The Rest - February 5, 2023

Sofia Oxenham and Máiréad Tyres are both Extraordinary in Hulu's new comedy series

A quick wrap up of everything else I watched this week.

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse (2022) - Feels like a book of pleasant affirmations turned into an animated short. Because that's what it is. It's very sweet and a bit cloying. Odds are it's taking that Oscar.

Extraordinary (2023) - A British comedy set in a world where everyone gets superpowers on their 18th birthday - everyone but Jen (Máiréad Tyres). She and her roommates are living their 20-something lives like they're in any other sitcom, but with the added annoyance of suped-up society. The ensemble is great, the humor is sharp and weird. I can't recommend it enough. It premiered last month on Hulu.

Funny Pages (2022) - Embraces and critiques the subversive nature of underground comics. It's a bit uneven, but Our Flag Mean's Death's Matthew Maher is great.

The Has Fallen Sequels -  London Has Fallen (2016) channels the unabashed racism and nationalism Trump was spouting along the campaign trail. It's trash. Angel Has Fallen (2019) wisely chooses a different path, becoming a survivalist buddy picture that adds Nick Nolte to the mix. It's the best of the franchise, but still not really worth watching.

Infinity Pool (2023) - Felt tame, all things considered. But I saw the theatrical cut, unlike all you freaks who caught it at Sundance. Will I revisit it in its uncut form? Probably not. I'd rather laugh during a satire of the rich, and Triangle of Sadness and The Menu have already filled that need.

Kaleidoscope (2022) - The gimmick of this heist drama is that Netflix shows you the episodes in random order and you try to figure out who is going to betray the group. Giancarlo Esposito stars. He seems bored. I was too. I only made it through two episodes.

Law Abiding Citizen (2009) - A sloppy mix of Saw and Se7en that only 2009 could provide. It has a lot to say about our busted justice system, but does it in all the wrong ways.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - Accidentally watched it again after showing up early for Monday Movie Club. No one outside our house got around to it, so our chat was delayed by a week. Might keep overachieving and sneak a watch of the "Black and Chrome" edition in before that meeting.

The Martha Mitchell Effect (2022) - Oscar-nominated documentary short. Interesting enough to me, a history ignoramus who had never heard of this lady or her legacy. It is streaming on Netflix.

May 15th (1969) - Part Groundhog Day, part Twilight Zone. French auteur Claire Denis' student film is a clear indicator of her talent and a reminder that I need to dig deeper into her filmography.