Quarantine Reviews

Hello everyone and welcome back to a special edition of Crandall Reviews. First, I want to apologize for the long delay - I had some personal health issues that made watching anything on screens difficult, and then Corona Virus shut down all theaters. Since most of us are quarantined and looking for things to watch and do, I thought I would review one movie and one TV show from each of the major streaming applications: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and Disney+. Without further ado, let’s jump in.

AMAZON:

Movie: The Invisible Man – 7/10 - RENT

Let’s start with a movie that was supposed to be in theaters right now, but instead you can rent it for $20 from the comfort of your own home: THE INVISIBLE MAN starring Elizabeth Moss. The Invisible Man is a solid horror movie with original scares, great story and fantastic performances. The film is a bit of a slow burn but unfolds nicely over the course of two hours with some incredibly shocking moments. The most important aspect of any horror movie is the scares, and in The Invisible Man they are well earned. I wish there had been a few more, but the frights that are there are quite powerful – one scene in particular left me thinking about it for a couple days after. The Invisible Man also does a masterful job of constantly ratcheting up the tension. The pacing of the movie can snag at times, and while Elizabeth Moss is fantastic – she normally is – I have never been the biggest fan of her in general. This dragged down the movie for me, as a lot rests on Elizabeth’s performance. She does a great job of bringing out the horror of a woman trapped and abused in her loveless marriage and subtly bringing real pain to the character, but I was a bit sick of her by the end of the movie. The plot got a little bit silly and predictable in the end, but overall, it was a wonderful movie and well worth the $20 rental.

An interesting facet of this movie is that it was originally planned to be the second movie in Universal’s Dark Universe, an interconnected monster cinematic world of classic Universal monsters. But when the first film in the Dark Universe (2017’s The Mummy) bombed hard, this movie was changed to be more of a standalone entry. While it continues to keep the Universal monster films alive, the next films will follow in the path of The Invisible Man and be much more self-contained stories. Perhaps the most important aspect of The Invisible Man is that it is one of the first movies to set the precedent of simultaneously being in theater and available for streaming. Previously, movies had to wait 90 days after LEAVING the theater before appearing on DVD/Blu-Ray and streaming. Now that this waiting period has been broken, the world of movies will never be the same. I don’t think I can emphasize just how huge this is! It may seem small now, but it will have wide reaching effects on how movies are released moving forward. I can’t predict exactly how this will impact cinema, but I am very excited to see what will happen with the future of movies and the way they are released.

TV: Fleabag – 9.5/10 – MUST SEE THIS MOFO

A BBC and Amazon Studios collaboration, created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, FLEABAG is the story of a woman trying to find happiness in London. The show follows the never named and self-titled Fleabag, who is a raunchy and sexually liberated woman trying to work through her many emotional issues, self-destructive tendencies and depression. It is incredibly relatable, completely hilarious and absolutely brilliant. The show is filled with horrible jokes that will shock you but make you laugh out loud. Very rarely have I laughed out loud at a show as much as I did with this. There are only 6 25-minute episodes for each of the two seasons, making this 12-episode show very binge-able (I finished it in 3 days). Phoebe Waller-Bridge is one of the finest creators working today, and she has constructed an ingenious and hilarious show that has something important to say while also staying grounded, real and emotionally raw. It is one of those shows that I was jealous I didn’t create or write and every character is well acted, written and directed. The editing on the show is top-notch and the cinematography is beautiful and intimate. The camera moves constantly with the character and really helps to provide the viewer with an entry into Fleabag’s head. She also regularly breaks the 4th wall to address the viewer directly, something that makes for some incredibly funny jokes and allows us to further engage in her world. Overall, I could not sing this show’s praise more enthusiastically, and I urge everyone to go out and give it a chance. Plus, it opens with one of the greatest butt jokes of all time, can’t beat that!

DISNEY +:

Movie: Onward – 8/10 – CHECK IT OUT

Another movie that should be in theaters, but due to Corona Virus (STAY AT HOME PEOPLE) companies were forced to go right to streaming services with their films. ONWARD is a Disney Pixar movie and therefore streams right to Disney+ for free, which is a pretty sweet deal. The film is the story of two elven brothers, voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, who go on an adventure to bring their deceased father back to life for 24 hours using magic in a non-magical fantasy world. It’s a heartwarming tale at the level of quality you would expect from Pixar. The soundtrack is awesome, full of epic rock songs, and the story of two Elf brothers on a quest in a magic-less fantasyland is a hilarious concept. The jokes are pretty constant and reliable, several scenes really made me chuckle. It’s also a blast to see Chris Pratt voice a pre-college slacker obsessed with nerdy Dungeons and Dragons type card games, and this is probably his best role since Parks and Rec (slacker Chris Pratt is the best Chris Pratt). While it is an absolutely solid movie, I will admit Onward is not exactly Pixar’s finest work – it’s no Toy Story or Wall-E, but I would say the movie can compete with some of Pixar’s latest like Finding Dory. The plot is a tad predictable but has enough twists and turns to keep it mostly fresh, including a fantastic and emotional ending. I love a movie about brothers, and this one warmed my heart. I may have even shed a tear, who’s to say. Onward is a fun film that’s great for the whole family or just a light-hearted and humorous escape from reality.

TV: The Simpsons – 10/10 – MUST SEE THIS MOFO

THE SIMPSONS is an all-time classic, and I can see why. Growing up, my Mother hated The Simpsons with a passion and consequently it was never allowed in the house. We could watch much raunchier shows such as Family Guy or Takeshi’s Castle – but never The Simpsons. So I have spent some time this quarantine binging through the early seasons (Seasons 1-4 to be specific) and they are just brilliant. There are many reasons why this is one of the most successful television shows of all time. Everyone knows the silly and raunchy humor is impeccable, and each minute is literally stuffed with jokes, smart and dumb. The characters and locations are so funny and engaging that they have become iconic. There are shows within the show (Itchy and Scratchy, McBain), and even the theme song has constantly changing gags. But the thing that makes The Simpsons one of the greatest shows of all time is simple – it’s got heart. The early seasons may present a severely dysfunctional family, but they always come together, and the love they have for each other is palpable. I was shocked at how tender the love connection is between Homer, a total moronic dolt, and Marge, the glue of the family. And seeing the sibling shenanigans and laughter with Bart and Lisa – it’s both funny and heartwarming. I know it’s not exactly a revolutionary recommendation, but if it has been a while, watching the early seasons of the Simpsons is a guaranteed way to laugh and smile.

HULU:

Movie: Parasite – 10/10 – MUST SEE THIS MOFO

PARASITE is the winner of the 2019 Best Picture and was recently added to Hulu - you absolutely cannot go wrong watching this movie. It is magnificent and completely deserving of the Best Picture award. Parasite has a totally unique and hauntingly relevant story, phenomenal acting, gorgeous cinematography, sharp dialogue, incredibly intense moments, a beautiful score – honestly my praise for this movie is essentially endless. I am a massive fan of Bong Joon-Ho’s work and this is clearly his masterpiece (for those who are interested in more, Hulu also added 3 other movies of his: Mother, The Host, Barking Dogs Never Bite – of which The Host is my favorite, a wickedly fun monster movie). Even if you don’t like reading subtitles, push through for this movie. Parasite has some of the best writing and features the most intense scene of any movie in 2019, better than any horror flick. I don’t know what else I can say to convince you to see it, just trust me –you will NOT be disappointed by this shocking tale.

TV: Love Island (UK - Season 2) – 9/10 – RENT

In a single season, LOVE ISLAND reminds me of why I love trashy reality TV programs and has become my favorite reality show of all time. This British show is phenomenal beyond words, and I am truly disappointed it took me this long to discover its joys. Love Island is a reality show where hot British singles are locked into a house with no contact to the outside world, coupled up, and regularly challenged for a chance to win £50,000 at the end. It is essentially a show about stuffing a bunch of hot, dramatic singles into a house with unlimited alcohol and then just letting the cameras roll. There is so much sex, drama and absurd moments that I completely lost myself in the show. Season 2 is hands down the best and gets so crazy that this reality show had to make rules about limiting the amount of drinks that the contestants could consume. The cast of absurd characters is wonderful and changes regularly. The show stays fresh through new additions, dumping singles and voting out the least popular half of couples that it keeps the show fresh. Perhaps the best part of the show is that producers care about one thing and one thing only – no it’s not love, it’s DRAMA. The things they put these poor contestants through is absolutely absurd and some of the highest quality entertainment you can find from reality TV. Plus the idea of them being locked away from the world is extremely relatable during the quarantine and only draws you further into this insane world. The men and women are gorgeous and all have English accents (or Welsh or Irish). There is lots of onscreen fighting, sex, betrayals and constant drama. It’s a barrel of fun and if you like reality TV shows at all, immediately check out Season 2 of Love Island.

NETFLIX:

Movie: Good Time – 7.5/10 – RENT

From the Safdie Brothers, who brought us Uncut Gems, comes their earlier work GOOD TIME starring Robert Pattinson. Good Time is the story of two brothers who have to quickly adapt after a robbery goes wrong. I don’t want to say anything else because it might spoil how the movie unfolds with horrifically beautiful tension. Robert Pattinson plays a troubled young man who is furious at the world around him. Benny Safdie plays Robert Pattinson’s mentally challenged younger brother. It’s a shockingly raw story, but the love the brothers have for each other resonates powerfully throughout and is the driving force of the film. Good Time is an odyssey into the petty criminal underworld of New York. The cinematography is absolutely electric, and every frame seems to positively scream with energy. What the Safdie Brothers do with light is absolutely amazing. Robert Pattinson also delivers a powerhouse performance; if you only think of him as the vampire from Twilight, please watch this so you can see how good he really is. Matt Reeves who is directing the new Batman movie said this is the movie that convinced him that Robert could play Batman - he’s that good in this. It’s not perfect; the movie can be a little too wild and leaves you feeling empty after, although some of that is intentional and very well done. Good Time also has some incredibly raw and important things to say about race, class and crime. The movie is an intense frenetic treat and anyone looking for something a little out there, or fans of Uncut Gems, will absolutely love this.

TV: Tiger King – 9.5/10 – MUST SEE THIS MOFO

No review of quarantine programming would be complete without the show that’s captivated America – TIGER KING. This incredible documentary series is about the wild life and criminal adventures of Joe Exotic, a big cat owner and zoo operator in Oklahoma. The story also focuses on the feud between Joe Exotic and Carol Baskin, another big cat owner. Tiger King may center around Joe Exotic, but it was made to show the insane world of big cat ownership and its relationship with crime in America. I am sure almost everyone has heard about or seen a meme about Tiger King by now, and if you are on the fence, I am here to convince you to dive in. This documentary series has a little something for everyone. To start, it has got the wildest person I have ever seen on a screen, real or fake – Joe Exotic. He is a proudly gay, gun-toting, big cat owner who is not afraid to speak his mind. Some of the quotes this man says are pure gold and will quoted by your friends for weeks and maybe years to come. There is true crime in this series, not only the horrific animal abuses committed by various people but also tax evasion and murder! There is cheesy reality TV drama, including a polyamorous gay three-way wedding with two straight men, one gay man and more meth than anyone can smoke. The only critique of Tiger King is that once things really start to get crazy, the documentary series loses sight of its original goal to expose the horrific treatment of big cats in America. It is almost impossible for you to finish the first episode of Tiger King and not be absolutely enthralled and shocked. If you finish the show and your mind isn’t blown at least three times, you’re a straight up liar. Its amazing, top-notch entertainment, and watching it is also loads of fun because you’ll be able to participate in the viewing fever that’s sweeping the nation. Tiger King has absolutely destroyed Netflix viewing records, and you really must see why for yourself.

Enjoy.