"The White Lotus" and "Severance" top the HCA TV Awards

by Nathaniel R

Severance won 5 prizes

The Hollywood Critics Association has been making waves in the past couple of years inviting lots of new members (expanding beyond California, albeit with a 25% cap) and getting more press, too. Their TV awards were distributed over two star-studded nights where both celebrities and critics presented.

The most noteworthy thing is that they divvy their awards up much differently than the Emmys, by splitting them in half between "broadcast & cable" and "streaming". They even split hairs further for the top program prizes divvying it up three ways: "broadcast", "cable", and "streaming". In a way, it's a savvy Golden Globe to the Oscars kind of tactic, since they get to honor way more programs and actors by splitting things in half or by thirds. Consider for example that the Hollywood Critics Association did not have Dopesick (streaming) and The White Lotus (cable) in direct competition; they could both win prizes with ease! At the Emmys of course those two shows will go head-to-head. Two of TFE's three California-based contributors were on hand as you can see in the photo after the jump. A complete list of winners follows, too...

Click to read more ...

Streaming Roulette Aug '22: Akeelah, Belle, Ingrid, and other wonders

Okay, time for this month's streaming roulette. You know the rules. We highlight new-to-streaming titles by freezing them on the scroll bar at entirely random places and sharing what pops up! Any requests?

-Did you hear the word?
-I'm not sure if you're saying 'imminent' or 'eminent'.

Akeelah and the Bee (2005) on Hulu
Whichever word they meant, we can use it in a sentence! (In 2006) "Keke Palmer's stardom is imminent" (In 2022) "Keke Palmer is an eminent celebrity". Have you seen Nope (2022) yet? Read our review. Don't remember much about this debut other than that Keke was charming as a child actor and that the great Angela Bassett played her mom... which makes Keke's much-shared imitation of Angela Bassett even funnier... 

Click to read more ...

Review: Going viral with "Not Okay"

by Matt St Clair

While social media can be an outlet for networking and connection, it’s also a place of toxicity. Quinn Shephard’s new satire Not Okay heavily emphasizes the latter. In a digital age where anyone can achieve fame with viral tweets or TikTok videos, Not Okay taps into how some people, like anti-heroine Danni Sanders (Zoey Deutch), go on a demeaning search for internet clout.

Stuck with an unfulfilling photo editor job when she wants to be a writer, Danni Sanders aims to get ahead at the magazine she works for. Seeking fame and validation from everyone around her, including influencer Colin (Dylan O’Brien) who she crushes on, Danni decides to fake a trip to Paris. With just her photo skills and a change in location on her Instagram posts, Danni makes it appear she went away despite being held up in her apartment. But once a terrorist attack occurs in Paris, Danni then pretends to be one of the survivors. As you can guess, thinks get grimmer as they progress... 

Click to read more ...

Streaming: Why doesn't "Persuasion" work?

by Nathaniel R

Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis star in "Persuasion"

Jane Austen's final completed novel Persuasion has been adapted to screen several times, but unlike her most famous novels, theatrical motion picture fame as eluded it. The latest non-theatrical screen adaptation, via Netflix this time, has met with such harsh reviews that we almost didn't watch it. Nevertheless the extremely alluring faces of Dakota Johnson, Henry Golding, and Cosmo Jarvis beckoned as did the reliable wit of Jane Austen herself. We gave in and pressed play. Unfortunately it's difficult to argue with the consensus this time around...

Click to read more ...

Streaming Tops: Bob's Burgers, Persuasion, Ms Marvel

THE BOBS BURGERS MOVIE is #1 on Hulu and on HBO

What have you been streaming? Anything you'd like us to discuss? The following charts on "most popular streams" are for July 18th or thereabouts. There's no set system of when numbers are reported from service to service like there is with the world of theatrical releases, nor does every service even report so consider these guesstimates or 'taking their word for it'...

Click to read more ...