Skip to content
The Spool

The Spool

Unraveling Pop Culture One Thread at a Time
Main navigation
  • Podcasts
    • More of a Comment Really
    • Hall of Faces
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Patreon
  • News
    • Awards
  • About
  • Contact

PSH I Love You: Hoffman blinks in and out of “Next Stop Wonderland”

PSH I Love You Next Stop Wonderland
T T Read More

Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a selfish ex in this Hope Davis-led indie romance.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

“Ginny & Georgia” is the grift that keeps on giving

Ginny & Georgia (Netflix)
T T Read More

Netflix’s latest is a charming, if tonally confused, young adult series about a mother-daughter duo starting over.

Sydney Urbanek Posted on February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” can’t build a strong case for itself

United States vs. Billie Holiday
T T Read More

Andra Day shines in Lee Daniels’ otherwise-messy biopic about the Black cultural icon, squandering some fine potential.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on February 21, 2021February 21, 2021

“Tell Me Your Secrets” leaves its silliness all on the surface

Tell Me Your Secrets
T T Read More

Amazon Prime’s latest series tries for gritty crime thriller, but ends up in unintentional camp territory.

Marshall Estes Posted on February 21, 2021February 21, 2021

“Pelé” falls just short of making a goal

Pelé
T T Read More

Netflix’s documentary about the soccer superstar is serviceable, but says nothing you haven’t heard before.

Sarah Gorr Posted on February 18, 2021February 13, 2021

“Tribes of Europa” is tropey but tantalizing Euro sci-fi

Tribes of Europa (Netflix)
T T Read More

Philip Koch’s post-apocalyptic series gives us teens, tropes, and teases galore, finding glimmers of potential even as it hews creakily to formula.

Clint Worthington Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021

Sundance 2021: Patti Harrison is delightful in “Together Together”

Sundance Together Together
T T Read More

Ed Helms and Patti Harrison charm in Nikole Beckwith’s refreshing, pleasurable dramedy.

Reyzando Nawara Posted on February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

“It’s a Sin” tells the story of the UK’s AIDS crisis through 4 connected lives

It's a Sin
T T Read More

Russell T. Davies’ miniseries that almost wasn’t is a harrowing and effective look at the joy and pain of coming of age in 1980s London.

Theo Estes Posted on February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

Do you smellllllll what “Young Rock” is cooking? Gentle lessons!

Young Rock
T T Read More

Despite the magnetism of its star/subject, Young Rock ends up little more than a sweet lesson of the week half hour.

Tim Stevens Posted on February 16, 2021February 16, 2021

“The Map of Tiny Perfect Things” can’t find its way around

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
T T Read More

Amazon’s “Groundhog Day” for teens tries its best, but goes too heavy on metaphors instead of plot.

Sean Price Posted on February 15, 2021February 15, 2021

“Behind Her Eyes” promises but doesn’t deliver

Behind Her Eyes
T T Read More

Netflix’s adaptation of the bestselling psychological thriller starts out on steady footing, but quickly loses its way.

Beau North Posted on February 15, 2021February 15, 2021

“Nothing But Trouble”—yes, “Nothing But Trouble”—turns 30

Nothing But Trouble
T T Read More

Is it possible to find something good about Dan Aykroyd’s legendary horror/comedy bomb?

Peter Sobczynski Posted on February 15, 2021February 15, 2021

Emile Mosseri on capturing amorphous time in his score for “Minari”

Emile Mosseri Minari
T T Read More

The composer discusses the film’s long road to release, and the airiness of his score to Lee Isaac Chung’s mesmerizing drama.

Clint Worthington Posted on February 15, 2021February 15, 2021

P.S.H. I Love You: “Love Liza” is an agonizing cry from the heart

Love Liza
T T Read More

Philip Seymour Hoffman’s first lead role is a one-man show of raw human emotion.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on February 15, 2021February 16, 2021

Exploring the ever-diminishing returns of the “Crow” franchise

The Crow
T T Read More

While the first movie in the series was stylish & unexpectedly moving, it was tainted by cheap, empty sequels that forgot what made it special.

Gena Radcliffe Posted on February 14, 2021February 13, 2021

“The Luminaries” is shiny but isn’t gold

The Luminaries
T T Read More

Starz’s sweeping historical drama is a treat for the eyes, but doesn’t have much going on beyond that.

Megan Sunday Posted on February 13, 2021February 13, 2021

“Southland Tales: The Cannes Cut”: still bizarre, still flawed, still shining

Southland Tales
T T Read More

Watching the first cut of Richard Kelly’s ultra-ambitious Donnie Darko follow-up is like riding a wave of mutilation.

Justin Harrison Posted on February 13, 2021February 8, 2021

“Bliss” doesn’t have much to offer as a sci-fi Kaufman wannabe

Bliss
T T Read More

Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek are certainly giving it their all in this frantic and sloppy simulation from Amazon Studios.

Jon Negroni Posted on February 13, 2021February 13, 2021

Posts navigation

Previous 1 2 3 4 … 108 Next
© 2021 The Spool. Podcast logo by Josh Hollis. Made with love by Pixelgrade
Footer navigation
  • About
  • Contact
Secondary navigation
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Mail
  • Feed
  • Patreon
  • Search

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.