Weeds “Game-Played” S7 E3 Review + Recap

Weeds has always been great at the cliffhanger ending. The wonderfully shocking closing scene of this season’s opener, for example. Last episode‘s closing scene was less shocking, but still provided a compelling problem for Nancy to overcome.

“Game-Played” opens with the resolution for last episode’s cliffhanger. Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) did test positive for marijuana, after she–uncharacteristically– smoked with her former cellmate’s brother. Since sending Nancy back to jail would make Weeds fairly boring, sitcom law allows Nancy a second chance.

Oh also, Andy (Justin Kirk) is the saddest character ever. More on that later.

Thoughts on the 63rd Primetime Emmy Nominations, Part 1

Let me preface this by saying that these aren’t my predictions. If I were filling out an Emmy scorecard, I’d probably choose differently. However, if I had an official ballot in front of me, this is how I’d be voting.

Outstanding Drama

Impressive nod to Game of Thrones in its freshman season. Obvious nods to Mad Men, Dexter, Boardwalk Empire. Friday Night Lights is in its final season, and hasn’t won yet, but for the show to go home with the big prize would still be somewhat of an upset. This season of Dexter hasn’t lived up to the marvelous plot-twisting of last season. Mad Men, on the other hand, is a show that ages like a fine wine. My vote:

Mad Men

Do the Right Thing (1989) Movie Review

Do the Right Thing is the film that made Spike Lee. The movie is intelligent, poignant, and powerful, and deals with a topic that is painfully relevant in modern day America.

It’s easy to make a generic movie about race relations. Throw in a few slackjawed racists, and some do-gooders, and in the end, everyone gets along and sings Kumbayah. This is not the case with Do The Right Thing.

Weeds “From Trauma Cometh Something” S7 E2 Review + Recap

While the season premiere of Weeds was somewhat disjointed, this episode at least followed a coherent narrative. Last episode felt like backstory, while this episode feels like a series of set-ups for next episode.

We see the family return to New York. This involves Silas (Hunter Parrish) setting up a meeting with a modeling agent, who is cliché annoying, and confusingly interested in Silas (as a client?). Doug (Kevin Nealon) meets up with an old friend, who promises to introduce him back into corporate circles. Shane (Alexander Gould) and Andy (Justin Kirk) wait for Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) at the halfway house, while discussing how much she could have changed, with the help of an informational video.

Nancy, herself, has the biggest role this episode, and it’s nothing we haven’t seen before.

Weeds “Bags” S7 E1 Review + Recap

Whenever someone mentions the decline of Weeds, I have only one image in my head, and that image is Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) riding a scooter away from the fire. This season starts with another soon-to-be iconic image.

The show’s original—and originally clever—premise was a recently widowed suburban mother who secretly turns to selling marijuana as a way to maintain the upper crust lifestyle she and her children are used to. Now in its seventh season, Weeds has become a very different show, as this season premiere shows.

Ugly Americans “Wet Hot Demonic Summer” S2 E1 Review + Recap

I have to admit, I was a little worried for this season of Ugly Americans. The preview Comedy Central broadcasted was slow to the point of boredom, and the jokes just didn’t flow. Thankfully, the episode itself relieved all of my worries.

The first season of Ugly Americans was characterized by an endlessly inventive attention to detail. Notice the distinct and separately designed creatures that populace this alt-universe New York City. The characters are relateable, with more faults than strengths. The protagonist, Mark Lilly (Matt Oberg), is fairly bland, but every good comedy needs a straight man.

The premiere episode kicked things off with a bang. With a strong start like this, I’m excited to see where the show will go this season (and hopefully for a few more).

The Tree of Life (2011)

If you want your art to hold a mirror to life, you better get a pretty damn big mirror.

In The Tree of Life, auteur director Terrence Malick attempts to frame all of existence into one two-hours-and-change film. When it works, the film’s sweeping scope speaks volumes on the nature of life and man’s endless quest for meaning. When it doesn’t work, the film drags, especially in the second half of the movie.

The Tree of Life is a movie tailor made for the arthouse audience and sure to confuse your average popcorn filmgoer. Malick tells the story of one man’s childhood, in the context of his family, in the context of the world and the universe as a whole. Again and again, characters question God, especially with the quandary that shapes the film: “What do we look like to You?”