Where has the time gone? It’s already March! Even with this semester going both fast and slow, I have squeezed in some time to sit back with a tub of popcorn and watch some great movies and TV shows. Keep scrolling for some titles both in theatres and on streaming services!
- “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” Part 3
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WARNING: SOME SPOILERS BELOW
Things got a little spooky in January, thanks to “Sabrina” and her friends. The show picks up shortly after part two with Sabrina and her friends working hard to find a way into hell to save Sabrina’s beloved boyfriend, Nick. But to do that, Sabrina must defend her title as the rightful heir to Satan’s throne. Also, in the Spellman family, Aunts Zelda and Hilda struggle to keep alive what remains of the coven, and Prudence and Ambrose are off to find Father Blackwood and make him pay for all his transgressions against the Church of Night. If that’s not enough action, a group of pagans has taken over Greendale via a carnival, and it’s up to Sabrina and friends to stop them. Overall, this season of CHAOS was pretty good. Each episode kept a similar pace and had enough action that kept driving the story. But, the show is starting to fall into some cheesy musical numbers a la its predecessor “Riverdale.” While I love the integration of musical numbers into a show, I like it done tastefully and with purpose. Unfortunately, a few of these musical numbers this season are just for fun and do not drive the plot forward. If the showrunners get too giddy with these numbers, I am afraid it could place this incredible show on the same level of the now cheesy, often unrealistic “Riverdale.”
Rating: A-
- “The Office”
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I can hear all of you now. “Caitlin, you’ve never seen ‘The Office!’” Yes, until January, I had been avoiding this show like the plague. Why? Since high school, I’ve been surrounded by individuals who consistently quote the show and are passionate about it, and I’m a person who enjoys going against the grain of society. I decided many years ago that when I watched “The Office,” it would be on my own terms, so I would not fall into the trick of groupthink! And now that time has come, and I came out of the experience with the same thoughts I had before. “The Office” is a well-written and funny show, but it’s not as good as everyone thinks. Sure, there’s a lot of bright points to the show. There’s a great dynamic between the cast, and for a comedy show, the writers have managed to write great storylines and develop each character. Kooky characters, like Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute, are at just the right level of weird and out there that keeps the show relatable but also follow the standard comedy tropes. But, I still had some issues with this beloved series. Number one: I know a lot has changed in society and television since “The Office” first aired, but a lot of the jokes, mainly from Michael Scott, made me extremely uncomfortable. I know part of it is because of the character Michael Scott, but they have just not aged well. Number two: what’s up with everyone’s obsession with Jim and Pam? I get it. They’re cute, but I wasn’t dying like the rest of you for them to get together. I also would not put them at the top of my list of favorite pop culture couples, but I do appreciate how the final season explored how complicated marriage can be. Overall, I liked the show. I think it’s decent, but I wouldn’t even place it on a list of my favorite shows. At least now, I can actually understand what half of you are talking about!
Rating: B
- “Girls”
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Have you ever hate-watched a show? Well, I just did. “Girls” follows Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham) and her three friends, Marnie (Alison Williams), Jessa (Jemima Kirk) and Shoshana (Zosia Mamet). All four girls are trying to navigate life post-college in modern-day New York. The show is framed as a modern, more realistic “Sex and the City,” but “Girls” lacks all the sparkle that made “Sex and the City” so appealing. First of all, “Girls” features a frustrating and extremely unlikeable lead in Dunham’s Hannah. Hannah is extremely selfish and fails to see how her actions affect others around her. She continually acts like a child and expects others to put her first. Hannah’s best friend, Marnie, is quite similar. Marnie wants everything to be about her but fails to reciprocate those feelings for anyone else. She is also a control freak and often tries to use or manipulate people to her advantage. While both show some signs of improvement in the final season, these characters and their choices make them extremely hard to root for.
On the other hand, Jessa and Shoshana are more enjoyable and likable characters. Jessa is the free spirit who makes some crazy decisions, but she also has an excellent grasp of reality. Shoshana is the youngest member of the group, but she might be the best character on the show. Compared to her friends, Shosh makes mistakes but learns from them. The writers also seem to give her the most humorous lines and moments. While the leads are iffy, supporting characters like Ray (Alex Karpovsky), Elijah (Andrew Rannells), and Adam (Adam Driver before he made it big in “Star Wars”) are also entertaining and keep the main women grounded. Overall, “Girls” tries to be an edgy, dynamic show, but lacks likable characters and pushes the limits more than it needs to.
Rating: C
- “Judy”
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It’s a well-known fact that Hollywood did Judy Garland dirty. So, it’s about time that the movie industry begins to honor her the right way with a beautiful, emotional biopic. Garland is played by Renee Zellweger, who swept award show season with this role. The movie takes place shortly before Garland’s death in the late 1960s. Garland has hit a rough patch in both her career and personal life. She doesn’t have her finances in order, she’s fighting to keep custody of her kids and roles and singing engagements are few and far between. So when a singing residency comes up in London, Judy has no choice but to accept it. But, the production runs into problems thanks to Judy’s erratic behavior and alcoholism. While “Judy” begins at the end of Garland’s life, it still is an interesting character study of this Hollywood legend. Zellweger’s performance is natural and she melts into Garland’s skin. “Judy” is a definite watch for anyone needing to play catch-up on this year’s Oscar-nominated films.
Rating: A-
- “Instant Family”
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Every few months, the film industry releases a feel-good, average family film. “Instant Family” is one of those films. Starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Bryne, the movie follows a young couple who decided to become foster parents. But, as it is the case in all family films, things don’t go as planned. The couple ends up adopting three siblings, who each have their issues that need to be worked out. While the film falls into all the tropes of its genre, it also has a lot of heart, and I commend the production team for providing a realistic look at the foster care system and what it means to be a foster parent. If you’re looking for something fun with heart, give “Instant Family” a try.
Rating: C
- “Marriage Story”
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As Twitter has pointed out, it’s pretty odd that a film about divorce is called “Marriage Story.” But, the break down of a marriage can show just how complicated and complex love is. The film stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in two of the most talked-about performances of 2019. Johansson’s Nicole is an actress, formerly based in LA, and Driver’s Charlie is a rising director in the New York theatre scene. After one child and several years of marriage, the two have decided to go their separate ways. But what starts as an amicable split, turns ugly, especially when one of Los Angeles’ prominent lawyers gets involved (a.k.a Laura Dern). While the film moves at a slow pace without much of a plot, it still manages to captivate the audience. Writer and director Noah Baumbach does a wonderful job of fully developing his characters, and the pacing allows for stellar performances. Baumbach’s writing also shows the complexity of human relationships and how it is never just the fault of one person in a separation. “Marriage Story” is easily one of the best movies I’ve seen so far in 2020.
Rating: A
- “Miss Americana”
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For years I have wondered when the world would be treated to a Taylor Swift documentary. One can’t deny what an incredible career Miss Swift has had, and I always knew a documentary about her could be so eye-opening. Well, I wasn’t wrong! “Miss Americana” follows Swift after the release of her album “Reputation” and the writing process of her latest album, “Lover.” A strong focus is also placed on Swift’s new stand on politics. Meshing all of these events together provides an authentic look into who Taylor Swift is. It breaks down the image the media has placed on her and creates a more mature, thoughtful version. While I wanted more reflection of Swift’s past career to now, I still really enjoyed this film and the look inside the world of Taylor Swift.
Rating: A-
- “Fighting With My Family”
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I always have to include some weird, out-there film, and this is it! “Fighting With My Family” follows wannabe WWE wrestler Paige, who has been surrounded by wrestling her whole life. But, when she is selected over her brother to train for a WWE position, Paige realizes just how tough it is to chase her dream. Yes, the description and addition of WWE does make it seem like your average, mediocre film. But, Hollywood’s latest It girl, Florence Pugh, gives such a great performance that she alone makes up for all the film’s cheesiness. Even though Pugh has gone on to much more dynamic roles, it just shows how great of an actress she is. Besides that, the movie isn’t that bad. It has some great heartfelt moments and does a bit of exploring with mental illness. Overall, “Fighting With My Family” is a fun film with a lot of heart.
Rating: B-
- “Last Christmas”
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When I first heard of the development of a George Michael-themed Christmas movie, I died. When I read the reviews and saw the score on Rotten Tomatoes for said movie, I died again. “Last Christmas,” inspired by the Wham! song, is about Kate, a London woman down on her luck, but a chance encounter with a man named Tom starts her on a path to see all the good things in life. Critics really slammed this movie for being too predictable, but I disagree. When you watch the movie, you know something is up with this situation, but the actual twist isn’t so predictable. A lot of critics also said this movie was downright trash, but, once again, I disagree. There’s a lot of good to be found in “Last Christmas.” Emilia Clarke is a joy to watch as the female lead. Clarke is having a lot of fun, which naturally made me have fun! Henry Goulding is his always dashing self as Tom. My major complaint is that there was not enough George Michael! If you’re going to use this brilliant singer/songwriter as your inspiration, use his music in a useful and effective way! The movie does contain a lot of slow points, but it does not make the movie unbearable. I won’t say critics got this movie completely wrong, but I will say they were a bit too harsh with this one.
Rating: C-
- “1917”
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Another film that took home some big prizes this award season, “1917” follows two British soldiers who are sent on an urgent, seemingly impossible mission across enemy territory to deliver a message that could save over a thousand of their comrades. While the task is complicated, the plot is not. The movie plays out just as stated and like most other World War I films. What makes “1917” a remarkable movie is the technical aspects. Director Sam Mendes shot the film on a continuous stream. This means there are no cuts, and this direction allows for the film to flow seamlessly. The shots are also strikingly beautiful, and the battle sequences are on a grand scale. “1917” is an excellent movie visually, but don’t go into the film expecting much in plot.
Rating: B+
- “P.S. I Still Love You”
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“To All The Boys I Loved Before” took Netflix and the internet by storm. Everyone took Peter Kavinsky as their new internet boyfriend, so any sequel was going to have a lot riding on it. And it seems like it couldn’t live up to it. “P.S. I Still Love You” follows Peter and Lara Jean as they begin their real relationship, but things get shaky when secrets are revealed, and John Ambrose makes an appearance into LJ’s life. I’m a big fan of the books, and the second novel was never really my favorite, but I hoped the team at Netflix would be able to spice it up a bit. They didn’t. This sequel lacked the sparkle of the original and actually bored me. I felt like our beloved characters didn’t develop from the first and lacked any real plot points. I was disappointed, but I’m still holding out that the final film will help redeem this lackluster sequel.
Rating: C