This week, Okwudili and I delve into Marvel’s latest Netflix original series, Luke Cage. We unpack every nook and cranny of the show. We give particular attention to its highs (particularly its exploration of black culture) as well as its faults (at times weak writing and inconsistent in pacing). Though Luke Cage seemingly has the […]
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
I’ve had an interesting relationship with The Hunger Games film series. The first (and titular) entry caught my attention for bringing Suzanne Collins’ dystopian world to such initially vibrant life, but director Gary Ross’ shaky camerawork kept me from lauding the film too heavily. Francis Lawrence took up the directing reigns afterward, and crafted Catching Fire into a […]
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
I didn’t know how to react to Mockingjay – Part 1. I remember feeling strangely ambivalent. I was entirely unmoved for the two hours I spent in the theater. After thinking about the film for a week or so, I realize that I felt cheated. This is because Mockingjay, Part 1 isn’t a movie; it’s a glorified advertisement for […]
Søren and J Discuss House of Cards
House of Cards has been a runaway success for Netflix, its characters permeating American culture from the Oval Office to the Oscars. Star Kevin Spacey plays Frank Underwood: a heartless, sociopathic politician gunning for power in Washington, D.C. But how long can a character like that be interesting? And how does the “binge-watching” structure of the […]