Posts by Danielle Houtkooper

The best thing about the Coen Brothers is their ability to mold whatever subject matter their presented into something that is certifiably stamped with their own, unique style. For most filmmakers, this generally pigeonholes them into specific genres or thematic tendencies that don’t always work (I’m looking at you, Wachowskis!) The Coen’s are like a […]

[rating=7.00] From the mind that brought us The Holiday, Li-Lo’s The Parent Trap, The Father of the Bride series, Private Benjamin, and Baby Boom comes another impossibly adorable film dedicated to the lives of affluent white people. Nancy Meyers has created a world in which lovely, almost magical events are not only possible, but commonplace. […]

The Emmy’s is sort of like that dweeby cousin you hated spending time with as a kid. You couldn’t talk to them about anything because they immediately run home and tell your aunt everything. You couldn’t play too hard because they were afraid of the sun and too much fun led to an anxiety attack. […]

There’s been a plethora of Steve Jobs biopics since his unfortunate death. The good news is Michael Fassbender has taken over the duty of portraying the man that the world almost forgot, and Danny Boyle is at the helm as director. The bad news is there’s another Steve Jobs bio-pic coming out. Aptly titled Steve […]

[rating=8.00] Beirut is one of those bands that have surpassed their genre and become a descriptor. Rather than relying on the basic knowledge of their particular brand of indie-world music, one can simply say, “It sounds like Beirut” and get the point across. That’s why when the first reaction to their latest genre defining album […]

[rating=6.00] FIDLAR is one of those bands that found a sound rooted in a time/place that was relevant to the rest of the world for just a fleeting moment, and made it work. In case you lost track of popular acronymed bands, FIDLAR stands for “Fuck It Dog, Life’s A Risk” indicative of the style […]

[rating=9.00] “eps1.9_zer0-day.avi“ It’s been an incredibly titillating and turbulent season for Mr. Robot, and holy shit was it worth the ride. In the beginning we had just one truth, Elliot has created us as an audience to deal with his everyday life. In just ten episodes, he’s taken us on a roller coaster that had no […]

[rating=7.00] “There Will Be Consequences” The first finale of The Brink finally had something the rest of the season was missing. Humor! It exists! This isn’t to say it made up for the rest of the season, at all. This final episode should have been the end of the story. However, instead we got a cliffhanger […]

[rating=9.00] “eps1.8_m1rr0r1ng.qt” This week’s Mr. Robot left me with one, and only thought: Ok, that’s not totally true. Really, after almost a whole season of trying to figure out what the fuck is going on, Robot dropped the truth on us like it was going out of style. Rather than hold up any pretense, they chose […]

In a world where found footage has unabashedly cornered the horror market, one cannot help but weep for the children who will never experience a uniquely terrifying experience. Opting for “true stories” and cheap thrills, as a society we’ve become tremendous cowards when it comes to allowing ourselves to openly fear. Who is thinking of […]

[rating=5.00] “Just a Little Crazy Talk” The penultimate episode of The Brink led us to a few things: one, quite possibly the end of humanity as we know it, and two another vast disappoint that, at this point, comes at absolutely no surprise. Rather than lament all the time and effort we’ve put into the […]

[rating=5.00] The Man from U.N.C.L.E. had the potential to be a lot of things. Crime noir, a period piece, even a solidly cheesy remake of the television show the film was based on. Instead, U.N.C.L.E. reached for all and lost itself in the fold. An early Bond throwback, and spy thriller, this Guy Ritchie directed […]

[rating=8.00] “eps1.7_wh1ter0se.m4v” After weeks of speculation, story building, and suspense, Robot finally gave us a clue into the mystery that is Elliot’s subconscious. This week’s episode was a reminder that everything you know to be true is probably wrong. Feeling vulnerable yet? Remember that time that Angela went ahead and allowed the Dark Army to hack […]

[rating=9.00] Mac DeMarco has most recently become indie rock’s golden boy – and deservedly so. The twenty five year old artist has put a lot of effort into becoming America’s favorite Canadian synthy dad-rock idol. That’s why when the self-proclaimed “jizz-jazz” artist announced his latest mini-LP Another One, the world looked around for witnesses, and […]

[rating=6.00] “Who’s Grover Cleveland?” Shit has finally hit the fan this week on The Brink, and with Raja dead there’s not much choice or wiggle room for the driving protagonists. As is the theme with much of HBO’s programming, the characters have been suffering from a severe inability to do anything right for themselves. After literally […]

[rating=8.00] “eps1.5_br4ve-trave1er.asf” Last week’s tragedy was tough to absorb. After seemingly getting a hold on his life, Elliot’s long time casual lover, friend, and now girlfriend Shayla was brutally murdered. A series of events that transpired solely based on Elliot’s actions. Where can he go from here? What will the loss, and guilt associated with that […]

It’s been on the tip of everyone’s tongues for years now, his name that is. Jon Stewart did this. Jon Stewart said that. Mostly positive, sometimes negative, always on point, after 16 years of working as the primary host of The Daily Show Jon Stewart will sign off for the final time this evening, August […]

[rating=6.00] “Sticky Wicket” This week’s Brink was basically a set-up for America’s general buffoonery when it comes to big decisions. Serving in the form of a huge blunder by the President (and or Walter depending on how you look at it), though beginning with Alex as he tries his best to save the world from inside […]

[rating=7.00] “eps1.5_br4ve-trave1er.asf” Robot was a little slower this week, mostly focusing on a single plot point that would ultimately lead to the biggest shocker of the season. Elliot’s put into a position he’s not sure he can get himself out of. Shayla has been kidnapped by Fernando’s people. The only way he’ll get Shayla to safety […]

[rating=6.00] “Tweet Tweet Tweet” The stakes are high this week on The Brink. With Walter not being able to keep up his part of the deal, the President takes executive action that will most definitely lead to a nuclear attack. And jokes, probably. Still dealing with the crazies that have taken them in as prisoners/guests, Zeke […]