radreviews

[radreviews]

2017 SQUAD PICKS

Hello, it’s us. It’s been awhile, but we’re back with our favorite art, moments, and trends from 2017. I usually have a whole preamble to set the stage for our picks, but let’s just get into it:

RADHIKA

In-Theater Experiences Every year I have a few movies that remind me how great the movie theater experience can be. A couple of years ago it was Magic Mike XXL; this year it was Get Out and Spider-Man Homecoming. I saw both films in packed houses, with the audience reacting to every line delivery, cameo and plot twist as it happened. It was exhilarating, and I can’t imagine seeing the films any other way. It reminded me that sometimes film needs to be a collective experience—that peer reactions can be the very thing that makes a good movie great. The same thing can be said of live theater, an inherently shared experience. Humblebrag time… we finally saw Hamilton this year and it exceeded the hype and expectations. I also listened to the soundtrack a million times and memorized all of the words after seeing it so, yep, I’m one of those people now. Also! We saw Mean Girls: The Musical in its previews in DC and holy wow you’re all in for a treat. Lady Bird Forget what I said about collective experiences because I saw this incredible film by myself, crying quietly through the entire third act. There are always films whose stories don’t necessarily overlap with my experiences, but make me feel everything (last year’s was La La Land). This film has universal love from every critic with a beating heart and it’s one thousand percent deserved. Lady Bird was my favorite film of the year — a beautiful portrait of the confusion of adolescence, of familial frustration and of love. It was note-perfect. Despacito CALL ME BASIC but I love this song. I will not apologize for how happy it makes me, for how secretly sexy the lyrics are, for how directly my mood is impacted by those opening chords. Also, I prefer the Justin Bieber version don’t @ me. “Remember Me” from Coco

Let’s not talk about how much I cried during Pixar’s Coco (but if you must know, it was A LOT), let’s talk about the five different versions of its original song “Remember Me” that appear on the official soundtrack. There’s the three versions directly from the film (each BEAUTIFULLY sung by Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Anthony Gonzalez), a Spanish version, and inexplicably a version by Miguel?!!??!? It’s a classic case of I didn’t know I needed it until now, but thank you for this gift.  CTRL - SZA Everything is all caps, and wow, what a debut. “The Weekend” spoke quiet sadness about being the ‘other woman,’ “Supermodel” delved deep into being unloved and retaliating, and everything before and after touched on the intricacies of relationships and heartbreak. It was personal and it was stunning. “Lemons” - blackish Eleven days into the new year, we already had one of the best episodes of the year. In a pointed middle finger to Trump, blackish became a mouthpiece for what all of us were feeling two months after the election—anger, confusion, and helplessness—and instead of harping on the negatives, it made lemonade. Traveling I was 2 steps away from going full “wanderlust”-Instagram-caption mode this year. I’ve always wanted to travel, but 2017 was the first year where I threw caution (and money) to the wind, and just…booked stuff. I went to Cuba, Philly and Nashville for the first time, explored San Francisco and Boston again with friends, and flew back to Michigan, Chicago, and Cleveland for various engagements and weddings. If ever there was a year where a few days of distraction were not just welcomed but needed, it was 2017. There’s only more exploring to be done in 2018. Pod Save America I think it’s safe to say we all feel more politically angry and engaged in this era of backwards politics. Twice a week, I relied on the educated discussion, hilarious banter, and informed opinions of former Obama staffers Jon Lovett, Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor to fill me in on what I should be angry about that day. It’s a podcast that just feels necessary. Also, I now own a ‘Friend of the Pod’ t-shirt and I feel like I’m part of a cult, but it’s the coolest cult ever. Bojack Horseman

It’s common knowledge that I love art that makes me cry, but I never thought I’d cry while watching a cartoon. This show is equal parts acerbic, hilarious, and downright depressing (read: I love this show so much). Harping on the fragility of time, the fourth season of Bojack Horseman continued its upward trajectory and gave me one of my favorite quotes from and about television, probably ever. Bojack is one of the smartest, most thoughtful and well-written shows on this incredibly vast television landscape. We are so lucky to have it. The Emergence of Timothée Chalamet Relatively unheard of before 2017, Chalamet starred in two of the best films I saw this year — Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name. Chalamet inhabited two completely different, complicated characters but made them both vulnerable, empathetic, and mesmerizing. He’s a star and even if the Academy doesn’t recognize him this year (which would be objectively incorrect), I’ll watch anything he’s in from here on out.

PROMA Trailer Hype

I have never experienced a theater crowd cheering for a freaking trailer before – titters of excitement for Harry Potter, at best – but once the Black Panther full trailer dropped there was only one logical response. We cheered for it before  Spider-Man: Homecoming, before Marshall, before Thor: Ragnarok, and I hope to cheer for it again before February 2018, which is finally close. Seeing Things in Theaters Multiple Times Since moving to New York, I’ve never seen a movie twice in theaters - first because of cost and then because of time. Honestly I probably haven’t done it since high school, but I used to love it, and this year I finally returned to that with The Big Sick and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Worth it. A First Time with an Oldie

I’ve loved Titanic since I first saw it in 2000, but of course I was too young to see it in theaters. It was re-released in 3D for a quick stretch in 2012, but I was in India at the time, so this year marked the first time I saw Titanic in theaters, that too in impressive 3D. I will never tire of watching old favorites in packed theaters full of people who love the film as much as I do and hum along with the music or clap for big moments. The Year TV Got Angry In a year when we were all perpetually existential or angry, it was cathartic to see TV mirror that state. I reveled in the female rage of The Handmaid’s Tale, the intersectional activism of Dear White People, She’s Gotta Have It, and the straight-up middle finger that was Difficult People. Having an AppleTV is almost as gratifying as screaming into the void! Facemasks A pack of facemasks literally arrived on my and Radhika’s doorstep at a point in 2016 when we didn’t realize we needed them. Since then, I’ve tried to always have some sheet masks around and let myself splurge on a charcoal mask that I’ve done almost every weekend without fail since September. Put on a mask, start an episode, remove  and rinse. Treat yo self. Mean Girls: The Musical Seconding Rads on this. I was lucky enough to catch Mean Girls in the workshop stage before it left New York for a summer hiatus and then previews – even in that early stage it was fantastic. It’s exciting to have been with a piece of art through all these iterations (not even including the movie and its decade of cult-status), and I can’t wait to see it blow up next year. Existential Twitter Twitter was always at its most funny and weird during ungodly night-time hours; The night is darkest before the dawn and now it’s like Night Twitter 24/7. From politics to entertainment, we are at least winning at hilarity on social media. But seriously, delete his account. The Return of MoviePass This squad has been preaching the gospel of MoviePass since like, 2014, and I’ll admit I faltered in the middle there when it hit $50/month (I took the 3/$30 plan instead). But now it’s $9.99/month and people have heard of it and don’t make that blank face when I talk about it and wow guys we are saving so much on movies I feel so alive!!! People still regularly ask me if it’s legit/worth it/a scam, but I am happy to answer them and spread this joy. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Listen, some shows are just pure joy and this is the second Amazon show to give me this jarringly unfamiliar sunny feeling in my heart when I watch (shootout to you, Mozart in the Jungle). This show is like eating ice cream covered in candy (but with some sweet wine) and the best part it gets me inspired to create. Oh, Hello Dittoing Rads again because our first theatre experience of the year was one of the best of my whole life. I laughed so fucking hard at Oh, Hello — I’ve never seen a piece of comedy so meticulously crafted, down to every word of every joke, and you could hear the payoff in the laughs, which hardly ever stopped.

ARJUN

“I’m not a body/the body is but a shell.” Like so many of us, I spent a scary amount of time this year being resentful and confused about a million different things happening in my hometown, state, and country – things outside of my own body, bigger than myself.  It is then maybe my (our?) subconscious trying to tell me something else in the shared themes of the music I was coming back to the most.  While I would say I was consumed by questions of the foundation our entire world rests on, my iTunes would counter that my existential questions this year were actually pointed inward, contemplating over what constitutes a relationship in 2017. “Is it warm enough for you inside me?” With the full acknowledgement that there was a LOT of great music from other artists, when I look back on what set music in 2017 apart from other years, I think I’ll most remember albums like SZA’s ctrl, Moses Sumney’s Aromanticism, and Charli XCX’s Pop 2.  These three have some pretty big differences (namely, how they literally sound), but I would argue that they are all contributors to the same internal dialogue that a single 20-something year old living in New York was having, if not always aware he was having it.  They ask questions about all forms of love and affection, including (but not limited to): What does it mean to love? What does that even look like in 2017? Is it co-dependent? Is it more than an initial attraction? Does it give us our worth? Is it harmful to tie our worth to it? How stupid are we for putting ourselves through it? If the stupidity makes us happy, is it actually stupid? How do we handle heartbreak? Do we take on an arrogant braggadocio? Do we show the utter lack of confidence hiding under that? And hey, what role does sex play in all this? “I’m not tryina go to bed with you/I just wanna make out in your car.” Admittedly, some of these aren’t the most original questions of all time.  It’s the way these artists answered (or tried to answer) them that felt special to this point in time.  When SZA says, “Lately you’ve been feeling so good/I forget my future/never pull out,” there isn’t even a question if they’re having sex, and no narrative build-up of her career; they are conditional to even be at the point in time being confronted.  For the narrator, the to-pull-out-or-not debate is less a sign of carelessness and more one of carnal satisfaction (though she points out it's pretty careless too).  In a borderline companion piece, Charli XCX adds on, “I just wanna spend the night/Fucking in your bed tonight/Watch a little TV/I love it when you need me.”  Sex and what comes after are given equal weight in all of the toiling, tossing, and turning. “Ooh no she didn’t/Ooh yes, I did.”

No doubt, these songs have selfishness and over-dramatization at work.  But elsewhere, there’s a clearly embedded sense of self-awareness, too.  On “Indulge Me,” Moses Sumney’s verse starts and ends with a bit of a call and response when he sings, “All of my old lovers have found others…All of my old others have found lovers.”  There’s meant to be some sadness here, but the wordplay suggests a certain irony; he’s far from shocked.  Similarly, on “Out of My Head,” Charli XCX, Tove Lo, and ALMA begin singing, “You got me doing all this stupid shit/you fuck me up like this,” before finishing with, “Secretly I’m kinda into it, though.”  It’s as if the narrator is fully aware that she’s enveloping you in her own problems and she’s totally cool with that – she’s even giving you a wink while doing it.  The listener is simultaneously watching a card trick and listening to the magician explain exactly what he/she is doing each step of the way. “I blame it on your love/every time I fuck it up.” All of that is to say nothing of the music.  Throughout, we are sent on a journey of eclectic sounds & compositions, ranging from no-fucks-given aggression to dancefloor escapism to soothing near-lullabies.  The fully-formed picture is ultimately what made these works feel alive in the present.  They’re messy, they’re self-important, they’re dramatic, they’re self-deprecating.  They’re 2017.

ADITYA

Master of None, season 2 It’s exciting to watch talented people swing for the fences. Master of None, Aziz’s love letter to New York, millennial aimlessness, Italian cinema, food, and about 45 other things, is a start-to-finish shot at greatness. It’s filled with terrific performances, and breathtaking shots. It also radiates intelligence in its observations; Dev might be aimless but Aziz has a point of view.

In a toxic 2017, the show’s generous nature stands out. In ‘New York, I Love You,’ Dev is completely absent; the exhilarating episode instead elevates viewpoints that are often reduce to stock clichés – the doorman, the driver, etc. In ‘Thanksgiving,’ Dev plays a clear supporting role as Lena Waithe’s Denise accepts her sexuality and hopes for her family to do the same. In episode after episode, Master of None pursues interesting stories, whether they’re with Dev or Arnold or Denise or Francesca or a taxi driver. The show insists that it’s worth caring about other people, and the spirit of empathy and curiosity is refreshing.  The show is unabashedly cinematic in its aesthetic. The first episode is a surprisingly detailed (if low stakes) homage to Bicycle Thieves, presented in black & white with dialogue entirely in Italian. Later references include L’Avventura and La Dolce Vita. Despite these influences, Master of None makes excellent use of the episodic nature of TV, with installments devoted to big issues, like the theme episodes of old. ‘First Date’ uses an inventive structure to highlight the bleak fun of app-driven dating. ‘Religion’ tackles..religion. ‘Door #3′ is a portrait of career indecision. Sprinkled throughout are observations of fame and celebrity, and Aziz’s (and Dev’s) status as a minority provides a unique observational lens. Let me point out that the season is also fun. It doesn’t matter how many hours of Fellini Aziz has watched; the moment he sings about eating food, it’s clear that Tom Haverford is irrepressible. The show is consistently funny, both sharp and silly (I’ll laugh at any framing of the tiny Dev next to his immense buddy Arnold). Dev’s relationship with Francesca is, for me, the best rom-com of the past few years. It’s bracing to watch funny, charming people fall in love, and there’s a thrilling prolonged scene in ‘Dinner Party’ - where Dev is sitting in an Uber processing the fact that he is desperately in love – that ranks among the best of the year.  Mask Off + I’m the One + Red Bone I’ve been told that I’m bad at “good” music. Because of the pretentious circles within which I reside, I’m often faking musical expertise. ‘You know who’s great?’  I’ll say. ‘Ess Zee Ayy. Yeah, no, SZA, that’s what I meant. They’re good.’ But when no one was looking over my shoulder, it was these three songs all day all year. That’s a liability! Get Out & Lady Bird Two brilliant debuts. Get Out is a biting satire/comedy/polemic built on a horror movie chassis. From the creepiness of the “No, no, no, no…” scene to the “haha…wait a minute” guilty recognition of the liberal family to the shoulder-slumping devastation of the keys scene, the film takes no false steps. Lady Bird is great all the way through, led by Saoirse’s fiery performance and a sparkling, hilarious script. Greta Gerwig’s love and understanding for the characters on screen shines through.  NYT’s “Trump’s Daily Life” Pieces The NYTimes has grown essential in the Trump era. Sure, sometimes they Disney-ify Nazis, or allow David Brooks to moan about the difficulties of getting a sandwich with a poor person. But have you seen the WSJ editorials, or the ever-multiplying panels of “experts” on CNN? I’ll take the Gray Lady. While there’s plenty to appreciate, I want to call out the Sunday night articles, usually by Maggie Haberman and 300 unnamed sources, that offer hilarious insight into Trump’s daily life. I can’t get enough of these. 8-12 Diet Cokes? 14 hours of TV? Tries to impress John Kelly by doing a push-up? Sexts himself from Melania’s phone? Tell me more. We laugh so as not to cry.  I Am Not Your Negro

The startlingly powerful documentary relies exclusively on Baldwin’s own words, culled from various letters and writings, and read by Samuel L. Jackson. Even if you’ve read Baldwin, to sit in the theater and drown in his unparalleled eloquence is a shattering experience. The director, Raoul Peck, works with Baldwin to underline the film’s relevance to present day. Images of police brutality in the 1960s fade into images from Ferguson; Baldwin’s words close the gap in time. Another standout section involving a clip of Baldwin explaining his “fixation” on racial issues onThe Dick Cavett Show- a Tonight Show forerunner - is a sharp rebuke to the anti-intellectualism that is currently pervasive.  I was hanging on to Baldwin’s words, amazed at their relevance in the world I would walk into when the credits rolled. I can’t recommend this highly enough.  Revisiting the Godfather A back-to-back screening of The Godfather Parts I & II was a lovely experience. I was particularly moved by the father and son seated behind me. Most of us learn to appreciate the Corleones through our fathers, forcing ourselves to stay awake the first time we watch it because our infallible dads insisted it was brilliant. The pair behind me was all too familiar. The father patiently entertained his son’s incessant questioning (who’s that again? Wait, why did they kill Luca? Can we get more popcorn?), leapt to cover his son’s eyes during the topless scene, and nudged his son excitedly during the Baptism. The kid is now mixed-up in the family business for life. Twitter I love Twitter. I love retweeting things I agree with and I also love retweeting things I disagree with with a “get a load of this guy”-type comment. I love jumping into the fray and tweeting something like “call your senator!” and then patting myself on the back. I love seeing what other people I follow like, and seeing that they like things that are very similar to what I like, further affirming the idea that everyone is on my side. I love political twitter. I love sports twitter. I love movie twitter. I love reading the first sentence of an article and immediately knowing that I want to tweet it out. I love twitter. Protests For when Twitter isn’t enough. I was dreading Trump’s inauguration day, fully anticipating tears when the Obamas finally helicoptered away to a much deserved peace. When the moment came, and Trump was sworn in, it was…bearable. I knew that in less than 24 hours, I would get to witness thousands of women marching in defiant response. The Women’s March had an incredible energy that I assumed was rare. But it was replicated repeatedly - at the airports after the attempted Muslim ban, outside the courthouse where the ACLU challenged the administration, throughout the city after the DACA decision, etc., etc.  I’m a longtime petition signer, but I’m a novice protestor. I’m not great at chanting and I’m bad at estimating how big to make letters. A lot of my signs looked like I’M WITH her. But with the Trump administration determined to reduce the idea of America, protests were catharsis. They were a messy, vital declaration to the administration that they would be met with a response. They’ve recharged and inspired and reassured, and they’re what I’ll remember most about 2017.

[radreviews]

ICYMI: I got stood up

Last year, a boy I was excited about stood me up on a date to the Tribeca Film Festival. It was awful — standing in the cold all alone in Chelsea, feeling like an idiot. Sooo I wrote about it. And the great people at Breadcrumbs Mag published this bad boy! READ IT AND WEEP. 

[radreviews]

Hey look, I was on a podcast!! Listen to me wax philosophic about this year’s Oscar noms and how much I hated The Revenant last year! 

P.S. we’re pod n00bs so the audio starts at 1:22 :)

[radreviews]

Everything I Watched in 2016

2016 is long over, but I never posted my list of things I watched during the year. Here it is, in all of its glory:

Regular: TV Italics: Film Bold: Theatre/music/comedy/sports/misc

1/1 - Mean Girls, Happy Endings (2) 1/2 - Avatar the Last Airbender (3), The Danish Girl, UCB: What I Did For Love, Making a Murderer 1/3 - Avatar the Last Airbender (3), Happy Endings, Carol, Making a Murderer 1/4 - Mozart in the Jungle (2), Fargo, Making a Murderer, Happy Endings 1/5 - Brooklyn, Mozart in the Jungle, Happy Endings (2) 1/6 - New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2) 1/7 - Mozart in the Jungle, Fargo, The Grinder, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 1/8 - Mozart in the Jungle, Making a Murderer (3), Happy Endings (3) 1/9 - Mozart in the Jungle, Fargo, Avatar the Last Airbender (4), Happy Endings (2) 1/10 - Mozart in the Jungle (3), Fargo (3), The Golden Globes 1/11 - The Leftovers (2) 1/12 - Mozart in the Jungle, SOTU, Making a Murderer 1/13 - New Girl, Man Seeking Woman, Mozart in the Jungle 1/15 - black•ish, Younger (2) 1/16 - The Revenant, The Leftovers (3), The League, Sex and the City (2) 1/17 - Seussical the Musical, The Leftovers (4), Sex and the City (2), Critics Choice Awards, Mad Max: Fury Road 1/18 - Bridge of Spies, The Leftovers, Man Seeking Woman (2) 1/19 - Awkward, Making a Murderer, Man Seeking Woman 1/20 - The Leftovers (2), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl 1/22 - The Leftovers, Man Seeking Woman (2) 1/23 - Man Seeking Woman (2), Happy Endings (3), Two Night Stand 1/24 - The Leftovers (3) 1/25 - The Leftovers, black•ish, Happy Endings 1/26 - Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Happy Endings (2) 1/27 - The Leftovers, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl, Happy Endings 1/29 - The Leftovers 1/30 - The Grinder (2), Man Seeking Woman (5) 1/31 - Sex and the City (2), Younger (2), Power, Grease Live, Happy Endings 2/1 - Louie (3), Man Seeking Woman 2/2 - Anomalisa, Jane the Virgin 2/3 - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, 10 Years in Transit w/ Jack’s Mannequin 2/4 - The Grinder, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The People v. O.J. Simpson, Younger 2/5 - Fresh Off the Boat, The Wire, You Me and the Apocalypse 2/6 - Man Seeking Woman, Happy Endings (4), Zoo (4), Sex and the City (2) 2/7 - Sex and the City (2), Zoo, Super Bowl 50 2/8 - New Girl, The Mindy Project, Happy Endings 2/10 - The Color Purple, Man Seeking Woman 2/11 - The People v. O.J. Simpson, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 2/13 - Hail, Caesar! 2/14 - How to be Single, Jane the Virgin, Grey’s Anatomy, The Grinder, Chi-Raq 2/15 - Sarla 2/16 - Fresh Off the Boat (2), How to Get Away With Murder 2/17 - The People v. O.J. Simpson, Broad City (2) 2/18 - Younger (2) 2/19 - Grey’s Anatomy, Vinyl, New Girl (2), Love 2/20 - The Grinder, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2), black•ish, Man Seeking Woman 2/21 - black•ish, Louie, Gangs of Wasseypur, Girls 2/22 - How to Get Away With Murder 2/23 - Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2), Last Week Tonight (2), Love, Superstore (2), The People v. O.J. 2/25 - UCB: Late Show Writers Improv 2/26 - Deadpool, black•ish, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl 2/27 - What’s My Line, Man Seeking Woman, Grey’s Anatomy, The Grinder, Fuller House (4) 2/28 - Fuller House, The Oscars 2/29 - Fresh Off the Boat 3/1 - Jame the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Girls 3/2 - New Girl 3/4 - The Grinder, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grey’s Anatomy 3/5 - The People v. O.J. Simpson, Younger (2), The Family, Zoolander 2 3/6 - Man Seeking Woman, Neerja 3/8 - Jane the Virgin, The People v. O.J. Simpson 3/9 - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Broad City (2) 3/11 - Girls, Last Man on Earth 3/13 - The Family (2), Superstore 3/14 - Grey’s Anatomy, The Last Man on Earth, Happy Endings (2) 3/15 - The People v. O.J. Simpson, Happy Endings 3/16 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine 3/17 - The Grinder, New Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, black•ish, Sanjay’s Super Team 3/18 - Hello My Name is Doris, Michigan vs. Notre Dame 3/19 - Happy Endings (2), Younger (2), Kapoor and Sons, Fresh Off the Boat (2), Superstore (3), Last Week Tonight 3/20 - Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Straight, Girls (2) 3/21 - Happy Endings 3/22 - Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The People v. O.J. Simpson 3/23 - Zootopia 3/24 - Broad City, New Girl 3/25 - black•ish, Grey’s Anatomy 3/26 - Superstore (2) 3/27 - The Crucible, Younger, Parks & Recreation, How I Met Your Mother, Girls 3/28 - Friday Night Lights, Lost 3/29 - The People v. O.J. Simpson 3/30 - The Path, Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl 3/31 - DNCE, The Path 4/1 - Broad City 4/2 - Broad City 4/3 - Grey’s Anatomy, Empire, The OC (3), Fresh Off the Boat (2), Girls 4/4 - Superstore (2), The Voice, The Last Man on Earth 4/5 - The People v. O.J. Simpson 4/6 - The Path, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 4/7 - Broad City, Catastrophe 4/8 - Grey’s Anatomy, Empire, black•ish, Ugly Betty (2) 4/9 - The Girlfriend Experience (9), Everybody Wants Some!!, Catastrophe (5) 4/10 - Ugly Betty (5), Demolition, Girls 4/12 - Ideation, The Mindy Project 4/13 - The Grinder, Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 4/14 - TriBeCa Film Festival: Shorts - First Impressions, black•ish, Broad City 4/15 - TriBeCa Film Festival: Parents, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (4) 4/16 - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (9), TriBeCa Film Festival: Time Traveling Bong, Everything is Copy 4/17 - Grey’s Anatomy (2), Barbershop: The Next Cut, The Last Man on Earth, Girls (2) 4/18 - The Path 4/19 - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, TriBeCa Film Festival: Lavender 4/20 - TriBeCa Film Festival: Don’t Think Twice 4/21 - Jane the Virgin, The Mindy Project, Broad City 4/22 - New Girl (2), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Grinder 4/23 - Grey’s Anatomy, Fresh Off the Boat, Love and Basketball, TriBeCa Film Festival: Vincent n Roxxy 4/24 - Beyoncé Lemonade, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep 4/25 - After the Thrones 4/26 - Jane the Virgin, The Mindy Project 4/27 - New Girl (2) 4/28 - Last Man on Earth (2), black•ish 4/29 - Keanu 4/30 - Happy Endings, Grey’s Anatomy 5/1 - Empire, Morning Glory, The Characters (2), Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep 5/2 - The Family Fang, Happy Endings 5/3 - The Mindy Project, Jane the Virgin 5/4 - Empire (2), New Girl (2), 5/6 - The Jungle Book 5/7 - Grey’s Anatomy, Grace and Frankie 5/8 - Inside Amy Schumer (2), Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley 5/9 - New York Indian Film Festival Shorts 5/10 - Jane the Virgin, black•ish, The Mindy Project 5/11 - New Girl (2) 5/13 - The Grinder (2) 5/14 - Veep, Animals Out of Paper, Grey’s Anatomy, Empire (2) 5/15 - Game of Thrones 5/16 - Veep, Jane the Virgin, Last Man on Earth (2) 5/17 - Captain America: Civil War, The Mindy Project 5/18 - The Lobster, Silicon Valley 5/19 - black•ish, Empire, Grey’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls 5/21 - Neighbors 2, Vulture Festival: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Musical Revue, Happy Endings (3) 5/22 - Vulture Festival: State of the Union with Trevor Noah, Vulture Festival: Happy Endings Reunion, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep 5/23 - After the Thrones, Fresh Off the Boat (2) 5/24 - The Bachelorette 5/26 - The Mindy Project, The Path 5/27 - The Path (2), Fresh Off the Boat (3), Lady Dynamite 5/28 - Cruel Intentions, A Bigger Splash, Ugly Betty 5/29 - Grace & Frankie (2), Beyond the Lights, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep 5/30 - The Path, Sing Street, Ali Wong: Baby Cobra 5/31 - The Mindy Project, The Bachelorette 6/1 - Wayward Pines 6/2 - Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping 6/3 - The Path (2) 6/4 - Grace & Frankie (2), Governor’s Ball 6/5 - Grace & Frankie (6), Wayward Pines, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep 6/7 - The Mindy Project, UnREAL 6/8 - Louie (6) 6/10 - Casual, Friday Night Lights 6/11 - UnREAL 6/12 - State of Grace (2) 6/13 - The OC (3) 6/14 - Louie (3), The Mindy Project, The Bachelorette (2) 6/15 - Silicon Valley, Veep 6/17 - Game of Thrones 6/18 - Grace & Frankie 6/19 - NBA Finals, Game of Thrones 6/20 - Silicon Valley, Veep 6/21 - The Nice Guys, UnREAL 6/22 - Casual 6/23 - The Mindy Project, Magic Mike XXL 6/25 - O.J. Made in America Part 1, The Bachelorette, Orange is the New Black (2) 6/26 - Orange is the New Black, Weiner, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep 6/27 - Last Week Tonight, Orange is the New Black (2) 6/28 - UnREAL, The Mindy Project, The Bachelorette 6/29 - Orange is the New Black (3) 7/1 - The Night Of, Orange is the New Black 7/2 - Orange is the New Black (3), Swiss Army Man 7/3 - Casual 7/4 - Independence Day 7/5 - The Neon Demon, UnREAL, The Mindy Project, Inside Amy Schumer 7/6 - Any Given Wednesday, Orange is the New Black 7/7 - Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Casual (2) 7/8 - Southland 7/9 - Kabhi Khushi Khabhie Gham, Being Mary Jane (7) 7/10 - Wimbledon, Being Mary Jane (2), The Legend of Tarzan 7/11 - The Bachelorette 7/12 - UnREAL, Being Mary Jane (2) 7/13 - Gilmore Girls, Being Mary Jane 7/14 - Mr. Robot (2) 7/15 - Being Mary Jane (2) 7/16 - Modern Family (2), Being Mary Jane (4), Ghostbusters 7/17 - Being Mary Jane, Cafe Society, The Night Of 7/18 - Being Mary Jane 7/19 - UnREAL, The Bachelorette 7/20 - Being Mary Jane 7/21 - Nas. 7/22 - Proof 7/23 - Mr. Robot, Absolutely Fabulous 7/24 - Stranger Things (3), Being Mary Jane, The Night Of 7/26 - The Democratic National Convention 7/27 - The Democratic National Convention 7/28 - Captain Fantastic, The Democratic National Convention 7/29 - Jason Bourne 7/30 - The Bachelorette (2), UnREAL, Stranger Things (2), Finding Dory 7/31 - Stranger Things (3), Being Mary Jane (3), Love and Friendship, The Night Of 8/1 - Last Week Tonight, The Bachelorette 8/2 - UnREAL 8/3 - BoJack Horseman 8/5 - Bachelor in Paradise, Casual 8/6 - The Hills: That Was Then This Is Now, BoJack Horseman (2), Being Mary Jane (2), Olympics 8/7 - Olympics 8/8 - Olympics 8/9 - Olympics 8/10 - UnREAL, Olympics 8/11 - Olympics 8/12 - Sausage Party, Olympics, The Night Of 8/13 - Mr. Robot (2), Casual, Little Men, BoJack Horseman 8/14 - Tallulah, Bachelor in Paradise, The Night Of 8/15 - Bachelor in Paradise 8/16 - Bachelor in Paradise 8/17 - Any Given Wednesday, The Get Down 8/18 - Bad Moms, Casual 8/19 - Casual 8/20 - Superstore, The Little Prince, Vice Principals, Fun Home 8/21 - BoJack Horseman 8/22 - Hunt for The Wilderpeople, The Night Of 8/23 - Mr. Robot, BoJack Horseman (2), War Dogs, The Fundamentals of Caring 8/24 - Vice Principals 8/26 - BoJack Horseman, Mr. Robot 8/27 - BoJack Horseman, Bachelor in Paradise (3), The Hollars, You’re the Worst 8/28 - BoJack Horseman (3), Southside With You, The Night Of 8/29 - Last Week Tonight, Bachelor in Paradise 8/30 - BoJack Horseman 8/31 - Bachelor in Paradise, You’re the Worst 9/1 - Vice Principals (2), Casual (3) 9/2 - BoJack Horseman (5), Brown Sugar, American Beauty 9/3 - Michigan vs. Hawaii, Jenny’s Wedding, Before We Go, One Day, BoJack Horseman (3) 9/4 - BoJack Horseman (5) 9/5 - Nerve 9/6 - Kanye West - St. Pablo Tour 9/7 - BoJack Horseman, Atlanta (2), You’re the Worst 9/9 - BoJack Horseman 9/10 - Michigan vs. UCF, BoJack Horseman (3), Better Things, I Love Dick, The Interestings 9/11 - BoJack Horseman, Other People 9/12 - Bachelor in Paradise 9/13 - Bachelor in Paradise, Atlanta 9/14 - Ugly Betty, You’re the Worst 9/15 - Louis CK at MSG 9/16 - Better Things 9/17 - Mr. Robot 9/18 - Queen Sugar (3), Fleabag, Bridget Jones’s Baby, Emmys 9/19 - High Maintenance, Fleabag (3), Master of None (2), Son of Zorn 9/20 - Fleabag (2), One Mississippi, Atlanta, The Good Place 9/21 - This is Us 9/22 - You’re the Worst, Grey’s Anatomy, Notorious, New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 9/23 - Insecure, black•ish, Empire, Better Things, The Good Place 9/24 - Queen Sugar, Superstore, Transparent (4), High Maintenance, Easy 9/25 - Transparent (2), When the Bough Breaks, Easy 9/26 - Last Week Tonight, Easy, Presidential Debate 9/27 - Atlanta 9/28 - This is Us 9/29 - Borders in a Bedroom, New Girl 9/30 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Last Man on Earth 10/1 - Younger, Queen Sugar, The Good Place, Pitch, Michigan vs. Wisconsin, Kubo and the Two Strings, High Maintenance| 10/2 - Transparent, Pitch, Better Things, American Honey 10/3 - Grey’s Anatomy, The Last Man on Earth (2) 10/4 - The Mindy Project 10/5 - You’re the Worst, New Girl 10/6 - Atlanta 10/7 - Good Will Hunting Live Read 10/8 - Moonlight, Michigan vs. Rutgers, Grey’s Anatomy 10/9 - High Maintenance, black•ish (2), Younger, Easy (5), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Saturday Night Live 10/10 - Last Week Tonight, Queen Sugar, Transparent (2), Westworld 10/11 - Atlanta 10/12 - The Birth of a Nation, You’re the Worst, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl 10/14 - This is Us, Grey’s Anatomy, black•ish, The Good Place (2), Empire 10/15 - Superstore (3), Pitch (2), Better Things (2), Fresh Off the Boat, Drumline, Queen Sugar 10/16 - Westworld 10/17 - Insecure, The Last Man on Earth 10/18 - The Girl on the Train, Jane the Virgin, The Mindy Project 10/21 - Atlanta 10/22 - You’re the Worst, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Michigan vs. Illinois 10/23 - Younger, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, This is Us, Insecure 10/24 - It Had To Be You, Grey’s Anatomy 10/25 - Atlanta, Jane the Virgin 10/26 - Transparent, Black Mirror 10/27 - Fit for a Queen 10/28 - Disgraced 10/29 - Michigan vs. Michigan State, The Americans (2) 10/30 - Black Mirror (2), The Americans 11/1 - The Americans (2) 11/3 - The Americans 11/4 - The Americans 11/5 - Queen Sugar (2) 11/6 - The Americans (2), Central Intelligence, Me Before You, Braindead, Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2), Atlanta, You’re the Worst 11/7 - Insecure (2) 11/8 - Election 11/11 - You’re the Worst, Younger (3) 11/12 - Queen Sugar, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Michigan vs. Iowa 11/13 - Grey’s Anatomy (3), The Good Place (2) 11/14 - This is Us, black•ish (2), The Last Man on Earth 11/15 - Trevor Noah @ 92Y 11/16 - The Front Page 11/17 - Devdas & Chokher Bali, You’re the Worst 11/18 - You’re the Worst, Insecure, New Girl 11/21 - Manchester by the Sea 11/22 - Younger 11/24 - Grey’s Anatomy 11/25 - Gilmore Girls: A Day in the Life, Veep 11/26 - Michigan vs. Ohio State, Gilmore Girls: A Day in the Life (2) 11/27 - Gilmore Girls: A Day in the Life, Jane the Virgin (2), Insecure (2) 11/28 - Pitch 11/29 - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 12/1 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine 12/2 - Jane the Virgin (2), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2), black•ish (2), Queen Sugar 12/3 - Younger, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, This is Us, The Edge of Seventeen 12/4 - Chris Gethard: Career Suicide, Lion 12/5 - Dear Zindagi 12/8 - black•ish, This is Us, Search Party 12/9 - La La Land, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 12/10 - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, New Girl (2) 12/11 - Mozart in the Jungle, The Americans, Oh Hello 12/15 - The Wedding Planner, Dazed and Confused 12/17 - New Girl 12/18 - Grey’s Anatomy (6) 12/19 - Younger, Shameless 12/20 - Younger (2), Search Party (2) 12/23 - Search Party 12/24 - Lovesick (2), Shameless (2), The Night Manager 12/25 - Fences, The Night Manager 12/26 - Arrival 12/27 - Search Party 12/29 - Doctor Strange, The Night Manager 12/30 - Fresh Off the Boat, Michigan vs. Florida State (Orange Bowl) 12/31 - Fresh Off the Boat (2), The Night Manager

[radreviews]

What Kept Us Going in 2016

To beat a dead horse deep into the ground, 2016 sucked. You’ve read it all over social media and on articles across the web. Some of our most beloved celebrities died, and some of our friends did too. There was a barrage of political and social injustices, and so many times this year we just wished for the end to be upon us. Now it is. 

When Aditya, Arjun, Proma and I started chatting about compiling our traditional best-of lists, it felt weird to just focus on our favorite TV, movies, music, and pop culture moments as we had in the past. We wanted to acknowledge that while this year was rough across the board, there was a lot of good that happened, whether in pop culture form or not. Below are the things that kept us sane, kept us afloat, and kept us going in 2016. 

RADHIKA

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Stalwarts of the Varick St. New York Sports Club probably saw me come into the gym twice a week in my feeble attempt at getting healthy in 2016. These same people probably saw me struggling to run a decent-timed mile followed by a very chill bike session each Monday, and if they got a peek at my phone screen they’d see my eyes glued to John Oliver’s alternatingly angry and genuinely mystified delivery of the world’s news. Last Week Tonight got me through the Trump — oops, I mean Drumpf — election cycle but more importantly, it kept me up to date with lesser-reported stories from the U.S. opioid epidemic to Brexit to the Syrian refugee crisis. And in his fiery mic drop of a last episode, I actually applauded from my treadmill as he said goodbye to 2016 the way we all should: by literally lighting it on fire.

La La Land The movie only released at the end of 2016, but the promise of La La Land got me through the entire year. But even the trailer couldn’t prepare me for how utterly delightful the film — and it’s incredible soundtrack — would be. Go see it before it’s gone, and then text me so we can discuss those last 15 minutes while listening to “Mia and Sebastian’s Theme” on a loop. If you want to know exactly why you need to see this, skip down to Aditya’s section. He encapsulates it in an impassioned blurb as beautiful as the film itself.

Donald Glover’s Reemergence (and Reinvention) Donald Glover is my ideal dinner guest. (Can we just hang out and talk about time management? Because I need some pointers.) After crafting the perfect Atlanta, which is deservedly enjoying heaps of praise and acclaim, Glover turned around and released a new album as Childish Gambino — this, too, critically acclaimed. But what’s more interesting was that both Atlanta and “Awaken, My Love!” were reinventions of Glover’s public personas. We were used to seeing him onscreen as the goofy, lovable Troy Barnes (Community), but Atlanta was sharper in its details of both its characters and the landscape of the city’s rap scene. Childish Gambino has always been an intelligent, pop-culture-driven rapper — the newest album taps into funk and jazz and is unlike anything we’ve heard from Glover before. Watching him refuse conformity, bobbing and weaving between the lines of genre, performance, and sheer ability was one of this year’s shining through-lines. And in a year of setbacks, both personally and for the world at large, Glover’s perseverance and audacity to just be was exactly what I needed.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Somewhere in me, I always knew I loved musicals even though I hadn't ever really engaged with the genre. But Rachel Bloom’s smart, silly and wildly entertaining televised rom-com hits all of the perfect notes week in and week out. Only Crazy Ex-Girlfriend could take a character’s alcoholism and turn it into a song I could actually pregame to, or use our main characters’ feud to fuel a power ballad that I genuinely rocked out to. To put it simply, this show just brings me the purest form of joy.

Weekend Brunches There’s something great about having a routine, and Proma and I solidified ours in 2016: weekend brunches consisting of homemade avocado toast and coffee/tea. She gets an avocado from work, I mash and mix it until it resembles guacamole, she toasts the bread, I plate it. We each make our respective beverage of choice (mine is basically milk with a splash of coffee) and then we catch up on TV shows until someone feels guilty about it suddenly being 4pm without having left the apartment yet. In the chaos of the world, it's nice to be able to rely on something as simple as the perfect lazy and utterly delicious meal.

This Amy Sedaris GIF from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Sometimes a good laugh is the simplest cure, and physical comedy makes me laugh the hardest. The entire second season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is just a showcase for Amy Sedaris, even though she is largely a tertiary character on the Netflix comedy. Sedaris can hang with the Feys and Poehlers of the world, and her comedy chops are maddeningly underrated. This is by far my favorite moment — the effortless shoe kick isn’t even the focal point of the scene or the joke, but it’s the tiniest detail that makes for the biggest laugh. I could (and truthfully, did) watch this gem over and over and I still don’t know how she does it!!! 

Podcasts The podcast app got me through the most mundane days at work, the longest commutes home (you know the ones where the train stalls for 10+ minutes underground), chores, showers, long walks in the park…you get the point. My favorites swept a few different categories: NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour” and The Ringer’s “Watch” Pod kept me up to date on entertainment commentary; NPR’s “Fresh Air” was the perfect grab bag of topics paired with intelligent conversation (I could listen to Terry Gross interview a cactus and still be enthralled); and Utkarsh Ambudkar “Let’s Talk About Me Baby” podcast isn’t as masturbatory as the name suggests — Ambudkar discusses being a South Asian in Hollywood in depth, and brings on a wide range of racially, sexually, and gender-diverse guests to talk openly and frankly about their own experiences. There is something so satisfying about listening to people talk about fascinating subjects and make smart observations — almost like you’re at a fancy dinner party eavesdropping on the people behind you.

Twitter As an OG Twitter user (I joined the platform in 2009), I’ve known the joy of a good tweet for a long time. But this year, Twitter went through its own share of ups and downs, as the social network became the face of Internet trolling and cyberbullying and had a lot of high-profile exits. I, however, saw a very different side of Twitter on the morning of November 9th. Maybe it’s the people I follow, maybe it’s the fact that I refuse to engage with trolls, but Twitter was something of a safe haven for me when we all realized that “The Donald” would be our next President. The Twittersphere that I am part of was full of people spreading messages of love and hope and inclusion that transcended geography, gender, and race. It was one of the only things that kept me going on the worst birthday of my entire life. 

ADITYA

La La Land La La Land is a magical movie. I have seen it three times in three-ish weeks, and I don’t anticipate the pace slowing anytime soon. It’s a gift, it’s a treasure, it’s the best experience that I’ve had in a theater in years, it’s why theaters exist. It’s simultaneously original and nostalgic, buoyant and melancholic, idealistic and pragmatic. I’m willing to bet that you’ll sit in your seat in awe, reluctant to miss a blink’s worth, and then walk/dance/hum your way out of the theater while pulling up the soundtrack on Spotify. Ryan Gosling wears fussiness well, and his self-deprecating Sebastian is so passionate about jazz that you can’t help but be won over. Emma Stone is set free in this movie, summoning every drop of her likability, intelligence, warmth, and naturalness as the present-barista future-actress Mia. The scene where she mockingly lip-synchs to “I Ran” to casually embarrass Sebastian at a party is a MOVIE STAR scene. La La Land swaps cynicism for sincerity, and fully embraces its influences. It features the best kind of love, an old-school love, the kind that summons feelings too strong for words and demands song and dance. Every frame is gorgeous, from the retro studio logo in the beginning to the way the camera swirls woozily around during the (mostly) one-take musical scenes. There are scenes that I’ll remember for years, like a dizzyingly romantic dance through the stars at a planetarium. Go see this, on the biggest screen you can find, with special people (or honestly, just people, they’ll become special after the experience).

The Unwinding - George Packer/Hillbilly Elegy - JD Vance We will be dissecting the motivations of Trump voters decades from now, but these two books help explain the discontent that bubbled up to the surface in many hard-bitten parts of the country. “Hillbilly Elegy” is an account of the white working class written from the inside. By sharing his personal story of growing up in a disintegrating Rust Belt town, Vance sheds light on what drives the (sometimes contradictory) political decisions of these voters. The memoir contains some strong, vital criticism, softened by the affection the author clearly has for his family/community. “The Unwinding” is a riveting “history of the new America,” featuring short biographies of famous public figures (as diverse as Newt Gingrich and Jay-Z) interspersed with more detailed profiles of “everyday Americans” affected by the shifting economy - among others, a tobacco farmer who goes green, a Rust Belt factory worker who takes up organizing, and a Wall Street guy who wants to do good. Well worth the read.

Keepin’ It 1600 Keepin’ It 1600 is [a podcast] hosted by Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor, and Jon Lovett, all former Obama staffers. The group speaks with the easy familiarity of friends that came of age together, but the casual style doesn’t obscure high-level insight and perspective. I liked the open embrace of politics and strategy in addition to policy-oriented discussions. The shameless partisanship is also nice, and it isn’t as grating as one might think - the hosts are aware of it, and poke fun at it repeatedly, instead of trying (and likely failing) to come across as objective. Episodes include discussion with a guest, typically a strategist (GOP welcome!), journalist, or other insider. Keepin’ It 1600 will be my safe space during the darkness of the Trump term. Also worth checking out is The Axe Files, an interview podcast hosted by David Axelrod. It’s a little more idealistic, and has deep respect for public life. Axe also commands more high-end guests - including President Obama himself. 

Everybody Wants Some! Since graduating, I’ve wished repeatedly for the opportunity to re-experience college for the first time. Everybody Wants Some! offers something pretty close. Richard Linklater’s latest doesn’t concern itself with plot or conflict. We just follow freshman Jake around during the three days before term starts, as he moves into the baseball team house, meets his teammates, and falls in love (or at least heavy like). Though the haircuts and soundtrack place the film firmly in the 80s, everyone will recognize the giddy delight of the first few days of school, when you bask in the independence and look at all the booze and girls and hours and wonder if there’s a catch. And because the audience is operating with hindsight, because we can recognize the significance of moments depicted in the film even if the characters can’t, the pleasure is deepened. The movie never condescends, instead staying sensitive to the importance of conversations fueled by beer and nightfall, no matter how slurred the thoughts. And what thoughts they are! The preening, eloquent jocks that we spend time with are terrific company, from their pre-night-out primping to the endless stream of (sometimes questionable) advice flowing from upperclassmen to freshmen. If you can finish this movie and not be head-over-heels in love with Zoey Deutch, then, I don’t know, get everything checked. Something’s wrong with you.

Love and Friendship I caught this Austen adaptation on a red-eye bound, rather appropriately, for London, and probably kept half the plane awake with my constant squeals of delight. The wonderfully wry film follows the penniless, recently widowed Lady Susan as she attempts to secure her wealth and social standing by procuring a husband for her daughter - as well as one for herself. Kate Beckinsale emerges from the Underworld to give a career-best* performance as Lady Susan, a devious, flirtatious schemer of a character who deftly controls all in her orbit. Her reputation precedes her everywhere she goes (and affects men and women in very different ways). The usual Austenian hallmarks - barbed wit, gossip, long walks in the shadow of a country manor - are lovingly rendered without any of the stuffiness that accompanies typical period adaptations. The era is faithfully - beautifully - brought to life, but the film feels modern because the mask of rigid Victorian conventions and mores sits slightly askew, exposing the Real Housewife-style machinations in motion underneath. Every line of dialogue prompts a smile, and Tom Bennett, as the unbelievably stupid Sir James, steals the movie effortlessly with his speech about the “12 commandments.”      *Depending on how you feel about Serendipity.

Southside With You Everyone watching Southside With You knows that the love story set into motion during the film ends in happiness (and the White House). Freed from explaining what’s to come, the film can fully inhabit the pleasures of what we know to be. It’s filled with the kind of joy that comes from a well-worn anecdote. A good rom-com (and that’s what this is) relies on appealing company, and, at least for this coastal elite, it doesn’t get more appealing than third-wheeling Barack and Michelle as they meander through Chicago. From the moment that Barack Obama arrives to pick up the tentative Michelle Robinson, with Janet Jackson blaring and a cigarette dangling from his mouth, you know that you’re watching the recent past through rose-tinted specs, but you can’t help but go along. The thrill comes from seeing these two not yet in full control of their powers, the conversational equivalent of Spider-man running across rooftops, or Iron Man destroying his garage. Barack and Michelle use bits and pieces of themselves to attract each other - Barack’s eloquence and intellect, laced with humor, Michelle’s style and warmth, concealing determination - and we can recognize these as an early draft of what they will later use to win over the country. Politics aside, it’s a funny, deeply romantic walk-and-talk in the vein of the “Before…” movies that will excite anyone who likes smart conversation and yearns for a perfect first date.

Coffee Meets Bagel 2016 began rather bleakly, love life-wise. Adulthood sucks. What, am I going to meet someone on the subway, or on my walk to work, or at the gym*? Coffee Meets Bagel, with its relentless optimism and motivational push notifications, was a welcome reminder that I wasn’t alone in trying to figure things out. That there are others who “can go out but also stay in,” who are “looking for someone to go on adventures with,” who like “wine and Netflix” (what are the odds?). The app’s conviction that my life would change with the noon bagel delivery was nice, like having a digital hype man. Did it work? Not entirely. Trying again is pleasant though.      *gym = pizza place on the corner

LeBron James I thought LeBron’s shut-the-fuck-up year happened back during his second Heat season, but the early Cavs turbulence led to a whole new set of critiques. He fiddled with the roster and fired a coach. He sulked on social media. He can’t seem to even like Love. He counts on a midseason R&R trip.

LeBron is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and calling him the greatest provokes fewer laughs than it did just 8 months ago. From the deficit to The Block to getting J.R. to wear a shirt, LeBron’s 2016 Finals performance should put everything to rest, once and for all. He also gets points for his genuine dislike of the rival Warriors, as well as his willingness to speak out on non ESPN-friendly issues in a way that MJ wouldn’t have dared. I once wrote a six page paper for English called “The Myth of LeBron’s Greatness.” Seeing LeBron crumple to the floor with seconds left in Game 7 was an essential image of 2016. I just shut the fuck up and enjoyed it.

PROMA

Fleabag This was the year I knew loss and the year I almost immediately laughed about it. I saw that mirrored in dark comedies across the board, but Fleabag was a clear winner in terms of both entertainment and realism. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a goddamned genius for the way the show vacillates between uproarious humor and gripping grief, and for that I can’t thank her enough.

Mozart in the Jungle  I don’t even know that I have the words to explain the kind of pure and unbridled joy this show gives me. It’s unapologetically romantic in its view of classical music and the orchestra and arts and life in New York; It’s funny and beautiful and kind of quietly poignant.

Girls - “Panic in Central Park” It’s possible that this episode wouldn’t have meant as much if I hadn’t watched it during my literal darkest hour, but it’s still objectively one of the best episodes of Girls and a reminder that Lena Dunham, problematic though she continues to be, can really fucking write. I was too numb to register little more than one-word answers to the questions it raises: “What if you ran into him again?” “What if there’s still something between you?” “What if you changed your mind?” The episode would have us believe that they’re better left unanswered.

Boxing It didn’t stop me from exploding a few times, but oh BOY did it keep that number down. It is my favorite non-dance form of fitness and gave me abs and biceps for a hot second.

Drinks w David Tao Cheaper than therapy — well, depending on how much we drink. I wouldn’t call it a silver lining (neither would he, because he’s a finely honed cynic), but our resurgent friendship and regular meetups have become something we both genuinely look forward to.

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee

Voices of reason are increasingly rare these days, particularly a voice as hyperaware and piercingly sharp as Samantha Bee’s. From creative insults for our subhuman GOP candidate to interviews with Native American leaders and opposing catastrophists (Glenn Beck!), Sam Bee kept me in the know and made me want to be there.

Harry and the Potters A lot of this is from 2005, so maybe it doesn’t qualify. But if it does, rediscovering it and being able to laugh at this band’s silliness and appreciate how much they love and fight--that was a really important part of this year for me. Anti-authoritarian, faithful to the power of love, and always willing to talk about your dead ex-boyfriends over coffee--this is my favorite band.

The Gmail Archives God fucking bless you.

Con Life A decade after my first Harry Potter convention, the friends I made there aren’t really my “Harry Potter friends” anymore. I’ve seen Hannah and Olivia almost every month since May, spoken to them every day, escaped to poolsides and Tasty Burger and unlimited sushi and the Vegas strip--all between wizard rock concerts and J.K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall and the conventions where it all started, conventions we now plan and run like the boss witches we always wanted to be.

Lizzo - “Good as Hell” This song is aspirationally buoyant; If you’re in the right mood it’ll make you feel like flipping your hair at all your haters, and if you’re down it’ll lift you right on up.

ARJUN

The Music 2016 had some insane lows, but when I look back at all the music that came out, I start to believe that it was possibly the greatest year of music in my lifetime.  I want to write so much about so many projects, but here’s a list of some of the things that came out (in no particular order): -Malibu, Anderson .Paak -Anti, Rihanna -The Life of Pablo, Kanye -Views, Drake -Lemonade, Beyoncé -A Seat at the Table, Solange -Coloring Book, Chance -The Colour in Anything, James Blake -A Moon Shaped Pool, Radiohead -Blonde, Frank Ocean -untitled unmastered., Kendrick Lamar -22, A Million, Bon Iver -Still Brazy, YG -Starboy, The Weeknd -We Got it from Here...Thank You 4 Your Service, A Tribe Called Quest -Blank Face LP, Schoolboy Q -4 Your Eyez Only, J. Cole -Run the Jewels 3, Run the Jewels -Blackstar, David Bowie -Prima Donna, Vince Staples -Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’, Kid Cudi -La La Land Soundtrack - Justin Hurwitz (composer) -“Awaken, My Love!”, Childish Gambino -Nightride, Tinashe -Yes Lawd!, NxWorries I’m sure I’m biased because these are a lot of artists whom I already loved, but I felt truly blessed to have the music I got to listen to this year. It’s hard for me to fathom ever having another year of music like 2016. *Sidenote: Something else that I loved about 2016 in music was the unexpected Sixth Man of the Year-type of year we got from André 3000.  He started off low-key with much-appreciated backing vocals on The Life of Pablo before an absolute madman verse on Blonde.  I very clearly remember the first time I listened to Blonde and, out of nowhere, André appeared on “Solo (Reprise),” dropping lines at a furious pace, sounding like the Three Stacks of old.  Add to that his contributions to Kid Cudi and A Tribe Called Quest’s albums, as well as an awesome sample of an old OutKast verse on Vince Staples’s “War Ready,” and this was the best year André Benjamin has had in awhile.

Podcasts Listening to podcasts has always been a great thing for me to do while finishing up busywork, but in 2016 some of the podcasts felt downright therapeutic - even when the subject matter was as serious as can be.  The Ringer has an absolutely lovely set of podcasts - especially for sports - but their Keepin’ it 1600 podcast has become immeasurably important to me.  Hearing former Obama staffers wade through the murk of 2016 in politics helped me try to make sense of what this year has been.  I especially commend them for their strong doses of humanity, reality checks, and humor. David Axelrod’s The Axe Files has been similarly excellent, though for different reasons.  Axelrod took on guests from eclectic perspectives and humanized all of them by focusing on their ongoing personal narratives and lives rather than any one moment.  It was disarming to hear Michael Steele alluding to his strong criticisms toward President Obama and to be totally okay with it.  The Axe Files is a strong reminder that, while voting blocs and demographics are made up of large groups of people, each person’s story in there still has value to it. One last quick recommendation - Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History is straight-up addicting, and gives delightful, insightful looks at topics that wouldn’t have otherwise occurred to me.

I don’t really have much else to say about 2016 to be honest.  It was a strange year in a lot of ways, and tested me for a million different personal reasons.  I feel hurt and beaten down, but strangely invigorated, ready to start figuring out what my duties as a human being are going to be in 2017 and beyond.

‘Nuff said.

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BEDFELLOWS~

Have you seen the latest PromRad production? Check ittttttt below! (Based on a true story)

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I <3 Scores

Game of Thrones aired its epic season six finale, and as usual it’s the topic of all conversation on Monday. While I take part in these conversations about plot usually, my main talking point today was “CAN WE DISCUSS THAT SCORE?!”

I found the piece I was looking for — a light piano and organ movement called “Light of the Seven” — on Spotify today and promptly added it to mine and Proma’s vast scores playlist. I guarantee you, this playlist is PERFECT for doing work and concentrating and even just #chillin. Some highlights include the beautiful theme from Transparent, the energetic “Dragon Racing” from How to Train Your Dragon, the patriotic West Wing theme, the slightly morbid score from The Leftovers (seriously, almost the entire score is included because it is all so great) and so many more amazing tracks. Enjoy it below:

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Vulture Festival & ATX Festival - GIMME MORE

I have officially recovered from a spring of amazing television panels and screenings and celebrity encounters, and now I can finally write about it. Vulture Festival & ATX TV Festival were two of the best weekends I’ve had in a long while, celebrating not only the filmmaking craft but the conversations that surround it. As the summer rolls on and I have no more festivals in sight, I really just want to sing Britney’s “Gimme More” on repeat.

VULTURE FESTIVAL

This was my second year at Vulture Fest and even though I only went to three panels, they were so vastly different in topics that I felt like I got a whole education over the course of the weekend. The first panel I attended was “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: A Musical Revue,” which discussed in detail the behind-the-scenes of bringing the musical show to life on The CW. The always delightful Rachel Bloom, co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna and musical producer Adam Schlesinger broke down the origins of five songs from the show by showcasing rough demos and initial versions and ending with the final televised version. If nothing else, this solidified Bloom — the creator, star, and oftentimes the brains behind the musical numbers — as one of the most talented and creative people in the business today. I wish the panel could have discussed every tune from the show, but alas I suppose we couldn’t have stayed in Milk Studios all night. Rachel ended it with a live performance of “Sexy French Depression” and it was truly delightful. Below is a terrible picture I took from my seat before the event started (although, I’m pretty sure Emily Nussbaum was sitting in front of me so it was fun to admire her from nearby instead of just on Twitter):

The next day, I got to hear Trevor Noah of The Daily Show sit down with Rembert Browne to discuss the state of politics in the US today. While I was really excited to see Trevor Noah, I was somehow even MORE pumped to see Rembert, a former Grantland staffer. Along with many others, I mourned the closing of Grantland — it was one of the best stables of writers around. Trevor and Rembert discussed everything from Donald Trump to political correctness and it felt a lot like listening to two really smart friends chat at a dinner party while you sit wide-eyed and curious a few seats away. 

After the panel, Trevor was nice enough to take pictures with the fans and attendees (you can see our pic in my previous post). But our eyes were on Rembert — we lingered nearby after getting our photo taken, unsure of how to approach him and shower him with our praise. It was awkward, like making the first move at the club. Finally, I sucked it up and opened with a classic line of “hey, that panel was awesome.” NAILED IT. From there, we eased into amazing conversation about Chance the Rapper’s new album, which had just dropped and of which Rembert wrote a fantastic piece (don’t worry I referenced it in conversation). It was so easy and felt like talking to a friend. At some point he was like “g2g” and we parted ways, but the giddiness of chatting with him still hasn’t gone away. 

The last panel I went to at Vulture Fest was the dream panel: a Happy Endings reunion with the entire cast and creators. IT WAS SO FUN. Brad and Jane and Dave and Penny and Max and Alex. Main takeaways: they’re all still friends now, Adam Pally and Casey Wilson are besties and so freaking funny, Casey Wilson improvised “ah-mah-zing,” I’m pretty sure Damon Wayans Jr. was still drunk from the previous night, THEY WOULD DO MORE EPISODES. Do you hear that Hulu? Make it happen. 

After the panel, there were free drinks and truly inspired Steak Me Home Tonight food cart. Whoever did this, major props to you.

ATX TV FESTIVAL: A TELEVISION EXPERIENCE

One of the greatest joys of living in New York City is that these types of events pop up all the time: we get the aforementioned Vulture Festival, the New Yorker Festival, EW Fest and many more. But there was one festival that eluded me, one that I had been dying to go to for years: the ATX TV Festival in Austin, TX. When they announced that this year would be the last one that celebrated Friday Night Lights in honor of the five-year anniversary of the finale, I knew that this had to be the year that I made the journey down south. And damn, am I glad I did. It was one of the most amazing weekends with panels and screenings galore, random meetings with industry folks, and I came away really knowing downtown Austin. 

There were so many reunions - State of Grace, Ugly Betty, and of course my darling Friday Night Lights. On Friday night, we all gathered (under the lights...hehe) on the original Panther field, the excitement palpable. Fans were given access to the fieldhouse and were allowed to touch the blue Panther P with Jason Street’s signature underneath. We caught glimpses of the whole cast minus Kyle Chandler, Zach Gilford, Minka Kelly, Taylor Kitsch and Aimee Teegarden, and they were as excited to be there as we were. Southwest gave out hats that said “Full Hearts.” As the sun went down, Crucifictorious performed while Grandma Saracen played the tambourine onstage. It was as magical as it sounds. The evening ended with a screening of “The Son,” easily my favorite episode of the series (and one I return to often when I need a good cry). My photos below don’t really do the experience justice.

The entire festival celebrated both the creators and fans and allowed everyone to fully obsess over every detail and every obscure show. The panels were enlightening conversations about creation, network notes, writers rooms, cast dynamics, pitching — all things that I nerd out about. Even though the FNL reunion is what got me down there this year, I’m going back to see the panels next year regardless of what they are. THANK YOU ATX! I had a grand ol’ time.

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This time, last week (!!!) Thanks, Vulture Festival (and yes, Trevor Noah is as beautiful IRL as he is on TV)

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THE BEST BROADS ARE BACK

PSA: New Broad City Tonight!

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Here’s A List of Everything I Watched in 2015

Last January, I decided to keep track of everything I’m watching during the year: TV, film, theatre, sports, etc. I kept a note in my phone and updated it everyday with all of my entertainment consumption. If you study the below long enough, you can see when I started a new show (and binged my way to catching up), when I gave up on shows, and the days that I actually had a life and did something other than watch TV.

Regular: TV Italics: Film Bold: Theatre/sports/misc

1/1 - The Good Wife (3) 1 / 2 - Whiplash, Avatar the Last Airbender (8) 1/3 - Jane the Virgin (9), Avatar the Last Airbender (3) 1 / 4 - The Good Wife 1/5 - The Good Wife, black•ish (2) 1/6 - New Girl, The Mindy Project, The Good Wife 1/7 - People's Choice Awards 1/8 - Hindsight, Parenthood 1/9 - The Good Wife (5) 1/10 - The Good Wife (6) 1/11 - Golden Globes, Broad City (2) 1/12 - The Good Wife (2) 1/13 - Parks & Recreation (2), New Girl, The Mindy Project, Empire 1/14 - Broad City 1/15 - The Good Wife (2), Parenthood 1/16 - black•ish, Nightcrawler 1/17 - Girls, The Good Wife, Togetherness 1/18 - The Good Wife (4), Annie Hall 1/19 - Girls, Selma, Jane the Virgin, Avatar the Last Airbender (2) 1/20 - Parks and Recreation (2), State of the Union 1/21 - If/Then 1/22 - Broad City, Parenthood 1/23 - The Good Wife (2), black•ish 1/24 - Broad City 1/25 - Titanic, SAG Awards 1/26 - The Good Wife, Jane the Virgin, Juno 1/27 - Girls, Togetherness (2), Parks & Rec (2), Friday Night Lights (2) 1/28 - The Good Wife (3), Avatar the Last Airbender 1/29 - Parenthood (3) 1/31 - Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, The Good Wife (2) 2/1 - The Good Wife (2) 2/2 - Jane the Virgin, The Good Wife (3) 2/3 - Parks & Recreation (2), New Girl, The Mindy Project 2/4 - black•ish, Jane the Virgin 2/5 - The Good Wife, Broad City 2/6 - Grey's Anatomy, Scandal 2/7 - Fresh Off the Boat (2), Friday Night Lights 2/8 - The Grammys 2/9 - Jane the Virgin 2/10 - Parks & Recreation, New Girl, The Mindy Project 2/11 - The Good Wife 2/12 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Broad City, black•ish, Fresh Off the Boat 2/14 - The Good Wife 2/15 - The Good Wife, SNL40, The Last Five Years 2/16 - Girls, The Good Wife, Jane the Virgin 2/17 - Parks and Rec (2), New Girl, The Mindy Project 2/18 - The Good Wife 2/19 - Broad City 2/20 - How to Get Away with Murder (3), black•ish 2/21 - Scandal (2), Grey's Anatomy, Empire (2) 2/22 - Still Alice, American Sniper, The Academy Awards 2/23 - Empire, Girls 2/24 - Parks and Rec , New Girl, The Mindy Project 2/25 - Empire 3/1 - black•ish, Brooklyn Nine Nine 3/2 - HTGAWM 3/3 - New Girl, The Mindy Project 3 / 4 - Empire 3/8 - black•ish, Fresh Off the Boat 3/10 - New Girl, The Mindy Project 3/11 - Empire 3/16 - Broad City 3/17 - The Mindy Project, Girls 3/18 - Girls, Broad City 3/19 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2), Fresh Off the Boat 3/20 - Empire (2), Grey's Anatomy 3/21 - Grey's Anatomy (3), Scandal 3/22 - Scandal 3/23 - The Good Wife 3/24 - Fresh Off the Boat, The Mindy Project 3/25 - Scandal, Modern Family, black•ish 3/27 - Greys Anatomy 3/29 - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (7) 3/30 - Bloodline, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (3) 3/31 - New Girl, Weird Loners, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (3) 4/3 - Louie, Cinderella 4/4 - Girls, black•ish, Fresh Off the Boat, The Last Man on Earth, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal 4/5 - Avatar the Last Airbender (5), Friday Night Lights, The Last Man on Earth (6) 4/6 - Mad Men, The Good Wife (2) 4/7 - Friday Night Lights 4/8 - Friday Night Lights 4/9 - Friday Night Lights (2) 4/11 - Greys Anatomy 4/12 - Jane the Virgin, Game of Thrones 4/13 - Mad Men 4/14 - Jane the Virgin, New Girl 4/15 - Bloodline 4/16 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Silicon Valley 4/18 - Friday Night Lights, The Wolfpack 4/19 - Game of Thrones 4/20 - Avatar the Last Airbender (2), dream/killer, Being 14 4/21 - It Follows, Jane the Virgin, Silicon Valley 4/22 - Sleeping With Other People 4/24 - Grey's Anatomy, Younger (5) 4/25 - Avatar the Last Airbender (2), Bruce Jenner Interview, The Jinx (2), Fresh Off The Boat 4/26 - Mad Men, While We're Young, The Good Wife 4/28 - Game of Thrones, Jane the Virgin 4/29 - The Godfather 4/30 - The Avengers: Age of Ultron 5/1 - The Daily Show, Grey's Anatomy, Power, Happy Endings (7) 5/2 - Happy Endings (6), The Avengers, Younger, The Jinx 5/3 - New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 5/4 - The Daily Show, Mad Men (2) 5/5 - Gossip Girl, Jane the Virgin 5/6 - Avatar the Last Airbender, Omkara 5/7 - Younger, The Good Wife, Friday Night Lights (2) 5/8 - Silicon Valley 5/10 - Game of Thrones (2), Friday Night Lights (2) 5/11 - Spider-Man 2, Mad Men, The Good Wife (2) 5/12 - The Good Wife, Jane the Virgin 5/13 - Pitch Perfect, Silicon Valley (2) 5/14 - Grey's Anatomy 5/15 - Ex Machina 5/16 - Grey's Anatomy, Pitch Perfect 2, Bridget Jones's Diary, black•ish (3) 5/17 - black•ish, Younger, Billboard Music Awards, Game of Thrones 5/18 - Mad Men , Brooklyn Nine-Nine 5/19 - black•ish 5/20 - The Good Wife 5/21 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 5/22 - black•ish, Hedwig and the Angry Inch 5/23 - The Swan Princess, Happy Endings 5/24 - The Good Wife 5/25 - The Age of Adaline, The Good Wife 5/26 - Louie (2), Rangers vs. Lightning game 6 5/27 - Silicon Valley, Fresh Off the Boat 5/31 - Crazy, Stupid, Love, 27 Dresses, Critics Choice Awards 6/1 - Gilmore Girls 6/2 - Game of Thrones (2), Silicon Valley, Fresh Off the Boat 6/3 - Fresh Off the Boat, The Last Man on Earth 6/4 - The Last Man on Earth (2) 6/5 - Gori Teri Pyaar Main 6/7 - Entourage, Little Manhattan, Game of Thrones 6/8 - Younger (2) 6/9 - Spy 6/11 - Happy Endings 6/12 - Flesh & Bone, Silicon Valley 6/13 - She's the Man 6/14 - Happy Endings 6/15 - Survivor's Remorse, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Orange is the New Black 6/16 - Orange is the New Black, NBA Finals Game 6 6/17 - Younger, Last Man on Earth (2) 6/18 - Jane the Virgin 6/19 - Yankees vs Tigers, Catastrophe 6/20 - Wayward Pines, Dope 6/22 - John Tucker Must Die 6/23 - True Detective, Wayward Pines, Orange is the New Black 6/27 - Avatar the Last Airbender (3), Inside Out, The Other Woman 6/28 - Wayward Pines, Veep (4), Catastrophe 6/29 - Flesh & Bone 6/30 - Orange is the New Black 7/1 - Catastrophe 7/2 - Wayward Pines (2), Inside Amy Schumer 7/4 - Avatar the Last Airbender (3) 7/5 - Avatar the Last Airbender (2) 7/6 - Wayward Pines, The Good Wife (2) 7/7 - Wayward Pines 7/8 - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Avatar the Last Airbender 7/9 - Finding Nemo 7/10 - Avatar the Last Airbender (2) 7/11 - Catastrophe (3), Magic Mike, Avatar the Last Airbender (2) 7/12 - Happy Endings, Magic Mike XXL 7/13 - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Ash vs Evil Dead 7/14 - Friends (2) 7/15 - Wayward Pines 7/16 - Ballers, Key & Peele 7/17 - 7 Days in Hell 7/18 - Grace and Frankie (9), New Girl 7/19 - Grace and Frankie (3) 7/20 - Amy, Happy Endings 7/21 - Grace and Frankie, Friday Night Lights (2) 7/22 - Trainwreck, Friday Night Lights 7/23 - Wayward Pines 7/26 - UCB "We Build It" 7/27 - Orange is the New Black 7/28 - Wayward Pines, Louie (3) 7/29 - Blunt Talk, Paper Towns 7/30 - Trainwreck, True Detective 7/31 - The End of the Tour, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (4) 8/2 - Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2) 8/3 - Friday Night Lights 8/4 - Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2) 8/7 - The Daily Show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 8/8 - Zoolander 8/10 - Orange is the New Black 8/11 - Orange is the New Black (3) 8/12 - Orange is the New Black, Louie 8/13 - Orange is the New Black (2), Veep (2) 8/14 - An Evening of Comedy with Brent Morin 8/15 - Veep (5) 8/16 - Veep (11) 8/17 - Veep (3) 8/18 - Veep (4) 8/19 - Veep (3) 8/20 - The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 8/22 - Veep (5) 8/23 - Friday Night Lights (2), You're the Worst, The Gift 8/24 - You're the Worst (5), Friday Night Lights 8/25 - You're the Worst (4), UnREAL 8/26 - Difficult People (2) 8/27 - UnREAL (3) 8/28 - Happy Endings 8/29 - Avatar the Last Airbender (3), 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights (3), Happy Endings 8/30 - UnREAL (6), Mistress America 8/31 - Better Call Saul 9/2 - The Awesomes 9/3 - Michigan vs Utah 9/4 - U.S. Open, Louie (2) 9/5 - Narcos, Straight Outta Compton, Inside Amy Schumer (3) 9/6 - Louie (7) 9/7 - Louie, The Stanford Prison Experiment, The Duff 9/8 - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 9/9 - Louie, You're the Worst 9/10 - Center Stage 9/11 - Matilda 9/12 - Michigan vs Oregon St, Avatar the Last Airbender (2), Better Call Saul, Louie (3), Friday Night Lights (2), Step Up, Walk of Shame, The Devil Wears Prada 9/13 - Louie (4), Meet the Patels, The Mindy Project 9/14 - Louie, Narcos 9/15 - The Mindy Project, Friday Night Lights (4) 9/17 - You're the Worst, Friday Night Lights 9/20 - The Emmys 9/22 - The Mindy Project, Community 9/23 - Modern Family, black•ish, Scream Queens 9/24 - Empire, How To Get Away With Murder 9/26 - Grey's Anatomy, You're the Worst, Michigan vs BYU, Fresh Off the Boat 9/27 - The OC (4), The Intern, Blood & Oil 9/28 - Louie, Quantico, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Last Man on Earth 9/29 - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Friday Night Lights, The Mindy Project 9/30 - Snoop Dogg ft. Jidennah & Casey Veggies 10/2 - The Martian, Empire, You're the Worst 10/3 - Fresh Off the Boat, black•ish, Michigan vs Maryland, How to Get Away with Murder, Avatar the Last Airbender (3) 10/4 - The Last Man on Earth, Quantico 10/5 - Grey's Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 10/6 - Franz Ferdinand + Sparks = FFS, The Mindy Project 10/7 - Casual, Fresh Off the Boat, Grandfathered 10/9 - Grey's Anatomy, Empire, Casual, Steve Jobs 10/10 - The Grinder (2), black•ish, Michigan vs Northwestern 10/11 - How to Get Away With Murder, Sicario 10/12 - Jane the Virgin, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 10/13 - The Mindy Project, The Last Man on Earth 10/16 - Quantico, Empire, Fresh Off the Boat 10/17 - Grey's Anatomy, black•ish, Michigan vs Michigan State, You're the Worst (2), The Grinder, Amy Schumer Live at the Apollo 10/18 - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Saturday Night Live with Tracy Morgan, How to Get Away With Murder, Quantico 10/22 - The Walk 10/23 - Jane the Virgin, You're the Worst, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grey's Anatomy 10/24 - You're the Worst, Master of None, Sylvia 10/25 - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, black•ish, The Grinder, Empire, The Last Man on Earth 10/26 - Quantico, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 10/27 - The Girlfriend Experience (3), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Last Man on Earth, The Mindy Project, Jane the Virgin 10/28 - Room, The Girlfriend Experience 10/31 - Boy Meets World (2), How I Met Your Mother 11/1 - How to Get Away with Murder (2), black•ish, Fresh Off the Boat, Casual (2), Narcos (3) 11/2 - New Girl (3) 11/3 - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Jane the Virgin, The Mindy Project 11/4 - Quantico, Fresh Off the Boat 11/6 - Master of None (2) 11/7 - Master of None (3), Michigan vs. Rutgers 11/8 - Skyfall, Homecoming King - Hasan Minhaj 11/10 - Master of None, The Mindy Project, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 11/11 - Outlander, Jane the Virgin 11/13 - Master of None 11/14 - Michigan vs. Indiana 11/15 - Master of None (2), How To Make It In America (3), black•ish, Fresh Off the Boat 11/16 - How To Make It In America (2), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Quantico, The Grinder (2) 11/17 - How To Make It In America (3), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Empire, The Mindy Project 11/18 - How To Make It In America 11/19 - Spotlight, How To Make It In America 11/20 - The Night Before, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 11/21 - Michigan vs. Penn State, Avatar the Last Airbender, Jessica Jones, Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, How To Make It In America 11/22 - You're the Worst (2), Avatar the Last Airbender (2), Jessica Jones, Grey's Anatomy 11/23 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grey's Anatomy 11/24 - How To Make It In America, Jane the Virgin, The Grinder, The Mindy Project 11/25 - How To Make It In America (4), Friends, Jessica Jones, black•ish 11/26 - Master of None (2), Lions vs. Eagles, Jessica Jones (2) 11/27 - Fifty Shades of Grey, Jessica Jones 11/28 - Michigan vs. Ohio State, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 11/29 - Awkward (7), Grey's Anatomy, Jessica Jones 11/30 - Jessica Jones, Awkward 12/1 - Awkward, The Grinder 12/2 - Luther, Awkward, The Mindy Project 12/3 - Outlander, You're the Worst (2), Awkward (2), Avatar the Last Airbender 12/4 - Jessica Jones, black•ish, Awkward, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope 12/5 - Awkward (4), Empire (2), Creed 12/6 - Casual (5), Empire, Awkward (5), Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back 12/7 - Outlander, Jessica Jones, Empire, Awkward 12/8 - Awkward, The Mindy Project, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones 12/9 - Outlander 12/10 - Panic! at the Disco & G-Eazy 12/11 - The Grinder, You're the Worst 12/13 - Transparent (3), You're the Worst 12/14 - Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (con't) 12/15 - The Academy Is... Almost Here 10-Year Tour 12/16 - Transparent, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith 12/17 - Transparent, Jane the Virgin, The Grinder, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 12/18 - black•ish, Fresh Off the Boat (3), The Last Man on Earth 12/19 - Transparent (2), Breaking Bad, Fargo 12/20 - Transparent, Breaking Bad, Mr. Robot, Fargo, Parks & Recreation (2) 12/21 - Transparent, Fargo, Breaking Bad, Mr. Robot (2), Friends 12/22 - Breaking Bad, Mr. Robot (2), Jessica Jones (2) 12/23 - Mr. Robot (2), Fargo 12/24 - Breaking Bad (2), Fargo 12/25 - Breaking Bad (3), Concussion, Fargo (3) 12/26 - Breaking Bad (2), Fargo (2), Mr. Robot (3) 12/27 - The Big Short, Fargo 12/28 - The Last Man on Earth (4), How To Get Away With Murder (3), Fargo (2) 12/29 - Mozart in the Jungle (3), Fargo, Joy, Once 12/30 - Mozart in the Jungle (4), The Man in the High Castle (2), Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Transparent, Love Actually, Broad City, Happy Endings, The Office (2) 12/31 - Mozart in the Jungle (3), Man Seeking Woman (5)

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Best of 2015

It’s New Year’s Eve, so naturally it’s time to reflect on 2015: what were the highs and lows, what made me feel and how did I feel, and how did those things stack up against each other? Last year, I posted a general collection of overall entertainment that I enjoyed that featured everything from podcasts to individual episodes, and allowed me to cover a wide range of experienced culture in a single blog post. 

This year, there are three “Best of 2015″ posts: film, TV, and a miscellaneous grab bag. 

Most importantly, this year’s lists will just not feature my own selections. Proma Khosla, Aditya Vedapudi and Arjun Motta contributed their own and I’m very very very excited to have had the honor of compiling everyone’s picks for the year. 

Sooo... let’s get this party started. For easy access, links to the individual posts are below:

FILM || TV || MISCELLANEOUS

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Best of 2015: Miscellaneous

Making top television and film lists are relatively easy, at least in the sense that the categories are structured about what qualifies and what doesn’t. But that rigidity leaves out a lot of other great experiences from the year including music, theatre, and sports. The miscellaneous category is reserved to discuss everything else we experienced this year — from movies & TV we finally got around to watching to any of the aforementioned cultural moments, and anything in between. It’s essentially a grab-bag.

We took different approaches here: Arjun focused on music, while Proma and I both threw in varied highlights from the year. Here are our favorite “miscellaneous” experiences from 2015:

PROMA

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS There are shows that you watch and rewatch and love and then there are shows that literally change you. I feel altered and bettered from watching FNL. It made me care about something that I was minimally interested in, made me care about these people whose lives and realities are so different from my own, and most importantly introduced me to the brooding pile of hot despair that is Timothy Riggins. Clear eyes, full hearts, etc.

PARTY DOWN  This show is hilarious and awkward and full of in-jokes, and so naturally only lasted two seasons. It was ahead of its time in the same way as Arrested Development. All-star cast and A+ jokes.

PEAKY BLINDERS I couldn’t actually tell you anything about the business of the Peaky Blinders, but I could tell you that I love Yorkshire accents and Helen McCrory and would be happy to die looking into Cillian Murphy’s piercing blue eyes. I fear for you, Tommy Shelby, and also I cannot quit you.

YOU’RE THE WORST (season 1)  I have probably seen this pilot about four times now. In some ways it threatens to fall close to old cliches — the couple who’s afraid to commit, the adults who refuse to act their age — but in humor and handling the relationships, You’re the Worst has surprising depth that I can’t get enough of.

HAPPY ENDINGS Did not expect this show to resonate with me as strongly as it did. I laugh probably every 30 seconds and usually well into the next joke, which sets me off all over again. Haven’t finished s2 or 3 and kind of don’t want to so that it lasts forever.

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS A beautiful dance repertory disguised as a Tony-winning musical. Don’t remember much of the plot, but the dancing is beautiful, free of the burden of trying to *be* something and transcend its genre; it’s just simple, gorgeous dance. This is the first musical in a long time that I’ve felt I would go back and watch again and again.

WISHFUL DRINKING / SHOCKOHOLIC BY CARRIE FISHER Carrie Fisher is a national treasure and every word from her mouth (mind) is a gift.

ARJUN

SUMMERTIME ‘06, VINCE STAPLES If Sicario had to be made into a rap album set in Long Beach, Summertime ‘06 is what you’d end up with.  It is dark and leaves you with the sense that you could be killed at any moment, holding on to hopes that you know will never come true.  Vince keeps you thoroughly compelled throughout, and helps you see why his perspective is an important one to understand in the bigger picture of the things that are wrong at home, even if this perspective isn’t one that we can at all relate to.

BLACK MESSIAH, D’ANGELO The composition of Black Messiah, both musically and lyrically, is breathtaking. Listening through the album, it feels like D'Angelo is simply plucking notes and words out of thin air, a sorcerer of writing on a level that mere humans could never mechanically understand. “Really Love” is a slice of pure ecstasy, finding fulfillment and contentment out of the smallest moments of adoration. And when D'Angelo touches on societal topics, he does it in a way that always feels earnest and never contrived. Black Messiah may have come out in mid-December 2014, but 2015 wouldn’t have been the same year without it.

TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY, KENDRICK LAMAR The most important album to be put out in maybe 5 years. There hasn’t been an album since My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy that I instantly knew, within the first time I was listening from start to finish, that I was in love with. There are people far more intelligent than I am who have written far more poignant and articulate things than I ever could about this album, so I won’t even try.

THE BEYOND / WHERE THE GIANTS ROAM, THUNDERCAT Thundercat has put together a brief (it’s only 6 songs) album here that puts you the shortest journey into the depths of existence that you’ve ever taken. Listening to it, I felt like I’d fallen asleep and was stuck in the limbo that is so feared in Inception. It’s a trip - but a great one.

SURF, DONNIE TRUMPET & THE SOCIAL EXPERIMENT  Chance the Rapper may be my favorite human being of all time, and though I know that Surf isn’t “his” album, there’s no denying the input he must have had and the fact that he even brought this collective of talent to us on this stage. Surf exudes the relentless positive energy that we’ve come to expect from Chance and adds more experimentation to the mix, making it a fun, lovable, but still deep album to experience.

25, ADELE Adele has taken the act of crying and eating ice cream and turned it into a near-perfect formula for writing pop music. Are the songs sometimes noticeably simple? Of course. Are the lyrics very poetic? Probably not. But when you put it all together this well, it serves as an essential reminder that, even though life is full of shades of grey, at times we need to feel like there are blacks and whites in different parts of heartbreak just to get through the pain. 25 is the wine that lubricates the pouring-out of my heart.

KING PUSH - DARKEST BEFORE DAWN: THE PRELUDE, PUSHA T Pusha T is maybe rap’s perfect indie mafioso — a poor man’s Jay-Z, if you will. But using the “poor man” term isn’t to suggest that Pusha is a decline in quality of MC; it’s to say that Pusha will always take a hard, grittier approach than most. Where Shawn Carter walks on red carpets, Terrence Thornton walks on concrete. While I’m not crazy for some of Pusha’s mixtape work, there’s no denying that Darkest Before Dawn takes where My Name is My Name left off and keeps that wheel turning in ways that continue to feel fresh. This is a tight 10-song listen, and through every song you’ll feel like you can take on the whole world with just a pocketful of crack.  

BEAUTY BEHIND THE MADNESS, THE WEEKND Thank god The Weeknd decided to modify his songwriting strategy. I was a massive fan of the original Trilogy mixtapes (the mixtapes, in my opinion, have superior mixing/mastering choices when compared to the packaged triple album), but didn’t really need another attempt to catch lightning in a bottle. This isn’t to suggest that The Weeknd has gained a general moral compass; he’s still the singer “with the hair singing 'bout popping pills, fucking bitches, living life so trill.” But the production and choices, which may structurally seem minor, are anything but. The soul-tinged music of “Tell Your Friends,” liberating harmonies of “Real Life,” and pure infectious catchiness of “Can’t Feel My Face” are just a few pieces of evidence. The Weeknd has been talented for years; now, it looks like he may even have tried to put out an album that is half-fun to get through.

COMPTON, DR. DRE The moment Dr. Dre announced that Detox had been shelved, his fans (not to mention Dre himself) were liberated from their own expectations for what a 21st-century Dr. Dre album should be. What rose from its ashes is an album that’s as ambitious as ever, but reaches for its aspirations with more focus than I can remember hearing from Dr. Dre in decades - maybe even ever. While those outside of the rap sphere may not love some moments where Dre can still feel like he’s doing a little bit of glamorization, with songs like “Genocide” and “Deep Water,” Compton explores the fears and causes for that glamorization in ways that are stunning and scary to listen to.

RADHIKA

AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER  The writing! The music! Zuko’s ponytail! That’s my 5-star review for this show. This cartoon’s got it going on — aside from expertly balancing hilarity with emotional gravity, every main character’s journey is deeply fulfilling. Also, it helps that I fell deeply, deeply in love with Zuko, the misunderstood and ultimately good-hearted boy at the center (at least in my mind) of the story. I haven’t finished season three yet, but when it’s over I’m going to need to watch The Legend of Korra stat, just to get my fix.

STAR WARS The biggest gaping hole in my entertainment consumption history is not the Godfather trilogy, The Sopranos or even The Wire (though I do still need to watch all of those in their entirety). Nope, it’s Star Wars, which I somehow completely missed while growing up. Star Wars was, and still is, literally everywhere; my memories of childhood heavily feature the series even though I had only viewed a handful of its film’s frames at the time. My next door neighbors and I used to play Star Wars in their backyard pretending their deck was the Death Star; I performed the amazing music from the franchise in orchestra in middle school; and I, along with the rest of the world, could recite the famous lines even if the words had no meaning to me. Even just last year when I worked my first film job, the fact that I had never (properly) seen Star Wars caused somewhat of a stir on set. As an adult, I had no knowledge of anything about the universe beyond the names of some of the characters and people could not handle it. Since I’m not one to willingly miss a cultural moment, I finally watched the movies in preparation for The Force Awakens. What I found to be special about this delayed viewing is that so many of the elements — the dated CGI, the hairstyles and wardrobe, the most spoiled plot twist of all time (“I am your father”) — all still hold up. I'm definitely not a superfan, but at least I now feel like I can actually participate in this ever-present cultural phenomenon.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (again) Can I put something I’ve already seen on this list? I’m making up the rules as I go along so let’s just go with it. It’s no secret that Friday Night Lights is my favorite show of all time, and I have watched it countless times. But the thing about good television (or good film) is that every viewing allows you to pick up on something new. New understanding of characters, new favorite lines, new perspectives, etc. This time around I sympathized with Julie’s season five sense of confusion in love and life more than ever before; Proma and I laughed and laughed about Luke Cafferty’s low-key hilarious nickname for Tinker (“Twanker, man”); I’ve always been more of a QB1 kinda girl, but I fell a little bit in love with Tim Riggins (the hair is still not doing it for me, though). Every time I watch the stories unfold and the characters grow, I fall even more in love with this little town and the football teams that come with it.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH  Hands down, this is one of the most interesting live spectacles I have ever witnessed. We got to see the one-man-show while Michigan alum Darren Criss was Hedwig and holy hell, it’s a tour de force. Every word, every line, every song tells the uniquely humanistic story of how Hedwig overcomes diversity and powers through with perseverance. It’s moving — equally heart-wrenching and hilarious, and taps into an element of humanity that pushes for compassion over hatred; inclusion over exclusion. At the end of it, just watching the physically demanding role left me breathless.

AWKWARD   If it’s a story about a teenage romance love triangle, count me all the way in. A new iPad and holiday flights (and some help from Amazon Prime’s download feature) had me straight bingeing on this MTV gem. I’m only caught up on the first two seasons, but a lot of the things that Jenna is working through as a high schooler is stuff that I dealt with in college, which will probably always feel like it was just yesterday. It’s light, it’s fun, and it actually features actors that look the part of high schoolers even if they are definitely, like, 26. And for the record, I’m #TeamMatty.

JANE THE VIRGIN I started the 2015 New Year off by holeing myself up in our apartment to binge-watch the first 9 episodes of Jane the Virgin’s flawless first season. Using the telenovela structure, Jane the Virgin is unlike any other romantic comedy on television. It was just downright fun, hilarious beyond expectations, and full of affecting breakout performances. Apart from a plot that moves so quickly you can’t imagine turning the TV off, you’ll stay for Gina Rodriguez who turns in a performance so endearing and heartbreaking and personable, you’ll fall in love with her (along with the rest of the world).

LOUIE   I’m still not entirely caught up on Louie, but I can now understand why everyone has recommended it to me. Season four in particular discussed the theme of body image acceptance, and it resonated so deeply with me that I watched the episode a second time before going back to find the YouTube clip of Louis C.K. accepting the Outstanding Comedy Writing Emmy in 2014 for “So Did The Fat Lady.” It couldn’t have gone to anyone else.

U.S. OPEN - SERENA & NADAL GO THE DISTANCE  Sometimes you just know that you’re experiencing something amazing. Arjun and I bought tickets to the U.S. Open on a whim, wanting to experience a night game in Queens. This was the year that Serena was on her historic run towards a Calendar Slam and Nadal was fighting his way back after being sidelined by injuries for much of the year. We never thought we’d see this explosion of greatness from both sides of the court, as both of the greats were pushed to their physical limits and to 3 and 5 sets, respectively. We were in Flushing Meadows until the early hours of the morning and the feeling of being there, watching it all unfold below us, is unrivaled.

TRAP QUEEN BY FETTY WAP Hey wassup hello…can you believe that phrase only came into our lives this year? Being the hottest club banger is harder than it sounds. The song has to be catchy but not annoying, feel-good without being cheesy, and has to live through hundreds of thousands of plays without encroaching on “overplayed” territory. Check, check, and check for Trap Queen. It’s more than just a great summer song; it is a timeless jam that gets me so hype, it’s earned its place up there with Talk Dirty (aka potential first-dance-at-my-wedding status).

[radreviews]

Best of 2015: TV

Not to beat a dead horse into the ground, but we’re living in the age of peak television right now. Everyone is trying to get their hat into the ring of original content programming, so much so that FX President John Landgraf famously said what we’re all thinking at the TCA’s earlier this year: “there is simply too much television.” 

To TV enthusiasts like myself, this is both a blessing and a curse. It’s amazing to have so many options of really beautiful and fantastic television, and it’s great to witness this increase in both quantity and quality. But with so many shows — an FX study conducted earlier this month counted a record 409 scripted shows on TV this year — there will always be programs that slip through the cracks.

Thus, as you can imagine, our lists of the best television of the year will not be all-encompassing. There is not enough time; there is simply too much television. 

Below are mine, Proma’s and Arjun’s lists. As always, the entries are in no particular order and the only rule was that the season had to have aired in 2015.

PROMA

YOU’RE THE WORST (season 2)  THIS. SHOW. My only complaint ever was that everyone is White, but I laugh so much that I let it slide. This season that laughter was largely supplanted by tears, but the show handled Gretchen’s storyline with amazing sensitivity and realism. Talk to me about “"LCD Soundsystem"” and “Other Things You Could Be Doing” and even “The Heart is a Dumb Dumb” if you dare — but also don’t, because my heart can’t take it. PS new phone who dis

MASTER OF NONE (season 1) God, what is there to say that hasn’t already been said? Brilliant, hilarious, and occasionally disgusting because you have to watch Aziz do sexual things (legit thought Rachel was going to wake up from a nightmare after his weird face looked up from between her legs), this show was everything I wanted it to be and more. Find me in da club talking about Indians on TV and stalking Anoush.

CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND (season 1) One of the cleverest and most entertaining shows out there — can we take a moment to appreciate that it’s both?? I love it for subverting genre, story, and of course the connotations of the crazy ex-girlfriend, and for imagining every character complexly. A broey Asian priest who loves basketball just made a cameo, followed by a little girl who loves rap music and snails.

PARKS AND RECREATION (season 7) It went by so quickly — so cruelley — but god damn, it was fun to watch these weirdos work for seven seasons. Goodbye, Parks, and goodbye NBC Thursday. It was a privilege.

THE GRINDER (season 1) THIS SHOW IS SO SMART. It subverts every classic comedy joke setup and makes them even funnier. Fred Savage deserves all the awards, as does the writing for its astute observations about family, performance, and how these things interact in the lives of us normals.

EMPIRE (season 1) FINALLY SOMETHING FILLS THE SMASH-SHAPED HOLE IN MY HEART. Sex, drama, hip-hop, hot people being hot, and our goddess savior Cookie, Queen B of the world. Unfortunately, there is also Terrence Howard, so I guess happiness comes at a price.

DAREDEVIL (season 1) You had me from the opening credits, Marvel. You lost me a bit at Wilson Fisk, worst actor and least frightening man ever, but you slightly earned me back with the solemn humor of his sad omelette montage. I love Foggy and one day he will speak Punjabi. Hell’s Kitchen.

LEGEND OF KORRA (season 4) I have my gripes about the final season itself, and the overall order of the seasons with regard to certain arcs and villains, but Season 4 took a hard look at the dark, lonely side of being the avatar, and Korra was the perfect one to showcase it.

DOWNTON ABBEY (season 6): WHAT AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY. Downton has really put me (and my mother) through the ringer with emotional drama and often trauma, but the finale was immensely satisfying. For all the useless storylines about people huffing over telephones and feminism, it ultimately gave us the arc of two characters I grew to love: Lady Edith Crawley and Thomas Barrow.

ARJUN

THE AMERICANS (season 3) I started watching The Americans thinking that the premise — two Soviet spies in the early '80s are posing as an American family — sounded a little hokey. But by doubling down on that concept with awesome intensity and plotting, and combining that with diligently-written and wonderfully-played smaller moments, this show hits its big and small beats with equal mastery.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (season 3) There's something genuinely magical happening in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and I can't quite place my finger on what it is. All I know is, this is my perfect distraction show, where I get to, for a half hour at a time, drift away into a goofy, fun, affectionate world with goofy, fun, affectionate characters. There's almost nothing innovative about Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but maybe the fact that it's nonetheless so astoundingly good a bigger innovation than any.

PARKS AND RECREATION (season 7) It took a few episodes, but by "Leslie & Ron," the farewell season of Parks and Recreation was back at its peak form, consistently putting out episodes as good as any in sitcom history. I have an enormous attachment to these characters, these places, this show (it's probably my favorite comedy ever, along with Friends). The finale couldn't have been a more perfect; I feel a wonderful sense of closure with these characters whom I already sorely miss.

SOUTH PARK (season 19) The 19th season of South Park is Trey Parker and Matt Stone at their most nihilistic. More than ever, you remember that these guys aren't necessarily trying to push any agenda at all, but to remind us that everyone has an agenda and that every agenda is stupid (so basically, we're all stupid). I haven't had this much consistently funny quality in a season of South Park since maybe Season 13. That being said, Parker & Stone would probably be the first to tell me that all of my opinions are dumb and don't deserved to be held in any remote esteem.

GAME OF THRONES (season 5) I don't think I could ever NOT enjoy Game of Thrones, even when it reaches a point where it's literally shots of a bunch of corpses lying around for a full hour each week. I'm a fan of most of the modifications made to the A Song of Ice and Fire series, as they've really tightened up the story for the television format, and David Benioff & D.B. Weiss kept pushing the boundaries of what viewers thought could be done in an hour-long drama (see also: the massacre at Hardhome).

THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH (season 1) By the end of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, I couldn't bring myself to keep up with Stewart on the religious basis that I used to. At a certain point, I could feel his exhaustion with what our world's shitshow was forcing him to do day-to-day. So it was a more than welcome surprise to have Trevor Noah step into Stewart's shoes. Noah has provided a breath of fresh oxygen to a show that sorely needed it by its end, and kept just enough around to let us still feel welcome in our home. The renovation-instead-of-replacement approach optimized my enjoyment, and Noah already appears to be as comfortable and confident as a host in his seventh season. He may not be at a peak-Stewart level yet, but he is cementing Stewart's legacy in the way that it deserves.

LOUIE (season 5) Louie has, for the last several years, continually pushed not only TV, but video itself as a medium. The on-again, off-again relationship with narrative structure reminds us, as everything else on this show does, that our lives are in and themselves an on-again, off-again affair. Season 5 saw Louis C.K. taking a slight break from the pure emotional journey that was Season 4, and spending a little more time with a more straightforward approach like earlier seasons (the untitled episode notwithstanding). Whatever it is, it still works. I adore Louie's merits and demerits with all of my heart, and it remains one of my favorite shows of all time.

VEEP (season 4) Veep plays the being-a-dick card with so much sneering pride and regularity that one could see an alternate universe where it makes the viewer feel a deep cynicism for where this country is headed. And yet, something in how it's done — is it the acting?  Is it the direction?  Is it just great writing? — that allows us to feel that these characters are politicians who are not being brought down to Earth to teach any sort of lesson, but rather to remind us that we're all just humans trying to get through the day-to-day. We sometimes (usually) suck, and that's okay. If a movie about everyone being terrible for each other can give us that, then it's nothing short of magical.

KEY & PEELE (season 5) I have absolutely no hesitation in saying that Key & Peele, in its five-season run, had some of the absolute best sketch writing and performing that I have ever seen in my life, and the final season was no exception. I am going to sorely miss this gem of a show.

RADHIKA

YOU’RE THE WORST (season 2) Holy shit, this show is so good. Excellent, even. I caught up with the first season earlier this year, and it is fantastic in its own right: the characters are crude and the writing is sharp, and it’s just a generally strong season of scripted comedy. But season two elevates everything. I am a sucker for emotionally moving art — I love watching things that make me cry. I just never thought You’re the Worst would fall into that category. But it’s the always ones you don’t expect that make you feel the most, and Stephen Falk and his writing team hit us with a totally unexpected storyline that Aya Cash and Chris Geere completely own and ace. And even though the story goes to a heartbreaking place, the show never loses its comedic angle; it’s a truly well-rounded, firing-on-all-cylinders piece of art.

BLACK-ISH (season 2) Everyone on this show is a star. I could watch the adventures of Jack and Diane for hours, I wouldn’t mind hangin’ with Bow and borrowing some lipstick, and I am definitely sort of in love with Junior’s outer nerd. In season one, this show showcased that it’s at its best when it uses the strengths of each character to delve into sociopolitical issues (spanking, sex talks, and coming out to name a few). Season two is no different; if anything it ups the ante to discuss using the “n word,” the role of religion, and gun ownership. Creator and showrunner Kenya Barris knows and recognizes the platform he’s been given, and I’d argue that black-ish is one of the most self-aware and important shows on television right now.

CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND (season 1) In a year full of boundary-pushing and inventive television, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend arguably pushes the hardest. Our protagonist Rebecca Bunch makes a questionable decision to quit her cushy NYC lawyer job and move to West Covina (Cali-FOR-niaaaaa) where her ex-boyfriend lives (the first boundary-pushing moment: the hot ex she’s pursuing is Asian). This move sets off a number of other really ill-informed decisions involving friends, boys, and pills. Every week is a meditation on what happiness is and if it can be achieved, all set to the tune of catchy and visually stunning show tunes (did I forget to mention that it’s a musical?). That might be the most marvelous part — the music doesn’t just propel the story forward, it also provides a platform for inner dialogues, asides, and comments about societal norms (“The Sexy Getting Ready Song” is very important). And while Rebecca is presented as socially unhinged, she is never dumb — her inconsistencies and bad decisions are ever-present in her personal life but never reflect her abilities in the professional world. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is paired with Jane the Virgin, which makes The CW the network frontrunner — that’s a sentence I never thought I’d say.

THE GRINDER (season 1) Here’s the logline: a former TV star from a fictional law procedural returns to his hometown in Middle America and thinks he can use his fictional experience from the show to practice law IRL at his family's law firm — hijinks ensue. It sounds kind of dumb, or at least only funny in the slapstick “ha-ha” sort of way. But not a week goes by where I’m not laughing hard at the multi-layered jokes and performances; Rob Lowe and Fred Savage have never been better. The entire show rests upon the chemistry between the two leads and they’re a damn delight. Instead of strictly focusing on the premise, the writing is more interested in appealing to intelligence by winking and nodding at tropes and layering in the meta moments. Despite its name (and as it goes on, the name really does grow on you), The Grinder is brilliant and must-see television.

MASTER OF NONE (season 1)   There is no shortage of shows based in New York, but what we’ve all been waiting for is one that highlights the diversity of the place and looks the way that New York actually looks. Master of None is that show. Sure, it has a few episodes that feel preachy and contrived (ahem, “Ladies and Gentleman”), but the good ones are SO good that it cancels any weak moments out. The highlights include the instant-classic-episodes “Indians on TV” and “Parents” that showcase Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s clear vision and smart writing, and tells necessary stories that have never been seen on television before. Bravo, sirs.

JESSICA JONES (season 1)  While I’m not a Marvel fangirl, I really do enjoy comic book movies and all of the fanfare involved in a superhero story. That said, I don’t usually educate myself on the backstories of the characters beyond the film at hand... but Jessica Jones left me needing that information. I just wanted more of all of it. From the very first episode Jessica Jones (the show) establishes the sinisterly high stakes of her world, and continues to build on the trauma of Kilgrave’s sheer existence throughout. Krysten Ritter is fantastic (as always) — fierce, loyal and determined, she grounds this comic book character in a reality we can all understand and makes a fan out of even the typically apathetic viewer.

UNREAL (season 1) UnREAL was one of the great surprises this year. It is crazy and dark and actually insane, but also so well-written and acted with a plot moves a million miles a minute and fully-formed, complex female characters. The scheming scene that unfolds behind the cameras of reality dating shows is both intriguing and delightful, but the show belongs to Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer who inhabit the troubled and slightly unhinged Rachel and manipulative Quinn, respectively, and explore sabotage and destruction — both self-inflicted and on those around them.    

CATASTROPHE (season 1) There was one problem with this show, and it’s that there were only six episodes. Damn you, Bri’ish telly. Rob Delaney of Twitter fame stars with Sharon Horgan in a conventional story of boy-meets-girl, boy-and-girl-bone, girl-gets-pregnant, everyone-responds-like-an-adult, boy-and-girl-hang-out-and-realize-they’re-awesome-together, everyone-is-smart-and-funny-and-honest-and-great… ok, so maybe it’s not so conventional.

PARKS AND RECREATION (season 7)   Parks & Rec was the last comedy standing of NBC’s flawless Thursday night lineup, and I’ll miss it dearly. Saying goodbye to this show was really hard, especially when every episode of the farewell run was great. Season seven picked up right where season six left off — three years in the future. Our favorite characters may not have been working their same old government jobs, and some of them were even at odds with one another, but the flash-forward made for some really great, unexpected moments that reminded us of why we love hanging out in Pawnee. Ron and Leslie’s fight and subsequent make up gave us one of the best episodes of the season (“Leslie and Ron”), and the entire thirteen-episode run made me emote in ways that only Parks could ever pull off. In a year of many endings and finales (Mad Men and Parenthood, to name a few others), Parks stood out as a darling little comedy that never compromised its optimistic voice, right until the very end.

TRANSPARENT (season 2) Season one of Transparent spent most of its time on Maura’s coming out and the varied reactions of the family — though accurate of an instinctual reaction, the Pfeffermans were difficult to sympathize with and could often be very irritating. Season two broadens its focus and spends time with all of the family members, ultimately creating a beautiful expression of familial love and acceptance that hints at the notion that history always repeats itself. The second season elevates the compassion we feel for everyone by injecting the uneasiness of romantic failures with a little bit of hope. Ten episodes fly by and when it’s done, you know you’ve just experienced something unlike anything else.

[radreviews]

Best of 2015: Film

This post doesn’t really need an introduction so I’ll just take this time to give a HUGE SHOUTOUT to MoviePass, which singlehandedly allowed us to watch most of these films in theaters this year. 

We decided early on in the brainstorming process that ordering our picks from favorite to least favorite would be near impossible, or at least completely arbitrary. Please keep that in mind as you’re reading. The only rule we placed on the category was that the movie had to have been released in the 2015 calendar year. 

Without further ado, here are the best films of 2015 according to Proma, Aditya, Arjun, and me. 

PROMA

THE NIGHT BEFORE What a joyous Yuletide caper, not to mention the Great Gatsby adaptation we all didn’t know we wanted and also intensely deserved. Shoutout to the guys at the Regal in Union Square who may or may not have been the actual actors from the movie.

ANT-MAN This movie was in many ways my fantasy, minus the insects. Paul Rudd, snark, superhero shenanigans, even Evangeline Lilly referencing a plane crash and a post-credits cameo by bae Captain America himself.

INSIDE OUT Made me feel all the feels and cry all the tears.

EX MACHINA I am buying whatever Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac are selling. Even Domnhall Gleeson, the World’s Most Unlikely Leading Man. 

JURASSIC WORLD A tension-filled action thriller from start to finish. I’m told it lacked the emotional gravitas of the earlier films, but more glaringly it lacked the Jeff Goldblum. All I know is that I went for a dinosaur adventure and on that front, at least, it delivered.

MAGIC MIKE XXL  This is how you movie.

THE DUFF  TBT to the time I started to watch While We’re Young on the plane and got so bummed out within the first two minutes that I switched over to this. The world needs more Mae Whitman and she is the perfect lead for this movie’s sense of humor. It got me into the Robbie Amell fandom, even though I quickly learned from some Instagram stalking that he has a girlfriend. But like, still.

THE MARTIAN  SPACE IS THE COOLEST, even when you’re trapped there, or at least if you’re Matt Damon. A book-meant-for-film, a missed opportunity to cast Irrfan Khan in yet another thing, a forced but enjoyable cameo from Donald Glover, and just so much S P A C E. Not enough Sebastian Stan, though.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS I have my qualms about the writing, but I do not doubt that this all fits into a big picture. What matters about The Force Awakens was that it completely awakened my love for this story. It introduced new characters and made me care about them (POE DOE), it had WOMEN — and amazing women, at that —and even an adorable droid who I will love forever (BB-8 more like bae-bae-8). I am along for this ride forever.

THE GIFT  Terrifying? Absolutely, but riveting to the last second. I can’t tell you why I subjected myself to it and I never would again, but hot damn that Joel Edgarton (s/o to Revenge of the Sith) can make a movie. The trailers didn’t do it justice, but in retrospect I don’t know how they could. Major props to Jason Bateman for stepping out of his straight-guy-in-a-comedy role (which he did start to do to an extent in Bad Words) and honestly, he and Edgarton deserve nominations for this.

ADITYA

TIMBUKTU Timbuktu is a gorgeous, unsettling depiction of life in the Malian capital after it has been taken by Islamist forces. The film depicts the day-to-day life of the townspeople. We meet a placid cattleman who is the “main” character, but equal weight is given to a number of different story threads. While everything is tranquil, something undeniably menacing hovers just beyond the frame. Rather than the relentlessly violent depiction of Jihad that is all too common on the news, Timbuktu paints a more painful portrait of smaller injustices — a ban on music, forcing pants to be rolled up, wearing gloves when handling fish, etc. Violence is rare, but earned (including a lakeside confrontation in one of the most beautiful long take shots I’ve ever seen), and the film lingered in my thoughts for days.

SPY I laughed so hard while watching Spy that I’ve skipped my ab workout for six months (and counting). The film boasts the most inventive, cutting insults available while Veep hibernates, perfectly delivered by Melissa McCarthy and an icy Rose Byrne. Jude Law and Jason Statham are infectiously enthusiastic about their opportunity to be silly. Paul Feig/Melissa McCarthy have reached David O. Russell/Jennifer Lawrence territory — they make each other shine and I’m looking forward to the next outing.

THE GIFT Joel Edgerton wrote, starred, and generously directed this gripping, overlooked thriller. My allegiances shifted at least three times, thanks to Jason Bateman’s smarmy charm and Edgerton’s pity-inducing weirdness. This was clever and small-scale, suspenseful enough to keep your heartbeat up, and just fun. A standout example of this genre.

SICARIO This movie was beautiful to look at, but excruciating to sit through (in a good way). It was almost unbearably tense. The passage involving the extraction of a major cartel leader from just south of the border was my favorite section of filmmaking this year. Every street corner, every car, every face carried with it the potential of danger. And Benicio Del Toro’s performance is expert. Wearily menacing and deceptively watchful, he invests every action — dragging a water container, folding himself into a chair — with power.

BEST OF ENEMIES I really hope people see this little gem of a documentary. In 1968, Gore Vidal and William Buckley participated in a series of nationally televised debates during the Democrat and Republican conventions. The personal and ideological animosity between the men led to riveting TV. Nothing was off limits — barbs about intelligence, sexual orientation, family members, everything permeated into the hostile fights. Each men spoke off the cuff, but with the fervor of a Bartlett administration staffer. Yet the two men managed to provide viewers with a meaningful choice between two platforms. Watch this and then catch one of today’s debates.

MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E I saw this movie twice in two consecutive days. Nothing too complicated — I just have an affinity for watching stylish people be stylish. Although Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill are little better than mannequins when it comes to dramatic scenes, they’re quite good at airy banter. Alicia Vikander’s drunk dance to “Cry to Me” was, to me, her “I AM A STAR” coming out party. The cars were beautiful, the soundtrack was terrific, and the environments were appropriately exotic. I’m there every single time these elements are assembled properly. (Oh, what’s that Sam Mendes? Why aren’t you on this list? Because I’m tired of your self serious shit. Give me zaniness or give me Bourne).

SPOTLIGHT I admired Spotlight for its restraint — it managed to avoid grotesque reenactments, leering priests, even long speeches about justice. The movie never belittled the importance of faith, which made the trauma all the more visceral for victims. The heroism on display is subtle. The victories are humble. But the montage towards the end, with whirring printing presses and delivery trucks trundling around in the morning light, is rousing and surprisingly emotional.

STEVE JOBS In the future, for accuracy’s sake, studios should prefix Sorkin movies Tyler Perry-style. The writer is the most dominant creative force in any project he is involved with. And for good reason. The movie wisely forgoes 100% accuracy, choosing instead to paint a picture of the mind and spirit of one of the most important figures in recent history. The choice to illustrate the sweep of a full life in three long scenes is exciting. Each line reveals something about the character by whom it is delivered, but never feels like exposition. Steve Jobs is similar to The Social Network — a smart, jargon-heavy movie that doesn’t care if you can keep up. I left the theater giddy, reeling, and wishing that I could speak half as well as any of the the characters I just watched.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS My bar for a quality Star Wars movie was so low that it would have hit Yoda in the chest, but I’m happy to say that Episode 7 was surprisingly enjoyable. Han Solo is still the coolest guy to ever exist, but the new characters introduced have me excited for future installments. It’s great to have the Millenium Falcon back in my life.

CREED My five Google searches while walking out of Creed:

michael b jordan creed workout

boxing gym Hell’s Kitchen

does boxing hurt

boxing video game xbox

Creed soundtrack

Creed was a fucking MOVIE. It was spectacular. It was epic. It was a brilliant reward for people who have followed Rocky Balboa for the entirety of their lives. It was the perfect entry point for new fans to rally around. It had an abundance of chill scenes, including an incredible shot of young Adonis mimicking a large projection of his father Apollo. The camera woozily circling the ring in the climactic fight was beautiful. Creed’s jog through the streets of Philly, with the trumpets blaring and the locals egging him on, was my favorite scene in 2015. These characters don’t fade away when the credits start rolling. The ancient woman next to me was so invested that she was shadowboxing along with the hero. The entire theater stood up and cheered when Rocky staggered up his famous steps. I’m looking forward to a se-se-sequel coming in 20 years and my kids wondering why I’m so excited about dragging them to the theater to see some random old boxer.

GOING CLEAR This film is a thorough investigation into the enigma that is Scientology. Why do so many celebrities fall prey? Why is it so hard to leave? What the fuck is a thetan?  Going Clear avoids sensationalism, choosing instead to traffic in information. The material is presented so matter-of-factly that you don’t immediately realize how batshit-insane some of the revelations are. The interviews with former members are incredible, and the footage of Scientology gatherings are appropriately creepy.

WHILE WE’RE YOUNG A funny, clever, quietly poignant film. I watched this movie as my final year of college was winding down and I was plagued by preemptive nostalgia for my youth. The older couple, played by Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts, is great. Stiller’s character yearns for respect and recognition, and is baffled when it seems like his time has come and gone. The younger couple, played by Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried, is hilarious, entitled, lazy, likable — a pretty great depiction of run of the mill Millennials.

THE BIG SHORT The Big Short is in some ways the opposite of Spotlight. It isn’t content to prosecute with facts alone, instead arming itself with dazzlingly inventive techniques to batter the audience into understanding how mad they should be. Like Selena Gomez conversationally explaining the Russian nesting doll ridiculousness of a synthetic CDO, for example, or Ryan Gosling serving as both character and chorus as the tragedy unfolds. And make no mistake - despite the pedigree of McKay and Carell, the goofy hairpieces, and the hilariously profane script, The Big Short is a tragedy. Even rooting for the “heroes” means rooting for the destruction of the American economy itself. I laughed a lot, but I left ready to grab a torch and head to the local Chase branch. Between Christian Bale’s award-worthy work, a smart script, and a story that never stops being unbelievable, this is the most entertaining way to learn about the fraud (FRAUD) that brought the financial sector crashing down. A great, great film. 

ARJUN

SPY When I went to see this movie, I was a little wary; I could easily see this being another typecast Melissa McCarthy movie that works really well for the jokes but I was a little tired of. Holy crap was I wrong. I laughed almost throughout, from the big set-ups to the little things sneaked in here and there. It only came out this year, but I’ve already seen Spy three times; two of those times were in theaters.

EX MACHINA Ex Machina is the really gripping sci-fi movie I’ve been waiting for seemingly for years. I’ve become a huge fan of Oscar Isaac’s, and this movie is probably the biggest reason why. There isn’t anything that feels overtly flashy, and the creepy moments really got to me, even when I knew what was coming. Just great storytelling and acting to the bone.

SICARIO SO SO SO SO TENSE. There was no moment during Sicario in which I felt like I was going to be okay (let alone the characters…). The cinematography is fantastic, and especially with the aerial shots does a great job of painting the bleak, terrifying environments we are being immersed in.  It truly feels like you are walking in Hell on Earth. Benicio Del Toro is absolutely fantastic as a character whose intentions you can never quite figure out until the end. Sure, that’s basically what he’s been doing for the better part of at least two decades, but he knocks it out of the park again.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS The best way I can explain how good The Force Awakens was is to say that my dad — an immigrant from India who had never seen any of the Star Wars movies until this week — was clapping and whooping with me seemingly every five minutes.  Lots of fun, with wonderful characters that you fall in love with (whether it’s for the first time or all over again).

CREED A crowd-pleaser through and through, and unashamedly so. The fact that it pulls it off in a way that makes you actually interested in the characters and doesn’t feel particularly hokey or corny is what is most impressive about Creed.  Oh, and of course, Michael B. Jordan.

SPOTLIGHT Great acting, great structuring, great direction.  What more can a viewer ask for? I don’t even know who I believe deserves nominations for what, since everything about this movie feels like a top to bottom ensemble effort. Maybe I’m alone in this, but I was able to appreciate that Spotlight purely captured the journalistic side of taking on the disgusting acts and cover-ups that were taking place within the Catholic church — no gratuitous molestation or rape scenes.  That the film nonetheless captures the tragedies forced upon the victims’ lives makes it nothing short of brilliant.

THE BIG SHORT Major kudos to Adam McKay for giving this movie the right dose of hilarious cocksureness to go with the devastating and infuriating reality that was the housing market crash. My mind didn’t know when to laugh or when to be angry, and more often than not was doing both. Steve Carrell and Christian Bale deserve award consideration for Lead and Supporting Actor, respectively.

THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT Pretty much anyone who took AP Psychology in high school knows Dr. Philip Zimbardo's infamous Prison Experiment. We've heard about how it spiraled completely out of control, with the students who played prison guards abusing those who played prisoners, and that's supposed to remind us of the deep problems that come with unfettered power. The film The Stanford Prison Experiment takes what has been taught as a mistake and reminds us that it's more than that — it's looking right in the face of evil. Dark, tense, and disturbing, The Stanford Prison Experiment is a haunting experience, and shows how even those who think they are administering a controlled environment can become a part of a downward spiral without ever realizing it.

RADHIKA

SPOTLIGHT It surprises me that this is my favorite movie of the year, but that’s exactly what it is. From start to finish, it’s an ode to hard work and determination: in 2001, the Spotlight Team at The Boston Globe unearthed a pattern of systemic molestation in the Catholic Church. The film takes its time revealing just how far and wide the abuse is spread but it’s so engaging the entire way through and features an amazing ensemble that never feels too showy. In fact, nothing about this movie is showy. The plot actually feels rooted in the research instead of simply being based on the idea of it — we see the hours spent reading priest logs in a dingy basement, the meetings with reluctant victims, repeated visits to lawyers, and encounters with Cardinal Law. We don’t waste time with the irrelevant details of the reporters’ personal lives, there is no huge a-ha moment, and there is only one fiery Oscar-bait monologue in the entire film. It’s a slow burn, but man does it burn.

ROOM It’s probably for the best that I saw this alone because I wept ugly neck tears. Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay are the real deal; the film’s stars express so much emotion through facial expressions and subtle movements, and brought me to tears often by saying nothing. It begins as the story of a mother and child held captive in a small room, which sounds heartbreaking enough. But it’s what comes after that really starts the waterworks. We experience the world outside through the boy’s eyes as he sees it for the first time, all the while wondering how life can go on after what they’ve been through.   

CREED  I haven’t seen any of the Rocky movies. I don’t care about boxing, and I have never understood why people go crazy over the Mayweather vs. whoever fights every year. But I really loved Creed. Maybe it’s Michael B. Jordan’s performance, maybe it’s Ryan Coogler’s meticulous filmmaking, maybe it’s the underdog story of redemption and self-realization (let’s be real, it’s definitely Michael B. Jordan…’s body), but I was IN IT from start to finish. The iconic music, a romance of equals, Donnie’s (MBJ) determination to achieve perfection, multi-faceted characters, impeccably choreographed direction… this movie has it all. But Rads, you ask, do you now understand the point of boxing? Nope! But for two and a half hours, I really cared about finding out.

INSIDE OUT I’ve always been impressed by animated films that appeal to and evoke emotions from both kids and adults — the ability to wrap a high-brow concept in shiny colors is incredibly hard to do. Pixar movies are notoriously good at this, but Inside Out takes the genre to another level of sophistication. A great cast of voice actors bring life to this story about the emotions in our head and teaches us a great lesson about balance. Just be warned of this fact: It is impossible to watch without crying.

MAGIC MIKE XXL   Magic Mike XXL knows exactly what it is. And what it is is a masterpiece of pure crowd-pleasing, fan-servicing dance numbers balanced with surprisingly heartfelt and comedic moments. It won’t be mentioned on most best-of-2015 lists, but I legitimately can’t remember ever having a better experience in a theater. Those glistening abs, the strip-teases, the touching musical moments, the angsty fights between our favorite professional male dancers…I have said this before, but I truly believe that I had at least 17 different sexual awakenings during this film. Moreover, this viewing truly exemplified the power of the theater — I am forever bonded with my fellow theater-goers, who were all engaged, squealing, and borderline-salivating at the display of beautiful shirtless men on-screen along with me. We all experienced this beautiful thing together, and it was glorious.

SICARIO Sicario is on this list primarily for that scene on the highway where the ruthless drug cartel presents itself on the lawless border, with guns blazing and bullets whizzing. There is no time for thinking — just reacting (or hiding) — and it’s the scene that sets the stage for the tempo and plot movement that carries the film forward. Emily Blunt makes a huge impact in a role that functions as a window for the audience — through her eyes we see the way this business is conducted and enemies are taken down, and she is our believable moral compass. Sicario is simultaneously exhilarating and chilling right until the very end.

THE NIGHT BEFORE The story has definitely been done before: three bros hangin’ out, holding onto the last vestiges of their youth before it flutters away and adulthood takes hold. But this movie isn’t great because of a unique premise; it’s great because I laughed so hard it hurt. Where the writers could have gone for cheap laughs, they dig deeper and hit another gear of more sophisticated comedy. Just like the characters in the film are graduating from their old ways, it feels like maybe the bro-comedy-genre is also leaving the crude misogyny behind for smarter, more inclusive humor. Maybe.

EX MACHINA Somehow, this movie flew under the radar this year but it’s one of the films that I kept thinking about long after I left the theater. Films like this — that introduce artificial intelligence and present it as something viable in our very near future — are always sort of eerie. And thanks to some amazing performances from Oscar Isaac (the man who can do it all), Alicia Vikander (the year’s breakout actress) and Domhnall Gleason (Bill Weasley), Ex Machina took its premise and turned up the volume on every twist.

THE GIFT This movie was not marketed as horror, but I think I had nightmares? It takes the idea of schoolyard bullying and turns it into something that haunts the culprit years in the future. The Gift doesn’t shy away from opening up locked doors and examining everyone’s skeletons, and the journey made me jump at every turn.

THE END OF THE TOUR Surprisingly unsung this awards season is Jason Segel’s turn as the late David Foster Wallace in The End of the Tour. The film exudes a sort of untouchable wisdom by and large influenced by the actual tape recorded interviews between the real Wallace and David Lipsky. Segel presents Wallace as both someone to look up to and someone you want to hug.

[radreviews]

Every year, right around Halloween, I remember that there's something else I should be celebrating. The problem is that I can never remember which holiday it is... Hindu holidays, with all of the astronomical observations and various ever-changing calendars, shift the date of every holiday each year, thus confusing ALL OF US.

Proma and I tapped into that confusion and created our first video! So, without further ado, PromRad Productions Presents: Diwali

[radreviews]

My heart aches for how many times you and your friend missed Mindy Kaling. I'm devastated for you guys. I'm sure one day, the stars will finally align, and your missed connections will just be a distant memory <3. Maybe the missed connections are just little hints of what's best to come. Much love, a fellow MK fan :)

THANK YOU! I am glad you feel our pain…and I’m happy to report that it is officially a distant memory! We officially met her on Oct. 16th and it was as glorious as we had imagined. :)