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#mots commentary tracks

kxmpfflieger · 7 months

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i would love to hear any director’s commentary/insight on that scene in ch2 where christian offers a hand to orlando after drill and orlando refuses it 👀 anything fun to share abt their dynamic and/or characterization? 🌷

OUGH love this scene.

It's an important moment for both boys. Orlando a little more so. Sadly, I cant gush or go TOO much in depth about why its so important/neat to me, because WOAH WOAH its spoilers. But I'm just gonna say; there will be a call-back to this scene in the future.

But, there's some stuff I can say on Christian!

Christian hasnt felt strongly about Orlando up to this point; not really getting Atkins' "unnecessary" (in his eyes) approach of aggravating him constantly as payback, but also not being 100% on board with Percy eagerly wanting to befriend him. Even more so, considering Orlando has been very passive aggressive towards them. But mostly towards Percy. And people picking on Percy has always riled him up. This moment where Orlando refuses his help, to get up of all things, for no apparent reason, irks Christian in particular. In his mind, Orlando is being a stuck up asshole. He has been giving him the benefit of the doubt up to this point, but it kinda dawns on him then, especially with how he's been acting towards him and Percy, that the guy is not worth that kindness. Which is why Christian, in turn, becomes a little abrupt/passive aggressive towards Orlando at the end of the chapter. If this is how Orlando was really going to act like, "being the bigger person" was a waste of effort in Christian's eyes. If Orlando was going to be petty, so would Christian.

Some context Orlando too, without going really in to detail for the sake of future releases— He is STUNNED that Christian would do such a thing as offer to help. Orlando is 100% aware of how he's treated the rest of his comrades up to that point. And after all that, Christian still offers to help him up? It's obscene. There's a huge rush of emotions in that doe eyed glare of his when Christian extends his hand out; shock, astonishment... maybe a part of him was touched. He did think about taking that helping hand, but ultimately didn't. Orlando's next logical choice after being offered and turning down the olive branch (because in reality, that's what it was) is to go make a fuss about something else, and pretend that moment never happened.

#guys they are so silly #inquiries #christian walsh #orlando hicox #mots commentary tracks

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solarsonicsoda · 3 months

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Rebbie's Wrestling Reviews - Shows Reviews

AEW Revolution 2024

Sunday 3rd March 2024, it's AEW, it's Sting’s final match, this is AEW Revolution 2024! This show was built very well, and absolutely loaded up as a card without breaching Too Many Matches territory. Needless to say I’ve been hyped to watch this one! Sadly, I had a university class test worth 25% of a module on Monday, and I was woefully underprepared, so I couldn't justify staying up until 5am! I was able to catch the first hour before bed, plus the pre-show though! So without further ado, let's get into that pre-show!

Bang Bang Scissor Gang (Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, Billy Gunn, Jay White, Austin Gunn, & Colten Gunn def. Total Nonstop Arseholes (Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, & Satnam Singh w/ Karen Jarrett & Sonjay Dutt), Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen), & Willie Mack in 12:25

The signature Big Multi-Man Tag to Keep a Low Stakes Storyline Bubbling and Get Them on the Card match is on the pre-show on this night! Man, these TV Trope names are getting long… The Bang Bang Scissor Gang are the main focus here, the supergroup of The Acclaimed and Bullet Club Gold. This act is extremely frustrating for me, because their styles are just not blending, they have both been going nowhere, and most importantly: this group formed to take out the Undisputed Kingdom, which it has taken no steps to do! Why?! Anyways, Max Caster is at this point definitely doing a rap-failing gimmick, as he flubs his rap for the third time. I can’t say that's entralling but anyway. Let’s just focus on the match.

This was a fun mess of a match. It's your average big tag match, with a great moment as everyone in Team Jarrett does a Fargo Strut in unison. Love that. Why is Willie Mack on his team though? He’s a lovable guy! Billy Gunn gets a massive pop for his hot tag, and Jay White doesn't get a half bad one too. Our finish comes when there's all sorts of chaos, and out of it White is able to hit the Blade Runner on Willie Mack.

Post-match, White then cuts a promo hyping up the show and suggests he’ll appear at Dynamite: Big Business to get himself back on track. This will go on to be confirmed as Darby Allin vs Jay White, which Darby will hilariously struggle to find about at the post-show presser. Should be good!

2.5 STARS OUT OF 5

We have a couple segments here, first with Orange Cassidy! OC is having to tape his ribs at Doc Samson’s request, and the champ tells the Best Friends to stay in the back, because he’s sick of his friends getting hurt. They oblige, and we have the all-for-one hands in, including Lexy and Samson.

In our other segment: PAC is back! The Bastard cuts a great promo in one of his awesome stylised packages, promising he’s back soon. He even says he nearly “popped his clogs”, i.e DIED. I don't know what's gone on but all the best to Pac following that, and excited to see him

back!

Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander w/ Stokely Hathaway def. Julia Hart & Skye Blue in 13:30

Time for these teams to finally put their feud to bed, as Willow & Stat take on Julia Hart and her cronie Skye Blue. I love both Willow and Stat, so I’m ready for this one!

This is decent, and it's really great how julia looks so at home now. Her improvement has been something else! There’s some small awkwardness in this one but also fun stuff from great wrestlers. We also have Stokely on commentary, which is a plus for just about anything. This one comes to an end when Williw reverses a Code Blue into a pounce and then hits the Babe With The Powerbomb for the win.

3 STARS OUT OF 5

In between all these segments, I have to say I love RJ City and Renee Paquette, they're so fun. RJ keeps referencing eggs when talking about the scramble match, and Renee accidentally calls Danielson “Daniel Bryan” at one point. Haha, that was his name in the other place! What a goof! I make truly transcendent commentary on these shows. Let's just get to the main show.

Christian Cage (c) w/ Killswitch, Nick Wayne, & Mother Wayne def. Daniel Garcia for the TNT Championship in 16:52

Opening the show is our TNT Title match! Christian Cage has been killing it as the despicable Father Figure of AEW, whilst Garcia has been finally getting the sort of push he deserves, earning this shot after his great run in the Continental Classic. Cage has taken potshots at Garcia’s family, but Danny G has been unflappable in the face of it. I’m hyped for him and I hoped this would be his night! Let's see…

Garcia makes absolutely everything he does look so so so good, from his sells to his strikes to his slams. I am so invested in him right now. He targets the leg very well here, even though Christian gets some damage done. Danny brought the fight to Cage, and Killswitch interference is neutralised by “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard, Garcia’s mentor and friend who The Patriarchy took out. We had annearfall off a piledriver that I thought was it. However, a Nick Wayne stunner while the referee is distracted allows for a Killswitch from Cage and the win. A bit of a weak finish to be honest, but a good match! I honestly expected to see Adam Copeland getting involved to help Daniel

Garcia, potentially for the win which I hoped for. Oh well, great showing for Danny and I can't be unhappy that Christian’s great reign is carrying on!

3.5 STARS OUT OF 5

Eddie Kingston (c) def. Bryan Danielson for the AEW Continental Championship, ROH World Championship, & NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion in 19:45

Next is the big Continental Crown match! Eddie Kingston wants Danielson to finally respect him, and if Eddie wins, Bryan has to shake his hand. Danielson wants that title though, and he wants to prove Eddie isn't good enough. C’mon Eddie!

God, Eddie is so over. The atmosphere is amazing. This match would be awesome to see live. This was a great match that you’d expect from these two. I was getting ready for bed at the time that I first saw this, so maybe not at my most attentive. Hence, I gave it a rewatch and it did not disappoint. Great match. A strike exchange unwisely instigated by Danielson gives way to two powerbomb attempts from Eddie, and he finally lands it after countering a Busaiku Knee with a lariat, stacking the American Dragon for the win!

Post-match, Dragon has to shake the hand of Eddie, but doesn't seem like he will, causing Eddie to back off. Bryan calls him back though, but then snubs him. He was only joking though, and calls Eddie back to shake his hand! He even raises his hand, having to switch to the uninjured left though! Great stuff!

4 STARS OUT OF 5

Wardlow (w/ Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) def. Brian Cage (w/ Prince Nana), Lance Archer (w/ Jake Roberts), Powerhouse Hobbs, Chris Jericho, Dante Martin, Hook, & Magnus in an All-Star Scramble for the No. 1 Contendership for the AEW World Championship in 16:22

We have the remnants of Meat Madness, the All-Star Scramble! Wardlow is on the war path, Archer & Hobbs are bringing some meat, as is Cage! Hook wants that rematch with Samoa Joe, Magnus & Dante Martin won qualifiers earlier in the week, and Jericho is here too.

This one was a bit awkward in places but it had those “meat” chants, which I love, and some fun spots! I saw someone saying the “meat” chant is preventing unironic love of big men clashes, and I couldn't disagree more! I love the “meat” chant and what it signifies completely unironically. Don't get me wrong, I fully see how this is a chant that might get out of control, I fear the meat, but as of right now I love it. It's just an extra wrinkle of fun to help big up those giant clashes. Maybe that's just me though. In the end, a big powerbomb from Wardlow to Dante wins it for the Undisputed Kingdom man.

3 STARS OUT OF 5

Roderick Strong (w/ Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) def. Orange Cassidy (c) for the AEW International Championship in 12:43

International Title on the line here, as the Undisputed Kingdom’s Roderick Strong takes on Orange Cassidy! Roddy has been on a mission to claim this title since the group’s inception, but he faces a challenge in the workhorse champion Orange Cassidy. Cassidy’s second reign has definitely been underwhelming though, as that first reign was so brilliant and his loss was such a great story. Him winning it back obviously came from somewhat of a comedy of injuries, but he really should have moved on. Him beating Moxley was great though. I just would have put the belt on an underutilised great to raise their stock. I don't know. OC is battered though, especially that back! Match time!

I wanna start by stating that the Messiah of the Backbreaker ring style is so so so good. Everything is setting up so nicely, he hits so many great backbreakers, and I always forget how good he is before seeing a big match of his! Just so many cool uses of Strong’s offence, that End of Heartache countered into a Stundog Millionaire was awesome! Really fun match here, with an End of Heartache getting the win for Strong! New champion!

Then post match, coming up from behind, IT’S KYLE O’REILLY! The Violent Artist has been out for nearly two years but he’s back! He looks absolutely crazed behind Strong, but he takes him in for a hug. Strong invites him to the Undisputed Kingdom, but he rejects an invite, placing the t-shirt back on Roddy’s shoulder, before heading back up the ramp. Bit awkward but I think we’re all too happy to see Kyle! He’s welling up and saying thank you to the crowd, and it's all very nice.

3.5 STARS OUT OF 5

Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) def. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) in 21:47

This one oughta be good! FTR and the BCC have been tussling recently after Moxley and Castagnoli staked their claim as a top tag tema in AEW. They fought on Dynamite, but that ended in a time limit draw just as FTR had them beat. Now it’s time we get a final winner.

Coming to the ring, BCC have LOD-style shoulder pads! That’s awesome! This one was an awesome fight. Nice striking, cool tag action, and it gets so so good as it goes on! Claudio's mid-Doomsday Device counter, Dax’s battle scars, the uppercut Doomsday Device, the uppercut from Cash’s dive, Claudio's frantic sleeper to ensure Mox got the win: so many amazing moments and this one was absolutely great stuff!

Post-match, there's clear respect but no shaking of hands. They don't need it, they did it in the ring.

4.5 STARS OUT OF 5

Toni Storm (c) (w/ Mariah May & Luther) def. Deonna Purrazzo for the AEW Women's World Championship in 12:17

Old friends clash as Toni Storm must defend against Deonna Purrazzo, who isn't a fan of the new delusional persona of the Timeless One. It seems Toni Storm is reverting to her classic look though, but after a good few takes, everybody realises it’s really Mariah May! Genuinely uncanny, I really thought it was for her for a minute.

This match was decent enough, I wish it had a little bit more to it though. There was some nice technical work from Deonna, which I’m a big fan of, but I feel like this one just needed some extra meat on the bones. Our finish comes when Toni is tapping to the Venus de Milo but Toni’s beloved butler Luther. distracts the ref, allowing for Mariah to provide a distraction. Henceforth, Toni hits Storm Zero and wins! Smashing! Thinking back though, did she actually even attempt the Break a Leg which I assumed was introduced for this clash? Not sure, maybe worth a rewatch.

3 STARS OUT OF 5

Will Ospreay def. Konosuke Takeshita in 21:57

The Don Callis Family implodes!... but in a friendly way. Ospreay is debuting, Takeshita gets a big PPV match, yippee!

This was a clash definitely reminiscent of Ospreay’s back catalog of indie main events. Both he and Takeshita bring plenty of extra style from both men’s time in Japan too though. But it was definitely more about awesome moves and counters than story and selling in places. It was pretty awesome though! Takeshita is simply amazing in my opinion. Everything he does has such an impact. He did so well, and is offence is so great: the Takeshita Line, the big knee, the sheer brainbuster, it's all so good. The Oscutter counter with the Blue Thunder Bomb was simply amazing too! As was the counter into the Package Tombstone/German combo! I do wish that one in particular wasn't the spot where Ospreay did a fighting spirit Hidden Blade, and I especially wish he didn't immediately have the strength to cover, but Takeshita got to kick out at one so I’m mostly appeased there. Ospreay is obviously getting a lot of plaudits for this one, not undeservedly, but I just think that Takeshita deserves so much more. He’s maybe my favourite in-ring wrestler right now. His style, personality, and skill are just perfect for me. I want this faction to stop being about Don and start being about Takeshita. He’s incredible. Anyway, back to the match. It was definitely great, I think! I do wish Ospreay sold everything as he went a bit more though. Definitely moved a tad fast for my taste, I wish he had just given everything a smidge more breathing room. I know it was the type of match where it's all action, and I loved it for that, but I feel like you can do the same match in the same style just truly ticking over into an all-timer with a little bit more of it, as well as a proper story. There’s a story to the match forming, but it's definitely sparser than expected. This was pretty awesome though. Ospreay is able to hit the hidden blade for the win. I do wish Takeshita got put away with something more but I’m just a big Takeshita fan, and this is just match one for Ospreay in AEW.

Kyle Fletcher vs Will Ospreay is announced for Wednesday Night Dynamite, which will go on to main event the show!

4.5 STARS OUT OF 5

Samoa Joe def. "Hangman" Adam Page & Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana) in a triple threat for the AEW World Championship in 19:41

This is one of my favourite AEW builds in a while! Slightly odd injury angle for Page aside, it's been cool. The hottest feud of 2023 is heading into the AEW World Championship scene! Hangman Adam Page is rightly mad after everything Swerve put him through, and is determined to stop him winning the title. Swerve Strickland is extremely popular despite his unhinged tendencies, and is determined to become champion. Samoa Joe is a big nasty champion and he does not care for their squabbling. When Page doesn't seek to find a winner when they draw in a Number One Contendership match, thinking Swerve will now lose his championship shot, but instead they're both getting one! How does this one play out?

There’s so much story here in an awesome triple threat. Hangman absolutely loses it here, and it’s brilliantly done. Seeing his treatment of the referees and more really cemented this unraveled character. I see a lot of people saying this is a heel turn for Page, and I do agree, but I really hope it remains consistent and he is only a heel because of Swerve. If I see him being a heel without it being because he is obsessed with stopping Swerve, or because he’s losing his mind about Swerve, or he thinks someone is a fan of Swerve, I will be unhappy. Please. I think the whole character remains much more interesting that way, and true to his character and the type of arcs he serves best, y’know? Swerve should be a tweener I think, because the crowd reaction is ramping up, but he will lose so much of his charm if he doesn't remain a cocky, cold worldbeater. I want him feuding with faces once he wins the belt. I want him to remain the Swerve we love, and maybe build to Page finally getting that singles win over Swerve.

Anyway, back to the match. Swerve looked so awesome and did everything so well here, he’s on the top of his game. Joe, as always, is a beast. The Swerve Buckshot Lariat from the corner was an electric moment, super cool and a great story detail. Hangman was also awesome, as per. Swerve is on top, looks to be putting Hangman away, but Joe comes in with the Coquina Clutch on Hangman! It’s not on for too long when Page taps, with Swerve’s dreams crushed. He definitely did this to deny Swerve, which they speculate about on commentary. I would have loved it if they were facing each other for that moment and we saw Hangman choose to do it, but it seems they want some ambiguity.

Swerve looks so heartbroken post-match, as if he knows this man should have more after everything they’ve been through. I would honestly love if this develops into a story about Swerve fighting Hangman into refinding his way, perhaps with a title change or two! It looks like we’re getting Swerve vs. Joe at Dynasty, the new PPV announced on this night, and I do hope this is where Swerve wins the big one. I did kind of want a title change here, but Joe has been so awesome I’m totally happy he gets a longer reign. I was not convinced at first but he's been a great champion and has definitely shown in the last year or so that he can still go at a high level, which I think some of us might have questioned. Great match though!

4 STARS OUT OF 5

Sting & Darby Allin (w/ Steven Borden Jr. & Garrett Borden) def. The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson)

In 1985, the man called Sting wrestler his first match, and in 2024, aged 64, he wrestled his last. Sting and his biggest ally in recent years, Darby Allin, became the Tag Team Champions in the build to this one, making this final match a title match against The Young Bucks. The Bucks are now touting their EVP positions, playing corporate nightmares who took issue with Sting, leading to a brutal beatdown. They want to retire Sting here with a blemish on his perfect record.

This is an awesome hardcore spotfest with real heart given the occasion. Sting’s sons get involved early on after an emotionally charged promo video, and an emotionally charged entrance to Seek and Destroy with the Borden Boys dressed as the surfer and Wolfpac variants of Sting. Them hitting Stinger Splashes was a great moment. Glass is also brought in early on! Go cry me a river! It’s set up very nicely for Darby to do the scariest dumbest spot ever! I loved it! He flips off a ladder in the ring, through this glass pane set up on chairs on the outside, after one of the EVPs moves. The look of his back is something else. Shortly after, Sting goes through a pane of glass! He is 64! Darby is a terrible influence on him! This was also awesome though. Another fun spot is when duel superkicks are preceded by an emotional sentiment of “we’re not sorry, we hate you” from the EVPs. Sting doesn't take that though, even if he is two-on-one. This was just a great time from start to finish! Sting and Darby retain when they dump Nicholas through a table, Scorpion Death Drop on Matthew, kick out, but a Coffin Drop into a Scorpion Deathlock combo wins it! Fuck you, this was the right decision. It was much more fun to just have him win and silence the heels, just like he always has. A Tag Team Title tournament could really help refresh that division too!

Sting thanks the fans, and Darby, and it's all very emotional on the mic post-show. He's getting “you still got it” chants and Darby is whispering time cues. Sting says “Hold on, I’m getting cues” and the ppv ends… uhhhh

Sting goes on to say his goodbyes to the live crowd, as Darby takes his leave to go to the hospital. There’s people crying in the audience, but Sting is keeping it pretty jovial. Tony Khan says a few words and the roster gathers at the top of the ramp to see off The Icon. Dax Harwood appears to be bawling his eyes out. Sting heads up the ramp and thus ends a legendary career.

I have no idea how to rate this one to be honest. It's a very subjective match to be honest, at least for how brilliant it is for you. I don't think you can deny it was a touching send-off for Sting, it was a good time. Some say it's instantly five stars, and I could definitely see it. Sting was always someone I never really grew up with: WCW ended before I was born, he was an elder statesman of TNA when I got into that, and I wasn't watching WWE very faithfully when he had his short run. For this reason, maybe this match doesn't hit me perfectly like it does everyone well but I can't help but love it for everything it was. My favourite Sting may be Joker Sting, but I appreciate the brilliance of The Stinger.

4 STARS OUT OF 5

Final Thoughts

Overall, this was an awesome show. Not a bad match on it for my money, and up and down the card it was different but brilliant matches. AEW are known for great PPVs, but this is definitely one of their best in recent memory! I think summing all up, this one has to be 4.5 stars out of 5.

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jmsa1287 · 4 years

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A Year in Review: The 31 Best Episodes of TV of 2019

There's never been more TV than this year. Thanks to the launch of new streaming services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ (with more to come in 2020!), there is an infinite number of hours of content out there. And while not all those TV shows are worth a watch, mot seasons of shows genuinely contain at least one great-to-amazing episode. The 31 episodes listed below are the ones that stood out the most; that either became part of the cultural conversation or were not well-watched but still resonated in a way that deserved more attention. Whether it was the writing, the acting, a visual moment or a hilarious scene, these selected episodes rose above the cut to show what TV can do in this unprecedented era.

31. “Striking Vipers,” Black Mirror Season 5, Netflix

30. “Smell Ya Later,” Killing Eve Season 2, BBC America

29. “Chase Gets the Gays,” The Other Two Season 1, Comedy Central

28. “Refugees,” Ramy Season 1, Hulu

27. “Finish It,” The Deuce Season 3, HBO

26. “Chapter 7: The Reckoning,” The Mandalorian Season 1, Disney+

25. “Life’s a Beach,” Pose Season 2, FX

24. “Easter,” Better Things Season 3, FX

23. “Chapter 8: Overview,” The OA Season 2, Netflix

22. “Reborn,” Servant Season 1, Apple TV+

21. “Stories,” Broad City Season 5, Comedy Central

20. “Blondie,” High Maintenance Season 3, HBO

19. “The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed,” Euphoria Season 1, HBO

18. “The Bad Mother,” Big Little Lies Season 2, HBO

17. “405 Method Not Allowed,” Mr. Robot Season 4, USA

16. “1:23:45,” Chernobyl Season 1 HBO

15. “Dundee,” Succession Season 2, HBO

14. “Episode 9,” Mindhunter Season 2, Netflix

13. “401 Unauthorized,” Mr. Robot Season 4, USA

12. “Take Me as I Am, Whoever I Am,” Modern Love Season 1, Amazon

11. “Part Four,” When They See Us Season 1, Netflix

Ava DuVernay's achingly painful "When They See Us" miniseries about the persecution of the Central Park 5 is capped off with its brilliant final episode; a showcase for Jharrel Jerome ("Moonlight") who undergoes a transformation here unlike any other actor on TV this year. Playing Korey Wise, we see Jerome go from happy-go-lucky New Yorker to a victim of the vicious prison system who is beholden to his truth despite its consequences. It is a harrowing 88 minutes of TV that is both devastating and beautiful, carried on the shoulders of Jerome's unparalleled performance.

10. “A God Walks Into a Bar,” Watchmen Season 1, HBO

The penultimate episode of "Watchmen," the buzziest show of the fall, is the most Damon Lindelof has been during this stellar season of TV. "A God Walks into a Bar" is a revealing episode in the same way as the last season of "The Leftovers," Lindelof's previous project. The episode reveals that for all of its surrealness and commentary about race and gender in our world, the "remix" of the popular comic book series is, at its core, a love story. Lindelof sets the episode as a classic cosmic joke but as it goes on, it exposes itself to be full of heart and emotion; about two people from different parts of the universe (and different parts of the space-time continuum?) connecting. At a bar. Over beer, conversation, and eggs.

09. “Strawberries,” Ramy Season 1, Hulu

Unlike anything depicted on TV, "Strawberries," the peak of Hulu's comedy "Ramy," created by standup Ramy Youssef, is told in flashback, tracking a young Ramy in the days leading up to and after 9/11. Seeing the event play out from the perspective of a young Muslim child in middle school is heartbreaking and raw; a highlight that is thoughtful, meditative, funny and surprising.

08. "Shook One Pt. II,” Euphoria Season 1, HBO

It's not until "Shook One Pt. II" that "Euphoria" finally clicks and finds its groove. Playing out at a carnival, the episode raises the dramatic stakes for the show's young cast, where creator Sam Levinson's bold aesthetic choices complement the intense tension on display. Part thriller, part romance and all edge, this episode of "Euphoria" features stellar performances from Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi and more.

07. “Volume 7: The Magician" + "Volume 8: The Hanged Man,” Too Old to Die Young Season 1 Amazon

It was hard to pick just one episode of Nicolas Winding Refn's twisted noir cop saga "Too Old to Die Young." The controversial auteur made a perfect thing for streaming age; somewhere between a film and a series. NWR said himself that you can watch the episodes out of order, or start from anywhere, which is sort of true. But it's the back-to-back episodes towards the back half of the series, "Volume 7: The Magician" and "Volume 8: The Hanged Man," that stand out the most; a chaotic and insane set of events that turn "TOTDY" on its head.

06. “Posh,” PEN15 Season 1, Hulu

"PEN15" is hands down the funniest show of 2019 but it's the Hulu series episode "Posh" — a thoughtful and insightful examination of racism in the 00s — that is the show's highlight. In the episode, BFFs Maya (Maya Erskine) and Anna (Anna Konkle) make their own version of the Spice Girls with a group of mean girls at their middle school for a class project. They force Maya, who is Japanese-American, to play Scary Spice — the only woman of color in the insanely popular British girl group, because Maya is the only girl of color among them. It sparks a deep divide between Maya and Anna that is explored in the short episode with maximum effect.

05. “DC,” Succession Season 2, HBO

Over the last few years, Americans have made Congressional hearings they're own sort of perverse reality show. So, it's no surprise that "Succession" would go there and put members of the Roy family on display and under scrutiny. The main targets here are Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) and Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun), who have to answer a number of questions about Waystar Royco's handling of alleged sexual assaults and crimes involving the company's cruise line. "Succession" had been building up to this moment since early Season 1 and the payoff is both cringe-worthy and hilarious.

04. “The Great War and Modern Memory,” True Detective Season 3 HBO

Filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier's ("Green Room," "Hold the Dark") crack at a TV show is nothing short of spectacular. With "The Great War and Modern Memory," he establishes an unsettling mood and tone to the third installment of "True Detective," a somber story about two cops investigating the disappearance of two young children over the span of several decades. The episode is poetic and solemn, featuring two mind-blowing performances from its stars Mahershala Ali and a career-best Stephen Dorff. They're both in tune with what kind of show they're in, selling creator Nic Pizzolatto's writing, which coming out of the mouths of other performers would likely sound dreadful.

03. “Episode 1,” Fleabag Season 2, Amazon

Filming a dinner scene is not as easy as it looks. For the first episode of the second season of the outstanding "Fleabag" both writer/creator/star Phoebe Waller-Bridge and director Harry Bradbeer hit out of the park. It's a whirlwind of an episode where PWB's Fleabag character literally tells the audience Season 2 is a love story, which, of course, involves the so-called Hot Priest (Andrew Scott). "Episode 1" is fast, zippy, and manages to get most of the show's cast in one room, featuring wonderful performances from not only PWB and Scott but also Olivia Coleman, Sian Clifford and Brett Gelman. It's a chaotic half-hour of TV that has a kinetic energy unlike anything else this year, taking an awkward family dinner to its limits.

02. "Series Finale Part 2: Hello, Elliot,” Mr. Robot Season 4, USA

The series finale of “Mr. Robot” is as emotional as it is shocking. Sam Esmail sticks the landing with his hacking drama, turning a story about a vigilante and his crew trying to right the wrong world into a personal journey of a young man struggling with deep trauma. It’s a beautiful sendoff, that is fully satisfying and a magnificent accomplishment of modern television.

01. “Never Knew a Love Like this Before,” Pose Season 2, FX

"Pose" proved itself to be an uplifting and hopeful show, uprooting cliched and tragic stories about trans people we've come to see on screen and instead, opts to show us something beautiful. But its "Never Knew a Love Like This Before" that is 2019's best episode of the year — a heart-wrenching and unexpected boom and a reminder that trans people, especially trans women of color, are often in danger. Here, Candy (an out-of-this-world performance from Angelica Ross), who orbited around the main cast in the series, is murdered. She returns to her funeral in spirit, having in-depth conversations with her friends, enemies and frenemies. Pray Tell (Billy Porter) honors her by moving forward with her wish — a lip-synch category for the balls that he previously rejected. It's a beautiful story about the history of queer culture that's personalized in an unexpected way.

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ahouseoflies · 6 years

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Best Films of 2017, Part IV

We’re getting closer. Part I, Part II, Part III. GOOD MOVIES 42. A Quiet Passion (Terence Davies)- I think the biggest strength of this film, a pretty conventional one by Davies's standards, is a drive inward that is steady but not judgmental. Dickinson's retreat isn't treated as tragedy, but as a natural trajectory that was there in the first scene. (A lot of the heavy lifting is done by Emma Bell, the actress who plays young Emily with constancy.) The life of the mind is a lonely one, but there isn't much choice in the matter. The film moves along in a leisurely way, matching the long days of such privileged people, and it's funny until the bon mots drift into Frank Underwood territory that doesn't make sense. And the parts of the movie that don't work, the ones that succumb to the biopic mold, feel like that: told in the cadence of a joke but a bit empty. 41. Stronger (David Gordon Green)- For most of its running time, Stronger is a raw film bolstered by searing, sharply felt lead performances. It doesn't take the easy way out or succumb to cliche, suggesting that, gasp, maybe being a symbol for an entire city could be exhausting and frustrating. Then, quite quickly, it gives in to all of the cliches. The conversation with Carlos would have been an awesome deleted scene. 40. Split (M. Night Shyamalan)- Shyamalan flat-out knows how to make this kind of movie. It's not without its faults--can you even complain about his tendency to cast himself anymore?--but his cross-cutting game hasn't slipped a beat. The film is composed and patient, but it doesn't trespass the self-indulgent line the way that some of his earlier work does. Some of the abuse stuff is handled clumsily, but I suppose it has to match the touch of the psychology material, which can only be breezy and flippant. Here's what's different about the filmmaker's approach: Shyamalan hasn't guided many actors to great performances. (I guess Haley Joel Osment is still number one.) But this movie is James McAvoy's performance. He gets to have fun technically by switching back and forth among the personas, but the serious business is the fact that the whole thing's tone rests on his shoulders. Like many successful B movies, it has a fluidity that allows the audience to laugh at it, laugh with it, or be genuinely scared--sometimes in a span of minutes. If McAvoy hadn't gone all the way, the movie wouldn't have been able to.

39. Molly’s Game (Aaron Sorkin)- This movie has a lot of the things that make me love movies. A scene in which someone flushes drugs down the toilet and hides valuables because the feds are coming. Self-effacing but rousing speeches that reference classic literature. An "I'm good for it" sequence dedicated to someone's gambling downward spiral. Cleavage. But all of the things I'm describing are window dressing, and this is maybe the first Aaron Sorkin screenplay that has more fat than meat, as tasty as that fat may be. The film's thesis shines in Idris Elba's strangely-accented monologue, the one that starts with "Is this what a RICO suspect looks like?" It seems to suggest that the world is indeed rigged against women, but it might be because they have more integrity than men, which makes it more difficult for them to succeed. It's an interesting notion, and the figure at the center of the film might be perfect to prove it, but there are so many flashbacks and scenes that feel obligatory to get us there. 38. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Rian Johnson)- Good, if micro-managed in the way that a film-as-shareholder-commodity has to be. It's interesting to me that, though there are only nine movies that take place in this universe, the storytelling is more codified than any other genre I can think of. Even though it's less clinical than The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi has to jump through an inordinate number of hoops to be "a Star Wars movie." No matter how these are sold, they all have the same beats. That history is a gift in some ways. Even though we haven't heard from him in thirty-plus years, Jedi Master Luke's personality tracks in every way. It makes total sense how he would hold people up as symbols instead of personalities, and the movie benefits from the archetypes its predecessors have created. On the other hand, I think we spend thirty minutes on a mission that fails, and the movie hangs Finn out to dry. It's a sort of Empire mandate that the characters have to be separated from one another for the majority of the running time, and that makes for a strained middle section. I get that people like these movies because they're engineered and manicured for maximum pleasure, and I cherish the goofy bits like the drunk creature thinking BB-8 is a slot machine. Maybe these just aren't for me. Until I cry at the end. 37. Win It All (Joe Swanberg)- It ends abruptly and doesn't get as psychological as it could, but Win It All is designed for maximum pleasure. There are a few inventive gestures that make for a jaunty hang--I loved the superimposed counter that showed how up or down Eddie's bankroll was. Jake Johnson, who co-wrote, has real rakish chops. 36. American Made (Doug Liman)- It's helpful to compare this movie to T.C.'s summer disaster The Mummy, which cast him as a static rake. Doug Liman presents the same smiling mug, but he punches a few holes into the persona, letting us see the shortcomings of T.C.'s Barry Seal if not the delusional quality that the actual man must have had. (The movie tries to sell us on boredom as the main motivation for a near-suicide mission, but it was probably more complex than that.) The actor is at his best when he lets himself seems slightly dumb, when the audience is a few steps ahead of him. Luckily, that's the whole film. It helps that this is the first Liman movie since the original Bourne Identity to have a vibrant "stolen" quality to its visuals. American Made careens through its beats at a breakneck pace, and the biggest flaw of the movie is that it remains that fast at the end, when we need more answers. 35. Mudbound (Dee Rees)- A true ensemble, Mudbound has a deft hand with its own emotional effects. Dee Rees knows the moments that matter--the reunion of father and son after the War is unforgettable--and she nails them. The ending is a poignant culmination of a lot of momentum. Much of the film's success comes from real Movie Stars, Jason Mitchell chief among them, elevating their characters past types though. And some of them don't get there all the way. Jason Clarke's Henry is pretty much Unfeeling Man's Man Farmer and Jonathan Banks is totally Racist Pappy. (Not a joke: His character is actually called Pappy.) In the end, I can't help but suspect that similar characters and situations--he drinks to forget what he's seen!--haven't been staged better elsewhere.

34. Raw (Julia Ducournau)- These types of movies--by that I mean late New French Extremity, I guess--have to go too far. If they didn't, they would lose the perverse aesthetic high ground that they're all so smug about. So it goes too far, but I would like to show Raw to someone making, say, an X-Men movie because Julia Ducournau crafts more immersive world-building in twenty minutes than some of those movies do in multiple entries. The beginning was jagged, but when the storytelling settled into itself, it reminded me of Repulsion because the taboo that guides Raw starts out as a metaphor, then becomes a device, then becomes literal, and then it circles back around to metaphor. Maybe that journey is the reason it exists. 33. Get Out (Jordan Peele)- I saw this movie twice. The first time I was kind of cavalier about it. The line I said at parties was: “I personally prefer genre movies that let you attach social commentary to them. The subtext is the text here.” Knowing the film's secrets the second time around helped me to appreciate the performances better, especially in the powerhouse hypnotism scene. Kaluuya has to play an everyman but also, for obvious reasons, an everyman who stands out. The balance of vulnerability and heroism that he pulls off is impressive, armed with a fake-smile that is perfect for the micro-aggressions he has to stand and take. Chris embodies a civility that lets him stay in the house past his level of comfort, but he’s smart enough to insist on leaving when some horror protagonists would get illogical. I still think the film escalates a bit too quickly from suspicion to actual danger, and, man, I don't know what that TSA investigation tangent is doing at such a crucial moment. But I'll admit that I didn't give the film enough credit in February. Comedies of manners are common; horrors of manners are rare. 32. Logan Lucky (Steven Soderbergh)- From a screenwriting perspective, there are probably two schools of thought for heist movies. Approach A outlines every detail of the plan; that way, when the characters overcome their challenges, we are more impressed because we were warned of the dangers in advance. Approach B leaves the viewer in suspense, and the hurdles pop up for the viewer in a way that mirrors the characters' surprise. I prefer Approach A, and I think there's a degree of difficulty that can't be discounted there. In fact, there's a sort of joy of exposition that is unique to the heist genre and jives with Approach A. Logan Lucky operates mostly on plane B, and it frustrated me at first in what seems like a sterile, straight first act. But then, as I try to avoid spoilers, it goes so far past what we thought the heist would be, and it branches out into Soderberghian "what was actually happening during that time" territory. I had to re-evaluate my prejudices as I joined in on the fun. Despite the inevitable "What It Did Wrong" YouTubes that some killjoy will make, I didn't notice any narrative cheating. Daniel Craig is the eye in the zany storm. 31. The Big Sick (Michael Showalter)- I feel slightly diminishing returns with each super-autobiographical portrait of a comedian. As heart-wrenching as this one gets, it follows the beats that we're used to, right down to the rock-bottom argument with a fast food cashier. Cue the twenty different endings and the uninspired visual style. But why be a sour-puss when faced with a movie so sincere and eager to please? Besides keeping all of the subplot plates spinning, besides being fair to the female character, the film offers original moments and ideas. The triangle that emerges among Nanjiani, Romano, and Hunter authentically captures the way decorum frost melts once two generations realize their common ground. And "the movie that a guy shows a girl to test her taste on a third date" is something that I myself am guilty of, but I haven't seen it portrayed in a film. What isn't unique in the big structural picture is completely unique in certain moments. 30. The Belko Experiment (Greg McLean)- Its ending is only "good enough," but The Belko Experiment is my kind of ultraviolent trash. I would be perfectly happy if we could get the White Stripes of Experiment movies on odd years and alternate them with The Strokes of Purge movies on even years. For one reason or another, empathy machine John Gallagher, Jr. is still in his Hi, Mom! or Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight phase. When he gets his Taxi Driver, watch out.

29. The Lego Batman Movie (Chris McKay)- I laughed twice during the opening production logos. Of course it devolves into everyone teaming up to save the city, as the straight versions of these movies do, but The Lego Batman Movie, especially in its lower stakes first half, was one of the funniest films of the year. I'm kind of thrilled that the satirizing of tropes I cherished from the margins in the '90s is now de rigeur, sponsored by the same studio that has shoved cliches down our throats. Will Arnett deserves special mention for inhabiting this specific version of Batman so well that he makes you rethink 70+ years of the character's make-up. It's no small feat. This movie, yes, probably counts as a slip-up of my superhero ban. I didn’t realize that until I was halfway through.

28. A Cure for Wellness (Gore Verbinski)- This is a difficult film to recommend because, if the person you're talking to cares only about story, he won't like it. It's strained and sometimes illogical, a "you can never leave" story that has been around the block a few times. But look out for the Miami Viceans on here when this film gets reconsidered for its visuals because, I'm telling you now, A Cure for Wellness has the most stately and controlled images this side of Kubrick. It's a perfect reference Blu-Ray if you still care about such things. Verbinski is credited with the story, and I doubt he told the screenwriter much more than "water, wrinkled faces, the color white," but he does some things with that sandbox that I haven't seen before. 27. It Comes at Night (Trey Edward Shults)- It Comes at Night never completely explains its own horror conceit of encroaching "sickness"; even by the end, there's a lot that we don't know about the apparently apocalyptic event that has singled out the characters. That presence of an absence is the film's greatest strength--it allows us to attach to the human frailty at the center without distraction. However, it's the film's greatest weakness as well because it's what keeps the proceedings small, like a cost-cutting measure. In capturing bleak human frailty, Trey Edward Shults knows exactly what he's doing. He uses literal darkness to suggest emotional darkness, and his script guides the viewer along character arcs without holding anyone's hand. A character uses the word "brother-in-law" instead of "brother" and, because of the context, it produces as much of a gasp as a gunshot would. I didn't recognize Riley Keough at first, which is an excellent sign for a young actress. There's a moment when her character catches another character eyeing her breasts, and she tugs her shirt with a unique mixture of flattery and shame. I can't wait to see what she does next. 26. Wind River (Taylor Sheridan)- If a movie has a scene of #RennerSeason making his own bullets, then my fingers won't let me give it lower than three stars. He's amazing/hilarious in this as the know-it-all spirit warrior--basically Steven Seagal in a better actor's body. He's perfect for squinting and selling lines like, "You keep looking for clues...but you're missing all the signs." Taylor Sheridan's screenplay is tight and meticulous in a way that we used to get all the time but feels special now. The backstory is doled out with care, and every character is rich enough to get a moment to shine. He shoots his own material with less visceral impact than someone like Denis Villeneuve did, but he does lend a specific sense of place to the film.There's a crucial late scene that sort of solves the mystery for us, making everything that comes after seem like falling action baggage. Your mileage may vary, but I'm not sure there are other ways to get across the information. I was okay with it. 25. The Post (Steven Spielberg)- The Post is a great time at the movies, but it's ultimately a bit too much of a movie for me. It has a hand-held lightness to its look, an energy that belies how quickly it was made. Streep's Kate Graham has a satisfying arc that eschews a lot of the grandstanding that this type of picture would normally lend her. Her lesson in confidence is laid on thickly, but Streep doesn't play it that way. Unfortunately some of the brusqueness I like in the filmmaking carries over to the screenplay. It offers few of the laughs-in-crisis that make individual Spielberg scenes so good, and most of the conflicts resolve themselves just a little too easily. ("I wonder if the guy I think has the papers actually has them...yep, after a few calls, I found out he does.") The less said about the cartoonish Vietnam protestors and the CCR needle-drop, the better. Overall, do I prefer the lean, realistic version of this story over the more belabored, showy version? Sure.

24. The Work (Jairus McLeary, Gethin Aldous)- The Work is undeniably raw, pure, and effective in the emotion it documents and generates. The access given to the filmmakers as they capture a group therapy program in Folsom State Prison is unbelievable. But for that reason, there's something on the margins of the film that feels exploitative and violating to me. I'm interested in how Bloods and Aryans console each other, not to mention how the most damaged figure is not a prisoner at all. But I get the sense I shouldn't be watching any of this. 23. Marjorie Prime (Michael Almereyda)- I like everything that this chamber piece specifies and everything that it decides to leave vague. The film is unsentimental, considering how sentimental this premise could be. It seems bent on reminding us, sometimes tragically, about how we shape our own memories until the original moment is gone in every way. I'll admit that it seems a little slight by the end, despite the weight suggested by what I just described. Even when it's surprising you, the film never writes in capital letters, and part of that feeling comes from bland visuals. But that's a small complaint for a film that is grappling so palpably with the challenges of authenticity in modern life.

#film #lists #movie reviews

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motorsporthq · 5 years

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Three things we learned from Austin's MotoGP race

Three things we learned from Austin’s MotoGP race

MotoGP / Americas GP / Commentary

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43m ago

MotoGP’s Grand Prix of the Americas was notable for Marc Marquez’s winning streak ending, but it also provided plenty of intrigue.

Alex Rins took his first MotoGP victory ahead of Valentino Rossi as talking points such as the challenges of the track surface and Honda woes surfaced.

Mot…

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wildcatfitnessuk · 6 years

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The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK

There are so many analogies you can come up with relating our bodies to cars – you wouldn’t drive a car with no fuel in the tank so why do the same to your body when working out, you wouldn’t slam the breaks on a car at 100mph so why would you just stop in the peak of your workout – but of course most importantly – you wouldn’t drive a car without an MOT – so why not look after your own health and give your body one too? And that’s where Werlabs comes in.

Werlabs is a Swedish health tech company newly launched in the UK, and their mission is to provide people with the right information to manage their health.

Photo by Anna Jackson.

They have partnered with the NHS to offer anyone access to private blood testing – anything from their XL Package (which tests for 44 separate analysis and provides a comprehensive health check) to the Heart Health Test to the Stress Hormone Test. They offer 12 different tests to allow people an insight into how healthy they really are, and your results are all stored securely online, so not only can you access them whenever and wherever you need to, but if you decide to test routinely (say every 6-12 months) you can easily keep track of changes.

I like to think I live a pretty healthy lifestyle – I train hard and in various ways, I eat nutritionally dense food, drink plenty of water and rest when my body needs it. But I had no idea what was going on beneath the surface, so I decided to try an XL Blood test which measures everything from thyroid function, to diabetes risk to liver function.

I’ll be honest, I’m a bit of a shocker when it comes to any sort of routine check up – it takes ages to make an appointment, then I always find something else comes up and I never get around to doing it. But the Werlabs system was so quick and so easy even I had no excuse. I went for my blood tests on a Thursday in a break between client sessions and by Friday afternoon I had a full analysis, including a doctors’ commentary available online (and was texted as soon as the results had been uploaded so I could have immediate access to them). For those of you West London based liked me, I went to Brook Green Medical Centre in Hammersmith to get my blood drawn – within 15 minutes I was in and out of the clinic – lack of time most definitely doesn’t count as an excuse not to get the tests done!

Just over 24 hours later I was at home in front of my laptop looking at my results in full. I literally couldn’t believe how fast it was! It was also really reassuring to see that for me personally, everything came back positively. My cholesterol levels are good and my heart health is excellent, I’m not deficient in any vitamins or minerals, my red and white blood cell count is good, my thyroid is functioning perfectly as are my kidneys and liver. Allowing myself a little boast here, the Doctor opened his commentary on my report by saying it was an “excellent” set of results showing I was extremely healthy – so thank goodness all that exercise and eating well is paying off!

Even despite this strong set of results, I definitely plan on getting tested again within the next 12 months, because as we all know health is so much more than visible muscle definition or fitting into your favourite jeans. Personally I think it’s great to know my body is functioning exactly as it should – and if it isn’t at least I have an early indication and a chance to do something about it.

The team at Werlabs would love to get as many people as possible testing their blood and taking care of their health, so they’ve given me a discount code to share with you guys – if you enter “20%WER” at the checkout you can get 20% off any test before 31st August 2017.

Beauty may be skin deep, and it turns out true health is too – so why not look deeper into yours and find out just how healthy you really are?

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kxmpfflieger · 7 months

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Hello! I'm a little embarrassed to ask you this, but I would like to know the director's version of that moment in the first chapter where Werner asks Manfred to listen to Elias, pls pls pls excuse me again

No reason to be embarrassed, Anon! You're really sweet.

Excellent choice for a scene too,

This entire scene of Elias confronting Manfred predates Martyrs as a concept, haha! So theres a lil fun fact

At the basis of the scene is Manfred being a stubborn mule. He often gets caught up in his own head in his need to adhere to orders and expectations, which gives him tunnel vision. Its also like, really hard to change his mind about anything. Voss is similar enough in the stubbornness department, funnily enough.

MvR is frustrated and can't see the bigger picture, Voss is frustrated with his friend's stubbornness, so they come to clash. Voss is also just... Not really one to raise his voice at all so him doing so means business (to Manfred, at least). A lot of their dynamic in my head is one of them gets really stubborn, then the other smacks them over the head to wake up. Sometimes a third party needs to tell you thar you're being really, really stupid.

This scene also happens to add a sprinkle of depth on to Voss. He's been the relatively "calm" voice of reason, but being pushed and frustrated by Manfred's stubbornness causes him to raise his voice. Voss is not going to be present for the entirety of book 1, because he needs to go back to his squadron. And he shows up waaay later in book 3, so I really wanted to some stuff with him and Manfred before he was gone 🫡

#inquiries #mots commentary tracks

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wildcatfitnessuk · 6 years

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The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK

Werlabs is a Swedish health tech company newly launched in the UK, and their mission is to provide people with the right information to manage their health.

Photo by Anna Jackson.

Beauty may be skin deep, and it turns out true health is too – so why not look deeper into yours and find out just how healthy you really are?

The post The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK appeared first on Wildcat Fitness.

from The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK

#The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK

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wildcatfitnessuk · 7 years

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The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK

Werlabs is a Swedish health tech company newly launched in the UK, and their mission is to provide people with the right information to manage their health.

Photo by Anna Jackson.

Beauty may be skin deep, and it turns out true health is too – so why not look deeper into yours and find out just how healthy you really are?

The post The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK appeared first on Wildcat Fitness.

from The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK

#The Wildcat gets a Health MOT with Werlabs UK

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