REVIEW: Republic of Doyle – “High School Confidential”

I have to say, this week’s Republic of Doyle was another pleasant surprise. After a better-than-average Valentine’s-themed episode last week, Doyle kept its momentum in Episode 7. “High School Confidential” filled out some of Jake’s backstory by introducing us to a couple of characters from Jake’s teenage years, and implicated them in a tangle of failed dreams, money troubles and jealousy.

This was all done in the same lighthearted spirit that makes Doyle an entertaining, if inconsistent, show. Situations as diverse as narcolepsy, adrenaline overdose and a suggested threesome fuelled some very funny scenes in this episode. Read on for my full review of “High School Confidential”, including my ranking out of four stars!

Why I’m Still Going to Watch the Oscars

It happens to me every year. In the run-up to the Academy Awards, I wonder if I should forget about the award ceremony and catch up on the winners the next day. But each and every year, I’m drawn back to the glitz and glamour of the time-honoured Oscar pageant. This year is no different; I’m planning on plunking down on Sunday and following the wins, the losses and the painfully awkward scripting.

Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be ashamed of my decision to the watch the Oscars. There’s something pleasantly communal about tuning in with millions of other viewers to see the Oscar highlights and pitfalls happen live. Until I can get an invitation to the ceremony itself (hint hint, Academy), I might as well take the Oscars for what they are: an industry trying (and sometimes failing) to glorify their craft.

REVIEW: Republic of Doyle – “The Dating Game”

Now we’re getting somewhere. After a string of mediocre installments, Wednesday’s Republic of Doyle was a return to the fluffy action/comedy we remember. Jokes worked, the story flowed, and we made some real progress with the characters.

I don’t know if the writers have been holding out on us, or if “The Dating Game” simply struck a lucky balance between humour and story. Whatever the reason, I hope to see more episodes like this in the future. Read on for the full review of “The Dating Game”, including my ranking out of four stars!

Thoughts on ‘Sherlock’ Series 2

I’m about to go all “detective” on you for a moment. If my site metrics are to be believed, an early article of mine about BBC’s Sherlock has been pulling in a lot of views recently. Unfortunately, I get the sense that people landing on the post aren’t finding what they’re looking for. I can’t account for why Google is pushing Sherlock fans towards an article of mine on Series 1, so I thought I’d offer something more current.

Series 2 just finished airing in the U.K. last month, so here’s a post collecting my thoughts on the three episodes – not so much a review with a ranking, but a general reaction. As any of you who have seen the second series will know, there’s a lot to admire.

Reviews of Classic Movies: ‘Midnight Cowboy’ (1969)

Midnight Cowboy is a movie that knows it’s not in debt to its audience. In some films, every detail is tied off so neatly that the story feels formulaic and boring. Midnight Cowboy, by contrast, only gives the viewer what they absolutely need to know, and lets the viewer fill in the blanks. It’s the perfect approach for a movie that deals with the broken dreams and shattered lives of two men who aspired to be much more.

John Scheslinger’s Midnight Cowboy is a fascinating character study, a gritty movie with a tender core that displays some of the best film editing I’ve seen. Read on for my full review, including my ranking out of four stars!

REVIEW: Republic of Doyle – “Dead Man Talking”

There’s an expression that comes over Malachy Doyle’s face every so often on Republic of Doyle. It’s a look of bemusement, one that suggests Malachy is silently wondering how the other characters could possibly behave the way they are. I shared in that bewilderment more than once during last night’s episode of Republic of Doyle, as I tried to make sense of the confusing main story in “Dead Man Talking”.

Fortunately, the episode wasn’t nearly as tedious as last week’s installment, but it felt like a good story was sacrificed to deliver a handful of funny sketches. All the Des Courtney one-liners in the world couldn’t mask the puzzling dialogue or limp characters in “Dead Man Talking”, and I’m afraid it’s starting to become a season trend.

REVIEW: ‘Chronicle’

If teen angst were a superpower, it would probably look like this. When all those hormones are raging, what teen doesn’t want the ability to fly out of awkward situations, crush things at will, or be the coolest kid in school? But once you can do that, what happens next? Who makes the rules when you have ultimate power?

To answer those questions, Josh Trank and Max Landis’ debut feature Chronicle uses the found-footage technique to imagine three teens who suddenly become superpowered, amplifying all those confused emotions to a godlike scale. The movie is a surprisingly entertaining outing. Anyone who was ever a teenager can connect with Chronicle’s characters, and for once, the found-footage approach actually works.