquistions, where they’re going, the Birth of a Nation record-breaking deal, more on #OscarsSoWhite and the SAG awards– how streaming is giving black actors more opportunity.
