Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer

PUSSY RIOT: A PUNK PRAYER
The fact that the Russian feminist collective’s message seems to change depending on the audience doesn’t lessen their importance as a force for freedom in Putin’s sadly repressive Russia. One can’t help but feel a chill at the similarities between closed-mindedness in their culture and our own.

Behind the Candelabra

BEHIND THE CANDELABRA
Steven Soderbergh’s tale of the “complicated” relationship between Liberace (somewhat UNDERplayed by Michael Douglas) and dimbulb companion Scott Thorson (Matt Damon, fantastic) is a ridiculously entertaining glimpse inside the insular life of the furried key-tinkler (but Rob Lowe steals the shows as a hilariously taut, unscrupulous plastic surgeon).

Game of Thrones, Season 3

GAME OF THRONES Season 3 (HBO)
Three seasons in, and while I’ve faithfully watched every episode (some more than once), I still have just the faintest glimmer of what’s going on (there’s a throne, dragons, and boobies). But one thing I do continue to suspect is that George R.R. Martin is one twisted, bitter little man.

The Revolution Was Televised

THE REVOLUTION WAS TELEVISED: THE COPS CROOKS, SLINGERS AND SLAYERS WHO CHANGED TV DRAMA FOREVER by Alan Sepinwall (Touchstone)
NJ Star-Ledger TV critic, Sepinwall revisits modern classics that set the tone and pace for a TV renaissance, including THE SOPRANOS, BUFFY, and MAD MEN. Mixing history and insightful criticism, the book makes a strong, highly entertaining case for the argument that television has eclipsed film as a storytelling medium.

Petra Haden, Petra Goes to the Movies

Petra Haden, PETRA GOES TO THE MOVIES (Anti-)
Decemberists (et al) alumnus’ second a capella collection tackles 16 movie themes, including REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, SUPERMAN, 8½, GOLDFINGER, TOOTSIE, and more. The eerily perfect PSYCHO main title and A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS work best, while some 80s cheese remains, well, cheesy. A mixed bag worth digging into.

Superman Unbound

SUPERMAN UNBOUND
This loose adaptation of Geoff Johns’ SUPERMAN: BRAINIAC storyline suffers from some weird character designs (Supes has a skinny head), the weight-sapping elimination of Pa Kent’s death, and a shoehorned marriage proposal. Supergirl’s characterization is nice, though, and whoever thought we’d get to see a cartoon Lois flip the bird?

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic

RICHARD PRYOR: OMIT THE LOGIC
Creative trailblazers have frequently led lives defined by pain, both suffering and inflicting it, perhaps none moreso than Richard Pryor. This too-short documentary offers a tantalizing glimpse into a life and career dotted by extreme highs and lows, but ultimately fails to capture the genius that trumped the drama.

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER
I have nothing against stupid B-movie concepts. That is, unless they cloak themselves in A-level aspirations, production values, and actors who take it all seriously. What should’ve been a goofy lark instead feels like a slog through the the most pretentious slab of muenster ever put to film.

Star Trek Into Darkness

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS
The Enterprise docking underwater is just one example of how STID prioritizes spectacle over logic. While the cast shines, JJ Abrams’ second Trek feels like the work of a forced convert, with unsurprising twists and lazy storytelling. It’s a fun popcorn movie, but STAR TREK should be a full meal.

Toy Hunter

TOY HUNTER (Travel Channel)
While I glaze over any time some cheap, crappy 80s toy is featured (I have zero affinity for that garish, plastic era), as a collector myself, it’s fun to watch overly-caffeinated host Jordan Hembrough dig through boxes of old playthings to uncover (no doubt pre-planted) vintage geek gold.

The Office final episodes

THE OFFICE (the last three episodes of) Season 9
I stopped watching THE OFFICE a few seasons back, when the Jim and Pam story went from cute to nauseating, but decided to view the once-great series’ final episodes. I wish I hadn’t. This painfully tired, unforgivably unfunny treacle makes the most saccharine Disney tale look like an Albee play.

Hair Shirt

HAIR SHIRT by Patrick McEown (Self Made Hero)
There’s not much ecstasy, but lotsa agony in this tale of a sensitive young artist’s burgeoning powder keg relationship with an old childhood crush. McEown deftly plumbs the complexity and pitfalls of desire, insecurity, and trauma, his evocative art (simultaneously cartoony and naturalistic) greatly enhanced by Liz Artinian’s gorgeous coloring.

Hannibal

HANNIBAL (NBC)
Disappointed FOLLOWING watchers should check out this whip-smart, stylish and truly terrifying reinterpretation of Thomas Harris’ iconic cat and mouse game. Mads Mikkelsen’ creepy erudition amazingly manages to avoid comparisons with Anthony Hopkins’ Lecter, while Hugh Dancy’s preternaturally empathic Will Graham is more complex than any film version. Mesmerizing.

Iron Man 3

IRON MAN 3
Aside from the risible cliché of the precocious kid sidekick and too many empty armors, Shane Black’s post-AVENGERS adventure is suitably entertaining and refreshingly surprising (altho’ one bait-and-switch will infuriate intractable fanboys). Primary credit, of course, goes to Downey, who continues to inhabit Tony Stark with unmatchable wit and verve.

Genius, Illustrated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth

GENIUS, ILLUSTRATED: THE LIFE AND ART OF ALEX TOTH by Dean Mullaney & Bruce Canwell (IDW)
IDW’s extensive Toth trilogy continues with this examination of the artist’s work and life from the 1960s thru his death in 2006. The comics, illustration and design on display are breathtaking, while tales of many aborted and unrealized projects are heartbreaking reminders of what we both lost and never had.

The Nerdist

THE NERDIST
What I like about Chris Hardwick’s pop culture gabfest is that he doesn’t play to the masses. There’s a pleasant awkwardness with big stars, and even when the comedy bits miss, the whole affair has a delightfully DIY esthetic that makes you feel like anyone could just walk on set.

Louis C.K.: Oh My God

LOUIS C.K.: OH MY GOD
Look, I like Louis. I do. But his shtick is getting a little tired and predictable. “Stupid Americans take amazing thing for granted. I’m fat and middle aged. My kids suck but I love them. Close with controversial supposition.” Louie’s capable of genius, but this special is not it.

The Boy Who Loved Batman

THE BOY WHO LOVED BATMAN by Michael Uslan (Chronicle Books)
Longtime Batman film producer Uslan’s autobiography is heavy on childhood reminisces and light on moviemaking anecdotes (Uslan avoids even naming Joel Schumacher or his Bat-travesties, let alone dishing dirt), suggesting that a good Hollywood memoir cannot be written by an active player… or a nice guy? A friendly, missed opportunity.

The Grey

THE GREY
Yeah, yeah, life is hard and then you die, sometimes horribly and alone. But can we just talk about how Liam Neeson really needs a hand stand-in for any close-ups of his stubby sausage paws? One has to wonder about whether certain Hollywood legends refer to length or girth…

The Muppets

THE MUPPETS
Jason Segel’s ode to Jim Henson’s creations certainly has its heart in the right place: It’s positively brimming with fuzzy sincerity and palpable affection. If only it were funnier and less crass. Further evidence that some pieces of pop culture are best left fallow in the absence of their creator.

Battle for Brooklyn

BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN
8 years in the making, this excellent documentary details the political and financial manipulations the people behind Brooklyn’s Barclays Center used to force a vibrant neighborhood to fall prey to a capitalistic bastardization of eminent domain. Also indicting lazy media, it’s maddening and inspiring at the same time.

Final Destination 5

FINAL DESTINATION 5
When a fistful of dull movie archetypes survives a freak bridge collapse, a cheated Death sets off a chain of Rube Goldberg deathtraps! How will the Tom Cruisey dude die? What about not-Megan Fox? And most of all, when will this exhausted franchise suffer its own wacky, long-overdue demise?

Steve Martin: The Television Stuff

STEVE MARTIN: THE TELEVISION STUFF
While much of Martin’s ironic showbiz-parodying stand-up hasn’t aged well, most of the skits in this collection of vintage TV material are as smart and hilarious as ever. Sadly, some of the content (mostly musical) has been edited out, and a disc of “bonus” materials feels slight.

Melancholia

MELANCHOLIA
Lars Von Triers’ languid rumination on depression starts off promising (with a beautiful world-ending cataclysm), but ultimately feels like a self-serving attempt to recast a debilitating disease as a source of strength. A completely unrelatable setting and mostly wispy characterizations ultimately left me cold… which may have been the point.

New Girl, Season 2

NEW GIRL Season 2
Man, did this thing tank hard and fast! Granted, it was always mannered and sugary, but NEW GIRL has become an unfunny parody of itself, an agonizing patchwork of unrelenting mugging, cutesy-quirky non-sequiturs and big-eyed touchy-feely moments, overplayed by actors who all need to calm the fuck down.