For years I was the car. Always the car. One day I switched to the iron and never went back. Uncle Mike was the banker – not now!
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Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong’s New Gibson Guitar Line
remember how dwarfed by his aqua strat Billie Joe was back in the earliest days? This model is a good fit for him, literally and figuratively.
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‘Saint X ‘ | Crime Mystery in the Caribbean
Busting out of the chute with great creative force, Saint X is immediately suspenseful and promising before setting down with too soft a landing.
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‘The Diplomat’ is a Goodwill Programming Ambassador
The vibe of The Diplomat is kind of an amalgamation of shows I’ve liked: The Crown, Madam Secretary, and West Wing,
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Jim James Announces New 335 Guitar from Epiphone
He’s one of those guys who is now synonymous with the guitar he plays. When I see his arms, I expect them to be wrapped around a 335 shape.
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‘Wild Life’ | Love in Patagonia, Life at the World’s Edge
It’s the human stories, the imperfection of good people, the goodness of imperfect people—and back around again.
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‘Mafia Mamma’ | Toni Collette’s ‘Family’ Film
Hey, it ain’t best picture material, but it’s nice to have an easy to digest comedy for a few laughs and a couple hours.
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‘One of These Days’ | American Dream or Nightmare?
One of Those Days tells the story of twenty East Texans who, if lucky enough, have their name drawn; get to compete for a new pick up
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‘A Handful of Water’ | Gentle, Moving Story with a Message.
A thoughtful film that makes points without making a lot of noise – taking us to a location we don’t know and giving us characters we’d like to know
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‘Ride On’ New Movie Gleefully Plays Jackie Chan’s Hits
Chan fans will stand and cheer. If you only know the name it serves as a sort of greatest hits of Chan’s lengthy career
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‘My Name is Mo’Nique’| Not Worth the Wait, the Years or the Tears
As a stand-up comedienne, Mo’Nique is an amazing actress. Even a decade later, her Oscar-winning turn towers above this monotonous loop.
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‘Jason Isbell: Running with Our Eyes Closed’
It’s so personal, so intimate, that it’s almost awkward to see him lay himself so bare. But it’s so good.
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“Fist of the Condor’ | Balletic Butt-Kicking
Despite the fact that the dialog is straight off a coffee mug or a social media meme, it excels where it needs to: with kick fight choreography that is next level.
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‘Hunt Club’ | Bikinis, Bare Knuckles, Bad A$S Babes
It plays like a 1970s exploitation flick that you’d have seen at a Drive-In. One big difference – the tables turn in the ladies’ favor.
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‘Big Mack: Gangsters and Gold’ | True Crime, Heavy Time
They called him the most peculiar character in Germany’s legal history. He was certainly the heaviest- at several hundreds of pounds. He was everywhere
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Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Releases His’59 Les Paul Replica
Ask a guitar fanatic what the number 9 2208 refers to, and they know right away, it’s Greeny- legendary status like this magical 1959 Les Paul Standard.
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‘Monumental: Ellie Goulding at Kew Gardens’
I think i only knew one song of hers but this intimate setting and sonic excellence have turned me into a fan. And i’s free to watch.
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‘Summoning Sylvia’ | Queen Scream
The new Horror comedy, Summoning Sylvia has zero scares but scores of laughs. Mostly little snarky, self-aware lines that effortlessly drop like faux pearls,
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‘Malum’ | Head Bangin’ Bits of Blood and a Rising Scream Queen
It’s her first night on the job and she’s all alone in a closing police station. Well,,not ALL alone.
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‘Anvil Announce US Tour Dates for New Album’
I still watch the trailer from their doc a decade ago. And my eyes still water Bless these guys.
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‘Adalynn’ | Sometimes the Scares are from Within
this isn’t her first time at motherhood. She previously had a baby called Miles who died. She is continually haunted by the shattering experience.
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‘Metal Church Back After Tragic Death of Band Member”
After nearly two years since the tragic death of Mike Howe, Metal Church are back with their 13th album.
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‘The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu’: Moms, Daughters, Quiet Storms
When I say “this is a film my Mom would like,” she knows it isn’t meant to be derogatory toward the film in any way (and, obviously, not toward her).
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‘Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues’
there’s a tiny bit of bait & switch going on, since Stevie Ray is only a small portion here. But it turns out that Jimmie Vaughan can spin a good yarn
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Wolf Van Halen’s Mammoth with New Album and Dates
I mean, the kid is good. A new album follows his successful debut. Here are tour dates and tack listings
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‘Swarm’ | Blunt Force Drama| 3 ½ out of 4 Stars
So extreme is her devotion to singer Ni’ Jah, that she harshly judges, doing horrifically violent things to those you have wronged her or Ni’ Jah.
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‘Last Sentinel’ | Intense Postapocalyptic Thriller is a Pulse-Pounder
Kate Bosworth stars in this post-apocalyptic thriller that borrows a lot, but succeeds
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Want to Make Music for Video Games? Listen to Them
Hey, you might not play Madison Square Garden, but you’d be in millions of homes worldwide
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‘Reggie’ | Deep Homers, Deep Man in Surprising Doc
Lately, sports docs have been notable for how they tell the parts of the story that have nothing to do with sports. This is totally compelling.
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‘Unwelcome’ | Missing a Bit of Lucky Charm
Although I didn’t dig Unwelcome, I have friends—MANY friends who will love this blended mix of genre flicks.
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90s Gamers: Newly Remastered Titles on the Way
Dude – I am so old that when Mario Bos replaced Pong, I thought I had time-traveled. These 90s remasters ae not as dramatic.
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‘The Little Mermaid’ First Look at Official Trailer, Poster
The Oscars Ended Less Than 24 Hours ago – Time Now to Look Ahead to This Year’s Sure-Fire Smash
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‘The Strays’ | Solid Thriller, Horror-Lite
Are they victims or victimizers or a bit of both? The Strays gets its thrills with these questions
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‘You’ Season 4 | A Jolly Good Improvement!
A change of scenery to jolly ole’ England and a fresh cast of characters to root against makes all the difference
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‘Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal’ Deeper Than Headlines
Burned out by all the coverage? This gripping doc comes with more details and new angles.
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‘Pi’ Returns: 25th Anniversary IMAX Screening with Aronofsky
I’m sure I saw this at some point – I mean, probably 25 years ago! This might be an opportunity for a refresher?
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‘Hunt Her Kill Her’: Cat & Mouse Reversal in Bloody Thriller
Imagine Home Alone, but instead of a cherubic-faced Kevin, the victim is a single Mom alone in a factory.
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“Juniper” Review | An Odd Couple You Haven’t Seen Before
The difference is the understated performances, the pretty New Zealand locations and the way first time director Matthew J. Saville has put his own personal spice in the mix
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‘Bordello’ | The Old West Goes Limp
With a title like Bordello, you figure, “hey if the movie is crap, at least there might be some prurient content to soften the blow. But, no.
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‘Shrinking’ | Try It On For Size
Harrison Ford and Jason Segel are an unlikely pair, but they make this gentle comedy series a surprisingly satisfying watch
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‘Attachment’ | When Evil Forces Try to Ruin a Romance
Will it give you chills ? No. Not even. And yet, it’s a solid watch. Some eerie elements, but enough about the mother-in-law.
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Hey, Pop Culture Nerds: ‘Mobituaries’ Slays! Listen to This
The beauty of the podcast; unlike the subjects of the stories, these recordings will live on.
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Metallica Release New Album in Cinemas for One Night
All the info is here, except prices. Hopefully will be same as movie tix.
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‘Condor’s Nest’ | Revenge Flick with an Epic View
Lately, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by modestly budgeted features with no stars, but solid journeymen and solid production.
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‘Out of Exile’ | Greatest Heist Hits in One Movie
Out of Exile checks off all the “heist” boxes of the genre, but darn if it doesn’t do so in an entertaining way.
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‘Alice, Darling’ | A Tense Wind-Up and Then..Pffft
I will not spoil whether it’s a “happy” ending or not. I’m just saying it couldn’t have been more anti-climactic.
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Asia Release LP Set with Original Members Live in Tokyo
You can listen to some of it here. Sounds crisp, and Wetton was in good voice.
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‘The Stalking Fields’ | Kill or Be Killed
So long as you don’t take the concept too seriously, and just enjoy it as a modestly budgeted entertainment, it’s a well-paced action thriller.
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Watch These 3 Great Weird(ish) Films Now
” Good weird” means I’m watching an unconventional story, but at least I’m watching a comprehensible narrative told in an artful way.
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Critics Choice Awards Complete Winners List
We’ve always been the #1 predictor of Oscars. More accurate than the Globes and SAGs. But there are always surprises, right?
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‘Chess Story’ | If You Liked Shutter Island, It’s For You
One man’s descent into madness keeps us guessing what’s real and what is in his troubled mind. (Not about Chess)
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Foo Fighters Carry On; Tickets and Dates Here
Foos will still be a band – some major festival announcements have been made. Tickets and Dates Here
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‘The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker’| Meme to Murder
The guy with the great sound bite is obviously mentally ill. But we threw appearance fees and free beer at him.
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‘Those Who Call’ | Wait For It…Wait For It
There is a satisfying final act payoff to Those Who Call, but you must patiently steel yourself for a challenging wait for something to happen.
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‘The Old Way’ | Nic Cage Saddles Up and Succeeds
He’s been in more than 100 films and you could argue he was miscast in 75% of them. But that is the fun of watching Nic Cage
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‘A Man Called Otto’|Hard to Hate the Hallmark
You’ll know from the first frame that you’re being manipulated, so decide early whether you can go with it.
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I Just Didn’t Get It | 2022’s Hits That Missed with Me
I didn’t hate all of these hit films below, it’s just that I couldn’t get as juiced about them as so many others did.
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The Top 10 Films of 2022 | The Best Of List
Best Films of 2022, Best Movies of 2022, Aftesun,
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The Absolute Best True Crime Films of 2022
Here are some of my personal standouts. What were yours?
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The Absolute Best Horror Films of 2022
It was an exceptionally good year for Horror. A few of these titles actually elevated the genre. See if you agree.
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‘Empire of Light’ | Moody and Much Maligned
Not a Magic of the Movies film – a character study with a devastating Olivia Colman. More Eleanor Rigby than nascent Spielberg.
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‘Women Talking’ | Be Quiet and Eat Your Vegetables
When a film cannot find a way to exist as an entertainment, it’s doomed. You can’t receive a message if you’re asleep.
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‘White Noise’ | Adam Driver & Greta Gerwig’s Suburban Snark
Almost too clever by half. But this swing at satire lands a few pops, even as it swerves all over the road.
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‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ | Fun Heeling of the Sole
I’ve probably gotten more chuckles from this film than any other this season. Its sly, irreverent humor carries it throughout.
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‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ is Kind of Perfect
An Award-worthy film that just happens to be a mainstream mystery romp.
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‘Babylon’ | Bask in the Glow of the Dumpster Fire
The old adage is “sell the sizzle, not the steak.” Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie give this overcooked slab plenty of sizzle.
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‘Emancipation’ | There’s a Will, But…No Way
Fuqua has taken a somber story and turned it into a Hollywood action flick, to include Will wrasslin’ a gator.
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‘Return to Seoul’ | An International Film Star is Born
Adopted children get curious and seek out their biological parents with widely varying results. That is but one strand in this complex character’s journey.
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Why All the Hate for “The Whale”? | Brendan Fraser’s Triumph
Some equate bleak subject matter with bad art. Maybe we should only hang paintings of kittens in the museum?
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Journey Live in Concert at Lollapalooza Shocked Me
I’m tired of the firings and fighting and all that. Thank goodness the music sounds fantastic still.
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‘Nanny’ | A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
One of my favorite performances by an actress this year, is the quietly mesmerizing turn by Anna Diop in Nanny
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‘The Fabelmans’ | Spielberg’s Sublime Sentimental Dramedy
Any other director, any mere mortal, could never get away with Steven Spielberg’s naked sentimentality, but he can and he does.
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Faster Pussycat Release New Music | Listen Here
These are like riding in a Hot Rod with a with a blaring 8-track stereo keeping you company. Good and greasy.
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‘Bones and All’ | Ridiculous Romp or Artful Oddity?
Here’s the thing: you just have to go all in. if you remove yourself even slightly from the film, it plays like camp. If you immerse yourself in its universe and its characters, you’ll be rewarded.
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‘Bad Axe’ Review | All-American Families Look Like This
What is an “all-American” family? Do you think of an immigrant family struggling to keep their small business afloat during the pandemic.? You will now.
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‘Master of Light’ | How to Save a Life and Lose Another
A man released from prison uses his skills as an artist to gain some renown, but his mother is always in trouble. Can he straighten her out?
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‘Wendell & Wild’ | Amazing Animation, Not for Young Kids
The Stop Motion animation is artful and eye-popping, but the storyline is too dark for younger kids and almost too plot heavy.
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Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards | World’s Finest
How many Classical music conductors end up being such a big part of pop culture? Not many. These awards are a reminder to the younger generations.
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Complete List of Critics Choice Documentary Awards Winners
As a voting member, I am proud of our nominees and our winners, which were announced last night. Winners and trailers here
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‘The English’ | Emily Blunt Leads New Western Series
In the end, you’ll keep watching for the promise it continually holds, even as it doesn’t fully live up to that potential.
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‘The Pay Day’ Review | Pretty Faces, British Accents Rule
You can’t take it seriously; virtually every plot point defies the laws of probability. But I’m a sucker for a pretty face and a British accent.
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‘Say Hey, Willie Mays’ | There Was No One More Famous
It’s a great nostalgia trip for those of a certain age, and a cultural history lesson for the rest.
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‘Causeway’| Jennifer Lawrence Shines in Quiet Art Film
Go in expecting a subtle character study that doesn’t have major highs or lows, and you’ll appreciate the performances and the story.
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‘The Invaders’ Review | Civil Rights Group Lost to History
It’s been a great year for Civil Rights era films. Add this to “Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues” on your watchlist.
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Listen to Song from German Metal Veteran Udo’s New Release
Still standing at 70 and marking the 35th Anniversary of U.D.O. Here’s a preview from the diminutive former singer of Accept.
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‘Girl at the Window’ | “Ozploitation” Thriller Review
Imagine a Nancy Drew mystery with a bit of blood, violence, and nudity. This hybrid of genres is, however unlikely, quite watchable.
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‘Good Night Oppy’ | Joy and Heartbreak from the Rover
We already know from WALL-E that one can fall in love with a machine. The stakes are even higher for this one.
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Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues | Things We Never Knew
If you are old enough to have an instant mental image of Louis Armstrong, I’ll bet you ten bucks that it was never this.
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‘Let There Be Drums’ | Cheery Doc is Unbeatable!
Passionate and powerful testimonials from people who are the best at what they do is always going to be infectious and delightful.
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‘Moonage Daydream’ Doc Turns David Bowie Story Into a Bore
The biggest fans may be the most disappointed. It plays like what we used to call a Midnight Movie, the viewers in altered states
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‘The Good Nurse’ | World Class Actors, Mediocre Script
I found the Wikipedia entry about the main character far more intense and absorbing than what is presented here.
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‘The Guest Room’ | Intense Thriller | 3 ½ out of 4 Stars
It had me in the first ten minutes and kept me leaning forward until the very end.
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‘Silent River’ | Hypnotic Neo-Noir is Sexy, Stylish
Some truth in advertising from your humble critic: it isn’t going to be for everyone. You kinda have to know yourself as a viewer going into it.
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‘Black Adam’ | Sights, Sounds! Where’s the Story?
The most likable guy in Hollywood worked hard to develop his acting chops – now he’s back to monotone one-liners that sound like Arnold
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The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist | Finally Comes Clean
It’s already been a semi-fictionalized movie. Now the real people have come forth.
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“Descendant’ | Voices from the Grave Come to Life in Alabama
Heartbreaking, anger-inducing, but ultimately cathartic, Margaret Brown’s documentary, Descendant, works on so many levels, you’ll lose count.
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What if a Band Made a Record Using Artificial Intelligence?
The Facebook group I affectionately named Music Nerds was meant for people kinda like this
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‘Sinphony: A Clubhouse Horror Anthology’
I was not familiar with the audio-based social media app Clubhouse until yesterday, but they must be a big deal because the new horror anthology, Sinphony, was conceived of and curated entirely on that platform. It’s not the worst horror anthology out this week (V/H/S/99 we’re looking at you), but it’s a bit…
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Chloe Kay: Young Singer, Old Soul, New Music
You don’t expect such a soulful, seasoned voice to come from such a young singer, but Chloe’s stuff comes from deep down.
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‘Werewolf by Night’ | Delightfully Streamlined Storytelling
I’d rather be lucky than smart – I stumbled onto this delightful little yarn with zero knowledge that it was a 55 minute, and first ever, installment of Marvel Studios Special Presentations .
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“Halloween Ends’ | Missed Opportunities, Graceful Exit
I was 15 years old when I saw Halloween in a packed theater in Sacramento, CA. on opening night in 1978. It was the most scared I’d ever been at the movies.
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Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Whitley Among New Hall of Famers
The biggest names in Nashville showed up to honor three new Country Music Hall of Fame inductees.
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‘The Fastest Woman on Earth’: Broken Records, Broken Hearts
Her calling card since childhood was doing what the guys could do, only better. But at what cost?
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Stryper Still Forging Metal – Listen to New Tunes Here
Still sounding like the days when it was still okay for heavy music to have melody, vocal harmonies and booming drums.
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‘Spirit Halloween the Movie’ | What’s in ‘Store?’
I guess if they can make movies about toys and video games, then they can make a movie that takes place in a beloved retail store
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‘Kratt’ | Wonderfully Weird, Fitfully Funny
I have no idea where to put this; it’s part fantasy, part comedy, part horror and it features some hilarious turns by Estonian actors.
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‘She Will’ | Atmospheric Revenge Thriller| 3 ½ – 4 Stars
More atmospheric than scary and more high-class than horror, but a compelling journey to a place we’ve never been to with characters rarely seen.
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‘Conception’ | Labored Storytelling for Fertile Storyline
The best thing one can say is that parts of it would be good to play in a doctor’s office, on a TV, for couples considering IVF treatment.
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‘Dark Glasses’ Horror Review | Deserves All the Shade
Director Dario Argento has his fans, but I can’t imagine many of them digging this latest by the 81 year old.
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‘Luckiest Girl Alive’ Somewhat Saved by Mila Kunis
The book is surely better, but having Mila Kunis as a constant presence makes it irresistibly watchable.
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Darryl Jones: In The Blood | Rolling Stones Bassist’s Story
You drink a shot of whiskey every time someone describes Darryl Jones as “In the pocket,” you’ll be flat on your face in the first 20 minutes. Stones LOVE him
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‘Barbarian’ | A Higher Class of Horror Film
Absolutely NO spoilers here, but a solid recommendation not just for Horror fans, but for movie lovers of all stripes.
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‘Smile’ Review | Worthy Film in Strong Year for the Genre
It follows every convention of the genre, but does it better, smarter, than most. It’s got issues, but it often works well.
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Autograph Want You to ‘Turn Up the Radio’ with New Release
You couldn’t go anywhere in the world without hearing their ’84 smash hit. New album sounds really good, all these years later.
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‘Saloum’ | Ripping Good Flick Is A Horror Hybrid
It’s actually a little bit of a lot of different genres. A great cast and storyline.
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