Streaming Review: Over the Moon

By Abe Friedtanzer

Many religions and cultures find meaning in inanimate objects and physical locations, teaching mythical stories about their significance. As children grow up, they may assume a more metaphorical and symbolic understanding of what they heard from their parents and grandparents, no longer convinced that something magic could indeed be real. That can erode the sense of wonder that they once felt and cause them to believe in something less fervently because they believe it couldn’t possibly be true.

Not giving up that childlike hope may be unrealistic, but it does serve as the premise for some of the most heartwarming animated films.

In Over the Moon, streaming on Netflix on October 23rd, we’re introduced to Fei Fei, who, as a young girl, helps her parents make and sell mooncakes, eagerly running all over the city describing their delicious taste. She is always sure to emphasize their connection to the moon itself and to Chang’e, the moon goddess...

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Emmy Review: Lead Actress in a Drama

By Abe Friedtanzer

Last year’s winner in this highly competitive category – Jodie Comer – is back after her show, Killing Eve, performed much better than most thought it would. This race will surely be close, with a defending champion, three potential new victors, and one dark horse surprise (who I think may just win). 

I’ll try to avoid major plot details in my analysis – but if you'd like more spoiler-filled descriptions, click on the episode titles. Let’s consider each nominee…

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Emmy Watch: Best Actress in a Drama

by Abe Fried-Tanzer

We’re looking at another Emmy Awards category today – Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.  All but two of last year’s nominees are eligible again.

The remaining nominees – defending champion Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Sandra Oh (Killing Eve), Laura Linney (Ozark), Mandy Moore (This Is Us), and Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) – will have to fight hard for their slots due to a major influx of contenders from shows that are once again in the running this year or in the running for the first time.

The past four years have gone like so... 

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Beauty vs Beast: The Spy Who Stabbed Me

Jason Adams from MNPP here, continuing our little Pride Month run of LGBT-centric "Beauty vs Beast" contests -- we're turning our eyes towards the small screen this week for one of our favorite on-going queer series, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's fabulously twisted sapphic spy versus spy series Killing Eve. Deserving all of the awards we can violently fling at them in one corner we've got Sandra Oh as Eve, the hyper-capable but darksided intelligence officer, and in the other there's Jodie Comer as the psychopath but don't call her that Villanelle (god that name is so good), who's spotted a little something inside Eve she can't wait to dig her fingers around in.

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PREVIOUSLY That low-cut tank-top on Brad Davis proved too tough for us to resist, tilting last week's Querelle poll perilously in his favor with a broad-chested 82% of the vote. I would shed a tear for Franco Nero but... he's Franco Nero, he's more than okay. Said FrenchToast:

"Team Brad Davis all the way!What a brilliant actor he was. Was it too much to ask for him to get Oscar nominated in 1979? I remember reading Genet's novel in high school and being mesmerized (and probably aroused) by his poetic writing. Even if Fassbinder's movie has its flaws, it's a daring and terrific adaptation."

Golden Globe Host Watch: "Please Give Us Five Stars!"

by Lynn Lee

Andy & Sandra at their private after-party last night

That’s it?”

-My reaction to the final Golden Globes signoff by Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg.

Don’t get me wrong: one thing I love about the Globes – besides the glorious coming together of movies and TV and everyone in the room getting shitfaced – is how efficiently it runs its course, at least compared to our favorite bloated yearly Hollywood telecast.  But damned if it didn’t feel like this year’s Globes, in hurrying things along, gave short shrift to its hosts.  Which is a shame, since they showed potential that was never fully realized...

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