YOU PEOPLE | POKER FACE Season 1 | INFINITY POOL
Pop Culture Weekly Round-Up 27/12/2022 -
Hello, everyone! Here I am once again to give you some Pop Culture recommendations for your weekend. In this week’s newsletter, I talk about the disappointing Netflix movie, YOU PEOPLE. I also share my thoughts on Natasha Lyonne’s very entertaining series POKER FACE and the bizarrely amazing film INFINITY POOL.
QUICK THOUGHTS
YOU PEOPLE tells the story of a young couple, portrayed by Jonah Hill and Lauren London, navigating societal expectations and generational differences as their parents, played by Eddie Murphy, Nia Long, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and David Duchovny, clash. Despite the all-star cast, I was disappointed by YOU PEOPLE. The film tries to tackle modern race issues but falls short, coming across as a disjointed collection of sitcom-style jokes rather than a cohesive movie. However, there are some funny moments, particularly between Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy. Overall, it's not a must-watch, but if you're looking for something to stream on Netflix, it's worth giving it a chance. It's not great, but it's also not the worst movie ever (I’m looking at you RED NOTICE).
POKER FACE follows Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. After finding herself in trouble, she hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can't help but solve. What can I say, Rian Johnson did it again! First, he redefined the who-done-it genre with KNIVES OUT. And now he has created a contemporary revisiting of the underdog-detective crime stories of network TV from the 70s and 80s. But before I go deeper into this review I have to disclose that I’m a massive Natasha Lyonne fan. So consider this fact when reading it. Anyway, the first season of POKER FACE is a delightful mystery-thriller that follows Lyonne as an unconventional gumshoe. The show features amusing twists and turns, and Lyonne’s performance is captivating. The supporting cast is also terrific, and the show has a great sense of style, with an excellent soundtrack and some stunning visuals. All in all, POKER FACE is an entertaining and exciting show that will keep you guessing until the very end. I had a lot of fun watching the six episodes (out of 10) that I had access to and I highly recommend it.
INFINITY POOL revolves around James (Alexander Skarsgård) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman). They are on a perfect vacation on an isolated island resort, but when they follow the mysterious Gabi (Mia Goth) to explore beyond the resort, they find themselves in a culture of violence, hedonism, and horror. When a tragic accident occurs, they must face the island's strict policy of zero tolerance for crime. INFINITY POOL is a fascinating film by Brandon Cronenberg that delves into the concept of wealth and its corrupting influence. The film is uncompromising in its exploration of the dark side of the wealthy and their impact on society. It is also twisted, weird, and of course, has the Cronenberg DNA all over it. Alexander Skarsgård gives a great performance, but it's Mia Goth who truly shines, delivering a powerful and unforgettable performance. Although the story could have been fleshed out more, I found the premise of the film to be intriguing. Cronenberg's technical skills are amazing and I look forward to seeing what other memorable and brutal imagery he will create in the future. I highly recommend this film to audiences looking for a thought-provoking and challenging experience.
TOP 5 SONGS
These were the 5 songs on heavy rotation in my house last week. You can listen to them on Spotify and YouTube.
Enjoying your recommendations, so helpful in sorting through new shows to watch. Thanks!