FanFare

When the host of a failing children's science show tries to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut by building a rocket ship in his garage, a series of bizarre events occur that cause him to question his own reality. [more inside]
posted by General Malaise on Jul 9, 2023 - 4 comments

The final season sees Midge dreaming of appearing on television and becoming truly famous, Susie expanding her agency, Joel making choices about the future, Lenny going through changes, and a raft of plot threads that may or may not resolve. In a departure from previous seasons, episodes contain multiple timelines, stretching from before we first met prominent characters up to decades later.
posted by cupcakeninja on May 27, 2023 - 26 comments

Set in 1941, intellectual New York playwright Barton Fink (John Turturro) accepts an offer to write movie scripts in L.A. He finds himself with writer's block when required to do a B-movie script. His neighbor (John Goodman) tries to help, but Barton continues to struggle as a bizarre sequence of events distracts him. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown on Sep 26, 2022 - 22 comments

A feature-length documentary about the film Galaxy Quest and its legacy, celebrating its milestone 20th anniversary. [more inside]
posted by Halloween Jack on Apr 16, 2020 - 16 comments

Based on the initially anonymous blockbuster 1996 account of Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign in 1992, the film version continues the novel's weak à clef distance, casting a thinly disguised John Travolta as Bill and Emma Thompson as Hillary as they navigate the ethically trying road to the White House. [more inside]
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs on Feb 10, 2019 - 4 comments

Daniel Lugo, manager of the Sun Gym in 1990s Miami, decides that there is only one way to achieve his version of the American dream: extortion. To achieve his goal, he recruits musclemen Paul and Adrian as accomplices. Their plans turn increasingly violent in their execution, and a retired private investigator gets involved. [more inside]
posted by Halloween Jack on Sep 2, 2018 - 5 comments

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician with her own plan to win, inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet, and a few unexpected turns. Can Lightning strike again? [more inside]
posted by the man of twists and turns on Aug 3, 2017 - 8 comments

Racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and his tow-truck buddy, Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), have had their share of adventures together but nothing like what they experience when they head overseas for the first-ever World Grand Prix. While Lightning has his eye on the road to the championship, Mater takes a detour to international espionage when he meets British master spy Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and stunning spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer). [more inside]
posted by the man of twists and turns on May 14, 2017 - 2 comments

Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros (Richard Petty, Michael Keaton) , McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters--including Sally (Bonnie Hunt), a snazzy 2002 Porsche, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past, and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), a rusty but trusty tow truck, who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship. 74/79 on RT, 3 starts from Roger Ebert, ages 5+ and 4 stars from Common Sense Media. [more inside]
posted by the man of twists and turns on May 6, 2017 - 11 comments