First Viewing Viewing Date: January 2nd Via: Amazon Prime Video Plot: Between two Thanksgivings two years apart, Hannah's husband falls in love with her sister Lee, while her hypochondriac ex-husband rekindles his relationship with her sister Holly. Rating: 7.6/10 Why Did I Watch It? Even though I'm not a Woody Allen fan, this is another iconic, acclaimed film I haven't yet seen, so I watched it before my MGM subscription expires.
First Viewing Viewing Date: January 2nd Via: Amazon Prime Video Plot: An honest New York cop named Frank Serpico blows the whistle on rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him. Rating: 8.8/10 Why Did I Watch It? This is an iconic, famous movie which has somehow eluded me for years and years. It was time to fix that. And to watch something classy.
First Viewing (I watched the R-rated cut) Viewing Date: January 1st Via: Shudder Plot: An evil scientist implants the brain of Michael, a murdered high school student, into a Tyrannosaurus. He escapes, wreaks vengeance on his high school tormentors, and is reunited with his sweetheart Tammy. Rating: 6.4/10 Why Did I Watch It? I've been curious about this one since the R-rated uncut version was unearthed and restored. I'm watching the films on my Shudder watchlist before my subscription expires, too.
First Viewing Viewing Date: January 1st Via: iTunes Store Plot: The exploits of several workers at a pizzeria in Sydney's western suburbs. Rating: 6.2/10 Why Did I Watch It? This is something of an Aussie cult classic, it was filmed in my city, and it was 99 cents to rent.
First Viewing Viewing Date: January 1st Via: iTunes Store Plot: Ove, an ill-tempered, isolated retiree who spends his days enforcing block association rules and visiting his wife's grave, has finally given up on life just as an unlikely friendship develops with his boisterous new neighbours. Rating: 8.7/10 Why Did I Watch It? I'm interested in the remake with Tom Hanks, this was a 99c rental, it has great reviews, and I wanted to start the year with something classy.
Viewed: Season 3 I have something of a strange relationship with The Boys. As much as I admire the show for a myriad of reasons, I can't say I'm ever necessarily compelled to binge it or watch it on a weekly basis; instead, I just watch episodes here and there when I have time, rather than making time to watch several episodes because I'm hooked. Still, this isn't to impugn the show as a whole, as I still quite like it, and the third season is extremely solid. It retains the polished, cinema-level production values we have come to expect from the series, the story remains interesting, and the season's secret weapon is Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy. The overarching Soldier Boy arc is compelling, and it has gotten to the point where I'm not sure which of the main characters will actually survive at this point in the show, which amps up the tension a hundredfold during the key showdowns. There are some standout episodes in this season, including the iconic "Herogasm" which will be referenced for many years to come, and there are some truly memorable scenes such as one involving a shrinking man entering his gay lover's genitals. To say more and spoil the secrets within would be unthinkable. I still love the cast, especially Karl Urban who remains a note-perfect Billy Butcher, while Anthony Starr is formidable as Homelander. The only downfall of this season, in my mind, is the way it starts to pander to progressive politics, wandering into issues that are too complicated and controversial by simply repeating talking points from both sides without going into any true nuance. This is minor, however. It's a shame that the wait time between seasons of this show remains so long. Bring on the fourth season!