BLERD AT THE MOVIES
You're better off reading Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's biographical tome, "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," instead.
Cillian Murphy dons the signature cigarette and rumpled hat to transform himself into J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Father of the Atomic Bomb, for writer-director Christopher Nolan's latest epic, Oppenheimer. (Universal Pictures/Syncopy | 2023)
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The following review was written during the simultaneous Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes of 2023. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently striking, the media I cover here wouldn't exist. I fully support both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA in their fight for fair financial compensation, better working conditions, and a sustainable, safeguarded future as laborers working in a system that continually denies them such.
Although a consumer boycott has not yet been called for (in fact, striking union members have advised against such actions), this blog will begin to cease coverage of new films and TV shows released from the studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) out of respect for the striking writers, actors, and artists. Under the current guidelines from SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, influencers and content creators have been advised to not promote struck content unless it is out of contractual obligation, but independent reviews and media analysis/criticism are not considered promotion under said guidelines. As such, any praise given to the work I cover here should be purely seen as praise for the artists responsible for creating it. Said praise serves as a reminder that the artists who created said work deserve to be compensated and treated fairly because they are who make these works possible, not the CEOs and executives who continue to belittle and demean their demands as "unrealistic" and exploit their work without consequence. If you are able to, please consider donating to the Entertainment Community Fund; it supports the people making the film and TV shows that you love and can help actors apply for grants to help keep their bills paid.
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It's a shame a movie as unabashedly goofy, campy, and pink as this one has to also double as a vehicle for empty, white feminist platitudes.
Margot Robbie is not just a Barbie girl living in a Barbie world. She is Barbie in writer-director Greta Gerwig's big-budget adaptation of the iconic Mattel doll. (Warner Bros.-Discovery/Mattel | 2023)
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The following review was written during the simultaneous Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes of 2023. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently striking, the media I cover on all of my platforms wouldn't exist. I fully support both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA in their fight for fair financial compensation, better working conditions, and a sustainable, safeguarded future as laborers working in a system that continually denies them such.
As of August 9th, a full boycott has not been called for (in fact, striking union members have advised against such actions). However, this blog will begin to cease coverage of new films and TV shows released from the studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) out of respect for the striking industry workers. Under the current guidelines released by both SAG-AFTRA and WGA, influencers and content creators have been advised to not promote of struck content unless it is under contractual obligation, but, as far as I can tell, independent reviews and media analyses are not considered promotional content. As such, any praise given to the film I'm covering here should be purely seen as praise for the artists, writers, and actors responsible for creating it. The praise given serves as a reminder that the creatives involved in the making of this work deserve to be compensated and treated fairly because they are who make these works possible, not the CEOs and executives who continue to belittle and demean their demands as "unrealistic" and exploit their work without consequence. If you are able to, please consider donating to the Entertainment Community Fund; it supports the people making the film and TV shows that you love and it can help actors apply for grants to help keep their bills paid. Oh, and this review is spoiler-free. A general description of the plot will be provided, but no major character beats, plot points, and thematic elements will be mentioned. Thank you again for reading. Curiosity got the best of me, I'm afraid. Ezra Miller reprises their role as Barry Allen/The Flash, playing both the present and past versions of the iconic DC superhero, in this year's The Flash -- and, this time, they're joined by newcomer Sasha Calle, the second actress to bring Supergirl/Kara Zor-El to the big screen. (Warner Bros.-Discovery Pictures/DC Studios | 2023) AUTHOR'S NOTEThis post was written, edited, and published during the 2023 Writers' Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Strikes. Without the hard work of the writers and actors currently on strike, the works we all consume and, in the case of myself and various independent content creators/ influencers, covered on all of our platforms -- from social media to blog pages like this one -- would not exist. Although this blog is a one-human show and the reach I may (or may not) have on all my digital platforms, from this site to my Instagram page, is practically non-existent, I want to explicitly state my full support for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA in their fight for fair compensation, improved working conditions, and a safeguarded future against a system that continually exploits their labor and denies them the treatment they deserve.
While a full boycott has not been called by either union, SAG-AFTRA has requested that everyone who creates content about film and TV refrain from promoting struck content during this time. Out of respect for the union and solidarity with the industry workers on the picket line, I will begin ceasing coverage of new movies and TV shows on all my platforms, including this site. There are a few more pieces regarding media distributed from the studios in question that will be published, but it will take some time so please bear with me. I hope you respect and support this decision. As always, thank you for reading.
Just because you leave Woodsboro doesn't mean Ghostface will leave you alone...
Welcome to Blerd at the Movies, where I share what movies I've been watching in theaters (when it's safe to do so) or at home while socially distancing during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In today's edition: Ghostface returns for another a game of hack-and-slash -- this time with the four survivors of 2022's revival/sequel. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (two-thirds of the filmmaking collective Radio Silence) bring the bloody action down to New York City, bringing together familiar faces and new suspects/victims to face down the franchise's goriest and vengeful Ghostface to date. Read on to find out if Scream VI is a Broadway baby or a big-time flop. (Oh, and just so you know: there's no spoilers for Scream VI here... but there are some spoilers for Scream (2022), so I suggest you watch both before reading this one. Don't say I didn't warn you.) REVISITED #1: "Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange" Brought Magic and the Multiverse to the MCU First5/7/2022 Marvel's current interest in the multiverse was five years in the making, thanks to director Scott Derrickson's take on the Sorcerer Supreme. Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Stephen Strange in Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Marvel Studios | 2016) Welcome to REVISITED, where I return to movies I either haven't seen in awhile or forgot that I even watched. (Pretty much what's advertised on the tin, you know?) In the inaugural edition, I look back at 2016's Doctor Strange, just in time for this month's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Here, I discuss Stephen Strange's character arc, the movie's treatment of life and death, how I'm feeling going into Multiverse of Madness, and more. AUTHOR'S NOTE The following post contains spoilers for Doctor Strange.
Although I imagine most of you have seen this movie once or five times before, I don't wanna be a jerk and not warn you about the spoilers, especially if you haven't seen the movie beforehand. So, if you haven't seen it, I recommend bookmarking this post, watching the movie, and coming back once you're done. Finally, a Batman movie that remembers Batman is a detective! Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle and Robert Pattinson as Batman in The Batman (Warner Bros. Pictures & DC Entertainment | 2022) Welcome back to (At Home With) Blerd at the Movies, where I share what movies I've been watching at home (or at the theater but only if it's safe to do so) while socially distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today's edition: After a massively successful trilogy helmed by Christopher Nolan and a detour into Synderland, the Dark Knight makes his triumphant return in The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson (yes, that Robert Pattinson) in what might be one of the most thematically and narratively compelling contemporary imaginings of the Caped Crusader I've seen in a long time. (At Home With) BLERD AT THE MOVIES #7: "Eternals" is to Marvel What "The Last Jedi" Was to Star Wars12/31/2021 Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chloe Zhao has crafted what might be Marvel's most ambitious -- and frustrating -- film to date. (from L to R) Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Gemma Chan as Sersi, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, and Barry Keoghan as Druig in Marvel Studios's Eternals (Courtesy of Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | 2021) Welcome back to (At Home With) Blerd at the Movies, where I share what movies I've been watching while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 is quickly approaching, so for the last edition I am taking a trip down to Divisive City to discuss what might be Marvel Studios' most ambitious feature to date: Eternals.
Fresh off her Oscar win for Nomadland, writer-director Chloe Zhao makes the jump from small, contemplative indies to a massive cosmic epic that attempts to challenge what the superhero film genre is capable with the help of Jack Kirby's most cerebral comic creations, the Eternals. The end result isn't as bad as others made it out to be upon release, but it definitely is a fascinating -- and frustrating -- sight to behold. Boasting dazzling special effects, impressive action, and a powerful performance from Simu Liu, the MCU's newest Avenger makes a great first impression. Simu Liu as Shang-Chi in Marvel Studios' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Courtesy of Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | 2021) Welcome back to (At Home With) Blerd at the Movies, where I share what movies I've been watching while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Once again, I ventured to the local theater once more to see yet another highly anticipated Marvel film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Believe it or not, this is the 24th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and director Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy) managed to do the impossible with his first foray into franchise filmmaking: prove there's still magic, mystery, and joy to be had as the MCU continues to expand. Damn... James Gunn really woke up and chose chaos with this movie. The Suicide Squad DC Fandome Promotional Artwork (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2020) Welcome back to (At Home With) Blerd at the Movies, where I share what movies I've been watching at home while socially distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Except for this one time.
That's right; I went to the theater (mask on, two travel-sized bottles of hand sanitizer packed in my bag) to go see The Suicide Squad, the latest comic book blockbuster from James Gunn (Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy franchise). Although I saw the film in IMAX (which I recommend but only if you're comfortable returning to the theater), I watched it again at home because I want to get the most out of my HBO Max subscription. Honestly, I'd rather watch a series about Black Widow wiping out the red in her ledger over the one where Loki meets nine hundred of his alt-universe selves. Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in Marvel Studios' The Avengers (Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Marvel Studios, 2012) Hiya; long time no see!
Welcome back to (At Home With) Blerd at the Movies. Although movie theaters are reopened and gearing up for the summer movie season, I'm not ready to head back to the theater just yet. Until then, I'll be watching movies mostly at home. In case you don't know (and now you do!), this is where I share what movies I've been watching while socially distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's edition: After a few pandemic-related delays, Black Widow has finally arrived in theaters (and on Disney Plus, for the folks who don't feel comfortable returning to the theater yet). It took years to finally get Natasha her own standalone film, but it's finally happened. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally declassified its dossier on one of its most enigmatic characters-- several years too late. |
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