Reviews (Page 141)

Unraveling pop-culture one thread at a time

The Spool is an irreverent, informative source for film and television coverage, focused on diverse, thoughtful opinions that seek out a greater understanding of the media we love.

Review: “Pose” Season 2 Offers Hope as AIDS and Madonna Dominate The Cultural Discussion

The FX series returns for a second season as bright and entertaining as ever. Now with more Billy Porter!

Plus One Review: An Indie Millennial “When Harry Met Sally”

Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine break long-standing rom-com modes in this refreshing, personable love story.

“Aggretsuko” Screams Its Way Through Another Season of Delicious Feminist Rage

The second season of Netflix's kawaii-metal workplace anime elevates its adorable gimmick with a newfound maturity.

Features

“Bound” Quietly Remains the Wachowskis’ Best Film

The Wachowskis' 1996 directorial debut feels like a formative text for the filmmakers, a slinky crime caper that's also unabashedly queer.

Ghost Fleet Review: Haunted By Modern Maritime Slavery

This indie doc about modern slave labor in the East Asian fishing industry is well-intentioned but pulls its punches when they're most needed.

Features

“Assassins” Was the Wachowskis’ First Big Break, For Better or Worse

Before they made their directorial debut, Lana and Lilly Wachowski wrote the Stallone-Banderas actioner Assassins, a far cry from their future work.

The Fall of the American Empire Review: Toothless Capitalist Satire

Denys Arcand's droll French caper comedy leans a little too hard on cliche and creaky anti-capitalist screeds.

I Am Mother Review: A Robot’s Work is Never Done

This slow-burn dystopian sci-fi thriller questions the motives & limits of maternal love.

Meryl Alone Can’t Save the Second Season of “Big Little Lies”

The cultural phenomenon returns, minus its star director, with a little more Streep in its step.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 Review: Hardly Fetching

The sequel to the popular 2016 film has its characters learning new tricks, but its overabundance of plot and characters neuter its message.

With “Dark Phoenix”, The X-Men Series Eulogizes Itself

The pioneering superhero franchise gets its last hurrah in the form of a messy, somber swan song.

“Halston” Captures American History Through a Designer’s Rise and Fall

America's first celebrity fashion designer gets the documentary treatment in an insightful treatment that still occasionally gets in its own way.

Late Night Review: A Sparkling Comedy With a Lot On Its Mind

Mindy Kaling’s screenwriting debut offers a shaggy but sincere look at the male-dominated world of talk shows. NOW STREAMING: Powered by JustWatch If Lilly Singh’s upcoming late-night NBC talk show finds its legs, it’ll be the late 2040s by the time we see what it looks like for a woman to become a full-on late-night ... Late Night Review: A Sparkling Comedy With a Lot On Its Mind

Features

The Redemption of “Edge of Tomorrow”

Five years after its box office failure, a look back at what went wrong for Cruise's ambitious sci-fi action film and how the narrative has changed.

Pavarotti Review: Ron Howard Doc Sings the Tenor’s Praises

Ron Howard returns to accessible but fluffy music docs with this hagiography of the iconic opera tenor.

Interviews

Steve De Jarnatt on the Long, Apocalyptic Road to “Miracle Mile”‘s Cult Success

Welcome back to More of a Comment, Really…, a weekly interview podcast hosted by Clint Worthington! Every episode will feature interviews with actors, filmmakers, producers, and more, giving you the skinny on the latest films and TV.NOW STREAMING: Powered by JustWatch In an age where most major films are spoiled months before they come out, and even trailers have their ... Steve De Jarnatt on the Long, Apocalyptic Road to “Miracle Mile”‘s Cult Success

When They See Us Review: Forcing Our Gaze On Injustice

Ava DuVernay tells the tale of the Central Park Five in a stirring but unsubtle miniseries.

Features

Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell” Remains a Bloody B-Movie Delight

Ten years after its release, Sam Raimi's return to Evil Dead-like horror remains a gory good time.

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Toy Story 4 Review: There’s Life In These Old Toys Yet

Shaft Review: We Can’t Dig All This Boomer Humor

Men in Black International Review: You’ll Pray for a Neuralyzer

Review: “Pose” Season 2 Offers Hope as AIDS and Madonna Dominate The Cultural Discussion

Plus One Review: An Indie Millennial “When Harry Met Sally”

“Aggretsuko” Screams Its Way Through Another Season of Delicious Feminist Rage

“Bound” Quietly Remains the Wachowskis’ Best Film

Ghost Fleet Review: Haunted By Modern Maritime Slavery

“Assassins” Was the Wachowskis’ First Big Break, For Better or Worse

The Fall of the American Empire Review: Toothless Capitalist Satire

I Am Mother Review: A Robot’s Work is Never Done

Meryl Alone Can’t Save the Second Season of “Big Little Lies”

The Secret Life of Pets 2 Review: Hardly Fetching

With “Dark Phoenix”, The X-Men Series Eulogizes Itself

“Halston” Captures American History Through a Designer’s Rise and Fall

Late Night Review: A Sparkling Comedy With a Lot On Its Mind

The Redemption of “Edge of Tomorrow”

Pavarotti Review: Ron Howard Doc Sings the Tenor’s Praises

Steve De Jarnatt on the Long, Apocalyptic Road to “Miracle Mile”‘s Cult Success

When They See Us Review: Forcing Our Gaze On Injustice

Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell” Remains a Bloody B-Movie Delight