Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Ten Best Films of Frances McDormand By Geoff Carter She can be as tough as a bar of iron. She can also be compassionate, kind, and forgiving—or as fierce and determined as a mama bear defending her cubs. Her scathing tongue can …
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Category:Movies
The Couch Potato’s Guide to the Neighborhood
Movie Review of In the Heights I stepped into a movie theater for the first time in over a year last Sunday. Since my family and I are vaccinated—and safe at any speed—we decided to step out and see a movie. We chose In the Heights, the film production Lin Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning hit musical. The film …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to the Best of the Best: Morgan Freeman
David Sifry, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter The Ten Best Films of Morgan Freeman He is the voice of God—or your best friend. He has played Nelson Mandela as well as the President of the United States. He has narrated epic cinematic journeys. We’ve followed him into the gritty worlds of prison …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to the Best of the Best
Nicolas Genin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons George Clooney’s Top Ten Films By Geoff Carter He epitomizes cool. George Clooney exudes an aura of ease, intelligence, and confidence reminiscent of old school stars like Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, or Cary Grant. He can be complicated, too, embodying the angst and disappointments of a typical middle-aged …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to Summer Fun
“Drive-In”RoyBuchanan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Ten Best Summer Films of All Time Finally. After fourteen months of quarantine, confinement, isolation, boredom, and loneliness, we appear to be on the brink of beating the pandemic and getting back into a—somewhat—normalized social existence, which could mean a real summer—one with concerts, crowds, fun, and traveling. …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to Hard Times
Film Review of Borat Subsequent MovieFilm By Geoff Carter Historically, during times of hardship and duress, people have tended to look to movies as vehicles for escape and diversion. Musicals like 42nd Street and Dancing Down to Rio and Busby Berklee’s dance extravaganzas were quite popular with audiences during the Great Depression. While The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind, as well …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to Dressing Up
By Geoff Carter Artwork by Michael DiMilo As of May 1st, over thirty percent of the American population has been fully vaccinated from COVID. New York City, Chicago, and other major cities are beginning to reopen businesses and theaters. Kids are going back to school. As we inch our way back toward normalcy, one of …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to a Balanced Diet
Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter It’s hardly a secret that we live in a culture of excess. Before the pandemic, Americans could—and did—go to a veritable (or actual) buffet of All-You-Can-Eat deals at Olive Garden, Sizzler, Old Country Buffet, Pizza Ranch, and many others—and I’m sure we’ll all be back bellying up to …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to the Back of Your Mind
Film Review of The Father By Geoff Carter Florian Zelllner’s film version of his play, The Father, is not only a harrowing chronicle detailing a man’s struggle to deal with dementia, but deftly places the audience squarely into the puzzle box of memory, hallucination, and disorientation that resides at the core of this disease. Like a …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to the Big Leagues
By Geoff Carter I sighted my first robin a few weeks ago. The daffodils and crocuses are peeking through the earth. After possibly one of the longest winters in the history of the modern world—at least subjectively speaking, spring has arrived. We can enjoy walks in the sunshine, digging in the garden, and talking to …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to Blood Money
Artwork by Michael DiMilo Film Review of Judas and the Black Messiah By Geoff Carter Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah is not only a gripping biopic about the betrayal and assassination of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, and William O’Neal, the FBI informant who betrayed him, but it is also a thoughtful work that examines …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to Getting Even
Artwork by Michael DiMilo Film Review of Promising Young Woman By Geoff Carter It’s the woman’s fault, right? If they dress provocatively, flirt, drink too much, or go out by themselves, then they get what they ask for, right? Unfortunately, this neanderthal mentality still persists in frat houses, bars, locker rooms—and boardrooms—everywhere, and indeed, has …
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