Sundance Review: The Climb

by Murtada Elfadl

The Climb starts with a literal climb. Best friends Kyle (Kyle Marvin) and Mike (Michael Angelo Covino) are biking somewhere in France, up a mountain talking about Kyle impending nuptials where Mike is going to be the best man. The scene builds up as they bike up and ends with the revelation that Mike slept with Kyle's fiancée. The deadpan way Covina reveals that and the funny yet completely heartbreaking way Marvin reacts sets the tone for this abrasive comedy of male friendship...

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Amazon Pilot Season: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

By Spencer Coile 

Each year, Amazon releases a handful of their pilot episodes for Prime members to stream. This is a unique twist on determining the worth of new series -- viewer feedback factors prominently into Amazon's pickup decisions. Recent Amazon hits such as Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, and recently The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have all weathered Amazon pilot season to become full fledged series. 

Yet while this trend is potentially on its way out the door, we were still offered a fresh batch of pilot episodes to help get us through fall of 2017: The Climb, Love You More, and Sea Oak. But which of these three (if any) have the most potential for receiving a full series pickup?...

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