Reviews — Blue Fairy Film Blog

Blue Fairy Film Blog is a collection of film, television, podcast, and streaming content reviews, essays, and lists. Come here to read about the world of media from a queer, feminist, millennial perspective.

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Sep 2

Sep 2 Austenland

Spencer Semonson

This was an interesting film in terms of the chemistry between Russell and her leading men. Right after getting to the manor she meets and falls for a servant of the resort (McKenzie) who she messes around with while she is supposed to be engaged in other activities, like knitting and horseback riding. Halfway through the film I was unimpressed by this quick plot point, since it seemed a much better idea for them to slowly fall in love, build tension, and make the romance that much more intriguing.

The Spectacular Now

Aug 29

Aug 29 The Spectacular Now

Spencer Semonson

Miles Teller has blown up lately, starring in films like the new "Fantastic Four," and "Divergent" film series. The main reason he keeps getting roles is that he can play the offensive, assured smart ass pretty well.

Aug 27

Aug 27 Welcome to Me

Spencer Semonson

Though she seems to be a shut-in she has a childhood friend (played by Linda Cardellini) who is always on her side and follows her on her madcap adventures. Alice Klieg (Wiig) is a really interesting character who is dominated most by anxiety, shame, and regret, and we as the audience want to know how she ended up where she has.

Aug 19

Aug 19 The Cobbler

Spencer Semonson

Director Thomas McCarthy has made some honorable mentions in the past, including "The Station Agent," and "Win Win." That prowess actually shows in the look and feel of the film. It's shot well, the score is great, the mechanics of the premise rely on Jewish folklore and mythology.

Aug 17

Aug 17 Fed Up

Spencer Semonson

A month or so ago I personally went off sugar for ten days, a challenge that the film advocates for in the end credits. Almost everything that I tried to eat had some kind of sugar, including ketchup, salad dressing, and bread.

What We Do in the Shadows

Aug 12

Aug 12 What We Do in the Shadows

Spencer Semonson

The film follows four vampire roommates in Wellington, NZ who fight about everything from dirty dishes to orgies of bloodlust. Each character has a rich backstory moored in both the traditional ideals of vampirism in the Western canon, and strange idiosyncrasies that make them lovable and ridiculous

Aug 10

Aug 10 Rosewater

Spencer Semonson

Though a lot of this film is handled tactfully, and the information is factually correct, it's a very amateurish effort. Between the strange montages, the scenes of his sister reflected in storefront windows, and the weird choices in music.

Aug 7

Aug 7 The DUFF

Spencer Semonson

The film advocates for women to all get along, the class structure of high school being demolished, and everyone feeling beautiful about themselves. On the flip side it features unrealistic dialogue, unrelatable characters that have strange motives, and it's really not all that funny.

Free the Nipple

Aug 4

Aug 4 Free the Nipple

Spencer Semonson

In Esco's defense the cause she is advocating for is worth the buzz surrounding this film. Women should have just as much freedom to go topless as men, whose bare nipples can be exposed in all 50 states, without prosecution

Aug 2

Aug 2 Paper Towns

Spencer Semonson

It's not that the book is bad, but it often gets caught up in trying to be deeper than it need be. Though the book is unlike a lot of other fairly known teenage comedies, everything feels inauthentic, from the trashy dialogue to the meandering plot.

Jul 29

Jul 29 Trainwreck

Spencer Semonson

Everything that I really liked in the trailer was not in the movie. When I re-watched it, it became apparent that these scenes built their relationship, and showed a deeper connection between the main characters

While We're Young

Jul 27

Jul 27 While We're Young

Spencer Semonson

Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts portray a married couple who work in the field of documentary film. While Stiller has been working on the same, overworked film for ten years, Watts is trying to work through her own insecurities and disdain for a provincial life

Jul 25

Jul 25 Big Eyes

Spencer Semonson

While the subject of the film is upsetting, it's not stirring enough to warrant any nominations. It's a run of the mill biopic dealing with an interesting if tepid subject. Second, it's a strange kind of film, for various reasons. It makes sense for Burton to gravitate towards this film, as it deals in curiously odd looking paintings

Jul 24

Jul 24 Tig

Spencer Semonson

In 2012, at the Largo Theater, Tig Notaro gave an impressively legendary set where she talked about her recent battle with an intestinal infection, breast cancer, a breakup, and the death of her mother, all at the urging of Ira Glass.

Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer

Jul 21

Jul 21 Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer

Spencer Semonson

We get to see the response from pop icon Madonna, who supported and gave awareness to their plight while they were in prison. We learn about the politics and corruption of Putin, who the band strongly opposes for many reasons.

Adult Beginners

Jul 1

Jul 1 Adult Beginners

Spencer Semonson

The boy who never grew up is a common trope, also explored in "Elizabethtown" and probably every indie film of the past ten years. Rose Byrne is the driving force for this film, as she balances between a soft sweetness and near internal combustion, in her performance as a woman who takes care of everyone.

Jun 26

Jun 26 Cake

Spencer Semonson

What people remember most about this film was that Jennifer Aniston only wore a little, if no, makeup throughout the shooting of this film. As huge as this is (sense the sarcasm?) what many others remember is everyone saying that Aniston was a contender for a Best Actress nomination at the 2015 Academy Awards.

May 23

May 23 Citizenfour

Spencer Semonson

For his heroism, Snowden has been ridiculed, hunted, and slandered by everyone from the American public to the President of the United States. However you feel about Snowden, what he did was heroic

May 22

May 22 Fill the Void

Spencer Semonson

The biggest themes in most Jewish stories, seems to be the lack of parity between the secular and Orthodox. Burshtein has noted that there aren't many films about the positives of her community, and the closeness that faith affords.