Vslyke
@vslyke.bsky.social
Music, sports*, TV, screaming into the void. Small piece of the BobServe team.
*Braves/Pittsburgh Pirates/White Sox/Penguins/Titans/Carolina Panthers/UGA
*Braves/Pittsburgh Pirates/White Sox/Penguins/Titans/Carolina Panthers/UGA
2002's "Far From Heaven" portrays the extraordinary costs of defying 1957's dictates. This deeply painful film pays homage to the melodramas of the 50's while also bringing to life the characters torn between their carefully constructed lives and the desires that threaten their status.
8/10
8/10
November 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
2002's "Far From Heaven" portrays the extraordinary costs of defying 1957's dictates. This deeply painful film pays homage to the melodramas of the 50's while also bringing to life the characters torn between their carefully constructed lives and the desires that threaten their status.
8/10
8/10
1967's "Japan's Longest Day" is a detailed and enthralling look at the attempted coup that aimed to prevent Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. This epic effectively portrays the resistance to that decision and the agonizing night where portions of the army sought to prolong the war.
8/10
8/10
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
1967's "Japan's Longest Day" is a detailed and enthralling look at the attempted coup that aimed to prevent Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. This epic effectively portrays the resistance to that decision and the agonizing night where portions of the army sought to prolong the war.
8/10
8/10
1995's "The Usual Suspects" toys with the viewer, turning a seemingly straightforward whodunit into something much more psychologically engaging and compelling. That enhances the excellent action sequences, creating a bewildering and thoroughly enjoyable film that fires on all cylinders.
9/10
9/10
November 27, 2025 at 8:31 AM
1995's "The Usual Suspects" toys with the viewer, turning a seemingly straightforward whodunit into something much more psychologically engaging and compelling. That enhances the excellent action sequences, creating a bewildering and thoroughly enjoyable film that fires on all cylinders.
9/10
9/10
1983's "Under Fire" is well shot but can't decide whether it wants to be a love story or a war picture. The largely uninteresting love triangle storyline impedes the more interesting war movie, which also suffers from being hyper focused on the Americans and not the Nicaraguans.
6/10
6/10
November 26, 2025 at 8:48 AM
1983's "Under Fire" is well shot but can't decide whether it wants to be a love story or a war picture. The largely uninteresting love triangle storyline impedes the more interesting war movie, which also suffers from being hyper focused on the Americans and not the Nicaraguans.
6/10
6/10
1972's "Trouble Man" is a solid blaxploitation movie with lots of character and a strong sense of place. The action and script are a bit clumsy but this is easy enough to overlook. The film benefits immensely from the Marvin Gaye score and the unshakable cool of the lead character Mr. T.
7/10
7/10
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 AM
1972's "Trouble Man" is a solid blaxploitation movie with lots of character and a strong sense of place. The action and script are a bit clumsy but this is easy enough to overlook. The film benefits immensely from the Marvin Gaye score and the unshakable cool of the lead character Mr. T.
7/10
7/10
1943's "The Ox-Bow Incident" has a strong sense of justice and brutally demonstrates the mob mentality in the Old West. That largely makes up for some eye-rolling plot points and a general heavy-handedness that keep this taut film from reaching its full potential.
7/10
7/10
November 21, 2025 at 6:49 AM
1943's "The Ox-Bow Incident" has a strong sense of justice and brutally demonstrates the mob mentality in the Old West. That largely makes up for some eye-rolling plot points and a general heavy-handedness that keep this taut film from reaching its full potential.
7/10
7/10
"New Tijuana Moods" by Charles Mingus contains the original "Tijuana Moods" album and an alternate take for every song but one. This elevates an already good album to a great one, especially as the alternate take of "Los Mariachis" outshines the original take.
4/5
youtu.be/UpiONnyLn0E?...
4/5
youtu.be/UpiONnyLn0E?...
November 19, 2025 at 10:47 PM
"New Tijuana Moods" by Charles Mingus contains the original "Tijuana Moods" album and an alternate take for every song but one. This elevates an already good album to a great one, especially as the alternate take of "Los Mariachis" outshines the original take.
4/5
youtu.be/UpiONnyLn0E?...
4/5
youtu.be/UpiONnyLn0E?...
The titular million dollars would be worth $10.9M now.
November 19, 2025 at 12:57 AM
The titular million dollars would be worth $10.9M now.
"Jazzmatazz The Timebomb: Back to the Future Mixtape" by Guru is a mix of unimpressive original songs, reused beats, and DJ Doo Wop chatter. Most insultingly, the one good song, "State of Clarity" featuring Common, is only present as a snippet, removing any reason to buy this mixtape.
1/5
1/5
November 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
"Jazzmatazz The Timebomb: Back to the Future Mixtape" by Guru is a mix of unimpressive original songs, reused beats, and DJ Doo Wop chatter. Most insultingly, the one good song, "State of Clarity" featuring Common, is only present as a snippet, removing any reason to buy this mixtape.
1/5
1/5
1968's "No Way to Treat a Lady" is well shot and includes some outstanding shots on location in NYC. The story lets down the visuals however, devolving into a trite and Freudian game of cat and mouse that feels tired well before it reaches the end (at the fabulous Belasco Theatre).
6/10
6/10
November 15, 2025 at 5:46 AM
1968's "No Way to Treat a Lady" is well shot and includes some outstanding shots on location in NYC. The story lets down the visuals however, devolving into a trite and Freudian game of cat and mouse that feels tired well before it reaches the end (at the fabulous Belasco Theatre).
6/10
6/10
2007's "Hot Fuzz" is a loving parody of the buddy cop genre that builds in lots of laughs and action. Remarkably, the film works as both parody and as a part of the genre. The casting is also exemplary, particularly Jim Broadbent and Timothy Dalton as a pair of the village's leading men.
8/10
8/10
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 AM
2007's "Hot Fuzz" is a loving parody of the buddy cop genre that builds in lots of laughs and action. Remarkably, the film works as both parody and as a part of the genre. The casting is also exemplary, particularly Jim Broadbent and Timothy Dalton as a pair of the village's leading men.
8/10
8/10
1987's "Hollywood Shuffle" is a funny and sharp satire of the Black experience in Hollywood. The film tries a bit too hard to be everything to everyone, which can result in whiplash as the movie switches between parody and sincerity, but it lands its punches and jokes equally well.
7/10
7/10
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1987's "Hollywood Shuffle" is a funny and sharp satire of the Black experience in Hollywood. The film tries a bit too hard to be everything to everyone, which can result in whiplash as the movie switches between parody and sincerity, but it lands its punches and jokes equally well.
7/10
7/10
1966's "Blindfold" is an entertaining farce that does not take itself too seriously. There's some notable plot holes and the movie fails to build up enough suspense but the film generates a decent number of chuckles and Rock Hudson and Claudia Cardinale have solid chemistry.
6/10
6/10
November 12, 2025 at 3:18 AM
1966's "Blindfold" is an entertaining farce that does not take itself too seriously. There's some notable plot holes and the movie fails to build up enough suspense but the film generates a decent number of chuckles and Rock Hudson and Claudia Cardinale have solid chemistry.
6/10
6/10
1941's "The Little Foxes" fully brings 1900's South back. The movie is brimming with betrayal and the poison of greed, racism, and sexism adds resonance, but the slow as molasses pace badly dates the film. An electric Bette Davis performance redeems the movie, particularly the second half.
7/10
7/10
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 AM
1941's "The Little Foxes" fully brings 1900's South back. The movie is brimming with betrayal and the poison of greed, racism, and sexism adds resonance, but the slow as molasses pace badly dates the film. An electric Bette Davis performance redeems the movie, particularly the second half.
7/10
7/10
2014's "Get On Up" is most notable for Chadwick Boseman's performance as James Brown. Boseman nails the character and the performer, elevating a pedestrian script that is often painfully unsubtle. Nelsan Ellis is also excellent as Bobby Byrd and you cannot go wrong with using Brown's music.
7/10
7/10
November 8, 2025 at 8:17 AM
2014's "Get On Up" is most notable for Chadwick Boseman's performance as James Brown. Boseman nails the character and the performer, elevating a pedestrian script that is often painfully unsubtle. Nelsan Ellis is also excellent as Bobby Byrd and you cannot go wrong with using Brown's music.
7/10
7/10
1996's "Executive Decision" is a technically competent thriller that fails to differentiate itself. The special effects have aged very poorly and the movie is a good bit longer than it needs to be. Overall, this is the sort of film destined to be seen on cable or in a hotel and forgotten.
5/10
5/10
November 6, 2025 at 8:23 AM
1996's "Executive Decision" is a technically competent thriller that fails to differentiate itself. The special effects have aged very poorly and the movie is a good bit longer than it needs to be. Overall, this is the sort of film destined to be seen on cable or in a hotel and forgotten.
5/10
5/10
"Hard Headed Woman" by Margo Price features my pick for the song of 2025, "Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down", and keeps the momentum from that titanic opener. This is a tight and stylistically varied album that is both timely and bound to be a classic.
5/5
youtu.be/uyhzsMWC4sw?...
5/5
youtu.be/uyhzsMWC4sw?...
November 5, 2025 at 10:16 PM
"Hard Headed Woman" by Margo Price features my pick for the song of 2025, "Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down", and keeps the momentum from that titanic opener. This is a tight and stylistically varied album that is both timely and bound to be a classic.
5/5
youtu.be/uyhzsMWC4sw?...
5/5
youtu.be/uyhzsMWC4sw?...
1986's "'Round Midnight" is shot like a documentary but this fictional story fails to create interest. However, the film benefits from a strong leading performance from Dexter Gordon, some lovely jazz, and evocative ambiance, making this a minor success despite the limp plot.
6/10
6/10
November 5, 2025 at 5:53 AM
1986's "'Round Midnight" is shot like a documentary but this fictional story fails to create interest. However, the film benefits from a strong leading performance from Dexter Gordon, some lovely jazz, and evocative ambiance, making this a minor success despite the limp plot.
6/10
6/10
The self-titled Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats album has the sound and vibe of a great Americana or soul album but the vocals frequently cross a line into parody. Additionally, the songs themselves are not compelling, so any flaw in the performances sticks out.
2/5
youtu.be/1iAYhQsQhSY?...
2/5
youtu.be/1iAYhQsQhSY?...
October 30, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The self-titled Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats album has the sound and vibe of a great Americana or soul album but the vocals frequently cross a line into parody. Additionally, the songs themselves are not compelling, so any flaw in the performances sticks out.
2/5
youtu.be/1iAYhQsQhSY?...
2/5
youtu.be/1iAYhQsQhSY?...
1999's "The Limey" benefits from its unorthodox editing and the strong central character. The 60s reunion angle is a additional small bonus. However, the plot and (especially) the script are only ok and the strengths of the movie can only barely carry it the finish line.
6/10
6/10
October 29, 2025 at 6:14 AM
1999's "The Limey" benefits from its unorthodox editing and the strong central character. The 60s reunion angle is a additional small bonus. However, the plot and (especially) the script are only ok and the strengths of the movie can only barely carry it the finish line.
6/10
6/10
"The You and Me That Used to Be" by Jimmy Rushing lives up to its pedigree (DownBeat Album of the Year) and its legacy (Rushing's final recording session). The band is supportive and gives Rushing the spotlight, allowing him a graceful and evocative final act.
4/5
youtu.be/JaY5EigRBlI?...
4/5
youtu.be/JaY5EigRBlI?...
October 20, 2025 at 9:47 PM
"The You and Me That Used to Be" by Jimmy Rushing lives up to its pedigree (DownBeat Album of the Year) and its legacy (Rushing's final recording session). The band is supportive and gives Rushing the spotlight, allowing him a graceful and evocative final act.
4/5
youtu.be/JaY5EigRBlI?...
4/5
youtu.be/JaY5EigRBlI?...
"Perfectly Imperfect at the Ryman" by Margo Price gathers highlights of Margo's 2018 Nashville shows. While more celebratory than revelatory, the set list is strong and her reinterpretations are consistently successful, creating an engaging and fulfilling album.
5/5
youtu.be/QGx1gMl2fas?...
5/5
youtu.be/QGx1gMl2fas?...
October 20, 2025 at 3:47 AM
"Perfectly Imperfect at the Ryman" by Margo Price gathers highlights of Margo's 2018 Nashville shows. While more celebratory than revelatory, the set list is strong and her reinterpretations are consistently successful, creating an engaging and fulfilling album.
5/5
youtu.be/QGx1gMl2fas?...
5/5
youtu.be/QGx1gMl2fas?...
2005's "Brick" is a detective story set among high schoolers (like Veronica Mars or Twin Peaks) but is seedier than those shows. While a bit too convoluted, this debut of Rian Johnson is stylish and gripping. It also manages to be both wildly original and a worthy homage to film noir.
8/10
8/10
October 19, 2025 at 5:40 AM
2005's "Brick" is a detective story set among high schoolers (like Veronica Mars or Twin Peaks) but is seedier than those shows. While a bit too convoluted, this debut of Rian Johnson is stylish and gripping. It also manages to be both wildly original and a worthy homage to film noir.
8/10
8/10
"Hold On, I'm Coming" by the Soul Children collects some rarities and singles by the Stax vocal group, including a few late 70s tracks. This format makes the group seem fairly identity-less, which means there's a little bit for everyone but only a little bit.
2/5
youtu.be/_qPESC4Aav0?...
2/5
youtu.be/_qPESC4Aav0?...
October 15, 2025 at 3:19 AM
"Hold On, I'm Coming" by the Soul Children collects some rarities and singles by the Stax vocal group, including a few late 70s tracks. This format makes the group seem fairly identity-less, which means there's a little bit for everyone but only a little bit.
2/5
youtu.be/_qPESC4Aav0?...
2/5
youtu.be/_qPESC4Aav0?...