Ted is a hilarious prequel series
Comedic television writer Seth MacFarlane brings one of his screen creations to the small screen in the prequel series Ted. The show is set in 1993; after the first film’s opening sequence and following a linear plot, the series depicts the early life of a sentient teddy bear toy named Ted, who lives with John Bennett (Max Burkholder) and his family in Massachusetts. John’s family members include his dad, Matt (Scott Grimes), mom, Susan (Alana Ubach), and cousin, Blaire (Giorgia Whigham). In the past, MacFarlane has mentioned that he’s always seen the character of Ted as one that’s character-based as opposed to premise-based, so there are numerous angles that he could have taken.
Ava DuVernay guides Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor to an career best performance in Origin
Multiple awarding film auteur Ava DuVernay reunites with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor for the harrowing biographical drama Origin from Neon film. DuVernay also pens the film’s screenplay, which adapts Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Isabel Wilkerson (Ellis-Taylor) has just become the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in journalism, and fans are clamoring for another book following the success of her first novel, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration.
Second Listen Sunday: Color Me Badd, Time and Chance
For the first Second Listen Sunday of 2024, I wanted to highlight a group many consider a one-hit wonder despite having released four albums, the first of which went triple platinum. That group is Color Me Badd, and the album is their vastly underrated sophomore project, Time and Chance.
Slow Jam Saturday : Ralph Tresvant, When I Need Somebody
In 2024, it will be the 30th anniversary of two famous R&B albums, Boyz II Men’s “II” and Mary J. Blige’s “My Life.” As the anniversary approaches, I will highlight both albums in some way. However, for the first Slow Jam Saturday of 2024, I want to credit Ralph Tresvant, the lead singer of New Edition, and his second album, also released in 1994, It’s Goin’ Down. In particular, I want to highlight the album’s second single, “When I Need Somebody.”
Reviews & Dunn Ten Best Movies of 2023
Yesterday, I gave my worst of 2023, so now, let’s review my favorite movies of 2023. These films have outstanding craftsmanship, groundbreaking performances, and thought-provoking narratives. While every movie here won’t get Oscar gold, they are the ones I enjoyed most in 2023.
Reviews & Dunn Ten Worst Movies of 2023
Sometimes, it’s hard to believe I’m four years into my passion for film criticism. If you know me, you know that one of my quirks is that I usually find one thing I like in a movie. However, there’s always an exception to the rule.
The Boys in The Boat plays it overly safe as a crowd pleaser
Academy Award winner George Clooney ventures into the world of sports for his latest directorial effort, The Boys in The Boat from MGM. Mark L. Smith pens the film’s screenplay, an adaption of the same-titled New York Times bestselling nonfiction novel by Daniel James Brown.
Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney’s chemistry saves Anyone But You
Following his successful modernization of “The Scarlett Letter” with Easy A in 2010, director Will Gluck modernizes another literary classic in his latest film, Anyone but You. Gluck collaborates with Ilana Wolpert for a loose adaption of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado about Nothing.”
Wonka is a whimsical prequel
Warner Bros enlists talented director Paul King to take viewers back to the world of chocolate in Wonka. King penned the screenplay with Simon Farnaby from his idea, which tells of the origin story of Willy Wonka, who we all know was first introduced in the 1964 novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl, which later received two film adaptations.
Alexander Payne delivers an enjoyable holiday dramedy with The Holdovers
Director Alexander Payne reunites with acclaimed actor Paul Giamatti for his latest film, The Holdovers from Focus Features. David Hemingson pens the film’s screenplay. Paul Hunham (Giamatti), a highly critical and ill-tempered instructor, is assigned to stay on campus during the Christmas break at a New England prep school. He supervises a small group of students who need a place to go during the holiday season.
Michael Mann’s decent direction and Adam Driver’s lead performance keep Ferrari from running out of gas
Following the misfire, 65, Adam Driver teams up with legendary director Michael Mann for Ferrari. Troy Kennedy Martin pens the film’s script based on the 1991 biography Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races, the Machine by motorsport journalist Brock Yates.
John Woo cuts the dialogue to deliver the action in Silent Night
Following a two-decade hiatus from Hollywood, the iconic action director John Woo makes his return teaming up with the producers of the John Wick franchise for Silent Night from Lionsgate. Robert Archer pens the screenplay for the film, which features limited spoken dialogue.