Streaming Roulette Aug '22: Akeelah, Belle, Ingrid, and other wonders

Okay, time for this month's streaming roulette. You know the rules. We highlight new-to-streaming titles by freezing them on the scroll bar at entirely random places and sharing what pops up! Any requests?

-Did you hear the word?
-I'm not sure if you're saying 'imminent' or 'eminent'.

Akeelah and the Bee (2005) on Hulu
Whichever word they meant, we can use it in a sentence! (In 2006) "Keke Palmer's stardom is imminent" (In 2022) "Keke Palmer is an eminent celebrity". Have you seen Nope (2022) yet? Read our review. Don't remember much about this debut other than that Keke was charming as a child actor and that the great Angela Bassett played her mom... which makes Keke's much-shared imitation of Angela Bassett even funnier... 

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"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Trailer & "The Multiverse Saga" Timeline

by Nathaniel R

Queen Bassett contemplates the future of Wakanda (as we contemplate the future of the MCU)

We try not to care about the MCU because it's become so dominant as to be oppressive on movie culture BUT we did grow up reading Marvel comic books so it's hard to look away. Phase Four of Marvel's Cinematic Universe has brought (comparatively) mixed reactions with people griping that the work is getting sloppier, particularly vfx and action-wise, in their rush to have literally dozens of subfranchises under the overall MCU umbrella. We'd also argue that they're getting a bit lazier in character development, trusting that comics lore and general fan culture will sell everything rather than putting the personality onscreen where it needs to be.

We hope it improves soon and if it's going to, Wakanda Forever (trailer below just dropped) would be the ideal place to right the ship what with a strong proven director and cast (Ryan Coogler and several cast members returning), a beloved property, and one of Marvel's most intriguing characters (at least on the page) being introduced...

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Off to see "Thor: Love and Thunder"

TAIKA WAITITI AT THE THOR LOVE AND THUNDER AUSTRALIAN SPECIAL EVENT SCREENING SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 27TH JUNE 2022. © Scott Ehler for Getty ImagesWish us luck!  Kidding. The buzz is strong with this one...

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More Quick (Belated) Reviews: Bob's Burgers Movie, Senior Year, etc...

by Nathaniel R

THE BOB’S BURGERS MOVIE
I was perplexed about how to talk about this movie as a longtime passionate fan of Bob's Burgers. On the one hand it was as enjoyable as any episode of the show and it was great to spend time with the Belcher family again. On the other, when I went to write a proper review of it a few days after the screening, I couldn't remember any of the specific jokes beyond the perpetual tease about whether Louise might lose her bunny ears...

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Once more into the Linkverse

• Cartoon Brew the animated features that will be competing at Annecy. Will any of these become eligible for the Oscar? There's usually several international contenders
• The New Yorker reviews the excellent French abortion drama Happpening which just opened in US theaters. 
• TFE... we also reviewed it here from Venice. Consider it a must see!
• AV Club Janelle Monae to play Josephine Baker in a tv series focusing on her role in World War II. Sounds fascinating.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Amazon makes an anti-queer decision on Shortbus (2006), Chicago on Broadway is still stunt-casting, and more after the jump...

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