Review: What We Do In The Shadows & The Twilight Zone (2019)

New TV Reviews (Early 2019)

What We Do In The Shadows (2019)

For those that enjoyed the film, the new TV reboot is an absolute success. It may not have any of the same stars on-screen but original creators, Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clemant (gotta love both of them), are at it once again with producing, writing and directing duties. The show, taking place in the same universe as the film, takes the same formula and transports this new family of vampires to New York City. The humour is both similar and fresh enough to appeal to fans of the original and newcomers alike. The core cast is fantastic - playing similar caricature-esque archetypes while also imbuing the world's lore with some new surprises, such as with Colin Robinson, the 'Energy Sucking Vampire' - 'we all know one of them'. There have only been two episodes released so far and therefore everyone still has time to jump on-board with this additional sure-to-be-hit by FX.

The Twilight Zone (2019)

It is always difficult to review an anthology series without discussing each episode, however, here, I will try to give my initial opinion on the first two episodes that have been released so far. Firstly, Jordan Peele stepping into the lofty shoes of Rod Serling and acting as this iteration of the show's executive producer couldn't be a more perfect fit. Peele, as we know, is an acolyte of the social horror/thriller genre and he clearly understands the draw and foundations that The Twilight Zone the TV behemoth that it is. Though there are bound to be some weaker installments of the show, one can be confident that with Peele spearheading it behind the scenes, there will equally be many stellar episodes that come out.

So far, the two episodes released are 'The Comedian', starring Kumail Nanjiani and 'Nightmare at 30,000 Feet', starring Adam Scott. Both episodes very much the feeling of classic Twlight Zone. The Comedian revolves around a struggling comedian who learns that he must make his sets more personal to connect with his audience. Along the way he learns that, in doing so, he must sacrifice things closest to him... Nightmare is a retelling of the very famous episode starring William Shatner as he is tormented by a creature on the wing of the aircraft that only he can see. This re-telling similarly contains a threat to the plane that only Scott's character can see... It is fun that the show clearly has a substantial budget and the stories are told with high production value, including the big-name stars that star in the episodes. However, both episodes lose steam partway through and 'Nightmare' specifically really does not stick the landing (no pun intended...). Overall, I am intrigued by the show and look forward to more episodes as I know soon enough there will be episodes that are must-sees.

Review: Sound of Metal (2020)

Sound of Metal (2020) TLDR: Easily one of the best films I have seen in a long while. Grounded by an absolutely stellar performance by Riz Ahmed (and co-star, Olivia Cooke), Darius Marder's Sound of Metal is a moving and deeply-empathetic look into the journey and struggle to find peace with one's self through the lens of a musician who loses his hearing. Have no doubt, if you are not yet familiar with the names Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke you are about to be. Both actors - Ahmed in particular who leads the film - are transcendent in Darius Marder's Sound of Metal. Ahmed plays Ruben, a heavy metal drummer, in a duo group led by guitar/singer, Lou, played by Cooke. The two are as much a pair off-stage as they are on it. It is clear from early on that they are all that the other really has in life and they are content to travel across the country in their RV together playing shows and making ends meet as best they can. However, all goes awry when Ruben - who batters his eardr

Review: Soul (2020)

Soul (2020) TLDR: For a year where many may feel like they have lost a little piece of their own, Soul has arrived to remind us all what's most important in life. This is a Pixar film that is arguably more important for adults to watch than kids: it is beautiful - in both story and art, it is quirky, it is heartfelt and, as these trying times endlessly push on, it reminds us that there is still a lot of good in this world to enjoy and reflect upon. Note: some spoilers below. It takes a little bit of time to ease into Disney/Pixar's Soul. Though the film starts out in a lush and beautifully rendered NYC filled with delightful jazz music as we follow Joe around his everyday boroughs, things very quickly run astray. Suddenly, we are thrown into an abstract world filled with Picasso-like wiry characters and massively heady existential concepts like 'where do we come from', 'the great beyond', and much more. If it's not immediately apparent, it soon becomes clea

Review: The Before Trilogy (1995, 2004, 2013)

The Before Trilogy TLDR: As a whole, and in each of its separate parts, Richard Linklater's 'Before Trilogy' is the cinematic experience in its absolute finest form. The story of Celine and Jesse speaks to the core of the human experience - surprising joys, inevitable obstacles and eventual pains, and, most importantly, the mystery and intrigue of love - and it does it in an affecting way that, almost unlike any other film, is simultaneously theatrical and also remarkably raw and realistic. "It's just, people have these romantic projections they put on everything. That's not based on any kind of reality." - Jesse, Before Sunrise Even more than the multitudes of other incredible introspective bits of wisdom and philosophy that Celine and Jesse converse in across the three movies, this quote perhaps sums up the trilogy best of all. What are romance movies other than certain individuals' projections of what romance - often, idealized romance - is. Most o

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