Our school days can be the best of times and the worst of times, depending on who you ask and why. Many of the lowest ebbs can come from a clash of personalities, and the ones who are paid to be there can end up … Continue reading Mr. Woodcock (2007)
How many ways are there to say I love you? Of the countless tomes of musical lyrics, countless poets throughout the eras and Valentine’s messages, show that there are still a million ways to say it. We’ll persevere to get our message across, even if it kills us. In 2017, a quirky film examined the world of those writers, with a chandler-issue look behind the darkness that goes onto the page, in Girlfriends Day.
Meet Ray Wentworth, who was a pro at writing the flowery messages that are commonplace greeting cards, in a time and place where the writers are revered for their talents. While he is going through a period of creative stagnation, a woman named Jill might be just enough inspiration to win the new Girlfriend’s Day contest and get his mojo back. That is, until his former colleague, turned murder-mystery novelist, is killed himself. Wentworth’s and Jill’s lives may be turned topsy-turvy as both the conspiracy and the pressures from his art, and the shadow cabal working behind the scenes.
While modern T.V. has been on a crusade to prove how much I was right about the talents of Bob Odenkirk, here he takes on the role of Ray. It is the sort of role I’d imagine from his Mr Show days, more so from fellow Netflix show W/Bob & David. Speaking of, Amber Tamblyn, prophet from Arcadia and wife of Mr Show co-star, David Cross, plays alongside Bob as Jill. A few other famous names: Stacy Keach, Natasha Lyonne, and Toby Huss, among others, make Girlfriends Day a darling for fans of comedy.
The concept of Girlfriend’s Day is more than interesting. A wild world where the heartfelt greetings of those cards you keep displayed for a couple of days before boxing or binning them are sought after, and the nefarious power players work behind the scenes. Having Odenkirk’s Ray and Taft feels appropriate for the noir setting that Girlfriend’s Day is trying to evoke, and the story of deception, of big and small consequences, feels very Chandler-esque. With the ever-so-analytical background of Netflix and its programming, you couldn’t find a better home for such a peculiar product, especially when compared to the landscape of yesteryear.
Girlfriend’s Day makes for a captivating mix of comedy and noir-tinged drama, one that is available from the comfort of your sofa. It is a weird film that might not have had a chance to shine in a more technologically liberated market. An ode to a time when you could take an idea and run with it, with the security of streaming. Still, if the idea of a rom-com might not be to your taste for a romantic evening at home, it sounds like you finally got a date.
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The Beatles. Whether you love them or think they’re overrated, you can’t deny the legacy they had on pop culture, almost writing the playbook that pop music is following today. When a parody film documenting their rise and fall was made in the 70s, it … Continue reading The Rutles 2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch (2002)
The X-COM series has a tremendous impact on gaming. In the conflict between irreplaceable agents and dastardly aliens, luck and skill decide how the battles go. Putting terror and hope into percentages, the same way high stakes bets do. Attempts to tell the origins of … Continue reading The Bureau: XCOM Declassified (2013)
The art of printing has blossomed somewhat since Guttenberg built his mechanical type, Designer’s and stylist have worked tirelessly to bring a huge library of typefaces to the common lexicon of everyday usage. Some with the intention of not providing a single barrier between the … Continue reading Comic Sans (1995)
Despite many strides in making their operation as simple and pain-free as possible, Computers can be confusing for a novice to use, often beholding to the whims of designers and style trends in their quest for trends. With constant changes, it can be hard for … Continue reading Microsoft Bob (1995)
The Jim Henson Company built its brand of puppets into household names. Their family-friendly frolics appealed to literally all ages. But saying safe for all the family can be awfully limiting to the creative spirit. In 2018 Jim Henson’s puppets took on subjects that are … Continue reading The Happytime Murders (2018)
The tales of Sherlock Holmes and his faithful assistant John Watson has become legendary and throughout the years there have been countless tales that have transcended Doyle’s original character. Holmes has been to the future, fought Jack The Ripper, even has been depicted as an … Continue reading Holmes & Watson (2018)
As you’re no doubt aware, Comic books have had a long synergistic relationship with the big screen. Even the more serious, and aptly named Graphic novels have inspired filmmakers in both their stories and their techniques. Few names, however, carry the same weight as famed … Continue reading From Hell (2001)
I’ve got to be honest, back when Emojis started, I’d assumed that they would be a fad. Destined to be forgotten like Troll dolls and Mood rings. Yet like cockroaches after Armageddon, they persisted, long enough to be more recognisable than a Tire Warning Light. … Continue reading The Emoji Movie (2017)
The Real Mr. Positive 