Joshua Radin is a singer-songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio. The folk artist has a distinctive style of soft and relaxing vocals with authentic and meaningful lyrics. In 2004, he found overnight success when his original song “Winter” debuted during a monumental scene in the NBC television series “Scrubs.” Radin then went on to have a successful career as a songwriter, as his music has appeared in over 200 television shows, films and commercials. Notable television shows that have featured his music are Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill, House, American Idol, and Shameless. First Ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden have chosen Radin’s original song, “Brand New Day,” as the soundtrack to a commercial supporting US troops. The singer-songwriter has also performed his music on television. Several talk shows that Radin appeared on are Ellen (where he has been a musical guest numerous times), Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, Conan, and the Today Show. Adding to his long list of accomplishments, Radin has performed to sold out crowds across the world and has shared the stage with many notable artists such as Ed Sheeran, Sara Bareilles, Sheryl Crow and Tori Amos. Radin’s music has over one billion streams and he has sold more than one million albums worldwide. His single “I’d Rather Be With You” has received a gold certification.
Radin has recently released “Though the World Will Tell Me So, part 2.” The first volume, “Though the World Will Tell Me So, part 1,” was released in January 2023. Additionally, the singer and songwriter is currently on his North American fall tour, which kicked off this September. Radin took the time off from his busy schedule to answer a few questions.
Q (JERIANN): Which song off your “Though the World Will Tell Me So” album collection holds the most personal meaning for you?
A (JOSHUA RADIN): Either “My Father’s Eyes” or “Over the City” but it’s very difficult to choose. All my songs are very personal.
Q (JERIANN): What can the audience expect when they see you live in concert?
A (JOSHUA RADIN): They can expect to know me a lot better when the show is done.
Q (JERIANN): You have been a musical guest on Ellen numerous times; are there any favorite televised performances or moments that you could tell us about?
A (JOSHUA RADIN): The first time playing on Ellen was crazy because during soundcheck she started crying and asked if the song I was playing was something I’d consider playing while she got married to Portia. So that memory definitely sticks out.
Q (JERIANN): Growing up, which artists did you listen to that inspired you musically?
A (JOSHUA RADIN): Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Tom Petty, Joni Mitchell, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, to name just a few.
Q (JERIANN): What advice would you give to young aspiring musicians?
A (JOSHUA RADIN): Don’t think about success in terms of money or fame or audience size or any of that. Every time I’ve ever thought about those kinds of things, the songs I write aren’t ones I want to play for the rest of my life.
Joshua Radin recently performed live in concert in Sellersville, PA. The singer-songwriter will appear at other US venues until Oct. 14, 2023. Check out the official Joshua Radin website for merchandise and more information.
On June 16, Kourtney Kardashian broke the news to her husband Travis Barker that she was pregnant at his band, Blink-182’s, concert. Holding up a sign that said “Travis I’m Pregnant” in reference to the 1999 Blink-182 video for their song “All the Small Things. This pregnancy announcement followed the couple’s first wedding anniversary, as well as a well-documented IVF journey on Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
Barbenheimer
On July 21, both Universal and Warner Bros. released their highly anticipated films “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie”. Bringing in over $500 million worldwide in a four-day time span, these two movies signified that movie-going might make a comeback. For most during that weekend, theaters were packed and audiences reacted together, just like the good old days. For more about these movies, please read “Barbenheimer: Review”.
Threads
Meta’s take on Twitter, Threads, launched earlier this summer on July 5. After 24 hours, the site had more than 95 million posts and 190 million likes. Having gained such traction so early on, Meta creators were excited to see how the future of Threads would turn out. Unfortunately, the site saw a 70% decline in daily users just two weeks after its peak on July 7. Following this news, the popular social media app Tik Tok has announced text-only posts, in addition to the photo and video post options.
The Idol
On June 4, HBO released the first episode of “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood,” as said by the show’s leading lady Lily-Rose Depp. Created by Sam Levinson, the creator of Euphoria, and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, The Idol portrays the complicated relationship between a contemporary cult-leader and female pop icon. Viewers were so taken aback by the controversial plot line and almost pornographic scenes, they created a rumor that the show had ended abruptly, scratching the fifth episode and releasing the finale early.
Matty Healy
Matty Healy made headlines a couple of times this summer. The first of which occurred right after news broke that Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn had separated. Shortly after, rumors about Swift and Healy dating began circulating, to later be confirmed by one of Swift’s friends and producers, Jack Antonoff. Although Antonoff confirmed the relationship to be a casual one, Healy was seen at and even in some of Swift’s Eras Tour shows, opening with Phoebe Bridgers. Healy had a few weeks of radio silence after he and Swift broke things off, until he performed at Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival in mid-July. Following an aggressive rant about Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, Healy grabbed bandmate Ross MacDonald for a kiss.Not only did the remaining three days of the Good Vibes Festival get canceled, but The 1975 also canceled their upcoming shows in Indonesia and Taiwan. Although Healy likely thought he was performing an act of protest and solidarity, many queer Malaysians are critical of Healy’s actions, calling it an act of his “white savior complex.”
After years of anticipation, beginning back in 2018 with its announcement at E3, Bethesda Game Studios grand space Role Playing Game Starfield has launched to an auspicious start.
The game was released on Sept. 6, though players who pre-ordered the standard edition or the X-box game pass got to experience early access starting on Sept. 1. The game rocketed to over 6 million players worldwide within the first two days of release, according to an announcement made by Bethesda on X.
This is a successful start, but it does not reveal how many players bought the game and how many are simply trying it out using their game pass. For context, Skyrim, one of Bethesda’s biggest hits, sold 3.4 million copies within 2 days, and another major title, Fallout 4, sold 1.2 million copies on the platform steam the day after it was released. If even half of Starfield’s players bought their own copy, it is sitting among lofty company.
Reception among critics has been largely positive, with the game landing a solid 7/10 from IGN, an 87% from metacritic, many claiming that while the game isn’t as groundbreaking as the hype set it up to be, it is still a very good game with solid gameplay and impressive graphics. Audience reactions, however, have been much more varied.
Shortly after its release, the game experienced negative reviews on the public side of Metacritic, with a large number of 0 and 1 out of 10 reviews by angry players. Some users are expressing anger at the game for being an Xbox exclusive, while others refer to it as a “joke,” “outdated,” and a “loading-menu simulator”. The game dipped incredibly low early on, but after a counter-bomb movement by fans, it currently sits at a 5.6 average score.
Some players grew angry for gameplay-unrelated reasons. In the large character creation menu, one field allows a player to choose their pronouns, including “they/them” as an option. One streamer, HeelvsBabyface, who has 350 thousand subscribers on YouTube, went viral after an explicit rant when he came across the pronoun menu. Others, such as Dr. Disrespect, complained about developers making the game “political” by including the option, and many who agree with them have mentioned almost refunding their game when they saw it.
On the other hand, many streamers and gamers have been mocking these sorts of extreme reactions. The streamer The Act Man called the issue “superfluous” since pronouns hadn’t even been brought up in his 8 hours of playtime, and another streamer, Hutch, said that the reactions were “wildly unhinged”, especially as it is a very small option on the menu.
Whatever their opinions, the game is still remarkably popular, experiencing 1 million players online concurrently on the day of release, so one way or another, it seems Bethesda has made an impression with their new title.
The weekend following July 21 was a big one, not only for movie-goers but also for the box office. Bringing in over $244 million to the domestic box office, Universal’s “Oppenheimer” brought in $82 million while Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” brought in a whopping $162 million over a three-day period, making that weekend the fourth-largest in the history of the domestic box office.
Like many of those who saw Barbenheimer, I saw “Oppenheimer” first and followed with “Barbie” for a light-hearted pallet cleanser. To reflect my viewing experience, I will first review Christopher Nolan’s movie, then end with Greta Gerwig’s.
My biggest takeaway from “Oppenheimer” was how beautiful it was. I was lucky enough to see it in a 70 mm theater, but I think even with a smaller aspect ratio, the colors and lighting would still be impactful. Even in the black and white scenes, the contrast was graded very well. Even though I am typically not a fan of different saturations being used to portray different time periods, I understood and almost respected how Nolan’s choice helped the flow of the three-hour film. As fragmented as the plot was, I think this choice was more than just artistic and really helped with audience digestion of the concurrent plot lines.
Although I try not to look into movies too much before watching them, I obviously expected performances from Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon, but the rest of the star-studded cast was distracting to me. Naming a few of those who really caught me off guard, Devon Bostick (Rodrick in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”), Josh Peck (Josh in “Drake and Josh”), Matthew Modine (Papa in “Stranger Things”) and Gary Oldman (Sirius Black in the “Harry Potter” movies) were all distracting me from the actual plot as they were on screen. The most distracting was Rami Malek, although one could make an argument for the importance of his specific talent towards the end of the film.
While I understand these actors’ want to be in a Christopher Nolan movie, the culmination of all of them at once was a lot to take in.
I also don’t have much to say on this last note but I think it’s an important one to include: “Oppenheimer” does not pass the Bechdel test. This does not have to be an important thing to keep in mind, but matched with the arguably unnecessary nudity of Florence Pugh and the fact that no woman speaks for the first approximately 20 minutes of the film, it’s interesting to point out and think about, especially in the 21st century.
I also do recognize that although this review is fairly negative, I rated “Oppenheimer” as 4.5 stars on Letterboxd. It was visually pleasing, beautifully edited, and the actors’ performances were stunning. Overall, I would highly recommend Christopher Nolan’s latest film to anyone who likes World War II history, Cillian Murphy, or movies as a whole.
As for Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” this movie was all I wished it was and more. Not to sound cliche, but the self-reflection that I had at the end of the movie made me so genuinely happy to be a woman. And for those of the viewers who are not women, “Barbie” at the very least makes you more aware of the feminine presences in your life, both within yourself and those close to you.
The casting choices made by Allison Jones and Lucy Bevan were impeccable. Not only were Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling the epitomes of their characters, each cameo was tasteful enough to get recognition without stealing the spotlight. From Michael Cera to Kate McKinnon, each side character was casted with just as much attention to detail as the leading roles, really making Barbieland feel like a fully developed reality.
Although Margot Robbie’s performance was near perfect, I think that America Ferrera as Gloria was the best part of the whole movie. Given her history of roles, Ana in “Real Women Have Curves”, Carmen in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and Betty in “Ugly Betty”, Ferrera has fared well in her iconic roles as one of the first Latinas on television to not fit the stereotypical beauty standard in the early 2000s (and that’s not to say that she isn’t beautiful). Continuing on this track of roles, in the movie “Barbie,” Gloria is a woman who struggles with her self-image and self-worth. By creating a Barbie that goes against societal standards of women, in that she thinks of life beyond having perfect hair and a girls’ night every night, Gerwig’s combination of Gloria and Stereotypical Barbie is, in my opinion, brilliant. And the casting that goes hand-in-hand with this plot point furthers my opinion even more.
Overall, I would give Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” five stars. Genuinely. I had high expectations going into this movie and they were exceeded by every element of the film.
In retrospect, the weekend following July 21 was one that will be remembered well, not only by history buffs, but by teenage girls of all ages, as well.
HBO’s hit show “Succession” returned for its fourth and final season a month ago to much anticipation from viewers. To quickly sum up the premise, “Succession” is about Logan Roy, an aging patriarch and CEO of a global media conglomerate, and his children who vie for power against him and each other. The Jesse Armstrong-written show has received heaps of critical and audience acclaim since first airing in 2018—including forty-eight Emmy nominations and thirteen Emmy wins. Among these accolades were the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy in 2020 and 2022 and Best Television Series-Drama Golden Globe in 2020 and 2022.
via HBO
If the copious amounts of awards and accomplishments cannot convince the casual viewer to tune in, there are a myriad of other reasons why a person should give “Succession” a chance. In my opinion, it is the best show currently airing on television. It follows in the tradition of other prestige shows in the “Golden Age” of television—like “Breaking Bad” and “The Sopranos”—wherein it continuously challenges the expectations of its viewers and crafts characters far more compelling than relatable. There is no other program on cable or streaming quite like it. Between the acting, scripts, and score, “Succession” has everything to offer to a viewer looking to watch a show above the rest Here are some more assorted reasons to watch:
Left to Right: Kieran Culkin as Roman, Jeremy Strong as Kendall, Sarah Snook as Shiv, Brian Cox as Logan; via HBO
Family Matters and the Cycle of Abuse
A major theme permeating throughout the work is the continuing cycle of abuse based on perceived hierarchies of power. These cycles can also be passed on from generation to generation. References are made throughout the show to Logan’s harsh experience as a child living in Canada with his uncle Noah. The details of this uncle’s physical abuse are never described in detail, but Logan’s back is shown to be covered in deep brutal scars that had been seemingly given to him by this relative as a child. With his own children, Logan likes to think of himself as better than his uncle, but his own abusive behaviors and manipulations have only continued this cycle in different ways.
The cycle of abuse passes down from generation to generation, and the Roy siblings are imprisoned by their own love for their abusive father even whenever they try to break free. With Connor Roy, the eldest son who was interested in politics at a young age, he deeply loves his father and half-siblings yet is repeatedly forgotten. His mother received both physical and mental abuse at the hands of Logan, and Connor is constantly perceived as a disappointment and embarrassment by his father. With the other three younger siblings, their father’s abusive parenting is best summarized in a remark by their mother Caroline Collingwood: “He never saw anything he loved that he didn’t wanna kick it just to see if it would still come back.” This assertion can be heavily applied to Roman Roy—who tries again and again to justify the abuse suffered at the hands of his father. Roman is even physically hit by his father during the second season and then the next episode acts like it never happened. The marriage between Shiv and Tom is built upon an incredibly shaky foundation of emotional manipulation by both parties. Shiv is incapable of ever truly loving or respecting Tom and therefore finds herself ready and willing to hurt him. On Tom’s end, his relationship with Shiv only began when she was in an incredibly vulnerable state—which has substantially aided his career. When the first season begins, the audience is also introduced to Cousin Greg, a newcomer to the company, and Tom takes out his frustrations and insecurities about his own marriage on this relative—furthering the cycle.
Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy; via HBO
Nicholas Britell’s Score
Already an Oscar-nominated composer, Nicholas Britell delivers with the score for “Succession” his magnum opus. His dazzling, intense work on the first season won him an Emmy Award, and he has been nominated for the seasons two and three scores as well. The main theme for the show perfectly captures the essence of the show while evoking a specific mood in the viewer. During the opening credits, one hears Britell’s music and is reminded of wealth, extravagance, and the upper class. Particular highlights include his score for the final scene of the season three episode “Chiantishire” and the entirety of his work for season four so far—which sounds far more grandiose and again perfectly matches the tone of the final season.
Matthew Macfayden as Tom Wambsgans and Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch; via HBO
Perfect Blend of Drama and Comedy
Again, while the show functions as a prestige drama, its comedic elements are so abundant that I would be remiss to not call it a comedy as well. So many different scenes and lines are either intentionally or unintentionally funny. The comebacks and insults offered by the characters are so sharp and genuinely witty—specifically Roman who is especially irreverent and played by Kieran Culkin to perfection. Entire characters are played off as a joke—an example being Connor and his political aspirations. Much of the comedy within the show comes from the Tom-Cousin Greg dynamic. Whether it is embarrassing themselves in front of Congress, talking about the “sog factor” of pizza, or worrying about a potential “attack child” breaching a panic room, these two are the comedic heart of the show.
Left to right: Strong, Snook, and Culkin as Kendall, Shiv, and Roman; via HBO
Award-Winning Performances
I cannot sing any higher praises of the Emmy-winning performances in this show. Every actor in the cast consistently delivers. Brian Cox as the patriarch Logan Roy offers his best angry/abusive King Lear/Rupert Murdoch and has again and again been nominated for the Best Actor Emmy. Jeremy Strong—through his intense method acting—has captured lightning in a bottle with one of the all-time great television performances as Kendall Roy. For his work in this role, he was awarded a Best Lead Actor Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG Award, and Critics’ Choice Award. Sarah Snook’s performances as Siobhan Roy have only gotten stronger and stronger as the seasons have gone on, and I would be surprised if she was not the frontrunner for the best Supporting Actress Emmy for season four. Kieran Culkin—playing Roman Roy—is very similar to Snook and is reportedly being submitted for Best Lead Actor for his season four performance in this year’s Emmys. Matthew Macfayden as Tom Wambsgans recently won a Best Supporting Actor Emmy last year for his work on season three. J. Smith Cameron has also consistently delivered great work as Gerri Kelliman and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Emmy last year.
via HBO
Compelling Characters
One of the best things about this show is watching and growing attached to the characters. You could say that about almost any television show, but “Succession” is different. It’s a prestige drama that never wants to be taken too seriously, and the writing for almost every single character is indicative of that fact. Imagine you have a group of about ten or so people in a field, and that field is littered with rakes in every direction. Now, imagine every single person in that group says, “There aren’t any rakes here. I’m going to walk out and be CEO of a major media conglomerate.” And every last one proceeds to again and again step on rakes. And we laugh. And enjoy it. And love it. That’s what watching the characters on “Succession” attempt to do anything is like.
Kendall, to whom the audience is introduced as the protagonist, so consistently self-sabotages and self-destructs that he makes it look like a skill. Siobhan so desperately wants to cut herself off from her father and work in politics yet still feels herself intrinsically tied to the family business. Roman comes off as the sly sarcastic younger sibling yet in reality is emotionally repressed and desperate for love and approval from others to a shocking extent. Connor is the eldest unemployed son and needs you to know that he was interested in politics from a young age. Now, I want you to imagine a cartoon dog getting a pie thrown in its face. That sums up the character of Tom Wambsgans, and I am entirely serious. He is a big ball of insecurities, cunning, and repressed homoeroticism all bunched up in one man. Finally, Cousin Greg is our point-of-view character in the earlier seasons—an earnest naive twenty-something looking to coast purely on nepotism for a career despite his incompetence.
Last week, I had the opportunity to watch the first two episodes of “Citadel”—a show I had previously covered a few weeks ago after its trailer debut. “Citadel” is an action-thriller spy show consisting of six episodes, with the first two arriving on Prime Video on Apr. 28. Starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, “Citadel” follows two spies, Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh eight years after their spy organization, Citadel, fell at the hands of a secretive collective called Manticore. This show picks up on two former agents as they lead new separate lives with no memory of their past as skilled operatives. The show offers big action set pieces and a lot of fun for viewers looking to watch something exciting.
Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh via Amazon Studios
Great Action
After the creative dud that had been 2022’s “The Gray Man”, the Russo Brothers returned to form to skilled, energetic action filmmaking with “Citadel”. Whereas that film’s editing, cinematography, and shot composition were so jarring, this show feels much more competently made. Before “The Gray Man”, the action and filmmaking in their political-action thrillers like 2014’s “Captain America: Winter Soldier” was so quick-paced and exhilarating. Hopefully, “Citadel” will signal a permanent return to this earlier style that earned the Russos popularity among film audiences.
Stanley Tucci and Richard Madden as Bernard Orlick and Mason Kane via Amazon Studios
The Cast
This show offers some fun performances from a really talented cast. Stanley Tucci portrays an older operator who must recruit Mason Kane back to save the world after retirement for eight years. Tucci—having starred in films like “The Hunger Games” franchise and “Easy A”—is always charismatic and a welcome sight in any film or show he is in. Also, Lesley Manville—who is known for her great performances in films like “Phantom Thread”—stars as the antagonist, a British ambassador who moonlights as the leader of a global terrorist organization.
The first two episodes of “Citadel” premiere this Friday Apr. 28 on Prime Video and later episodes will be released weekly.
Landon Conrath is a singer, songwriter and producer from Minnesota. The indie-pop artist, who has a distinctive style of upbeat and feel-good choruses and hooks, made his debut in early 2020 and rose to fame after his track “Acetone” found viral success on Spotify. Conrath’s debut album, “Nothing Matters Anyway,” is now available on iTunes for download. Some fan-favorite tracks off this album are “Telluride,” “Casanova,” “Trader Joe’s” and “So, So.”
Landon Conrath is currently on tour with pop band Yam Haus. Conrath took the time off from his busy schedule to answer a few questions. Let’s get to know him a little better. I hope you enjoy our Q&A session:
Q (JERIANN): Which song off your debut full-length, “Nothing Matters Anyway,” holds the most personal meaning for you?
A (LANDON CONRATH): I think this answer changes weekly, they’re obviously all important to me in some regard and they kind of ebb and flow. I think one of the tunes that has become an anthem for me in the last year was “Science Fiction.” There is a line in the song that says, “Believe me I’m messed up, my chemistry owns me.” These lines were one of the first times I felt successful in conveying the helplessness I was experiencing regarding struggles with anxiety/depression. I felt owned by my circumstances and helpless to defend myself against the thoughts that bounced around my own head. This song also continues to be meaningful to me since it’s one of my absolute favorites to play live. We always play it as the last song in the set and just absolutely thrash for the last chorus and instrumental. It’s so fun to play massive distorted guitar with my friends.
Q (JERIANN): What can the audience expect when they see you live in concert?
A (LANDON CONRATH): One thing that I believe really sets my set apart is that I am a solo artist that always travels with a full band! The finances of touring and live music, in general, are massively stacked against artists when it comes to traveling with a lot of people, but I truly believe that the sacrifice is worth it. My band is made up of my best friends in the world and I truly think that energy translates from our personal relationships straight through to our performance on stage. People always come up to us after shows and comment on how it looks like we’re having so much fun and that they enjoyed watching it so much. I really believe it makes a difference when a group of musicians have a long history of playing together, and we’ve known each other for a looooong time. I love it.
Q (JERIANN): Growing up, which artists did you listen to that inspired you musically?
A (LANDON CONRATH): I grew up as the youngest child with two older sisters who are almost 10 years older than me. I owe them my life in some ways because I was immediately listening to a ton of rockier bands when I was as young as 6 years old. My favorite bands growing up were Relient K and Switchfoot and they have been lifelong staples in my music listening career. As I got into high school, I transitioned into being the 1975 indie pop kid and throughout college, I was completely owned by artists like Bon Iver, Julien Baker, Hailaker, Novo Amor and others. Lately, I’ve been super into artists like The Beths, Slow Pulp, Indigo De Souza, Samia and Hippo Campus to name a few.
Q (JERIANN): What advice would you give to young aspiring musicians?
A (LANDON CONRATH): Get involved in music with other people. You can definitely develop great technical skill on your own (and personal practice time is obviously massively important) but I really think that the most growth comes from collaboration. I think when you marry the individual preparation with the group musical experience you can make leaps of progress in a short amount of time. All of the best production tricks and writing habits that I have learned have been gleaned from other people in a session or just watching from afar. Try and make friends with people in your local community of music and just put your head down and get involved. Also, side tangent, comparison is something that everyone (myself very much included) struggles with. Comparison will murder your music career; try to remember that you are an individual and you have something special to bring to the world that is different from everyone else. Lean into what makes you unique!!! It’s cliché, but true!
You can see Landon Conrath live in concert in Philadelphia on Thursday, Apr. 27, 2023 at Milkboy. The singer-songwriter will also appear at other US venues until Jun. 10, 2023. Below is the schedule of Landon Conrath’s remaining tour dates:
landonconrath.com
Check out the official Landon Conrath website for merchandise and more information.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Philadelphia Film Society’s SpringFest and see some of the most exciting movies coming out in the latter half of 2023. PFF SpringFest is the organization’s spring festival—the main Philadelphia Film Festival taking place in fall every year—that showcases some of the best works of cinema arriving in the next few months. The festival took place over the course of the past weekend with a lineup of eighteen total feature films and documentaries from Friday to Sunday. I was able to watch nine films at this event, and here are my reviews of what I covered this past weekend.
“Somewhere in Queens” via Lionsgate
“Somewhere in Queens”
“Somewhere in Queens”, Ray Romano’s directorial debut, offers the story of a middle-class father who faces a crisis when his son is offered a potential basketball scholarship. Romano hits all the beats here in a sincere indie dramedy of a father who somewhat wants to live vicariously through his son. The emotional tension here and the presence of a great Laurie Metcalf performance reminds the viewer of a less-great “Lady Bird” but with high school basketball. Still, “Somewhere in Queens” is worth the watch if you are in the mood for a heartfelt comedy about family.
“Sisu” via Lionsgate
“Sisu”
Set in Finland in 1944 during the Lapland War, “Sisu” takes on some of the best attributes of classic action B-movies, slasher films, and modern action films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “John Wick”. The movie was touted as the late-night showing for the festival on Friday and did not disappoint in that time slot. The word “sisu” can be roughly translated from Finnish to more or less mean courage in the face of indomitable odds, and the entire film thus centers on stoic old miner/retired veteran who must defend his newfound gold from Nazis enacting a “scorched earth” retreat tactic. What follows is an hour-and-half long tale of revenge and one man’s war of attrition against a squadron of Nazis who wish to rob and murder him. The film plays up the audience’s desire to see Nazis suffer for their evils—passing up any commentary on Finland during WWII to focus on the action. “Sisu” was an overall enjoyable time—a gnarly action film in which the viewer can naturally get behind this one-man army who looks to reclaim his gold and wipe out a Nazi squadron.
“Carmen” via Sony Pictures Classics
“Carmen”
Benjamin Millepied’s modern adaptation of the classic opera “Carmen” is tough to bite into. The new take on a classic story is about a refugee and a border control agent that finds themselves together in dangerous circumstances. Being a big fan of Paul Mescal and composer Nicholas Britell, “Carmen” had been one of my most anticipated films of the weekend. The film boasts stunning cinematography and, of course, Britell delivers with a haunting, mesmerizing score. Mescal and Melissa Barrera both offer strong performances as the film’s two leads. Also, the dance and fight choreography were incredible and mesmerizing. Still, something felt lacking. There is not much of a clear, effective story here unfortunately. At least not one that draws the viewer into the film.
“The Eight Mountains” via Pyramide Films
“The Eight Mountains”
The directorial collaboration between Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch “The Eight Mountains” likely won the weekend for me personally. Set in the Italian Alps, this film chronicles the decades-long friendship between Pietro and Bruno—who had first met as children and later reunite as adults. Simply put, this film and its cinematography gives you a breath of jolting, fresh air like its characters are given in the high altitude of the Alps. This film looks breathtakingly gorgeous while the slowburn tale of friendship slowly guides the viewer through decades in the lives of these two men. The performances from the two leads were especially convincing in their portrayals of meditative melancholy over the same father that so profoundly shaped their lives in distinct ways. This film achieved the hallmark of any great movie—which is both making me cry and want to leave everything to live in a tiny home deep in the mountains.
“Blue Jean” via Altitude Films
“Blue Jean”
A debut feature film from Georgia Oakley, “Blue Jean” is the story of a closeted lesbian and PE teacher who must conceal her sexuality in Thatcher’s England. In a period of so much repression for LGBTQ+ people under the Thatcher regime, the film does not shy away from the harsh reality for the protagonist, Jean. In a similar vein that echoes modern struggles for queer people in the United States, panic about “traditional moral values” is used as a political tool to quiet the existence and presence of LGBTQ+. The film’s screenplay smartly considers the internal struggle between identity and society. It offers a look into how queer people are forced to change themselves to fit within society and the intense feelings of alienation from the mere suspicion of nonconformity. That internal struggle defines “Blue Jean” and—along with Oakley’s direction—makes for a great film.
Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton in “BlackBerry” via Elevation Pictures
“BlackBerry”
“BlackBerry” slyly tells the story of the rise and fall of the most popular phone of the early 00s—with substantial help from great performances by Glenn Howerton, Jay Baruchel, and Matt Johnson. With cinematography that reminds one of “The Office”, “BlackBerry” thrives when it does not take itself seriously as a business drama and leans in towards comedy. Film studios at a breakneck pace are pillaging any semblance of intellectual property they can get their hands on to make money. Business biopics worshiping materialism, IP and capital have become more and more prolific—a simultaneous sign of the times and foreboding harbinger of American consumer culture. Therefore, it is incredibly easy to be so tired of this genre. Going in, I did not want to like this movie, because I thought it would hop on those same trends. Thankfully, its comedic tones and show-stopping line deliveries by “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Glenn Howerton greatly benefit this film.
“Passages” via SBS Productions
“Passages”
“Passages” is the newest film from writer-director Ira Sachs and centers on the story of a film director whose budding romance with a woman causes strife in his marriage with his husband. All three leads provide great performances—especially Ben Whishaw who follows up his stellar turn last year in “Women Talking”. LGBTQ+ representation has been an important topic in culture for a long time, but recently many people also emphasize that representation does not always have to be perfectly clean and positive. True representation will highlight queer characters and people as complex, complicated, flawed, real people and not perfect. And that is what “Passages” accomplishes so well. Tomas is our protagonist, but this character from the very first frame is shown to be an incredibly manipulative, flawed individual—making “Passages” one of the most compelling pictures at the festival.
Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver in “Master Gardener” via Magnolia Pictures
“Master Gardener”
As someone who wrote a ten-page research paper on “The Last Temptation of Christ” and considers “First Reformed” a perfect film, I would consider myself a fan of Paul Schrader. As someone who also wrote my senior Honors Project on recent growing trends of right-wing extremism in the United States, I have a myriad of thoughts and feelings on Schrader’s newest film. This director and famed screenwriter of “Raging Bull” and “Taxi Driver” returned this past year with “The Master Gardener” starring Joel Edgerton. Much like several other recent Schrader pictures (“First Reformed” and “The Card Counter”), “Master Gardener” follows a middle-aged man who has a haunting past, skills in a niche profession, and a diary. It is difficult not to feel decidedly mixed on this film. Schrader’s screenplays always feel so sharp and on the pulse of the dark realities of American existence, and “Master Gardener” is not an exception. Still, to call the subject matter of this movie complicated would be an understatement. Schrader does not want to paint the characters in this script to be uncomplicated. Throughout his entire filmography and career, it would be a mistake to say that Schrader has ever intended for his protagonists to be uncomplicated individuals. The stark difference with “Master Gardener” is that this writer/director takes on a much more optimistic stance on a person’s capacity for change and the future when compared to films like “First Reformed”. I am still unsure how to feel about this movie and am sure it will inspire discourse like any Paul Schrader movie does.
When writing about this film, one cannot refrain from thinking about the parallels between the flower motif and a certain line from “Garden Song” by Phoebe Bridgers.
And when your skinhead neighbor goes missing,
I’ll plant a garden in the yard then
“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” via Apple TV+
“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie”
This Apple TV+ documentary sheds light on the famed star, his career, and his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. From prior trailers, I went into the film with the preconceived notion that it would only be covering his long struggle with the degenerative disease. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, the documentary encompasses nearly the entirety of the great actor’s life and career—illustrating how the fluidity of movement had always previously defined his life and perspective on the world. It is also made with so much compassion and admiration for Fox—never looking to exploit his condition but instead allowing the star to tell his story as he sees it. The film conveys that, for Michael J. Fox, his Parkinson’s diagnosis never killed his spirit despite constant adversity over the decades.
The Philadelphia Film Society is a great member-run non-profit organization that promotes cinema in Philadelphia. This organization owns three different theaters in Center City—the Philadelphia Film Center, the PFS Bourse Theater in Old City, and the PFS East Theater near 2nd Street. For more information on this organization, upcoming events, and memberships, follow the link to https://filmadelphia.org
On Monday, Mar. 28, I had the opportunity to attend a virtual event where Academy Award-winning actress Rachel Weisz and Emmy-nominated writer Alice Birch spoke about and debuted the trailer for their new show “Dead Ringers”. This six-episode show is a remake/re-imagining of David Cronenberg’s 1988 classic film of the same name. Birch and Weisz in this show look to update the original film’s story of eccentric twin gynecologists, Beverly and Elliot Mantle, for modern audiences from a female perspective. Weisz—who won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 2006 for “The Constant Gardener” and starred in box office hits such as “The Mummy”—pulls double duty as the twin protagonists of the series. Alice Birch, the creator and writer of the show, has amassed a successful career as a screenwriter and playwright—garnering an Emmy nomination for her work on Episode 3 of “Normal People” in 2020.
“Dead Ringers” via Prime Video
When asked about what “Dead Ringers” is, Birch and Weisz responded:
Alice Birch: “It’s a reworking of David Cronenberg’s iconic film. It’s a twisted, darkly comedic thriller about these two dangerously codependent twins who are obsessed with each other. Have never spent a night apart for their whole life. Have always lived in the same city.”
Rachel Weisz: “They’re both obstetricians and gynecologists, and they’re very brilliant in their field. They’re professionally at the top of their game.”
When asked about the experience of playing two main twin characters, Rachel Weisz answered:
“This was without a doubt the biggest challenge of my acting life….No question about that. But also the most joyous in many ways. It was hard work….[I]t was thrilling. I mean, exciting as maybe learning to walk a tightrope.”
The creator/writer Alice Birch also was asked about the importance of telling this specific story from a female perspective.
“It felt like it would just be really interesting to tell this story with two women at the center of it. But I don’t know that Rachel and I ever had conversations where we said, “okay, well, now that they’re women, how does that change it?” It, of course, changes everything, but it also changes nothing. That’s what I think we wanted it to be as fun and as wild as the film and let the series go in its own direction. And then setting it against a medical background that particularly focused on obstetrics and gynecology – that felt really right for the storytelling…It felt like that could have like this tone that we wanted could really sit in that space in a really interesting way.”
Here is the official trailer for “Dead Ringers”:
“Dead Ringers” will be available for streaming on Prime Video with the first two episodes premiering on Apr. 21.
On Monday, Apr. 3, I had the opportunity to attend a VIP advance screening of “AIR”—the newest film from creative duo and best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The film tells the story of Sonny Vaccaro, a NIKE basketball guru who looks to gamble on signing a sneaker contract with up-and-coming rookie Michael Jordan. The screenplay—from newcomer Alex Convery is fairly straightforward, telling the story of one man’s perseverance through great adversity towards success. Vaccaro and Nike had consistently floundered in the basketball division in the past and stood little-to-no chance of landing Jordan. Only through Sonny’s unconventional and genuine approach does he eventually achieve success in this endeavor. Simply put, AIR is the feel-good movie of the spring—the type of film that could be enjoyed by both the most hardcore basketball fans and casual viewers who know the name “Michael Jordan.”
via Amazon Studios
A Star-Studded Cast
“AIR” boasts an incredibly talented cast of iconic actors who all deliver great performances. While the film’s screenplay is generally tight and entertaining, this film is strengthened immensely by its casts and their performances. Matt Damon stars as the protagonist of the film, Sonny Vaccaro. Ben Affleck is the eccentric CEO of NIKE Phil Knight and actually flexes skills as a comedic actor in this role. The great two-time Academy Award winner Viola Davis portrays Deloris Jordan—the mother of the basketball legend—with a certain gravitas that would not be possible with any other actress. Jason Bateman and Chris Tucker play Rob Strasser and Howard White, two employees aligned with Vaccaro in pursuit of the Jordan deal. Both actors—who are incredibly well-known for their many prior roles—shine in adding sharp-witted humor and sarcasm to all their scenes. Marlon Wayans makes a brief cameo as George Raveling, the assistant coach for the 1984 US Olympic Men’s Basketball team.
Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro/via Amazon Studios
Damon and Affleck Together Again
The popular duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon first became a household name in 1997 with their iconic screenplay for “Good Will Hunting”—a movie in which they both starred—that would earn them the Best Original Screenplay Oscar. “AIR” sees the longtime friends reunite on a project together for the first time in almost two decades. In the twenty-six years since “Good Will Hunting”, Affleck has built up an incredibly successful career both in front and behind the camera. Affleck has been known for directing hit films such as “The Town” and “Argo”—the latter winning the Oscar for Best Picture and Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture-Drama and Best Director in 2012. Damon has also achieved considerable box office and critical success—starring in the Jason Bourne franchise and the Ocean’s Eleven films alongside George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The pair have been friends since they were eight and continue to this day. One of the best strengths of this film was their dynamic, a winning creative combination that highlights all the fun of being able to make movies with your closest friends.
Ben Affleck as Phil Knight/via Amazon Studios
The 80s and Cinematography
Two other strengths of AIR include the film’s cinematography and the setting of the 1980s. The director of photography for this film was Robert Richardson—a legendary cinematographer who has worked on several cinematic classics including “Casino”, “Inglourious Basterds”, “The Aviator”, “Kill Bill”, and “A Few Good Men”. With Richardson behind the camera,what could have been a pretty by-the-numbers sports business movie gets elevated into something much more substantive and entertaining. His great camerawork is especially noticeable in a scene during which Vaccaro and the rest of his team are huddled late at night at a small table discussing their game plan to win over the Jordans. The fashion, offices, and hairstyles all feel meticulously dated and accurate to the mid80s. The soundtrack utilizes hits from the time period that all make sense for the film and make each scene feel more important. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” is specifically referenced—which works perfectly in the story as his album of the same name came out in 1984. One specific sequence in the opening credits of the film establishes this setting seamlessly as Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” is played over clips of movies, shows, and events of the 80s.
The La Salle Collegian 
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