The 10 Best & Worst TV Shows of the 2018-2019 Season

Best 

1. Counterpart - You Guys!!! I am so upset that this show got cancelled, but even more upset that no-one watched it. First, J.K. Simmons is fucking fantastic as two separate versions of the same character (it's a sci-fi series about parallel worlds - I guess I should have led with that...). It's such an interesting character, and fascinating to theorize about what makes up ones "self". What events led to someone "being" the way that they are? The parallel world story has been done plenty of times, but never like this. It was so original, and intense, and the acting was phenomenal. You all missed out.

2. Killing Eve - Season 1 was the best show on television last year. Season 2 has been more of the same - and almost better in some ways (which seemed so impossible). Jodie Comer is my favorite person in the world right now. The little grins she gives, and the loneliness that she exudes in these really subtle ways is just absolutely brilliant. The relationship between Villanelle and Eve is really unexpected and beautiful (a little reminiscent of Luther, but still beautiful).

3. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - This show is consistently among the best sitcoms ever year for the past 11 years! However, they just blew up the entire sitcom genre with their game-changing season finale. Most described the finale as "jaw-dropping", which is completely accurate. I saw a lot of people talking about it after it aired, and I assumed that they did something non-PC, which is kinda what they are known for. I was so shocked with what they actually did - something extraordinary beautiful- a STUNNING dance performance that represents the internal struggle of Mac's religious beliefs and his sexuality. It will go down in history as one of the best moments in television - and it deserves all of the Emmys.

4. Shameless - The rise and fall of Fiona is the soul of this show, while the heart of the show is Lip's constant strive to do what is right. This past season, with Fiona's heartbreaking "rock bottom" and Lip's quest to take in an abandoned child really just struck all the right cords with me. This is the only show that I watch with a lump in my throat because it always hits me so hard. Ugh, then they had to end Ian's story in *just* the right way (although, I heard Ian is coming back??!). This just might be my favorite season yet (and to be clear it still doesn't hold a candle to the first season the UK version - which is among my favorite seasons of television ever).

5. Better Things - I've written about this show many times, and nothing has changed. Still one of the best comedies on television. Pamela Adlon deserves all of the Emmys. I love her approach to motherhood and friendship. This season feels really confident and natural, and it continues with these really small moments that feel genuine and subtle. It's funny, but not really in a laugh-out-loud way.

6. Dirty John - For a trashy Lifetime series, I really enjoyed this. I liked the way they framed the story - in a more non-linear way. I bought the book that it's based on (which is based on a podcast, which is based on a real-life "Dirty John". I will never get into podcasts...just not going to happen. I have a hard time listening to people talk. I tend to get headaches. I'm more of a visual person.). I think Connie Britton does a great job of being naive, but not stupid - she truly wants to see the best in people, but unfortunately, there are very bad people in the world that take advantage of that. I have to admit, though, her daughters are played by two of my least favorite young actresses (Juno Temple and Julia Garner - and they are both truly terrible in this). It's odd that the series was picked up for season 2, because this had a very clear ending.

7. The Romanoffs - I'm really only adding this because of a single episode - episode 7 titled "End of the Line". It's top-five episode of the year material. Overall, the series is good, not great. I like that they are all stand-alone stories with one, sometimes very minor, connection. But, man, this episode really hit me hard and I'm not exactly sure why. I don't have any personal connection to the story line, but I was so emotionally invested while watching this. It turns into one of these debates in which you can understand both sides, even though both sides are heartbreaking. Also, this is a really striking turn for the usually very funny Kathryn Hahn.

8. A Million Reasons Why - Okay, it's not like Emmy-worthy or anything, but as a sappy Drama, it has me hooked. They've done a really good job of making the audience fall in love with the characters. I have mixed feelings about the finale, as I understand that utilizing a certain event might be sensitive for some people, but I also think it's a big part of *recent* American history, and the effects have trickled down for the past 18 years. It's a part of our story. We can't keep side-stepping it.

9. The Man in the High Castle - I recently caught up with this series, and the most recent season has really hit its stride. I think it took a little too long to get here, but now that it's here...it's really fascinating. I'm glad that they are ending it after season 4, because otherwise they would have dragged it out even more. The cast is great - I mean, Rufus Sewell as a Nazi?! You would think it wouldn't work, but it does. Alexa Davalos (who I'm in love with) and relative newcomer, Luke Kleintank make a great team, and DJ Qualls is added for mostly comedic effect. It's a fun series about history and time-travel with a little romance and drama added in. (and no, I haven't read the book, but it's on my growing list!).

10. The Good Place - Just a ball of joy. I really hesitated watching this, because I'm not the biggest fan of Kristen Bell (I'm not not a fan, but I tried watching Veronica Mars once, and I wanted to die - the acting is painful). She's great in this, though. As is the rest of the cast. I would say that this is probably my favorite ensemble on tv right now. I can't decide who my favorite is, but most likely Jason Mendoza. Although D'Arcy Carden absolutely killed it in the episode titled "Janet(s)". And Chidi is hilarious in a more subtle way. Ugh, they're all just so good.

*Bonus* 11. Schitt's Creek - While this most recent season was not my favorite, the series as a whole is just wonderful so I'm adding it to list to encourage everyone to watch it. Dan Levy deserves some awards.

Worst 

1. Manifest - Apparently this series has been renewed for season 2, which blows my mind because that means it still has an audience. I just couldn't handle it anymore - I think I made it through 10 episodes and this was only because of the main star. She is memorizing, but the rest of the cast is dull. The story just kept getting more and more ridiculous. It was unbearable.

2. Iron Fist and Luke Cage - I know people are getting upset at Netflix cancelling all of their shows (to make way for new ones!), but this was definitely needed. Both of these shows were so absolutely boring. I would put on an episode, and then fight myself from falling asleep within 20 minutes. I felt like I had to watch it in case there were connections to the other Defenders shows (btw, I'm about 1/2 way through Daredevil S3 and if it doesn't start to pick up, I would definitely include it in the worst shows - what the Hell did they do to Fisk? He used to be such a fascinating villain!). I think these shows started off poorly just because of the terrible casting. And some really terrible acting (what the fuck was with Alice Eve's split personality character? The acting made my brain hurt).

3. The Walking Dead - Oh man, I can't believe I still watch this crap. But, I've already invested so much time. I feel like I have to follow through. I did love the addition of Samantha Morton because she is a fantastic under-rated actress. I like her character, not as strong of a villain as Negan, but I doubt anyone will be. I was really happy that they finally killed off the main (weak!) characters. But, the whole let's live in peace crap is really boring. Like they wouldn't just kill Negan?! How fucking dumb. Also they skipped forward so the kids are teenagers, and we are supposed to care about them. I think.

4. The CW DC Shows - I'm so glad that Arrow is ending next year because it's so bad now. I can't even keep up with the side characters - Black Siren should have stayed dead, but then she keeps fucking coming back and we're supposed to care if she's good or evil or both or neither. I don't give a fuck. Then The Flash doesn't make any bit of sense with the whole daughter story-line. So dull. But the worst offense is Supergirl because I really enjoyed it, until now. For some reason these shows seem to have such strong beginning seasons, but drag out to chores to sit through. I'm not looking forward to Batwoman because I love Ruby Rose, and she is way too good for this.

5. Riverdale - I was all in with how ridiculous this show was in its first season, but it's jumped the shark at some point, and it's never going to come back. I adored that the show featured actors from my generation as a teenager - Molly Ringwald, Skeet Ulrich, and the late Luke Perry. I was stunned with the news of his death. I don't know why it hit me so hard, I was never a big fan of 90210 (I was more of a Melrose Place kind of girl), but I did enjoy Perry in other things (Pike!). I think I just had all of these visions of my friends having his poster on their wall and it's surreal to think that he's not here anymore. Anyway, this show blows now. It's laughable - in one scene they are talking about normal high school stuff, the next Veronica is running an underground nightclub, and then the next they are trying to stop a murderous cult. Also, the musical episodes need to stop - none of them can sing.

6. The Sinner - How do you go from Jessica Beil to Carrie Coon and make the show somehow worse? It doesn't make any sense. The biggest problem is just the storyline itself. I'm not sure I even understood the whole thing because I stopped paying attention - I think the kid killed his parents because they were kidnapping him and planning on killing him, but somehow his real mom is involved but in a cult? I don't know. It was just really dumb. And boring.

7. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - I mean, I guess I should have just listed all of The CW shows together, because honestly they are all terrible. Started out great, but multiple seasons in and they are all at the bottom of the barrel. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend really lost my support probably somewhere around last year, when she actually becomes a terrible, horrible, unkind, narcissistic asshole and we are supposed to just forgive her because she's diagnosed with a mental disorder? The whole idea of the show was to subverse the idea of the "crazy ex-girlfriend", but instead they just succumb to the same old cliches. I did enjoy the live show that aired after the finale. It shows how hard this cast works - and even though I hate what it turned into, I hope the cast succeed in their future endeavors because they are all awesome.

8. Project Blue Book - I was disappointed with this show, partly because it's from the History channel so I expected something a little more serious, and partly because I love Aidan Gillen, but man is he terrible on this show. It's super cheesy and the acting is so awkward. I only lasted 3 episodes and I had to stop watching. Nothing happened in those 3 episodes! Nothing!

9. How to Get Away with Murder - I'm not really sure where this show went wrong, but it's really fallen off a cliff. I used to like all of the characters, because they were caught up in drama that wasn't necessarily their fault, but now they are all very, very, very awful people - and I no longer want any of them to get away with murder. I hope they all end up in jail, and quickly so that I can move on.

10. Suits - I miss Meghan Markle! And Patrick J. Adams! They were the heart of the show. What the fuck?! I mean, I guess I understand why Meghan can't be a part of the show (whatever!) and I guess Mike and Rachel belong together so they "moved", but the show just isn't the same without them. It was never really a good show, but it was always a fun summer drama. Now it's dull - and they are trying to do Harvey and Donna thing, but NO THANK YOU. And I was never a big fan of Katherine Heigl (she was good on Grey's Anatomy, but the weakest of that cast), and she's terrible on this show.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Bohemian Rhapsody - Well, where do I begin? First, I am stunned that this was a serious Oscar contender. It's not a bad movie, but it's certainly not a well-made movie. It has serious issues. It's clear that the director left before the film was finished because there is no clear direction (I've read a lot about the allegations against Bryan Singer, and even though these allegations are not the reason he was fired from this movie, all I'm going to say is that Brad Renfro was my favorite actor growing up and it hurt so much when he died. He had so much talent, and he was so young. If Singer is responsible for Renfro's demons, I hope he is brought to justice). The film just consists of very short scenes edited together (poorly) to get from plot point to plot point. I read a lot about all the different controversies around the film (aside from the Singer controversy) - one being the editing, to which I agree. The other being that it erases Freddie Mercury's sexuality, and that I do not agree with. I don't think it's as obvious as some may have wanted, but there are several scenes that reference his sexuality, including a coming out scene. The problem is that the film has no depth. There's no meaning to his sexuality and his identity, so it comes across as ignored, and I think that's what people have a problem with. Also, I LOVE Rami Malek on Mr. Robot. It's the only performance that I know him from, and he is stunning on that show because he's supposed to be sort of cold and unfeeling. I didn't realize that he's just a cold and unfeeling actor. And those teeth that they put on him do not help his performance at all. It's horribly distracting. He does do a good job during the performances, but I can't believe that he actually won an Oscar for this performance (Bradley Cooper was a million times better). Otherwise, it's a "perfectly adequate" film. I've never really had Queen up there as a favorite band, but this film made me realize that I should - five of their songs are in my Top 50 songs of all-time (I don't actually have a list made, but I'm pretty sure this statement is true) and "Another One Bites the Dust" is in my Top 10 songs of all-time (I do have this list. It would surprise you.). Plus, even though it's not my personal favorite, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is the greatest song of all-time. And it's really fun to see how it all came together.

2. The Spy Who Dumped Me - Actually a lot of fun. It's like a combination of Spy and The Heat (I was disappointed with Spy, but I LOVED The Heat). Mila Kunis is just fantastic (and so stunningly beautiful it hurts). I really enjoy her in comedic roles. She's a lot funnier than Kate McKinnon, in my opinion. Although McKinnon didn't bother me as much in this role as she has in the past. It's a cute movie about friendship, but there are also some fun action sequences. It's definitely way too long, and many sequences could have been cut (like the circus performance that dragged on forever). However, I laughed out loud several times, and I appreciate a female-led comedy that is actually funny and doesn't try too hard. Also, I love Justin Theroux (since Six Feet Under, but especially after The Leftovers). Obviously, the twists and turns are expected and also absolutely ridiculous, but overall I think this is a solid spy comedy. And they set sup a fantastic lead to a possible sequel. I don't think it will get a sequel, because it wasn't exactly a box office success, but I would totally watch it.

3. Glass - I simply do not understand how James McAvoy is not being praised for his performance in this movie (or for Split). His performance is ground-breaking. It's like nothing that I've ever seen. He transitions from character to character seamlessly. If he doesn't get nominated for an Oscar this year, I will riot (quietly with my 4 cats). The movie...is just okay. I don't really remember much of Unbreakable. I do remember that I liked it more than other Shyamalan movies, but I only saw it once, and that was almost 20 years ago. It's cool that they used the same actor that was in the first one (as a kid), but I wouldn't have known that if someone didn't point it out to me. I'm sure there are a ton of other things that I didn't notice as connections to Unbreakable, but as a stand-alone movie, I was a little bit bored. I enjoyed Split a lot more - it had more tension and build-up. This fell a little flat.

4. The Favourite - I liked this movie, but it is nowhere near the brilliance of The Lobster or The Killing of a Sacred Deer. This felt more obvious, more universal, which isn't necessarily bad, but it was a disappointing watch for me, because I was just expecting something a little more deep. It honestly felt more like a Sofia Coppola film, like if you combined Marie Antoinette with any other Coppola film you would get this movie. The craftsmanship is still there, with the use of  some serious extreme fish-eye lens shots and tracking shots of that hallway (my God, how many times did these actresses have to walk up and down that hallway?!). All three of these actresses are perfect. Just absolutely perfect. I'm really happy that Olivia Colman won an Oscar because she deserved one 8 years ago with Tyrannosaur (HOLY SHIT was that really 8 years ago?? That's crazy! Feels like yesterday.). Emma Stone was the highlight for me, though. She just keeps getting better and better, and continually outshines her co-stars. She's going to be the next Meryl Streep (I would say that's Amy Adams, but it seems that the Oscars like Stone better).

5. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part- Has anyone else even seen this? Because I never saw anything about it when it was released. It was suddenly listed on available movies to rent, and I was completely surprised to find out it was released in theaters earlier this year. After watching the first 10 minutes, I realized why it was released so quietly. I couldn't even sit through the whole thing. The last time I stopped watching a film was when I walked out of one of the Harry Potter films. I can usually sit through even the worst of the worst, but I felt like if I continued watching this movie, it would have resulted in a massive headache. I guess I can't really give it a fair review since I stopped it after about 30 minutes. I just couldn't take any more of the noisy, visually crowded, mess of a movie.

Summer Movie Preview: 12 Movies that I'm Excited About

1. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (5.17) - I was a fan of the first two, so it's natural that I'm excited for the third, but then, after this, I'm hoping that they are done. Anything more will be overkill.

2. Booksmart (5.24) - I really like Beanie Feldstein (she's Jonah Hill's sister). I also really like Olivia Wilde, and I'm excited for her directorial debut.

3. Rocketman (5.31) - I think this looks fantastic. I adore Taron Egerton - and he proved to have a knack for singing Elton John songs with his voice work in Sing. I'm a little hesitant because I also thought that Bohemian Rhapsody looked fantastic, and it was a hot mess, but I tend to enjoy watching Egerton for two hours no matter what, so I think I'll be happy with it.

4. American Woman (6.14) - I've been waiting for Sienna Miller to step back up to a starring role after starring in endless roles as "the wife". This looks ideal for her talents and has a great supporting cast - Christina Hendricks and Aaron Paul.

5. Men in Black: International (6.14)- I never thought in a million years that this would be the film I would be most looking forward to this summer, but here we are. Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson made a great team in Thor: Ragnarok, so I think they'll have great chemistry in this. Plus, if I remember correctly, I actually enjoyed the third installment? I think I did....

6. The Dead Don't Die (6.14) - Jim Jarmusch. Bill Murray. Tilda Swinton. Zombie comedy. Done.

7. Spider-Man Far From Home (7.2) - Homecoming was super cute, I expect more of the same. But, I'm not on board with Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio. The trailer made him seem super cheesy, and I'm not ready for Gyllenhaal to be anything other than giving Oscar-worthy performances.

8. The Lion King (7.19) - I just have to see it. I'm hesitant, but the trailer is pretty strong. The Lion King had a big impact on my childhood - my cat is even named Simba, so if it's not good, then I'm going to be pretty pissed off.

9. Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood (7.26) - BRAD PITT AND LEO IN A MOVIE TOGETHER DO NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE??? I think it really says a lot about Leo, that Hollywood's biggest directors (Scorsese, Tarantino, Luhrmann, and possibly Spielberg) want to work with him multiple times.

10. Hobbs & Shaw (8.2) - I'm a sucker for this franchise. Some are terrific, some are garbage, but I need to see them all.

11. In the Shadow of the Moon (8.9) - Michael C. Hall in a movie about a serial killer...um...I obviously HAVE to watch it. Although, I'm not sure if Hall is the serial killer. It will be incredibly disappointing if he's not.

12. Where'd You Go, Bernadette (8.16) - I don't know much about this film, but it has an excellent cast and it's directed by Richard Linklater (the only film of his that I didn't like, is his most praised - Boyhood).

3 Thoughts on Captain Marvel

*Spoilers ahead*

1. It felt forced - First, I felt forced to even watch it. The trailers were God-awful, and I dreaded every moment of watching this movie, but I felt like I had to see it before I watch Endgame (which I have not seen yet, and I probably wont for at least a few weeks). Second, the movie, itself, felt forced. The dialogue is really unpleasant. Is Captain Marvel supposed to be witty or something? The dialogue between her and Fury is obnoxious. It certainly didn't feel natural. And can we talk about the music for a second? Because it really took the whole obnoxiously forced feeling to the next level. I just *knew* that they were going to play "Just a Girl" at a big moment. While part of me wanted to yell out "FUCK YES!" (it's one of my favorite songs of all-time - I was a teenage girl in the 90s, it can't be helped), another part of me just groaned at the predictability of it all. To their credit, there weren't a whole lot of female-led alternative/grunge bands in the 90s, and since that's what they were going for they had limited choices (related side story - a few years ago I became irate at the Pandora app because when you set an "alternative" playlist, it will literally play only male artists for hours on end. When I complained out-loud, I was challenged to name female alternative bands and I could only name No Doubt, Garbage and Hole. BUT, there are many female solo artists that still fit the bill in my opinion, like Alanis Morissette and Patti Rothberg.).

2. Was I supposed to be surprised? - Was this movie made for non-MCU fans? We already know who the "good" guys are and who the "bad" guys are, so why are we pretending like it was a shock to know that she's working for the wrong side? Why not establish that from the beginning, and then base the story around her own realization? Why does the audience have to play along? Also, I'm pretty good at avoiding spoilers, so I didn't really know much about this movie - aside from the fact that a cat named Goose is heavily featured, but I was well aware that Jude Law was playing the "bad" guy. Nothing about this movie surprised me in the least bit, so much so that I question the point to any of it. Couldn't they just introduce Captain Marvel during one of the Avengers movies? Save us all two hours? The more I think about it, the more annoyed I am at this movie, but I will say one positive thing. I think they did the whole "human" moment really well - with the flashbacks of her getting back up after getting knocked down. It was nice. The end.

3. The stacked cast - I've pointed out before, that I would prefer to have stronger actors like Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, etc. over someone like Chris Evans (sorry, even after all these movies, I still just see a pretty face), so I thought I would LOVE the casting in this movie - Brie Larson, Jude Law, Annette Benning, Ben Mendelsohn - all actors that I am incredibly fond of (particularly Jude Law. I didn't realize how much I missed his smile. Where has he been? Just that Young Pope thing?). Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. All of these actors seemed like they were just wasting their talent on a pointless, mediocre film. I do really like Brie Larson (she's been in two of my favorite films of the last decade - Room and Short Term 12), but she's about as dull in this as Scarlett Johansson is as Black Widow (i.e. extremely fucking dull). I also really don't like the whole de-aging thing - it's just super fucking creepy - especially for the amount of screen-time that Samuel L. Jackson has in this. And we know what Jackson looked like 20 years ago (his performance in A Time to Kill is burned into my memory forever - "Yes, they deserved to die, and I hope they burn in Hell!"), and he looks....almost...the same as he does now?! Certainly nothing like what they did to him for this movie. He looked plastic.

Thoughts on 4 New Shows

1. Schooled - As a cute family sitcom, it's mediocre. As a spin-off of The Goldbergs, it's extremely disappointing. I like Lainey Lewis as a side character, but she doesn't carry a sitcom. That's the biggest problem - the characters are all...just okay. While on The Goldbergs, every single character is pure gold. I also don't think they take the 90s thing and make it as fun as they do with the 80s on The Goldbergs. There is so much potential, but it's never taken far enough. Part of it has to do with nostalgia factor for the 80s (and I have a stronger connection to the 80s because that's when I was a kid), but I was a high schooler in the 90s so I should have the same nostalgia factor, but it is severely lacking. And a little too specific (I don't think many people knew of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion - that became a cult classic after-the-fact). Anyway, it's still cute, and I keep watching.

2. Miracle Workers - Much too short of a series! It's only 7 episodes that are only 30 minutes long. On one hand, I appreciate it because my list of television shows is so long and I will never catch up. But, on the other, there are so many good ideas in this - and it felt really condensed. I really like Daniel Radcliffe outside of the Harry Potter movies. He's got great comedic timing and has a lot of subtle nuances that make his performances interesting. It says a lot that he can hold his own against a talent like Steve Buscemi. I'm interested to see what the second season will be about. I read that it's going to be a completely different show but with the same cast...and that just seems weird.

3. The Enemy Within - Honestly, this show is fucking stupid. But I just love Debra Morgan so much (Jennifer Carpenter will always be Debra Morgan to me). I have to watch anything that she's in. The premise is basically The Blacklist, which apparently is a show that still exists (I lasted one season - I just could not stand the main girl). This show is painfully predictable - the pilot episode was so in-your-face-obvious, that it was almost embarrassing. The next few have just been plain boring. However,...Debra Morgan! I'll watch it to the end. Even though she wears mascara while she's in a maximum security prison (so realistic! LOL).

4. Fosse/Verdon - I've only watched the first episode, but it was extremely well-made, and incredibly interesting. Sam Rockwell is going to win so many awards, and ditto for Michelle Williams. They are both giving a performance of a lifetime (and that's saying a lot because they've already set the bar pretty high). The editing is sublime - the way it mixes the choreography and dance sequences within the story, and mixing of the past and present is all just really, really well-done. I can't wait to watch more, and it's been a while since I've said that about a new show (Killing Eve is the only show that I truly look forward to currently, which is sad, but also the show is so spectacular that it's enough on its own.). I don't know anything about the story - I mean, I'm aware of Bob Fosse, as a director, but that's where my knowledge ends, so I'm really invested in the story because I have no idea where it's going to go (and I'm trying really hard to not look it up).

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Predator - This wasn't as terrible as I was expecting it to be. For the most part, I would describe it as a fun action movie. I recently watched the original for the first time (and by recent, I mean probably 3 years ago, which seems like it was only 3 months ago.), and it was so satisfying to finally understand all the famous dialogue that is constantly being quoted. I appreciated that this new version stuck to being "new", instead of creating a remake that is shot-for-shot. I think it fails in its dialogue, though. There were two funny moments - having the guy from Moonlight (I'm too lazy to look up his name) yell "Get to the Choppers!" referring to a bunch of motorcycles (it was expected, but they did it in an unexpected way), and when they describe The Predator as "an alien Whoopi Goldberg". I actually spit my coffee out with that joke. However, the rest of the jokes (I hesitate to call them that) were really not funny, instead they were really dated - they ranged from "your mom" jokes to calling a kid with Asperger's "retarded". The cast does a good job trying to make the dialogue work, and they seemed to be having fun, which is extremely important in movies like this. I'm glad someone gave Olivia Munn something to do. I feel like she's in a lot of movies, but she always ends up having like two lines of dialogue.

2. Hotel Artemis - Extremely disappointing. I was so bored that I kept pausing it to do housework, because that was more stimulating. I adore the cast - Sterling K. Brown (also coincidentally in The Predator, which I watched directly before), Charlie Day, Jodie Foster, and a brief appearance from Jeff Goldblum. I thought that it was a spin-off from John Wick because I heard that they were creating something about the hotel for assassins, but I guess this was just a copy of that idea. And copy they certainly did. There was absolutely nothing original about it. They even did a hallway fight scene - Jesus Christ, Hollywood, how many hallway fight scenes do we have to sit through? You're never going to top Oldboy, guys, so just move it along. The only other thing I have to say about this dull movie is that I miss Jodie Foster. I forgot how wonderful she is. She used to be one of my favorite actresses when I was growing up, but I don't think I've really seen her in anything in decades.

3. Instant Family - You guys, I have to admit, I cried. UGH. There are just two wonderfully powerful moments about feeling unwanted and unloved that are really touching, and I just couldn't help myself. I wasn't expecting it, but it just happened. The tears just started flowing and they couldn't be stopped. Marky Mark and Rose Byrne are a fantastic comedic match, and they seemed like a very real couple. The story is based the writer/director's real life experience of fostering three siblings, which is probably why the story felt so genuine. The highlight is Isabela Moner - what a fantastic young actress! I looked her up and apparently she is going to be Dora in the live-action Dora the Explorer movie(s). That has the potential to be a pretty big franchise (for kids, obviously), so good for her! Anyway, this movie is super cute, a little bit too gushy, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I've thought about the possibility of fostering, or even adopting, one day. It seems like such a heartbreaking process, though, and this movie certainly doesn't make me feel any better about it (which is obviously the opposite intent).

4. A Star is Born - Where to begin?! When this movie was first announced, I just COULD NOT picture it. I absolutely adore Bradley Cooper (if you read this blog, then this is not news to you - Alias fan FOREVER). He's so talented, so he deserves every ounce of popularity that he has gained over the last 10 years (I don't think many knew his name before The Hangover). But, I had my reservations about him directing a very popular remake, and casting Lady Gaga as the main star. I don't have anything against Lady Gaga, per say, but I'm not really a big fan. I just don't like any of her music (other than the song Born this Way, which got old really quickly). However, when a teaser trailer was released, the buzz was very strong, so I gave it a watch. And, I was blown away. Just from 2 minutes of footage. I was mesmerized by the song that was featured. Unfortunately, I missed seeing this in theaters (I specifically waited to take my mom, and to my surprise she had already seen it! The nerve!). I was really confused by all the traction that the song "Shallow" made in the weeks after the film was released, because that wasn't the song from the trailer, until suddenly it was. It's the only song that was talked about. And that is my only complaint about the movie. I watched the entire fucking thing and the best song comes on during the end credits. It's called "Is that Alright?" and it's the best song of last year, and should have won every award given out last year (even Best Picture). I get chills listening to it, and Lady Gaga sounds phenomenal. I get why they went after "Shallow" so hard, especially after watching the movie but ultimately, it's very frustrating. And speaking of "Shallow" (which is a song that I do enjoy. I had no idea Bradly could sing. UGH. Just one more reason to love him), I'm not really a sappy person, but I literally burst into tears when she gets on the stage and sings it for the first time. It was such a cliche, but I fell right in the trap. It's just such a powerful moment - and I credit Cooper for making that moment work so well. Anywho, overall, I liked this movie a lot. I've never watched any of the originals, but it's not hard to guess the outcome. Even with the story being so well-known, there is still a lot to unpack about relationships, jealousy, toxic masculinity, substance abuse, fame, etc. I think the editing could have been a little tighter, but otherwise it's pretty great. OH WAIT - three more things: 1. Bradley Cooper is gorgeous, but he's so greasy in this movie. WHYYYY. He looked like the main guy from The Walking Dead (but at least that guy has an excuse to look like that). 2. Are we supposed to think that Lady Gaga is ugly? Is that an actual thing that people think? I don't get it. And I saw many articles about how she "bravely" went without makeup for several scenes, and if you believe that for a second, I have some magic pills I would love to sell you. Let's chat! 3. I screamed out loud when Eric Weiss and Arvin Sloane appeared. So wonderful.

5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - I don't say this a lot, because I don't really know much about animation, but wow - the animation is incredible. The way that it moves, the 3-D effect, and how it seems like there is a camera panning, is mind-blowing. I feel like this is a game-changer, as far as animation is concerned. I also loved the voice actors, and how ridiculous the story gets (Spider-Pig...lol), but ultimately it is a very typical superhero story. I read many reviews that call it the "best" Spider-Man movie, and that is so wrong (I know, I know, opinions can never be right or wrong...but sometimes...they can be, you know?). I've also read many reviews that call it the "best" superhero movie, and, um, seriously? Hyperbole, much? It's such a trendy thing to say that something is the "best" of its genre, but honestly, I will never take anyone seriously that uses such hyperbole in a serious way. I know I use hyperbole quite often, but it's been a long time since I've said a modern film was the "best" of its genre (I think I'm combining this frustration with the more recent reviews of Us, which I haven't seen, but a review that was highlighted in the commercial called it the "best horror movie of all-time". I repeat "all-time". That's just fucking hilarious, right there.). Anyway, this is a super-cute superhero story with phenomenal artistic achievement. I highly recommend it.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Crazy Rich Asians - There are parts of this movie that I enjoyed, but there are also parts of this movie that I almost fell asleep to. I'll start with the good. First, Henry Golding is super hot. Second, Gemma Chan is super stunning (she's also incredible in the tv show Humans). Third, Michelle Yeoh is a super goddess. In short, I loved most of the cast. It's also a super cute rom-com. This is a good thing, if that's your thing. However, it does hit all the cliches of a rom-com (even a montage of the main character trying on a million different dresses!). So, for me, it's kind of dull and mind-numbingly predictable. Also, as with most rom-coms, the male lead is basically an asshole. I have big problems with his character - he doesn't tell her that he's wealthy (I can see not disclosing it in the first few dates, because he probably doesn't want to be used for his money, but they are in a full-blown relationship). It doesn't really make sense, because he probably lives in a very expensive loft style apartment in NYC. Has she never seen his home? Wouldn't you be upset that someone basically lied about his entire lifestyle? Also, people who are from extremely wealthy families, but don't think of it as "their" money are THE WORST. Imagine growing up so privileged that you NEVER having to worry about money, and then pretending like you don't have it? It's such an insult. What an entitled asshole. Then he brings her to his home, and to these extremely fancy parties, completely unprepared. Shouldn't he warn her about the dress code? Or I don't know, maybe buy her a dress, so she doesn't show up in something inappropriate? I just feel like this guy treats her like garbage, but no-one else seems to think so. I also think the main actress is boring (I don't know her name and I don't feel like looking it up). And I don't get Awkwafina. She's really annoying in this movie. I think she's supposed to be like the quirky best friend or something, but it's grating. I wanted to hit the mute button every time she appeared.

2. Eighth Grade - Super cute, coming-of-age story about an awkward young girl just trying to be "normal". It definitely opened up my eyes a little bit on what teens are going through these days. I hate to sound like an old fart, but social media is killing the next generation. I'm so happy it didn't exist when I was in high school (I think in my senior year we had AOL Instant Message. OMG I just had such a flashback of using AIM to talk to my friends). I think a lot of anxiety issues that teens face today is all related to social media. Every single teenager is self-conscious. It's completely normal. But things like Youtube and Instagram show teenagers living "their best life" and it's all completely fake. Kids are seeing this as the truth, instead of just communicating IN PERSON to their peers about how hard it is to be a teenager. Everyone is just trying to get noticed, but that's practically impossible on the internet. They also address how fast technology is moving and how different it is for kids even just 4 years apart. Things just didn't move that fast when I was a kid. It's also really depressing that Active Shooter Drills are a normal occurrence for kids. I was a senior in high school when Columbine happened. We had a lot of false alarms and threats at our school during the month after Columbine, and no-one knew what to do, so I guess it's needed, but it's just so sad to think about. The only part that I really connected to is when she goes to the mall to meet a group of (possible) friends. I definitely hung out at the mall (actually, I hung out at the mall that is featured in the movie - The Palisades Center. It wasn't the closest mall, but it was the biggest). Elsie Fisher is a joy to watch. I laughed out loud at her giving the popular girls the finger guns. She's just perfectly cast in this movie, and really carries the whole thing.

3. Beautiful Boy - I was not expecting this movie to be as bad as it is. I remember some early awards talk that ended really quickly after it was released to mediocre reviews. But, I was still expecting...mediocre. This movie is just plain bad. The different timelines are really confusing. I didn't even realize it was supposed to take place in the 90s until half-way through the movie. I thought they were just using 90s music for effect (you know, because people who listen to Nirvana are depressed. LOL). The thing that did it was the huge computer he had in his dorm room (Although, I should have realized it when he could walk to the gate at the airport). I don't sympathize with the main character. This is what I call "entitled white boy addiction". It's addiction, nonetheless. But, he has people that care about him, and money, which most people don't. He has choices. He might make bad ones, but he still has the luxury of making those choices. I don't understand why Timothee Chalamet became such a big thing so quickly. He's....not good. There are times when he pauses and I think it's supposed to be for effect, but it could also be because he's trying to remember his lines. He also always looks like he's 14, which is a big part of why the timeline is so hard to follow. There's just no emotional resonance or depth at all to this movie. It's repetitive - which is surely on purpose, to show the repetitive cycle of addiction, but it's really boring to watch. For the whole film, I just kept thinking "let Maura Tierney have her scene", so when she jumped in the SUV to chase after him, I got really excited. She didn't even have any dialogue, but it's still the most resonating part of the movie. I just adore her.

4. The House - Ugh, I'm so behind on my movie-watching. I'm still trying to catch up on 2017! Usually a comedy with Amy Poehler is at the top of my list, but this got pretty terrible reviews, so it got moved down the list. And rightfully so. It's not good. There are some funny parts (like Amy trying to shit talk), but overall it's just dumb. It's weird that they keep talking about how they are terrible parents because they can't afford to send their daughter to college, but, like, most people can't afford college. So, that's a terrible message. There are single moms and dads out there working 3 jobs to pay for college, and sometimes still can't afford it. Doesn't make them bad parents. And, OH YEAH, I have an idea, why not make your kid get a fucking job and pay for their own college (like MOST college students. I worked 2 jobs and had an internship while I went to school full-time). There's a great supporting cast in this movie that are all severely under-used - Michaela Watkins, Andrea Savage, Allison Tolman, etc. And...Jeremy Renner! I did laugh out loud when he appeared. How random! I had no idea he was in this, and I'm not sure if it's supposed to be a surprise, so oops...sorry if I spoiled it for you. You know a movie is bad if it has gag reels. That used to be a fun surprise at the end of a movie, but now I feel like it's used a saving grace for a bad movie. It's as if the filmmakers are apologizing for making such a terrible movie by giving you something that's actually fun to watch.

5. Ralph Breaks the Internet - The first one was so super, sugary sweet. It was almost sickening, but I still enjoyed it. This sequel is still super, sugary sweet, but it's not quite as good. It's not very memorable - other than the whole Disney princess thing that was heavily advertised. The whole scene is just absolutely brilliant. I'm sure if I watched it again, I would see a lot of little inside jokes that I missed. But, I would never willingly watch this again. It's a heartwarming story of friendship and accepting change, which is great for kids. But for adults, it's just so irritating. Most of the jokes are very timely, which makes me think that it's going to feel very dated in just a few years. The animation is fantastic, though. All of the racing scenes in that GTA type video game are just stunning. I also had no idea that was Gal Gadot's voice. I thought for sure that it was Priyanka Chopra. Like, so sure that I would have bet money on it. They sound identical.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Bad Times at the El Royale - I was expecting something a little bit more...wild. I liked a lot of it - the characters are interesting with a little bit of mystery to them, the pace moves really quickly, and the acting (for the most part) is really strong. I'm a big fan of Drew Goddard - he's written some episodes of my favorite tv shows (Buffy, Alias, Lost) and I thought Cabin in the Woods was awesome. However, I think he still needs to find his own style - this film felt very similar to Cabin in the Woods (same pace, character introductions, surprise ending), but it also felt like it was trying to be edgy like Tarantino-esque, and I think that's why it just didn't quite work for me. I'm not fully on board with Chris Hemsworth (I totally forgot he was in Cabin in the Woods - he was about the only thing that I didn't like in that movie. I didn't feel like the main cast had any charisma). I think Hemsworth has definitely proved me wrong in a few movies (the Ghostbusters reboot, the most recent Thor movie and the most recent Avengers movie), but sometimes his acting is just cringe-worthy. He's definitely not edgy, so he is completely miscast for this movie. I also think that once his character appears, the film suddenly becomes really uninteresting.

2. Venom - Ok, so I sort of liked this movie??? It's actually kind of funny, which I wasn't expecting. Tom Hardy really gives it his all. He handles the cheesiness of the dialogue and plot really well and makes it totally watchable. I realize that saying something is "watchable" isn't exactly a compliment, but I had super low expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised and entertained while watching this movie. It did bother me that he is consistently greasy and dirty for the whole entire movie. It was hard to look at him without cringing. But otherwise, I think the movie is fun. It reminded me of a movie that should have come out in the late 90s (complete with the Eminem rap at the end - FOR REAL - I thought it was a parody, but nope!). There are plot-holes galore, and just plain dumb writing (I'm supposed to believe that a place that high-tech doesn't have video surveillance of every inch of their building??), but I think it's the type of movie that you're just supposed to have fun with and not take too seriously. I would totally watch a sequel.

3. A Simple Favor - Such a fun little movie! First, Blake Lively is just wonderful. I've always been a fan. I think she was quickly written off as a Mischa Barton type actress, but everyone who thought that was clearly WRONG. Clearly, she didn't do her best work on Gossip Girl (I loved GG, but some of the acting was iffy). But she has been consistently strong in smaller roles (The Town was a big eye-opener for me). She's also stunningly beautiful, and in this movie, she is a fashion Goddess. The costumer designer should be nominated for an Oscar because those outfits are a dream. I can't stop thinking about her power suit when she shows up at the cemetery. My jaw actually fell open. Anyway, back to the movie. One of my co-workers described it to me as having a similar style to Death Becomes Her (which is one of my all-time favorite movies), and I think that's a pretty accurate description. It's fun, but in a campy not-believable-at-all way, and dark, but never takes itself too seriously. I miss movies like this - I feel like it was a very popular style of "chick flick" from the 90s, that has all but disappeared lately. There are a lot of twists and turns, and while it's ultimately absolutely ridiculous, it's fun trying to guess where the story is going.

4. I Feel Pretty - Well, I knew that this movie was going to be a load of crap, and it's...."meh". Not completely crap. But it's very similar to 13 Going on 30, and that movie is absolutely wonderful, so when you compare the two, it's an interesting contrast in how to take a dumb idea and do something amazing with it, compared to something really dull. I don't really connect with Schumer's character (or Schumer in real life). First, I would never go to a Soul Cycle class (that is literally my worst nightmare), and I've never watched a Youtube tutorial in my life. Also, I think the whole weight thing is really exaggerated because she's not even that big - she's like a size 10 (I'm guessing), and almost every retailer goes up to a 14. Sometimes I think people use their looks as an excuse as to why they are single or friendless, but in most cases I think it's probably because they are SUPER annoying. That's probably the meanest thing I've ever written, but the truth hurts sometimes. Also, if you really felt like someone didn't want to be with you or be your friend because of your weight or your looks, then why on Earth would you want them to be in your life anyway? I do think this movie has something interesting to say about the power of having self-confidence. I'm always amazed at how little self-confidence most women I know have. I get told often that I have confidence, and I get asked a lot of advice. I don't really know what advice to give. I like myself. I have plenty of flaws that I try to overcome, but overall I know that I'm a good person, and that's all I can do, you know? Anyway, this movie isn't terrible. It's got some heart, and it's trying to give a positive message to women who are self-conscious. But the biggest and most glaring plot-hole is that she doesn't question why she can fit into the same size clothes if she thinks she's thin? Like, wouldn't all of her clothes fall off of her? SO DUMB. On a side-note, Michelle Williams does her Marilyn Monroe voice and it is HILARIOUS.

5. Fyre - This is the Netflix one - I'm not sure if the Hulu one has the same name. But HOLY MOLY this story is batshit insane. I don't understand how everyone involved isn't in jail? Why did only one guy go down for this massive fuck-up? Specifically, Ja Rule? His defense is literally saying "at least we didn't kill anyone". I mean, I'm just speechless. I have so many questions. 1. Who has the rights to all of this video footage? And why would you release it? Like, did Ja Rule give consent to all of this? 2. What the fuck is an "influencer"? 3. Don't these professional Models have agents? And why did these agents allow this to happen? Aren't there contracts involved? I truly just don't understand. 4. What kind of idiot pays this much money for something that sounds so sketchy? And they even fell for the cashless bracelet scam too? 5. How pissed would you be if you were one of these idiots that got scammed, and you watched this documentary and the people behind it described the event as "selling a pipe-dream to your average loser"? 6. Why would anyone want to be Pablo Escobar? Is that something people aspire to? I have so many more questions, but I'll stop for now. I do think that the documentary was very interesting, and well-told, but I would have loved to see more from the actual event and from the people (or as I will forever refer to them as, idiots) who went to the festival.

Oscar Nominations: The Good, The Bad, and The Snubbed

The Good: 

-Uhhh...I'm struggling here. While I haven't seen a majority of the nominated films, I have seen some pretty wonderful films and performances that were left out. In general, though, there are some strong people in many of the categories - Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress categories are just FILLED to the brim with talent (p.s - the words "first time Oscar nominee for Directing, Spike Lee" absolutely boggles my mind. How is that even possible?).

-First Man for the technical awards (Visual Effects and the sound categories)

-Roma for Cinematography

The Bad: 

-The entire Best Picture category. I probably shouldn't even be writing this post since I've only seen 2 of the nominated films - Black Panther and Roma. While both of those movies are good, I've definitely seen 8 films from 2018 that are better.

-Incredibles 2 is one of the worst animated films I've ever seen

-I have not seen Bohemian Rhapsody or Green Book, but I've read some of the criticism of both. I've also heard from many people that they loved both movies. So....*shrugs shoulders*


The Snubbed: 

-OH SO MANY. The most egregious one is First Man for Best Picture, Cinematography, and Supporting Actress for Claire Foy (who should have been in the running for Best Actress for Unsane as well)

-There were so many insanely great female performances last year - Charlize Theron for Tully, Emily Blunt for A Quiet Place, Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy in Thoroughbreds, Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Kindergarten Teacher, Rachel McAdams in Game Night, Toni Collette for Hereditary, the list goes on, and you will never convince me that Melissa McCarthy gave a better performance than any of them (I have not seen Can You Ever Forgive Me, but there is just no way.).

-I didn't think he would win, but I really wanted to see my Bradley Cooper get a Directing nomination. Ditto for John Krasinski.

-The more I think about Tully, the more I love it - surely it deserves some screenwriting love?

4 Thoughts on the Golden Globes

1. The Hosts - I've become more and more a fan of Andy Samberg ever since I started watching the hilarious Brooklyn Nine-Nine (although he isn't the funniest one on that show - clearly that's Andre Braugher). I don't really think he's the best option for hosting an awards show because he just isn't funny enough and he doesn't have the stage presence. And as much as I LOVE Sandra Oh, I don't really think she's the best option either. Oh seemed extremely nervous, but she's just such a lovely person so I have nothing negative to say about her. What she has accomplished in her career is such a stunning achievement. Their hosting gig was....fine. There was nothing really memorable about it. It was cute. Which I guess in this current culture is the best we can ask for.

2. The Show - Overall, the show was super boring and it felt really, really long. There seemed to be no particular order to which the awards were announced either, which really bothered me. They went from male television performances and then they gave out best television drama without announcing television drama actress first. Then they went on to movies before finishing the tv awards. It made no sense! The presenters were mostly dull - who would have thought the funniest ones would be Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell (and why didn't they mention that they were both in one of the best coming-of-age movies of the past decade when they were listing their commonalities?). I think the only time I laughed during the whole show was Harrison Ford saying "nobody told me I have to follow Jeff Bridges" (which may be the first time in all of history that I've laughed at something Harrison Ford said!). I love that they added the Carol Burnett award for television. Burnett is such a legend. I saw her live show a few years ago, and it is such a memorable experience.

3. The Winners - Ok, first, the nominations themselves are a joke. Jodie Comer not being nominated is an actual crime. The Globes are known for spotlighting "new" shows as a way to be edgy (I guess), and sometimes that's a good thing (they basically put The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on the map). However, what in the actual fuck is Bodyguard? I've never heard of it, and there is no way that this extremely handsome man is better than Matthew Rhys' performance in The Americans. My blood was absolutely boiling and then this very handsome man began talking and I forgot what I was mad about (I'm such a sucker for accents). I actually have The Kominsky Method on my list of shows to watch (I heard it was good, and I love Alan Arkin), so I'm not that upset over it winning the big awards (I mean, the actual best comedy on television is never going to win it anyway). I was obviously happy that The Americans won because it is one of the best shows of that past decade, but if we were to judge it just based on its final season it would come up short against Killing Eve. I just finished watching Escape at Dannemora yesterday morning, and while some episodes were way better than others, Patricia Arquette absolutely deserves that award. But I'm glad that The Assassination of Gianni Versace won the big one - that's a show that I still think about regularly. The way the story was constructed is just so fascinating, and Criss gives the performance of a lifetime (and he's still so young so I would be surprised and in awe if he ever tops it). As far as the film awards go, I am still far behind on my movie watching, but I have read the criticism of both Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book, and if it's true (I obviously won't know until I watch both), they definitely don't deserve any type of recognition. I do think it's a bit of bullshit that nobody addressed Bryan Singer - like maybe take this time to acknowledge male entitlement and victims of abuse? I was surprised that Glenn Close won (I squealed when she gave a little nod to Michael Douglas. Best moment of the night?!) because I thought for sure they would give it Lady Gaga. Ditto for Cooper in the Directing category. I didn't thing either would translate to an Oscar win, but now an Oscar win is even more distant. Also, are A Star is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody not considered Musicals? What would constitute a Musical then? I feel like if the story is based around music and has several musical numbers, then it should go in that category?

4. The Fashion - How gorgeous did Saoirse Ronan look, you guys?!! Just absolutely stunning. Hands down best dress of the evening. I also loved Keri Russel's sparkly number. And that bright yellow dress on Rachel Brosnahan is beautiful - I feel like women of our coloring (pale with dark brown hair) are told not to wear yellow, but I always think it looks so striking. Darren Criss' blazer was so beautiful. I love that he is a straight man who likes to have fun with his outfits. It wasn't too over the top, but still just different enough to stand out. I have to admit that the worst dress was worn by one of my favorite people, Amber Heard. She looked like she was going to an 80s prom costume party - the dress combined with all that layered gold jewelry was just so tacky. And OH GOD another favorite of mine, Kate Mara, I don't know what she was thinking.