The Crown: A great cast saves a middling season 5

by Cláudio Alves

The Crown | © Netflix

I've long believed that The Crown is primarily valuable as an acting showcase. In previous years, the third and fourth seasons were examined by this prism here on The Film Experience, so it seems fitting to perpetuate the tradition. It's only appropriate for, if nothing else, the Netflix show is a staunch defender of doing the same over and over again, with as little change as possible - tradition upheld for eternity. And yet, to focus solely on the acting would be a false reading of what is a disappointing fifth chapter. As much as the cast succeeds, the series' foray into the 90s brings about a striking imbalance. Melodrama takes such precedence over History that the results cannot help but lack the grandeur of seasons past…

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Streaming Roulette (Nov 7-13) - 'My Policeman' and more...

by Nathaniel R

Time for streaming roulette, a hodgepodge of recommendations and points of interest from newly available titles around the various services. The images are chosen by randomly moving the scrollbar around. Whatever we land on we share. Let's start with a mini-review of Amazon's My Policeman...

There he was. I recognized him even from behind. That fine head. The unmistakable line of his shoulder.

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AFI Fest: “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me” shows the star up close

by Eurochees

This year’s AFI Fest opened with a spotlight on pop star Selena Gomez under the direction of Alek Keshishian, who famously brought us Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991). The film kicks off promoting Gomez’s music and telling the audience her backstory, walking us through a career she began at 7 years old on the show Barney & Friends. She has been consistently working since that time, turning 30 this past summer. We learn about the physical toll lupus took on her, an emotionally exhausting period which led her to a breakdown stemming from her bipolar disease. Her decision to go public with her diagnosis ties into her statement later in the film that she is driven by her focus on what to do next when facing hurdles... 

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Dragula: Titans S1.E2 "Revenge of the Witch"

by Nathaniel R

Just give us dark beauty, right?

Challenges on competition reality shows are planned out in advance but sometimes it's fun to imagine they aren't but instead, forced by the previous episode. Last week, when Dragula Titan's competitors were asked to reinterpret a classic horror type for a Halloween party, nobody chose a witch, surely the most common costume of all. So for episode two, witches are the whole theme. Revenge! 

For those of you who need a little cinematic referencing in your TV (oh, maybe that's just me?) the guest judges were the "Demon Nun" herself Bonnie Aarons (The Conjuring 2, The Nun, Mulholland Drive) and director Darren Stein (Jawbreaker, GBF)...

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Streaming Roulette (Halloween Weekend)

Happy Halloween Weekend! There are quite a few newish-to-streaming things to screen this weekend (many of them horror themed) so herewith 10 ideas to take you through Halloween on Monday night. 

If we can raise him up, we can raise up anyone in the cemetery.

WENDELL & WILD (2022) on Netflix
Went in with the highest hopes since Henry Selick is just great. Plus stop-motion animation is always such a treat in the more lifeless era of the absurdantly dominant CG 3D style. The animation here is definitely the highlight and it's perfect for Halloween...

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