Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Fire Island (2022)

by Nathaniel R

It did occur to us that a visual series stopping to center on a new rom-com would be a risk. The romantic comedy genre doesn't tend to scream "visually interesting!" (though obviously it can be). But we knew most of our readership would be watching so... why not? As it turns out, though, with a true filmmaker at the helm (Andrew Ahn of Spa Night and Driveways) it wasn't a risk at all as a Best Shot discussion. Fire Island isn't just funny -- the "Heads Up" game scene snapped above is only one of many hilarious bits in the excellent screenplay from Joel Kim Booster -- but a real movie-movie, too. In short, it's one of the year's best films and we are blessed to have it.

While you'd probably prefer a "ten funniest moments" or "five sexiest guys" list -- hey, we can do those too if this gets engagement -- the visuals are more than worth discussing! Conversations about visual storytelling are ironically in short supply on the internet whenever movies are discussed. The focus is always on acting/casting and screenplay/messaging. And there's a LOT to say about those of course but the internet is already handling that so we're here to talk visuals. Here are the three overall smartest choices director Andrew Ahn,  cinematographer Felipe Vara de Rey, and editor Brian A Kates make in telling this particular story...

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Emmys: Will Returning Shows Dominate Drama & Comedy Categories?

By Christopher James

Can both of last year's Emmy winners prevail in much more competitive conditions?

When it comes to the Emmys, voters tend to stick with what they know. Once a show gets nominated for Outstanding Series, it will forever be on the Emmys radar and a threat to repeat its nomination. Yes, some shows drop off but prevailing wisdom says that, when filling out a prediction sheet for the Emmys, always start with what was nominated previously before adding in new shows.

However this year that may prove to be a somewhat difficult predictive approach. Due to the pandemic, some shows were not eligible each of the past two years, forcing the Emmys to choose new favourites to nominate. Now, most of their former favourites have aired new seasons, including some programs that had laid dormant for many seasons. What we have, then, is a returning show bottleneck...

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FYC: The Network Sitcom Makes a Comeback

By Christopher James

ABC's breakout hit "Abbott Elementary" isn't the only network success this season.

When was the last time anxiously awaited new weekly episodes of a network TV comedy? It’s been nearly a generation since comedies like Roseanne, Friends and Seinfeld ruled the airways. It’s even been a decade since critical darlings like The Office, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation amassed their devout followings. Ratings for network TV comedies have continued to dwindle while critics and the Television Academy lost interest. In the past 10 years, only five shows have been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys: 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, black-ish and The Good Place. In short, the writing was on the wall that the network sitcom was dead.

Everybody loves a comeback, though...

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Support Original Filmmaking - See 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' on the Big Screen

by Eurocheese

If you haven’t already experienced the cinematic joy of seeing Everything Everywhere All at Once with an audience yet, you’re missing out. This creative powerhouse is adding back IMAX theaters this week and may become A24’s biggest box office hit to date. Anyone who believes Hollywood doesn’t bring original content to our screens anymore owes it to themselves to see this as soon as possible. Just in case you weren’t convinced by the critical raves and audience support, here are a few reasons this film needs to be seen on the big screen.

Daniels’ (writer/director duo Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) latest film is a visual feast, incredibly made for just $25 million and a tiny vfx team. As it pairs elements of action with comedy and family drama, the action sequences dazzle with varying tones, ranging from images you might see in a Scott Pilgrim vs. the World battle to scenes that the cast of Jackass would applaud...

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Humor at the Oscars: Where Was It?

by Eric Blume

ABC/Art Streiber

My Oscar assignment for the site was to do a review of the show's hosts (Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, and Regina Hall) and cover the evening's best jokes.  But the next day, it's difficult-come-impossible to do such a thing, because there really was little to no humor in the show! In fact, the evening drove into such an abyss of darkness that it was actually full-on depressing.  What can one say about a program that is meant to honor the highest artistic achievements of the craft, when there is no attention given to art, achievement, or craft?

I will do my best to quickly execute my given assignment nonetheless. There were jokes in there somewhere...

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