TV Critic at IndieWire
"Because 'livin's' a verb."
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Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe 2022
As pieces of pop nostalgia, this still speaks to the teen experience better than “Str*ng*r Th*ngs.” (And it’s more fun.)
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The Nest 2020
Both a gorgeous study of marriage at a crisis point and an enlivening evisceration of the institution's sexist standards in society, "The Nest" is meticulously made, brilliantly acted, and rich with subtext. Jude Law's ferocious ego is hysterical. Carrie Coon inhales cigarettes and coffee, often in the same breath, then exhales a perfect "fuck you" to the patriarchy. What a gem. I would watch 10 hours of this.
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Boyhood 2014
A unique experience in two areas, one technically remarkable while the other frustratingly plain, "Boyhood" is a marvel in its innovative shoot. Richard Linklater's patient deliberation on time is something to ponder and discuss long after the film (finally) ends, but the proxy characters he creates are so maddeningly plain and predictable an emotional attachment can only be found when reflecting on oneself. The boy and his family don't bring the film to life -- you do (the viewer). Does that make it worth watching? Yes. But does it make "Boyhood" superior to films with more personality, and thus true originality ? No, it does not.
