BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and A Quasi-Defense of Disney

On September 12, 2017September 14, 2017 By Steven StraussIn Remember All the Movies, Terry, We'd Go SeeLeave a comment

Once upon a time, Disney mastered the art of manufacturing fairy tales, mostly for better…but somewhat for worse too.

Continue reading “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and A Quasi-Defense of Disney” →

A Kind Of Apology to Blumhouse Productions

On September 11, 2017September 13, 2017 By Steven StraussIn Remember All the Movies, Terry, We'd Go SeeLeave a comment

Last year, I posted a rather negative takedown of Blumhouse Productions, in which I bemoaned their lack of ingenuity in the name of box office riches and likened this formula to that of modern-day superhero movies, specifically those of Marvel Studios.

Continue reading “A Kind Of Apology to Blumhouse Productions” →

#NotMyPowerRangers

On September 10, 2017September 13, 2017 By Steven StraussIn Remember All the Movies, Terry, We'd Go SeeLeave a comment

Unlike the hordes of deplorables who may use the hashtag that serves as the title of this piece to express their grievances regarding the casting-diversity in this year’s big-screen adaptation of Power Rangers, I wish to direct its sentiment not at the cast’s inclusive representation — one of the few redeeming qualities in the whole affair — but rather at the generic, superhero dreck that surrounds them.

Continue reading “#NotMyPowerRangers” →

THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL

On September 9, 2017September 13, 2017 By Steven StraussIn If You Can't Make It Here, Make It Anywhere Else, Look Over Yonder See Them OFF-BROADWAY LightsLeave a comment

Since The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – based on a popular young adult book series – is now going on tour, my belated thoughts on its New York City engagement at the Lucille Lortel Theatre earlier this year have become relevant once more:

Continue reading “THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL” →

WHOSE STREETS? (Sabaah Folayan & Damon Davis)

On September 8, 2017September 12, 2017 By Steven StraussIn Remember All the Movies, Terry, We'd Go SeeLeave a comment

A documentary about a tragically-seminal modern event like Ferguson sounds almost essential given the current political crisis.

Continue reading “WHOSE STREETS? (Sabaah Folayan & Damon Davis)” →

PURE COMEDY (Father John Misty)

On September 7, 2017September 9, 2017 By Steven StraussIn The Food of LoveLeave a comment

Father John Misty sung his way onto my radar in late 2015 thanks to the first season of Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s Netflix series Master of None, in which the crooner was positioned as a New York underground sensation.

Continue reading “PURE COMEDY (Father John Misty)” →

A Year of Niche

On September 6, 2017September 9, 2017 By Steven StraussIn Remember All the Movies, Terry, We'd Go SeeLeave a comment

2017 is shaping up to be a year of niche movies.

Continue reading “A Year of Niche” →

ANNABELLE: CREATION (David F. Sandberg)

On September 5, 2017September 6, 2017 By Steven StraussIn Remember All the Movies, Terry, We'd Go SeeLeave a comment

Annabelle: Creation is comprised almost exclusively of tired horror tropes, and even lacks the common positive ones (it couldn’t at least throw the audience the genre’s customarily stylish cinematography).

Continue reading “ANNABELLE: CREATION (David F. Sandberg)” →

THE TRENDETECTOR

On August 30, 2017September 6, 2017 By Steven StraussIn Look Over Yonder See Them OFF-BROADWAY Lights, Remember All the Movies, Terry, We'd Go SeeLeave a comment

=As a newcomer to the #FreelanceLyfe, I’ve been revisiting some movies and shows from earlier this year trying to detect trends that would make for juicy pitches in the eyes of omnipotent editors.

Continue reading “THE TRENDETECTOR” →