‘Grace and Frankie’ is a Fun Comedy with Fascinating Characters and Some Storytelling Problems
“Netflix’s latest original program, Grace and Frankie, has the makings of a great comedy series, but it falls a little short in Season 1.”
Recap: Louie ‘Untitled’
“In “Untitled,” C.K. uses surreal imagery to depict truths about his character’s fears which more realistic storytelling methods never could.”
Recap: Game of Thrones ‘Sons of the Harpy’
“Maybe our great mistake is believing that Game of Thrones obeys mythological standards rather than refuting them — or believing that just one man will stand, if it will be a man at all.”
Recap: Mad Men ‘Lost Horizon’
“Don Draper is clearly experiencing some type of reawakening, and he can’t jump from a New York City skyscraper if he doesn’t go back. Next week’s episode of Mad Men is titled ‘The Milk and Honey Route’ — a reference to life as a hobo.”
Review: Olivier Assayas’ ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’
“An Olivier Assayas film in which an artist reflects on their own creative past in a new light — there must be something in the air at Sils Maria.”
Review: Thomas Vinterberg’s ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’
“Far from the Madding Crowd is a uniquely intimate adaptation in its focus on accumulating small moments and emotions to provide spark to its characters.”
Recap: Game of Thrones ‘High Sparrow’
“Unlike fairy tales where the prince and princess get married and live ‘happily ever after,’ for many (particularly women), a Game of Thrones union marks the beginning of tragedy.”
Review: Alex Garland’s ‘Ex Machina’
“A commanding first directorial effort from Alex Garland, Ex Machina is the product of a perfectly-tuned collaborative endeavor, much like the mind of its artificial centerpiece.”
Recap: Game of Thrones ‘The House of Black and White’
“The House of Black and White contains natural beauty and rich compositions that rival the best of cinema.”
Review: Daniel Espinosa’s ‘Child 44’
“A Kafka-esque condemnation of Stalin’s government ham-handedly plopped into a John le Carré spy thriller, Child 44 is ambiguous cinematic fluff.”
A Hero of Our Time: Mad Men ‘The Forecast’ (Precap)
“The end is coming for both Mad Men and its anti-hero, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Don’s final breath comes during a heroic moment.”
Review: Noah Baumbach’s ‘While We’re Young’
“A plethora of likable characters and tidy wrap-ups diminish the artistic potential of While We’re Young, as Baumbach doesn’t compromise the film’s abilities as a general crowdpleaser.”
Recap: Game of Thrones ‘The Wars to Come’
“The beginning of ‘The Wars to Come’ sets the tone for an episode that interlocks present and past while discarding hopeful ideals of a peaceful future.”
A Man Alone: Mad Men ‘Severance’ (Recap)
“The beginning of Mad Men’s final flight enforced the idea that individuals may physically change but outward appearances don’t always reflect the inner-self.”
Too Many Questions: ‘The Jinx’ and the ‘Big Reveal’
“The big reveal in The Jinx was our unending appetite for information.”
Recap: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ‘Kimmy Goes Outside!’
“Kemper’s a joy to watch, and ‘Kimmy Goes Outside!’ establishes the framework for a potentially iconic character.”
Criticwire Survey: My First ‘Inappropriate’ Movie
Criticwire Survey: My First ‘Inappropriate’ Movie
Final Oscar Predictions
Q.V. Hough’s 2015 Oscar Picks
Recap: The Americans ‘Baggage’
“With such a focus on powerful women, I’m still not sure how The Americans will handle the case of Stan Beamon. Mentally weak or the smartest guy in the room?”
Stuck in a Dungeon with You: The Claustrophobic Comeback of ‘Scandal’
Q.V. Hough Recaps “Run”