Media Favorites - 2013
Sunday, January 5, 2014
T E L E V I S I O N
1.
Enlightened
The lack of buzz and outlandish schticks was ultimately the death of Enlightened. Every episode felt like a relatable therapy session. You see these characters as real people because they are flawed, and they actually develop as the duration goes on. You see what they're thinking and what they feel, which is a very hard thing to capture on television. It doesn't fall under the catagory of comedy or exaggerated drama. It was simply a show about the underdogs in life. Although it only lasted 2 short seasons, I have a feeling that, years from now, people will be talking about this show the same way they're talking about Arrested Development and Veronica Mars.
2.
Breaking Bad
This show went from an underrated gem to everyone's favorite show by the beginning of its last season. The increase in popularity is well deserved! The finale was satisfying in the same sense that
Kill Bill was satisfying. Who doesn't love a good revenge story?
3.
Black Mirror
A thought provoking mini series on the dark side of technology. Since we're in the decade of mobility, and how enhanced our lives are due to technology, this show provides a nasty look at where we, as a culture, could be heading. Each episode, an hour long, has a different storyline. Think of a modern, edgy Twilight Zone.
4.
Nikita
The government takes prisoners from death row and trains them as assassins. The journey begins with Nikita, a rogue agent, kicking ass and taking names. And it ends with Nikita kicking ass and taking names, but this time, with the help of her friends that she picks up along the way. The ratings were abysmal, but Netflix came to the rescue and ordered the CW to wrap things up with 6 additional episodes, instead of canning the show without a proper ending. When it comes to the CW, I tend to watch things "ironically" because it's SO awful, it's actually entertaining. But this was never the case with Nikita. Every episode was action packed, smart, and the quality in effects always looked sharp and expensive. It was not part of the CW formula. I believe it would've done better on a different network, but at least we got 3.25 full seasons out of it.
5.
The Americans
A good replacement for Homeland. Set during the Cold War in Washington DC, two soviets KBG officers were trained for their new identities as Americans. They speak perfect English, they have two kids, they live in the suburbs. And they gain information on the US government.
F I L M
1.
Gravity
What a stressful, anxiety ridden watching experience. Fuck space.
2.
Her
Spike Jonze has directed some of my favorite movies: Adaptation, Being John Malkovich, etc. I'm a fan, to say the least. Her depicts a futuristic love story between a recent divorcee and an operating system. It's not conventional, but it is very possible. This film reminds me of an episode of Black Mirror (mentioned above), but with the melancholy vibe of Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation.
3.
Frances Ha
Similar to HBO's Girls, but substantial in quality. White girls in their late 20's trying to figure out their lives in New York City. It was shot in a crisp black and white aesthetic like a Beyonce music video.
4.
The East
I already confessed my love for this film in another post.
5.
Blue Jasmine
Woody Allen was probably watching an episode of 2 Broke Girls one night, and subconciously paid homage to the CBS comedy gem! Just kidding. The storyline between the two are still similar though. Cate Blanchett portrays a pill poppin' socialite that lost it all. She begins to develop symptoms from her initial meltdown. Blanchett's acting chops was so convincing that throughout the duration of this film, I muffled "God, this bitch is fucking crazy" at least 5 times.
6.
The Way Way Back
I just love a good coming of age story, okay?
7.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
It seems that critics are polarized with this film. Yes, the script is problematic, and the storyline is one big cheesy cliche. But the cinematography and overall aesthetic makes up for the lack of originality. The angles in which it was shot was reminiscent of
Garden State and a Wes Anderson movie, AKA ~Indie movie making 101~. The wide landscape shots of Iceland makes you feel in complete cosmopolitan. And my boo Jose Gonzalez made the soundtrack. This is Ben Stiller's directorial debut, so I'm giving him some credit. I'm guessing he picked up a few tricks while producing
Submarine.
Notable mentions: Don Jon (I know a guy irl who's exactly like Don Jon),
Stoker,
the Conjuring,
Crystal Fairy
To Watch: Mood Indigo,
Ginger & Rosa,
Spring Breakers
T U N E S
Labels: Media Favorites
Media Favorites - 2013
POSTED ON Sunday, January 5, 2014 AT 11:26 PM \\
T E L E V I S I O N
1.
Enlightened
The lack of buzz and outlandish schticks was ultimately the death of Enlightened. Every episode felt like a relatable therapy session. You see these characters as real people because they are flawed, and they actually develop as the duration goes on. You see what they're thinking and what they feel, which is a very hard thing to capture on television. It doesn't fall under the catagory of comedy or exaggerated drama. It was simply a show about the underdogs in life. Although it only lasted 2 short seasons, I have a feeling that, years from now, people will be talking about this show the same way they're talking about Arrested Development and Veronica Mars.
2.
Breaking Bad
This show went from an underrated gem to everyone's favorite show by the beginning of its last season. The increase in popularity is well deserved! The finale was satisfying in the same sense that
Kill Bill was satisfying. Who doesn't love a good revenge story?
3.
Black Mirror
A thought provoking mini series on the dark side of technology. Since we're in the decade of mobility, and how enhanced our lives are due to technology, this show provides a nasty look at where we, as a culture, could be heading. Each episode, an hour long, has a different storyline. Think of a modern, edgy Twilight Zone.
4.
Nikita
The government takes prisoners from death row and trains them as assassins. The journey begins with Nikita, a rogue agent, kicking ass and taking names. And it ends with Nikita kicking ass and taking names, but this time, with the help of her friends that she picks up along the way. The ratings were abysmal, but Netflix came to the rescue and ordered the CW to wrap things up with 6 additional episodes, instead of canning the show without a proper ending. When it comes to the CW, I tend to watch things "ironically" because it's SO awful, it's actually entertaining. But this was never the case with Nikita. Every episode was action packed, smart, and the quality in effects always looked sharp and expensive. It was not part of the CW formula. I believe it would've done better on a different network, but at least we got 3.25 full seasons out of it.
5.
The Americans
A good replacement for Homeland. Set during the Cold War in Washington DC, two soviets KBG officers were trained for their new identities as Americans. They speak perfect English, they have two kids, they live in the suburbs. And they gain information on the US government.
F I L M
1.
Gravity
What a stressful, anxiety ridden watching experience. Fuck space.
2.
Her
Spike Jonze has directed some of my favorite movies: Adaptation, Being John Malkovich, etc. I'm a fan, to say the least. Her depicts a futuristic love story between a recent divorcee and an operating system. It's not conventional, but it is very possible. This film reminds me of an episode of Black Mirror (mentioned above), but with the melancholy vibe of Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation.
3.
Frances Ha
Similar to HBO's Girls, but substantial in quality. White girls in their late 20's trying to figure out their lives in New York City. It was shot in a crisp black and white aesthetic like a Beyonce music video.
4.
The East
I already confessed my love for this film in another post.
5.
Blue Jasmine
Woody Allen was probably watching an episode of 2 Broke Girls one night, and subconciously paid homage to the CBS comedy gem! Just kidding. The storyline between the two are still similar though. Cate Blanchett portrays a pill poppin' socialite that lost it all. She begins to develop symptoms from her initial meltdown. Blanchett's acting chops was so convincing that throughout the duration of this film, I muffled "God, this bitch is fucking crazy" at least 5 times.
6.
The Way Way Back
I just love a good coming of age story, okay?
7.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
It seems that critics are polarized with this film. Yes, the script is problematic, and the storyline is one big cheesy cliche. But the cinematography and overall aesthetic makes up for the lack of originality. The angles in which it was shot was reminiscent of
Garden State and a Wes Anderson movie, AKA ~Indie movie making 101~. The wide landscape shots of Iceland makes you feel in complete cosmopolitan. And my boo Jose Gonzalez made the soundtrack. This is Ben Stiller's directorial debut, so I'm giving him some credit. I'm guessing he picked up a few tricks while producing
Submarine.
Notable mentions: Don Jon (I know a guy irl who's exactly like Don Jon),
Stoker,
the Conjuring,
Crystal Fairy
To Watch: Mood Indigo,
Ginger & Rosa,
Spring Breakers
T U N E S
Labels: Media Favorites
