Film/TV Archives - The Culture Mom

27Sep

Renée Zellweger Takes “Judy” Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Renée Zellweger and Finn Wittrock in JUDY Photo credit David Hindley Courtesy of LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions (1) copy

Photo credit: David Hindley Last week I went to a small screening of the new film "Judy" starring Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell, and Michael Gambon. I was very excited about this film, as both a film buff and fan of Judy Garland herself. Her career was fascinating, and the end of her life so tragic, as she died at a young 47 years old (younger than me!). The film focuses on Winter 1969 when Garland's career in America was floundering. She was unable to care for her two young children and put a roof over their Read More

08Dec

Review: “Mary Queen of Scots,” a Dynamic Dose of Gender Politics

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I was lucky to screen "Mary Queen of Scots," a film out in limited release now, last week right after returning from Israel. I was fearful I would fall asleep from a shot of jetlag that accompanied me back to America as the screening took place on an early Monday morning. I did not know much about Mary Stuart going into the screening, nor did I know much about her relationship with Queen Elizabeth. I was curious and quite excited to learn more about the supposed two rivals and real-life cousins, and I was also keen to watch two of the best actresses Read More

20Apr

Amy Schumer on Why She Considers “I Feel Pretty” a Feminist Film

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In the new movie, I Feel Pretty, Amy Schumer plays Renee, a woman like you and me who struggles with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy on a daily basis and one day, after experiencing a head injury, suddenly wakes up believing she's the most beautiful woman in the world. Armed with a newfound sense of confidence, her life changes overnight, until she comes to the realization that she is fine just the way she really is. I had the opportunity to recently join a group of other influencers in a discussion with Schumer about her new film, after having Read More

23Dec

Netflix: My Year in Review and Shows I am Thankful For

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Disclosure: As part of Netflix’s Stream Team, I get inside access to Netflix's programming and share my thoughts on their programming with my readers often. But as always, my thoughts are my own. Netflix just gets better and better. I've been a member since its humble start and am continuously impressed with its original and bold slate of programming, both original and acquired. It keeps my entire family occupied at various times of the day and night. My teenage daughter is obsessed with its offerings, many of which I used to watch at one point in Read More

19Dec

Reflecting on Meeting Some of the Cast and Crew from “The Greatest Showman,” a Musical Feast

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Disclosure: I attended a screening and press junket hosted by 20th Century Fox. I was not paid to write this post. It's so crazy that two weeks ago I knew very little about Phineas Taylor Barnum. I knew he started the circus I grew up with, but little more. Since seeing the upcoming Christmas motion picture "The Greatest Showman," I have thought little else but this man, his life, and the story that inspired this beautiful new movie, which is fortunately a musical but not just a musical. He was not ony a brilliant business man, but he was a family man Read More

26Oct

Your Next Binge Must Be FX’s “Better Things”

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Would my kids care if I died tomorrow? Would they eulogize me at my own funeral? I know that this sounds morbid, but the thought has crossed my mind more than once. Motherhood can be a thankless, grueling grind, and leave it to FX's "Better Things" for reminding me that I'm not alone in the most recent episode of the show called "Eulogy". In this episode, written by the show's co-creator, Louis K., Sam, a single mother of three played by my new shero, Pam Adlon, is watching TV with her girls after a long day at work. Her character is a very successful Read More

13Oct

Film Review: “Goodbye Christopher Robin” About the Inspiration for Winnie the Pooh

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The other night I had the opportunity to screen the new film Goodbye Christopher Robin at the Paris Theater in NYC, along with the director and several stars of the film. The film starts to roll out in theaters nationwide today. I felt very fortunate to be in the room with the creators of this special film, which was very reminiscent of Saving Mr. Banks, another recent tale about a famous figure in history that brought one of the most important stories into the world. In that case, it was about mogul Walt Disney who brought Mary Read More

19Sep

Your Next Netflix Binge MUST Be Fauda

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I'm very grateful to a good friend who suggested I watch Fauda, an Israeli TV show currently streaming on Netflix. I implore you to make this program your next binge. Every now and then, a show hits you, gets under your skin, and really rips you apart. But not very often, right? The last time it happened with me was probably with Six Feet Under or Breaking Bad, but I can't honestly remember anything hitting me as hard as Fauda. I think it's because I have very strong ties to the State of Israel. I've lived there and I'm a fervent Zionist. However, Read More

04Sep

“Home Again” Brings Back the Rom-Com Genre

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I grew up with Meg Ryan, Holly Hunter, Debra Winger, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn. These were the women I saw regularly on the screen. They were familiar and they represented something very important that you don't find on the screen often enough today....ordinary women with ordinary problems, much of what revolved around love and finding one's self. When Harry Met Sally, Broadcast News, Private Benjamin, Terms of Endearment, to name a few. It was the era of rom com's and these films had a deep impact on me. Whenever these women return to the screen, I Read More

19Aug

Netflix’s “Atypical” Will Help a Parent of a Child on the Spectrum Feel Less Alone

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Being atypical isn't easy. Trust me, I know from personal experience. Very personal experience, too personal to get too much into details here. So, when Netflix announced their new show Atypical, created by Robia Rashid (The Goldbergs, How I Met Your Mother) and Seth Gordon (also The Goldbergs, as well as the recent Baywatch movie), I was intrigued and eagerly awaited its arrival. As a mom with few outlets and connections to a world that is very personal and quite complicated, as well as incredibly lonely, I was eager to see how TV would portray a boy Read More