40 years after Halloween unleashed the pure evil of Michael Myers, the silent slasher franchise returns with a “give the people what they want” formula. In its first-ever "direct" sequel, Michael Myers terrorizes Laurie Strode and Haddonfield, Illinois. It has been done before (ten times), but the 2018 Halloween updates the Myers-Strode saga with satisfying storytelling and references to its predecessor.
There is so much content on Netflix that is difficult to find comedy worth watching. Yes, shows like The Good Place and New Girl are available, but sometimes the best Netflix series fly under the radar. This edition of Smart TV recommends three underrated Netflix comedy shows. Two are Netflix originals and one is a short season Canadian series available through Netflix.
Record Store Day celebrated its Tenth Anniversary in April. The initiative, which offers exclusive releases to independent music shops, offers a Black Friday shopping spree to music nerds just in time for Christmas. The 2018 Record Store Day Black Friday list was recently released, offering another fun collection of albums.
Many of the best spin-offs in television history are comedies. Frasier, The Colbert Report, The Simpsons, etc. When looking at Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, the continuity of excellence in both shows is unmatched by other television dramas.
First Man is a prototype of intense POV filmmaking. Director Damien Chazelle puts the audience in the cockpit, command module, and spacesuit in his portrayal of Neil Armstrong’s career. Despite this adrenalized proximity, First Man has a plodding pace and misuses opportunities for the character exploration necessary for a successful biopic.
Camille Mola is a Philadelphia blogger and public relations pro. She writes about travel, beauty, music, food, and Philly experiences on her blog Positive Publicity. In her interview with The Flat Circle, Camille discusses why she began blogging six years ago. She also chats about working with brands, her favorite places to eat in Philadelphia,... Continue Reading →
Bad Times at the El Royale has all the trappings of a cool movie. An eye-catching set, an A-list cast, and a mysterious premise. Despite this promising foundation, the flick lacks a story that elevates noir films to must-see movies.
Cover albums are often anti-climatic. Ten-ish artists are randomly thrown onto a record honoring a classic achievement or artist. Usually only one or two songs are worth the cost or time. One cover album that defies this norm is AHK-toong BAY-bi.
This review contains spoilers about BlacKkKlansman (2018) BlacKkKlansman is based on an incredible feat. African-American police officer Ron Stallworth became a Ku Klux Klan member in 1979 to gain intelligence on the organization. The film details these events, but also goes a step further. Director Spike Lee used Stallworth’s story to squeeze two different movies... Continue Reading →
It is no secret that HBO is synonymous with compelling characters. Two of the premium channel’s mid-year shows just aired their finales in consecutive weeks. Both series, Insecure and Ballers, induced major character shifts this year. Only Insecure succeeded in stretching its plot well, but both changes are examples of HBO’s unique storytelling.
