Archive | 2014

R.I.P., Robin Williams.

11 Aug

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Robin Williams died today at 63 years old. He was a comedic force, a charismatic individual who brought a smile to your face every time he appeared on screen. His career wasn’t perfect, but the one constant was his love and appreciation for the world of comedy, for the joy he could bring to people even as he was struggling. He had an infectious energy he brought to every comedic role, and his dramatic abilities shone through when needed. Whether you remember him for his Oscar-winning role in Good Will Hunting or for his role as a genie in Aladdin or for his underrated performance in The Fisher King or for his classic John Keating in Dead Poets Society or for the character of Mrs. Doubtfire or for his recent turn on Louie–an episode even more devastating in hindsight–there is no doubt that with the passing of Robin Williams, a light has flickered out forever. He seemed like he’d be around for another 100 years.

He will undoubtedly live on in our memories, though, and in countless films that many have yet to enjoy. Please enjoy them, and please talk to someone if you’re battling depression like he was.

Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys, and make your lives extraordinary.

Photo credit: mirror.co.uk

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The Leftovers “Solace for Tired Feet” Review (1×07)

10 Aug

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“I think I might be going crazy.”

This is a show that oftentimes favors style as a form of substance, that seems to insist on recycling similar images and ideas and character beats in order to convey the themes it wants to convey. For the most part, it’s been a compelling journey, but slight missteps like “Solace for Tired Feet” take us on a plunge into a well-developed show without the narrative cohesion that makes wonderful episodes like “Guest” resonate. However, as always, there are interesting ideas to pick apart.

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Rectify “The Great Destroyer” Review (2×08)

7 Aug

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Whether Daniel Holden is innocent or guilty is a question that’s been lingering at the backs of our minds, and while it’s a question that we don’t necessarily want the answer to or haven’t had a reason to figure out, it’s clear that the pressure is mounting on all sides for the truth to show itself. The show’s always been about the deeply personal relationships within the town of Paulie and with regards to Daniel, but now, some of those relationships are splintering as the past continues to haunt them, demanding an answer.

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Wilfred “Courage” Review (4×08)

7 Aug

960-5Resolutions are difficult, but rewarding. Last week, we saw one of sorts with Kristen and her mother, and this week, we shift focus to Wilfred, Ryan, Jenna, and, most importantly, Bear. It’s not so much a resolution to the questions that were posed in full force this season–that’s next week–rather, it’s more about recognizing what needs to be done in order to move on. It’s about taking a good, hard look at your life and having the courage to do what’s always been at the back of your mind.

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The Bridge “Eye of the Deep” Review (2×05)

7 Aug

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Although the David Tate storyline essentially ended back in the eleventh episode of the first season, it was inevitable that as long as he was still breathing, his presence would continue to linger over the show, over Marco Ruiz. In “Eye of the Deep”, it’s exactly what we see; Marco has to grapple with his inner self, with a side of him that wants to embrace his darker nature and end the life of his son’s killer once and for all. As we’ve seen thus far in season 2, this is a conflicted man, one who’s perpetually strung between various inner and outer forces, and the questions of morality that have been swirling around his head ramp up here.

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The Killing Season 4 Review

5 Aug

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“Always the one with a conscience.”

Although oftentimes, its themes have been shrouded by questionable writing and lazy contrivances, The Killing has always been about family, about the fraying and strengthening of relationships in the face of loss, of grief. It all began with the Larsen family members and the toll Rosie’s loss and the subsequent investigation took on them, and it ends with a look at St. George’s Military Academy and, for one last time, Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder.

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The Leftovers “Guest” Review (1×06)

4 Aug

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“Nothing’s next! NOTHING!”

When 2% of the world’s population vanishes, there’s no predetermined way to act, no coping mechanism that every person uses, no project or blueprint or script. When the pieces of the puzzle are torn away, everything simply falls back into place, albeit in perhaps an unusual way. Maybe, for example, you’ll stalk the woman your husband had an affair with or buy extra food for a group of people who’ll never get a chance to eat it or hire a prostitute to shoot you in the chest. Is it crazy? Well, by what standard do we measure these actions by if there is no status quo?

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Battlestar Galactica “Pegasus”/ “Resurrection Ship” Review (2×10/2×11/2×12)

2 Aug

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ARC 4: Pegasus

Although there are plenty of other factors to take into play, the Pegasus is essentially what the Battlestar Galactica would be without Roslin. It’s not that Adama is Cain; rather, you would be looking at a military ship stripped of obligation to the political side of things, to the overarching goal of maintaining the well-being of its citizens, implementing a democracy, etc. Pegasus is led by means of a rigid, militaristic structure wherein that leader always has her sights set on destroying the enemy, and although the primary reaction to the Pegasus arrival is excitement and joy, it’s inevitable that the system under Admiral Cain will clash with that of the BSG.

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Rectify “Weird as You” Review (2×07)

1 Aug

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“I know you. Now, you know you.”

This season, we’ve seen a Daniel Holden who wants to move forward, who wants to zoom off in a car to Atlanta and live a life as Donald the Normal, someone who’s appreciated for his intellect rather than his story. Recently, though, we’ve seen a Daniel Holden who confronts the past, who returned to the water’s edge at the end of the last episode and is now being taken on a trip down memory lane by Trey.

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