Most Recent
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‘The Ultimate Playlist of Noise’ can’t hit all the notes
I’ve reviewed my share of teen weepies over the years. And there will always be more, because the powers that be aren’t dumb – there is always going to be a market for movies where attractive young people deal with obstacles both real and imaginary.
I should be clear – I’m not one of these people who automatically assumes that something with a YA label is somehow less than. There are plenty of high-quality YA entertainments across all media out there; to my mind, a good story is a good story. The unfortunate truth, however, is that those same powers that be aren’t always that concerned with a good story – for them, the overwrought feelings and melodrama are more than enough to get the job done.
“The Ultimate Playlist of Noise,” newly streaming on Hulu, isn’t QUITE that cynical. Directed by Bennett Lasseter from a script by Mitchell Winkie, it’s a well-intentioned film that offers a perspective on what it means to be a young person losing something (or someone) that you love. It’s the story of a young man who, faced with the loss of his hearing, undertakes to hit the road and record a collection of favorite sounds before they’re gone (for him) forever.
(If this rings familiar, last year’s exceptional “Sound of Metal” covered a fair amount of the same ground, only in a more nuanced and much less saccharine way.)
Now, this movie isn’t actively bad the way so many films that fall into the YA feelings category are. It has some things to recommend it – exceptional sound design, for example, with a killer soundtrack – but for the most part, it lands in the muddy middle. Fine and forgettable.
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William Shatner examines history’s mysteries on ‘The UnXplained’
We live in a time where the answer to almost any question is only a click away. But what about those answers not so easily obtained?
William Shatner examines history’s most bizarre mysteries Fridays at 9 p.m. on The History Channel’s “The UnXplained.” Season 2 episodes are airing now.
As host and executive producer of “The UnXplained,” Shatner seeks to discover how the seemingly impossible can actually happen. Each episode is packed with multiple mysteries under a central theme. Scientists, historians and witnesses add context but it’s Shatner’s eternal curiosity and engaging personality that makes the show compelling, creepy, spooky and fun.
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Quilt artists create textiles to admire or cozy up with
In this winter of hunkering down at home, there’s a trend that’s just right for the times: quilts as decor and as art.
An artistic quilt might be displayed prominently on a wall, thrown over a couch, or just folded and hung from the rungs of a ladder. (Or you could cozy up with it.)
“Quilts bring warmth, depth and texture to any room,” says Suzy Williams, a quilter and graphic designer in Oak Park, Illinois. She offers tutorials and patterns for quilt making on her website, Suzy Quilts.
“Step back to the far edges of a room and see a quilt’s geometric design and color patterns as a whole composition. Or stand inches away and observe the luxurious combinations of fabric, stitching, batting density and glorious handmade variation,” she says.
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‘Soul’ has heart
Hey there! Would you like to watch a beautifully animated film rife with cute characters and silly gags that also causes you to contemplate the deeper meaning of life? Are you interested in a cartoon that may trigger something of an existential crisis? Do you want to laugh and cry in equal measure?
If your answer to these questions is yes, well … you probably already watch Pixar movies.
The studio’s latest offering is “Soul,” another masterful piece of work that is currently streaming on Disney+. Directed by Pete Doctor – the animation auteur who previously helmed Pixar heartbreakers “Inside Out” and “Up” – with co-direction from Kemp Powers, it’s a film that takes a look at what makes us us, an emotional and cleverly rendered look at where we go after we die and where we are before we are born.
It’s smart, of course, and absolutely stunning to look at. This being Pixar, it also takes the opportunity to emotionally eviscerate us, showing us the power of self and of sacrifice while offering up some thoughts on just what it’s all about. Another triumph from a studio that simply doesn’t miss.
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Netflix’s ‘Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas’ is a feel-good hit
Need a little boost of holiday spirit or some DIY decorating tips for Christmas? “Mr. Christmas,” otherwise known as Benjamin Bradley, is ready to assist. The star of the sweet Netflix hit “Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas” brings with him two decades of design expertise, and a desire to share his vast knowledge of all things Christmas.
On “Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas,” Bradley and his team meet with families and communities deserving of a Christmas makeover.
Each of the four episodes from the show’s first season (shot pre-pandemic) begins with Bradley at home with his dog, a sweet chocolate lab named Ebenezer. Bradley reads a letter from a family struggling in some way when it comes to the holidays, then introduces them to the viewer before transforming their home or community into a Christmas wonderland.
Along the way, Bradley shares his love of Christmas and its many traditions and offers up plenty of insightful holiday hacks and helpful decorating tips that most anyone could pull off on their own. It’s heart- and hearth-warming entertainment when we need it.
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