CANDYMAN | THE OTHER TWO | NINE PERFECT STRANGERS
Gilby's Pop Culture Weekly Round-Up 27/08/2021
Pop Culture Round-Up
Hello everyone! Another week in the books, huh? I cannot believe it’s almost September. Anyway, this week's newsletter has some thoughts on the horror film CANDYMAN. A playlist of five songs I loved last week. And I am also trying something new. From now on the newsletter will have a section called “Quick Thoughts”. Where I will share some of the TV shows, films, podcasts, and songs that I enjoyed during the week.
When I started this newsletter 8 months ago I had no clue what I was doing. But I’m getting there and some things will evolve. For the last three weeks, I've been taking part in a workshop called Substack Grow. Basically, the nice people from Substack are giving us suggestions on how to improve our newsletters. So I will use my newly acquired skills to push out in new areas and create a newsletter that is both fun for me to write and valuable to readers.
Quick Thoughts
THE OTHER TWO - This was one of my favorite new shows from 2019 and I’m so glad it is back. It follows a wannabe actor Cary (Drew Tarver) and his former professional dancer sister, Brooke (Heléne Yorke). They struggle to find their way in the industry while dealing with their younger brother Chase's rapid climb to online fame. In its second season, THE OTHER TWO is still an incredible delight. The outstanding comedic performances from Tarver and Yorke are an absolute blast to watch. And having Ken Marino and Molly Shannon around doesn’t hurt too. The characters are charming, and the writing is really witty. If you like comedies like HACKS and SEARCH PARTY you will definitely enjoy THE OTHER TWO. And if you never heard of any of these shows, you have a lot to catch up on.
Last week I also watched two movies that had a lot of potentials but ended up being big disappointments to me. DEMONIC was written and directed by Neill Blomkamp, the same guy who brought us the great DISTRICT 9. The movie has an interesting premise. The mixing of technology with supernatural forces could have made a fun horror film, but instead, we got a disappointing flick. The writing is pretty bad and the acting is clumsy. I’m sorry to say that but I think Blomkamp is a one-hit-wonder director. REMINISCENCE is another movie that wasted a great premise. The blend of sci-fi action and noir thriller set in a near-future Miami flooded by rising seas sounds great. But the movie doesn’t deliver. Not even the amazing cast could save it. The dialogue is terribly written and the VoiceOver is super cheesy. Also, the ending did not appeal to me.
NINE PERFECT STRANGERS - I've only watched four episodes and honestly, I think it is dragging. And I'm hoping for a big payoff in the end. Otherwise, I will feel like the whole thing was a big waste of my time. However, it is entertaining to see the outstanding performances from the star-studded cast. I will keep watching simply out of curiosity to see where it is going.
RESERVATION DOGS - Like I said last week, this show has me totally hooked. It is not only super funny but it also has a lot of heart. A fascinating insight into a culture that isn't usually portrayed. It is amazingly written, the cinematography is beautiful and the cast is on point. Anyway, this show makes me happy, and I recommend it to everyone.
CANDYMAN
Bernard Rose's original CANDYMAN, which he wrote and directed, revolves around the son of a formerly enslaved man — Tony Todd portrays the title villain — who once was persecuted by racists for falling in love with a white woman. The movie came up in 1992 and it was more unpleasant than scary, but it hit the spot. This new version is a very well-crafted, slow-burn film. And like the other movies from the producer Jordan Peele, it uses the angle of horror, as a challenging reflection on racial injustice.
I really enjoyed this new CANDYMAN. visually it is super cool and the cinematography is stunning. Nia DaCosta's excellent directing creates a frightening atmosphere. The film makes up for its lack of traditional jump scares with some very unpleasant situation that unfolds slowly throughout the film. I believe that this film cements her reputation as one of the most interesting filmmakers working today. The cast is also excellent, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, and Colman Domingo successfully resurrecting the urban legend.
Fans of the 1992 film may ask if DaCosta's picture is a reboot or sequel to the original. Well, It is a little bit of both. DaCosta's rendition of the horror film adds new characters and storyline aspects while keeping true to the 1992 classic. That is thanks to the return of Vanessa Williams and Tony Todd in their original roles, as well as some nice homages to previous CANDYMAN mythology.
Top 5 songs
These were the 5 songs on my heavy rotation last week. You can listen to them on Spotify and YouTube.
