Pop Culture
Finished watching Stick S1. It takes a little while to get going, but it really picks up.
The sound design of the golf swings is a great motivator to play the sport again. The show explores themes of grief, parenting and mentoring, as well as the communication and frustration between Gen X/Y and Gen Z.
Fun fact: the show was created by Jason Keller, who is married to Andrea Anders, the sister of Sean Anders. Sean Anders is one of my heroes for his work on the Daddy’s Home 1 and 2 films, as well as Spirited.
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Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom, 2023 - ★★★
Ce n'est pas le meilleur Astérix, mais ce n'est pas le pire non plus. Il y a quelques bons gags, mais le meilleur moment pour moi a été la toute fin. Entendre Obélix parler de "quand on sera grands" m'a vraiment touché. Ce court instant de poésie, larmichettes à l'appui, m'a incité à revoir mon évaluation à la hausse.
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The Wild Robot, 2024 - ★★★★
This is a lovely movie featuring standout animation. It is beautiful and truly has a big heart.
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Wish, 2023 - ★★½
The animations and story are both lovely. However, the film gives a sense of déjà vu that prevents it from standing out. This seems intentional, as the movie was released to celebrate the 100th birthday of The Walt Disney Company, paying homage to its history. The end credits feature a fun quiz highlighting previous Disney movies and characters.
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The Lost Daughter, 2021 - ★★½
It is true that parenthood, especially motherhood, can be challenging, and there are very few films that explore this subject. It can be comforting to see a mother on screen struggling with mixed feelings about her children. However, despite the strong performances from the cast, the thriller atmosphere did not resonate with me. I also found the main character unlikable, and I am growing weary of stories centered around petty bourgeois adultery (I'm looking at you, Nicolas Matthieu and Maria Pourchet).
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Malcolm in the Middle’s Bowling episode is a masterpiece.
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I watch The Daily Show pretty much every day. It’s a good way to cope with what is going on with Trump. The latest edition with Jon Stewart was particularly good. The Epstein files piece, the bit about the cancellation of Colbert’s late show, and the gospel song finale were all awesome.
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Icarus, 2017 - ★★★ (contains spoilers)
This review may contain spoilers.
Icarus begins as an exploration of doping in amateur cycling but quickly transforms into a high-stakes exposé of Russia’s state-sponsored doping program, focusing on whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov.
Personally, I was more intrigued by the outcome of the first section of the movie. I was astonished that the effects of doping did not yield any results. Does this mean that other amateur cyclists are also doping?
However, the high stakes in the second part are more significant. Rodchenkov is both likable and, at times, untrustworthy and somewhat sketchy.
The footage of Lance Armstrong aggressively lying to people’s faces serves as a poignant reminder that fraud is disheartening. This echoes the sentiments expressed by Steve Carell’s character in The Big Short.
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Icarus, 2017 - ★★★
Icarus starts with an exploration of doping in amateur cycling but evolves into a critical investigation of Russia’s state-sponsored doping program through the lens of whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov.
And Their Children After Them, 2024 - ★★★
J'avais énormément aimé le livre. C'était la première fois que je lisais un auteur qui rentrait sans doute en 3e quand moi-même attaquais la 6e. Et forcément, son ton me parlait.
Si le film reste fidèle au livre, il y a forcément eu des coupes, et le ton me parle globalement beaucoup moins. Bref, si vous avez le temps ou l'envie, préférez le livre.
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