JR Atkinson
Teen Romance for the Sweltering Summer
There’s a particular teenage feeling of promise to summer for me. School is out, the sun is beating, and the space between June and September seems big enough to live a lifetime in. Even for someone staunchly past teenhood, the tickle of summertime is exciting, Teen Romance For Sweltering Summer and self-transformation– and these are
The Curse
As strange as it is funny and as thoughtful as it is surprising, The Curse is as unique a viewing experience as they come. I was first drawn in by the sharp satire and stayed for the company of its richly envisioned characters.
20-Something & Figuring it Out: A Post-College Watchlist
I’ve grown accustomed to seeing people my age on screen. The problem is, 23-year-olds are usually playing high schoolers. And while I’ve relished the avalanche of shows and movies about high school’s clique-ridden trials, and even the few that explore college’s rich landscape by College Watchlist, I was ready for something that reflected my own
If You Were the Last
Though it’s squarely a rom-com, If You Were the Last will pique the curiosity of the sci-fi lover. It’s a date night movie with an undeniable sweetness that never crosses over to cheesy.
Fair Play
A psychosexual thriller with equal parts boardroom and bedroom drama, Fair Play has elements of a gender issue parable in the vein of Promising Young Woman while feeling truer to the thriller genre. With plenty of Watercooler-worthy moments, it has already inspired plenty of social media discourse. Get in while the getting’s fresh.
Bottoms
For lovers of the classic teen sex comedy, Bottoms has much to offer: well-played comedy, over-the-top antics, and underdogs to root for. But those in the market for something fresh will be even more rewarded, as the film flips the script on a well-worn genre. Deservedly so, because anyone who’s been an awkward teen girl
Telemarketers
Telemarketers mixes stranger-than-fiction characters, high-level mystery, and drug-fueled thrills, with the intrigue of a pulpy true crime flick. It’s as journalistically interesting as it is entertaining. Anyone who’s been on the receiving end of a telemarketing call (which is virtually everyone) is in for a shocking treat, as the scene you might imagine is on
The Best of the Barbie Watercooler
This weekend was the biggest of the year for water cooler conversations across the country – and even the world. I saw Barbie on Thursday, the first day it was in theaters in New York City, and I had to get tickets a week in advance. Part of me was annoyed to be participating in
Theater Camp
Theater Camp is a treat for those who remember what it’s like to be young and to have a dream, and who haven’t forgotten all the sweat and ambition that comes with it, and how it can feel like the most important thing that has ever happened. The world of AdirondACTS is richly envisioned, and
JR Atkinson
Loki Episode 4 Recap: “The Nexus Event”
In our latest Loki episode breakdown we examine the questions of what the big Nexus Event was and who the real power behind the TVA might be.
Physical
Physical is an in-depth character piece that can be uncomfortable at times, but thanks to Rose Byrne’s performance and the totally awesome period setting it’s a fascinating watch.
Loki Episode 3 Recap: “Lamentis”
In our Episode 3 recap, Loki reveals himself to his “match” – Sylvie. Has she enchanted him with her spell? Will they fall in love? Will they team up to destroy the world or save it?
Beautiful Thing and the Importance of LGBTQ Representation
As much about a class as it is about sexuality, Beautiful Thing bucked tradition by focusing on working class teens coming out. Even now, 25 years after its release, it is an intersection rarely depicted on-screen.
Ted Lasso
Earning the most Emmy nominations for a freshman comedy, Ted Lasso delivered the role model we didn’t know we needed, and proved that upbeat comedy can win over critics, academy voters, and fans across the generations and political divides.
The Watercooler Guide to Tuca & Bertie
A sleeper hit with a cult following that’s grown across social media, the animated grown-up comedy starring Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong drops its third season July 10th, 2022 — this time on HBO Max. The clever one-of-a-kind show was canceled by Netflix before making an unlikely return on Adult Swim. Here’s what you need
The Best James Bond Movies to Stream (According to My Dad)
In honor of Father’s Day, I interviewed my dad about his favorite James Bond movies and why you should stream them.
Celebrate Pride with this LGBTQ Watch List
With an explosion in representation over the past decade, coupled with the advent of streaming, LGBTQ audiences are spoiled for choice in a way we never were before.
Loki Recap Episode 2: “The Variant”
Loki’s second episode demonstrates that there’s still a lot more to learn about the Time Variance Authority and this new corner of the MCU. It might even bring up more questions than it answers.
A Career Reinvention Watchlist
As layoffs continue in the wake of a year of ominous headlines about the bots who are replacing us, a recent EY report found that over 70% of employees are reeling from AI anxiety. That actually sounds low. The idea of having to concoct a new livelihood – one that won’t be taken over by
A Watercooler Guide to Emma Stone’s Kinds of Kindness
With so many franchises, sequels and prequels arriving in theaters, we get accustomed to seeing familiar worlds and their predictable three-act structures. Then a three-hour theatrical release comes along that defies any simple explanation, and you have no idea what you’re getting into. Kinds of Kindness is that kind of film. With a top-notch cast
The Boys creator Eric Kripke on the hit show’s timely parallels, his inspirations, and what to watch next
The Boys creator Eric Kripke gives an exclusive interview about hit show and its parallels to our own election, and the inspirations behind its Black female vice president, its homicidal dictator, and Kripke’s mind.
Teen Romance for the Sweltering Summer
There’s a particular teenage feeling of promise to summer for me. School is out, the sun is beating, and the space between June and September seems big enough to live a lifetime in. Even for someone staunchly past teenhood, the tickle of summertime is exciting, Teen Romance For Sweltering Summer and self-transformation– and these are
Round the World: Summer Camp Movies for Grownups
Ah, summer camp. Images of wood cabins, elaborate pranks, cringe-y talent show performances, and teens with raging hormones have filled our brains, thanks to what’s become a subgenre of American & Summer Camp Movies.. But summer camp stories take on different depths depending upon the decade and the country where they’re set, and they can
A New Mystery Series Has Some Fun with True Crime Obsessions
It arrived without much fanfare, another offbeat “true crime” mystery set against the stormy clouds of an eerie small town. But Bodkin, the new Netflix series set in Ireland, has something deeper going on. Both a revelation and a lighthearted indignation, Bodkin has something to say about conspiracy theorists, disinformation rabbit holes, the people making
Industry S1
Industry is a series fueled by greed, drugs, sex, and money, and provides all of these ingredients in Federal Reserve-sized quantities. There’s never a dull moment.
Mary & George
A clever, dark and salacious historical drama that brings a much overlooked chapter of European history to vivid life. Mary & George is a richly drawn, rough and raunchy story about the quest for power – and survival – in 16th century England.