Better than they have any right to be, but not quite good enough to be worth going out of your way for. Sci-fi lite.
Blue Velvet/Mulholland Drive
Even though Blue Velvet is an abbreviated Twin Peaks with boobs, it's still a great watch. MacLachlan is a master of Lynch-style acting. The darkness tempers the parody. Mulholland Drive holds up much, much better than I thought it would (haven't seen it for about five years) and probably deserves a post of its own to discuss the intricacies. In short, though, this film, and maybe all Lynch, is sleight of hand. The mystery only exists to trick you into focusing intensely on the texture. Detractors point out the meaningless, wandering narrative, and that's fair, but they miss the point. It's truly about the journey, not the destination.
The Savages
Indie dramedy (heavy on the "dram") about getting old and dying. Not exactly topics that I think about a lot, nor do I really want to. I can't quite sympathize with what's going on in this film, which makes its flaws (poor pacing, drab color palette) even more annoying.
Hannah Takes the Stairs
This is kind of funny. A movie about post-collegiate types in Chicago. Going out, doing things that I could be doing, in real life. Heh. Beyond the irony, Swanberg's style probably only works if you're charmed by the precocious type of people he casts. Luckily I am.
Highlander
I was not prepared to hate this movie as much as I did. Awful from the not-really-Scottish accents to the sleepwalking that passes for acting to the painful Queen soundtrack - and I do like me some Queen. How did this movie get so famous? Pass, with extreme prejudice.
Dexter Season 1 & 2
Another work probably worthy of talking about in depth. I might return to it someday, maybe right before Season 3 starts this fall. Obviously, it's excellent, but the inconsistency perturbs me. Season 1 was very solid on the whole, while Season 2 had higher highs and lower lows. The last episode of Season 2 was almost completely unnecessary and seemed totally tacked on. Oh well. Can't wait for new eps.
Bonus: Venture Brothers Season 3, Episode 1
So the two year wait is over, and the first episode was awesome. The first two seasons paid the dues necessary to justify the bold backstory episodes that I expect in this season. It isn't strictly about parody anymore. The animation and stunning sound design transcend that alone. This is a show that simply must be seen, and is operating on an entirely other level than any other show of its kind.
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