The Crown: A great cast saves a middling season 5

by Cláudio Alves

The Crown | © Netflix

I've long believed that The Crown is primarily valuable as an acting showcase. In previous years, the third and fourth seasons were examined by this prism here on The Film Experience, so it seems fitting to perpetuate the tradition. It's only appropriate for, if nothing else, the Netflix show is a staunch defender of doing the same over and over again, with as little change as possible - tradition upheld for eternity. And yet, to focus solely on the acting would be a false reading of what is a disappointing fifth chapter. As much as the cast succeeds, the series' foray into the 90s brings about a striking imbalance. Melodrama takes such precedence over History that the results cannot help but lack the grandeur of seasons past…

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Sundance Review: This 'Alice's Wonderland Is all Keke Palmer

by Jason Adams

Let's just start with what matters most: Keke Palmer is a star. If not quite yet in the technical terms of massive name recognition and box office numbers then in all of the ethereal qualities that makes one get to those places soon enough. (The Jordan Peele movie coming out later this year is probably going to kick all of this into proper gear.)  I have obviously noted Keke's razzle and her dazzle in earlier roles -- I remember thinking she was destined to be going places several years back with Scream Queens. But watching the premiere of Alice this weekend at Sundance, a proper star vehicle if ever there was one, this sense really grabbed me about the shoulders and shook me up -- she's got that It, baby. The reason why this was my biggest takeaway is that Alice simply wouldn't work without her...

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