Between the Temples – Sundance 2024

A cantor is facing a crisis as he trains his former grade school music teacher for an adult Bat Mitzvah in Between the Temples. It’s always amazing to hear about the genesis behind a project. In this case, real life events would inspire this moving and funny film. It’s entertaining and I love how it’s not just Jewish stereotypes coming across the screen. These are real people and for my Jewish LGBTQ friends, there’s also…

"Between the Temples – Sundance 2024"

Remembering Gene Wilder Offers Laughs And Tears

Remembering Gene Wilder is a moving and well made documentary about a comedian that provided us with many laughs in his career. It’s hard to believe that this summer will mark eight years since Wilder’s passing. I still remember learning the news and wanting to watch a film in tribute. This was before we had a surplus of screeners, not to mention my physical collection on hand. Luckily enough, The Crowd Theater announced a screening…

"Remembering Gene Wilder Offers Laughs And Tears"

The Princess Bride Available On Criterion 4K Ultra HD

The Criterion Collection recently gave The Princess Bride an upgrade to 4K Ultra HD so audiences should prepare to watch the classic film. What is there to say about this classic comedy that hasn’t already been said? Last year marked the 35th anniversary of its release. Inconceivable? You tell me. In any event, the disc is stacked with a number of bonus features. A number of them were already available on the Blu-ray that Criterion…

"The Princess Bride Available On Criterion 4K Ultra HD"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Subspace Rhapsody

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds marks the first-ever musical episode in the Star Trek franchise history and it’s one of their strongest episodes. It is also the longest episode of the season with a 62-minute run time. Paramount+ was wise to avoid sending the musical episode prior to the season. I mean, obviously, it’s a very entertaining episode but it also runs the risk of spoiling fans weeks before its airdate. It’s a risk that…

"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Subspace Rhapsody"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Lower Decks Crossover – Those Old Scientists

Surprise! Paramount+ dropped the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks early after its Comic Con premiere. When Paramount+ first sent their press screeners for season 2, it was somewhat disappointing that the crossover was not among them. But hey, we can patiently wait for good things, right? Let me tell you right now that the wait was absolutely worth it. It’s only natural, of course, that franchise veteran Jonathan Frakes…

"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Lower Decks Crossover – Those Old Scientists"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Season 2

Pike’s Peak is back and so is the rest of the crew as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns for its second season on Paramount+. The studio sent the first six episodes of the season to press. Unfortunately, the Star Trek: Lower Decks crossover is later in the season. If the first six episodes are indication, this season has no shortage of thrills and entertainment. I know streaming offers a chance at driving in subscriptions…

"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Season 2"

iMordecai Is A Love Letter To Family

Marvin Samel turned to writing after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and brings his family’s story to the screen in iMordecai. Any disease that impacts memory is bound to painful. Not just for the person diagnosed with them but for their family. It shouldn’t take such a diagnosis to propel someone to write down their family memories but it is what happened in this instance. In any event, it’s now a dramedy for all…

"iMordecai Is A Love Letter To Family"

Hunters: This Series Isn’t For Everyone

Amazon’s newest television series, Hunters, follows a team of Nazi Hunters–led by Meyer Offerman–living in New York City in 1977. To say that the first half of the series didn’t sit well with me would not be an understatement.  The tone is somewhere closer to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds than Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List.  Don’t even think about comparisons to Best Picture nominee Jojo Rabbit because the two couldn’t be more different in tone. Where…

"Hunters: This Series Isn’t For Everyone"

The Dead Don’t Die Goes Meta

The Dead Don’t Die may work as a horror comedy but writer-director Jim Jarmusch ultimately aims for both meta and allegorical comedy. “This is going to end badly,” police officer Ronald Peterson (Adam Driver) repeatedly tells police chief Cliff Robertson (Bill Murray).  How does Peterson know this?  He read the full script.  Robertson on the other hand would only receive the pages with his scenes.  While the joke may be self-referential, it ultimately pays off.  Other…

"The Dead Don’t Die Goes Meta"

Netflix renews Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for Season 4

Netflix announced today that they have renewed Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for a fourth season. Originally set to air for at least one season on NBC in 2015, the series was soon moved over to Netflix with an initial two-season order, where it has recieved critical acclaim over the first three seasons.  To date, the series has earned eleven Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including two nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt stars Ellie Kemper…

"Netflix renews Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for Season 4"