See the CCA’s Winners of the Annual Critics Choice Super Awards
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) just announced the winners of the 5th annual Critics Choice Super Awards, honoring the most popular, fan-obsessed genres across both movies and television. See if you agree. Because you all need to know what’s worth watching, I view as much as I possibly can, and pass along my opinions to you via…
FREAKIER FRIDAY Review — Crazy Cute But Shamelessly Sloppy
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Freakier Friday review notes that all the fabulous fun and frolic can’t make up for lack of attention to detail that results in mind-numbing audience confusion. Splashy colors and setups, slapstick comedy, actors we know and love plus a gorgeous and talented supporting cast, and the glories of L.A. at its glamorous…
TOGETHER Review — Bad Choices Make for Good Horror
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Together review reveals that this real life couple knows how to take a terrifying tale to the limits and beyond. Well. I didn’t see that coming. Together starts out with a co-dependent, self awareness-free couple making really bad choices about their lives together. Real life mates Dave Franco and Alison Brie play…
SLOW HORSES Review, THE LAST OF US Review — 2 Big Drama Contenders
Tandy Culpepper and Lisa Johnson-Mandell’s Slow Horses review and The Last of Us Review reveal why they have opposite opinions about both shows on The Hollywood Beat podcast. Slow Horses Review The spy thriller Slow Horses, streaming on Apple TV+, is as sharp as it is grimy—a cold, gray tale of espionage and incompetence that…
THE NAKED GUN Review, THE BAD GUYS 2 Review — Big Fun for All
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Bad Guys 2 review and The Naked Gun review says the two comedies, one of them animated, usher in August with big laughs and lots of fun. The Naked Gun Review You need to keep your eyes wide open, think fast and stay alert, just like Frank Drebin Jr does, to…
THE FANTASTIC 4 FIRST STEPS Review — Retro Future Fun
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Fantastic 4 First Steps review say the latest Marvel film is a welcome addition, in spite of a strategic flaw or two. The Marvel Universe is in peril. Can the Fantastic 4 save it? Pun fully intended, the latest superhero offering is a step in the right direction. Which is not…
Huge TED LASSO News — A Sneak Peek at Season 4
A little good Ted Lasso news goes a long way these days, and these juicy tidbits from the long awaited, and much gossiped about Season 4 can’t help but turn that frown upside down—just like the series. Apple TV+ just revealed that production is officially underway on the highly anticipated fourth season of Ted Lasso,…
SUPERMAN Review — The Year’s Best Blockbuster So Far
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Superman review says this is the most fun Man of Steel movie ever, mostly thanks to Jame’s Gunn’s cheekiness and Krypto’s gleeful debut. For the past couple of decades, I’ve been of the opinion that there are too many Spidermen, too many Batmen, and I was about to add Supermen to the…
JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH Review — What’s In a Name?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Jurassic World Rebirth review says that although this movie is strangely void of anything resembling a rebirth, it’s entertaining enough to please fans. Jurassic World Rebirth begins with sobering images of what looks like a brontosaurus slowly and painfully dying…in the middle of a major city. The poor guy is annoying the residents…
M3GAN 2.0 Review — What’s Creepier Than an Evil Doll? AI!
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s M3gan 2.0 review says the sequel doesn’t reach the level of the original, but what sequel ever does? It’s still a good time. While the original M3gan was a nice mix of three parts horror, two parts comedy, Meg3n 2.0, as the title indicates, is an advanced conglomeration of genres, including sci-fi,…
