ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Netflix

teenFish#10: Picturing Loss in POLAROID

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Welcome to teenFish, a podcast series that lets teenagers speak about media that matters to them in their own voice. Hosted by Daniel Collins (Infinity Warm-Up), teenFish airs every month and invites local youth to engage the truth and lies of the shows and films that excite them.

When high school loner Bird Phillips (Kathryn Prescott) discovers a vintage Polaroid camera, she remains unaware of the dark power at her fingertips. When she realizes that the old camera contains the power to take the life of whoever has their picture taken with it, she must decide whether to use the camera’s power or dispose of the cursed gadget. This month, Daniel and Jacob get together to talk about losing a loved one, meaningful mementos and horror cliches.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), or Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Space Force: Netflix Spoofs Space Workspace

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If Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott had cursed more and been in charge of the new presidential directives to put boots in space, The Office would be Space Force. Here, Carrell is General Mark R. Naird, the Chief of Space Operations. He’s a hardworking soldier who has always played fair, hoping to one day direct the operations of the Air Force but now stuck with the unenviable role of putting Americans in space.

Netflix’s Space Force dusts off the workplace jokes but sends them into space so that the levels of humor are out of this world (groan). John Malkovich is Dr. Adrian Mallory, the scientist who actually knows how space efforts should work and who wrestles with his issues of inadequacy (thanks to the lack of respect he gets from Naird and others). Two other hapless souls, Ben Schwartz plays F. Tony Scarapiducci the poor soul in charge of social media for Space Force and Tawny Newsome plays Naird’s driver/helicopter pilot Angela Ali. Throw in some political conflicts (Noah Emmerich, Jane Lynch, and Patrick Warburton play other military branch heads) and plenty of family drama (Naird has a teenage daughter), and this really is a top-level workplace comedy.

While the workplace material has typical moments, there’s more here given that we’re talking about a based-in-reality-space exploration. Naird has to try to negotiate communication with a chimpronaut (a chimp in space) and deal with ridiculous technology that malfunctions as often as your cellphone. His daughter wrestles with being the daughter of a general. The opportunity to show inter-agency/branch conflict lends itself to myriad storylines, not to mention all the political asides that slide in to each episode. It’s like a crazy blend of insanity that allows us to watch comedians we know and love in completely different roles — and it rockets off in wildly, different directions.

Sure, network TV may be grinding it out thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Netflix is still rocking it.

The Lovebirds: Love in the Frying Pan

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Netflix’s latest straight-to-streaming films are certainly rivaling what’s available in theaters. Too soon? In the romantic comedy The Lovebirds, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani play a pair of lovers falling out of love who end up stuck in a murder mystery involving a secret cult and some bumbling drug dealers. Some of it doesn’t make any sense at all, but under the direction of Nanjiani’s partner on The Big Sick, Michael Showalter, the film is funnier than expected.

While The Big Sick and Stuber are Nanjiani’s cinematic claims to fame so far (he’ll be in The Eternals whenever that films), and some audiences have seen him in Silicon Valley, his latest film has more in line with Steve Carrell and Tina Fey’s Date Night or Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams’ Game Night. Instead of a married couple out on a rare date or a couple involved in a couples’ group trying out games, Nanjiani and Rae’s Jibran and Leslie are a couple on the rocks, aware that the lifestyle they’ve been living as newly-in-love isn’t sustainable.

Then, disaster or some twist of fate depending on your perspective intervenes strikes and they accidentally hit a cyclist, get commandeered by a cop, and find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation. They are able to take shots at racial profiling, class warfare, and more, as they outrun the bad guys and the good guys, and try to figure out how to clear their names (I think). But the truth is that they never seem to be quite clear on where they’re headed, and it doesn’t really matter.

What does matter here is that the two of them find that the things that were pushing them toward breakup were less important, and the things they had in common were much more important. It’s a question of whether or not the frying pan (or the fire) will refine them and make them better, or cause them to crash and burn even more dramatically. It’s comedic genius — but it’s also a reminder that what threatens us and challenges us often brings out the best in us.

Sure, it’s profane and flip and raucous. Netflix has delivered a theatrical quality comedy that’s sure to entertain, and maybe even show us a thing or two about our own relationships.

Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl – Fearless Authenticity

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While the title may suggest otherwise, never underestimate the girl.

At 18, Kate Nash burst onto the alt-pop music scene from relative obscurity. Quickly earning a platinum album and dominating the music charts, Nash became the voice of a generation. However, years later, after a traumatic encounter with her manager, Nash finds herself struggling to make ends meet. Taking odd jobs and selling off her clothes, Nash is forced to re-examine who she is and what it means to make her music in an ever-changing music landscape.

Directed by Amy Goldstein (East of A), Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl is an intriguing behind-the scenes look at the struggles of life in the music industry, especially for young women. Walking with her along her transition to America, the film portrays Nash as a humble yet courageous artist who remains passionate about her music and style. Through her use of live performance footage and onscreen lyrics, Goldstein manages to keep Nash’s music front and centre throughout her journey. In doing so, she effectively and consistently builds direct connections between the heart of her songs and Nash’s life situation at the time. For Nash, her music is her voice and Goldstein recognizes the power within that.

In fact, the power of voice—or, more accurately, what happens when people try to take that away—remains a key theme throughout Underestimate the Girl. Whereas Nash’s career may have shot to stardom early on, things take a turn for the worse after she is taken advantage of by her manager. By shattering her trust, the damage done by her manager crushes her emotionally and financially. Struggling to pay her bills, Nash wrestles with options ranging from writing pop music that doesn’t suit her brand to selling sci-fi merchandise on a YouTube shopping channel. However, with each venture, Nash appears increasingly saddened, not only because of her financial situation but because each venture seems to steal another piece of her soul. (This frustration becomes particularly apparent during the scenes where she attempts to work on a new ‘pop’ sound as she is repeatedly forced to hold her voice back in an effort to create something that will ‘sell’.) 

However, despite her circumstances, Nash remains determined to speak her voice as an artist. Although she is told that her music doesn’t fit neatly into the music scene, Nash courageously fights for opportunities to express herself in her own way. Inherent to her creativity is a fearless authenticity that enlivens her soul. Because she understands who she has been created to be, Nash recognizes that her value as an artist lies in her ability to speak in her own voice. In other words, her individuality is tied to her energy and effectiveness as an artist. 

In this way, Underestimate becomes an encouraging picture about the life-giving power of a commitment to honouring who we are. By following Nash as her subject, Goldstein strikes gold by bringing us a rock star that we can relate to. While her story of superstardom may differ from our own, her humility and genuineness on camera makes us believe that she is also one of us. Her pluck and tenacity serves as a reminder to all of the value of knowing who you are and ferociously fighting to be heard.

While Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl may be an inside look at the reality of trying to make it in the music business, its true value is deeper than that. Fun but fearless, Nash’s honesty and humility are what truly sets the film apart as she continues to prove her value to others by simply being herself.

Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl hits ALAMO ON DEMAND on Friday, May 22nd, 2020

teenFish#9 – Looking in ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES

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Welcome to teenFish, a podcast series that lets teenagers speak about media that matters to them in their own voice. Hosted by Daniel Collins (Infinity Warm-Up), teenFish airs every month and invites local youth to engage the truth and lies of the shows and films that excite them.

After meeting each other in an unconventional way, Violet and Theodore struggle with the emotional and physical scars of their past. As they come together through a school project, the two begin to  discover that even the smallest moments can mean something. This month, Daniel, Mackenzie and Jacob delve into struggles with mental health, losing a loved one and putting people into boxes.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), or Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

teenFish#7: Big Choices and Tin Foil Ladies in LET IT SNOW

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Welcome to teenFish, a podcast series that lets teenagers speak about media that matters to them in their own voice. Hosted by Daniel Collins (Infinity Warm-Up), teenFish airs every month and invites local youth to engage the truth and lies of the shows and films that excite them.

When a snowstorm hits a small midwestern town on Christmas Eve, a group of high school students are brought together and find the lines between their friendships and love lives blurring together. This month, Daniel and Jacob talk about listening to unexpected sources and making big life choices.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), or Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Marriage Story: Love Unraveled

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Marriage Story examines the fallout of Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole’s (Scarlett Johansson) failed marriage as they begin divorce proceedings. Though both of them want to ‘make this easy’ and ‘do what’s best for their son’, civility slowly begins to disintegrate by adding lawyers and looking out for their own interests. When Nicole moves from New York to Los Angeles to be with her family, things begin to unravel more rapidly, pushing them to their personal and creative extremes.

Written and directed by Noam Baumbach (The Meyerowitz Stories), Marriage Storyworks on every level and may be the best film of his career. Known for his signature awkward banter and flawed characters, Baumbach paints a portrait of what happens when what once was a loving marriage is exhumed at the hands of lawyers and bitter hearts. Anchored by Oscar-worthy performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, Baumbach showcases all the messiness of a divorce without ever taking sides or simplifying the arguments. In Marriage Story, there are no heroes or villains. Instead, there are only two people attempting to navigate all the pain and frustration that comes with ending their relationship. Rather than bog down the viewer with flashbacks and very little backstory, the film focuses entirely on the present and what has to happen next in order for this family to find a new space for success and healing.

Unlike other tales of divorce, Marriage Story chooses not to focus itself on one particular event that drove the relationship apart. Although there was one instance of marital infidelity, Nicole and Charlie’s marriage has not been destroyed over a moment. Instead, through lawyers and filtered conversation, the story speaks to how a marriage can unravel over multiple issues and arguments when love and humility give way to pride and frustration. Though both Charlie and Nicole are good people who genuinely want to work things out in the best way possible for their son, they also slowly begin to fight for the high ground in the divorce settlement. Gentle discussions that took place during their marriage such as where to live become full blown battlegrounds when the lawyers get involved, forcing Charlie and Nicole into greater and greater odds. In arguments such as these, the film highlights the perils of being entrenched in our own perspectives, especially when the solution only serves our interests. While the film offers no ‘answers’ about love, it clearly points to the fact that relationships fall asunder when both people cease to listen to one another and humbly seek a solution. In other words, if love, as they say, really is patient, kind and not self-seeking, Marriage Story shows what happens when those things become lost over time.

Pulling no punches with the awkward realism associated with divorce and starting over, Baumbach’s Marriage Story shows that when love is unraveled, the remaining anger can be a force to be reckoned with. Despite beginning with the best of intentions, the pride and bitterness of divorce can quickly cause caring people to fight tooth and nail for their rights, even at the expense of others. Honest, searing and hilarious at times, Baumbach has spun a story that shows the true pain of family separation while also showing what a couple needs to do in order to begin again.

Marriage Story plays in theatres starting November 6th, 2019. It will also stream digitally on Netflix as of December 6th, 2019.

teenFish#5: Believing the UNBELIEVABLE

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Welcome to teenFish, a podcast series that lets teenagers speak about media that matters to them in their own voice. Hosted by Daniel Collins (Infinity Warm-Up), teenFish will air the last Sunday of every month and invite local youth to engage the truth and lies of the shows and films that excite them.

This month, Daniel introduce a new series called ‘One and Done’ as they decide whether or not a new series is bingeworthy based on the opening episodes.

Netflix’s new limited series Unbelievable tells the story of Marie, an 18-year-old woman who is sexually assaulted in her apartment. As she makes her report to the police, there are those who remain unconvinced of her story as she seeks justice for the trauma that she’s experienced. This month, Daniel welcomes Jacob to talk about the show’s portrayal of sexual assault, loving the victim, and wading through the media’s sex-craved culture.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), or Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

TIFF ’19: Marriage Story

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Marriage Story examines the fallout of Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole’s (Scarlett Johansson) failed marriage as they begin divorce proceedings. Though both of them want to ‘make this easy’ and ‘do what’s best for their son’, civility slowly begins to disintegrate by adding lawyers and looking out for their own interests. When Nicole moves from New York to Los Angeles to be with her family, things begin to unravel more rapidly, pushing them to their personal and creative extremes.

Written and directed by Noam Baumbach (The Meyerowitz Stories), Marriage Storyworks on every level and may be the best film of his career. Known for his signature awkward banter and flawed characters, Baumbach paints a portrait of what happens when what once was a loving marriage is exhumed at the hands of lawyers and bitter hearts. Anchored by Oscar-worthy performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, Baumbach showcases all the messiness of a divorce without ever taking sides or simplifying the arguments. In Marriage Story, there are no heroes or villains. Instead, there are only two people attempting to navigate all the pain and frustration that comes with ending their relationship. Rather than bog down the viewer with flashbacks and very little backstory, the film focuses entirely on the present and what has to happen next in order for this family to find a new space for success and healing.

Honest, searing and hilarious at times, Baumbach’s Marriage Story spins a story that shows the true pain of family separation while also showing what a couple needs to do in order to begin again.

Marriage Story had its North American premiere last week at the Toronto International Film Festival and plays in theatres starting November 6th, 2019. It will also stream digitally on Netflix as of December 6th, 2019.

teenFish#4 – The BIRDBOX Challenge

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Have you ever really wanted to know what goes on in the mind of today’s teens? Not just ‘what are they thinking?’ but how they feel about life’s issues? About truth? About where God is in the world today? At long last, ScreenFish is proud to announce teenFish, a new podcast series that lets teenagers speak about media that matters to them in their own voice. Hosted by Daniel Collins (Infinity Warm-Up), teenFish will be air the first Sunday of every month and invite local youth to engage the truth and lies of the shows and films that excite them.

Netflix created a stir with the release of BIRDBOX, it’s cultural phenomenon starring Sandra Bullock. Telling the story of a world threatened by a beast that causes your death as soon as you see it, the film proves that there’s more to it than thrills and kills. This month, teenFish returns as Daniel and Jacob dive into the film’s conversations about suicide and the sins that lie beneath.

You can stream the episode above, on podomatic or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!