chris nunley

Growing up through the 80’s, this series is interesting to see the events prior to the Reagan administration and up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. For me, I found it more interesting to see the fallout after 1991 up through the Yeltsin years, which I was oblivious to due to Waco, OKC, AOL and Lewinsky. But of course, in typical Hollywood fashion, it wouldn’t be complete if there wasn’t some type of anti-Trump message. The implication that Russia influenced Trump being elected in 2016 is absolutely absurd. Yet they still can’t let it go… detracts from what could’ve been a decent series.

Hard to believe that there was a writer's strike when all Hollywood can come up with is drivel like this. It's basically the first Twister movie with a different and terrible cast.

If I could summarize this film in one word: uncomfortable. :: SPOILER ALERT :: I was 10-14 when the Brat Pack were at their peak, so I couldn't fully appreciate the depth of some of the characters portrayed in those films. However, the soundtracks were killer, and those are the memories I hold dear. That being said, it's sad to see that McCarthy never really moved on from the "brat pack" label put on him and his fellow actors by a young journalist with ambitions and obligations. The filming style seems a bit contrived and convoluted, with multiple cameras, steady-cam operators (who travel with McCarthy), and an off-center reel effect for a hint of nostalgia (?). Right away you can taste a sense of desperation from Andrew about seeking out the rest of the pack and perhaps get some answers as to how it affected their lives and why it (according to him) derailed his career. Some of the exchanges are awkward ones with his old cast mates, as they have clearly moved on from the 80's. McCarthy tries to squeeze a few drops of validation for his argument that the article was damning to his success, instead of accepting the possibility that maybe his run in acting peaked in that same time frame. There's a brief moment towards the end when McCarthy is grabbing a bite at The Spot, and he asks the employee if they've heard of the Brat Pack. He informs them that he's making a documentary about the something that is "ancient history". Exactly. Conclusion: a sad meandering of a once popular actor not being able to move on and appreciate his contributions from a time long gone by.

For me, this film was a foul ball. The trailer got my attention, but the film doesn't tell the story that should've been told. It seems that the filmmaker wasn't really immersed in the NYC music scene at the time, but more or less given footage from the bands and allowed to try and construct something cohesive. The viewer isn't given a chance to engage or relate to the artists because it jumps around from band to band. One minute, you're in the tiny apartment of Moldy Peaches, next you're in the attic studio where LCD Soundsystem would form, to the sound stage where The Strokes would record their Elvis-esque T.V. performance. It's as if the paint is being spattered onto the canvas and very little is sticking. I think the real story should've been the vibe around NYC, starting from the Y2K fear up to post-9/11 and how the event shaped influences the sound of these bands. To have the great music come out of a city that bore witness to the worst act of terrorism should've been the focus. But that's me. 3 stars.

I'm giving 4 stars because the marketing campaign is a bit misleading. Ethan Hawke is creepy, but not to the point of spine-chilling considering his minimal screen time. I think the producers of this film relied heavily on Hawke's name to promote the movie. Jeremy Davies delivers the most convincing role as the father of the two central children. All in all, it's not bad, it's not great... could've waited for streaming on this one.

A complete waste of time and money. It seems that the norm in Hollywood now is to continue to add sequels or reboot older movies while bringing back original cast members with sub-lackluster performances. The action is laughable, dialog even worse, and the subtle woke messages are becoming less subtle. But at least the popcorn was tasty.

Arguably the most one-sided farce of a documentary I've had the displeasure of viewing. FYI, the police CAN, WILL, and ARE ALLOWED to lie to you! Don't call your daddy crying before heading to the police station for questioning. CALL A LAWYER!!! Don't say anything to the police without legal council present. If the police try to strong-arm you in an interrogation that's being videotaped, bite your tongue and stay quiet. Let your lawyer go after the police. The fault is ENTIRELY on the supposed victims for not having the basic knowledge of their rights. SIDE NOTE: the liberal hack "journalist" looks ridiculous wearing a mask even though Brandon declared the COVID threat over.