Part 1 | “Some things can hit you in the gut worse than any punch”; a huskily voiced Adrien Brody narrates repeatedly throughout the first half of History Channel’s two part mini-series. Tuning into this supposed biopic it was a sucker punch to realize it was in actuality a highly fictionalized
Gotham | The highly anticipated Batman TV series stars Benjamin McKenzie as James Gordon before he became the commissioner of Gotham. Apparently it will be the hybrid of a crime-of-the-week procedural, while also teasing introductions to the famous mythology. A young Bruce Wayne, Penguin, Catwoma
Dallas | Elena revealed her manipulations to the Ewings and demanded retribution. Why she never felt she could come to Bobby when she first learned of JR’s deed switch is still hazy. What's clear is she crossed a line she will never be able to return from. In all of her indignation she fail
A to Z | Airing after “Bad Judge” is another single camera sitcom, this one stars “Drop Dead Diva” alum Ben Feldman as Andrew, a romantic working at an internet dating site. When he meets Zelda (Cristin Milioti, “The Wolf of Wall Street” ) a no-nonsense attorney, sparks fly. The show’s setup in
Madam Secretary | Tea Leoni returns to television as the Secretary of the State in this political drama. The series will explore both her personal and professional life as she strives to balance both aspects of her life. There is major talent both behind and in front of the camera on this one
Dear Eclectic Pop Readers, I hope this message finds all of you well. Eclectic Pop is proud to announce a new venture. I have begun working as a Selector on #RKC. Starting tomorrow, #RKC [ @RadioKC ] will begin airing “Eclectic Selection” which is a playlist of music that has been personally c
The Flash | After last season’s 2 part backdoor pilot during “Arrow”, “The Flash” was rushed to series and so far the buzz has been encouraging. Grant Gustin (“Glee) stars as Barry Allen, a young scientist who gets the gift of super speed following a lab explosion. The accident which leads to B
How to Get Away with Murder | From Shonda Rhimes, the creator behind ABC mega-hits “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” comes this legal drama and procedural. Oscar nominee Viola Davis stars as a law professor who gets tangled up in a murder plot along with her students. Little else is known about the
Tyrant | A shocking close to the first season, the finale was a game changer that left viewers on the precipice of a grim outcome. Ashraf Barhom’s sensational performance as the despotic Jamal was sensational as was Morian Atias’ turn as Leila, her closing monologue providing a chilling alloca
Wondering what to watch this weekend? Eclectic Pop has a playlist of television series, mini-series and movies that are worth watching. Marathon-able Mini-Series The captivating mini “The White Queen” follows three relentless women’s zealous battle for power as they do whatever it takes to g
Best New Movie Bet: “The November Man” Pierce Brosnan stars as a former CIA operative who must face off against his former protégé (Luke Bracey) during a mission. Seeing Brosnan back in a high octane action thriller should be fun though he’s worth watching in any genre capacity. The studio has a
The Emmys aired on Monday to their biggest audience in 8 years. Below Eclectic Pop makes 8 observations about the night's festivities. Few Surprises | “Breaking Bad” dominated yet again and the only good news is that this will be the last Emmy’s they will qualify for. For the past 5 years
HBO Saying goodbye was sadder than expected. Known for its bawdy camp, out-of-this-world storytelling, and vulgar abandon, “True Blood” signed off in a manner that felt appropriate despite being an about-face from the overall tone of the series. All the while possessing the qualities most finales sh
Dallas | TNT’s sensational reboot kicked off its fresh batch of episodes with a bang, as the aftermath of the blazing inferno and mangled threesome took center stage. Since it premiered, “Dallas” has been one of the best dramas burning up the airwaves and this week’s returning episode proved why.
Best New Bet: “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For" Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller co-direct this adaptation of Miller’s second installment in the “Sin City” series. When the original “Sin City” was released 10 years ago, it was a visual rarity. An ode to the black-and-white noirs of the 40’s
On Monday, Taylor Swift unveiled the title to her new album (1989), released its first single (“Shake It Off”) and a music video to accompany said song. Swift, one of the biggest names in pop culture, has been ensnared in animus ever since. When one thinks of Taylor Swift, the initial notion that
Overview: In this FX drama; a twisted drifter, an unassuming salesman, and an upstanding police officer converge on a path for survival and justice. Storyline Direction Pros: For 10 episodes Noah Hawley’s complex character study and straightforward plot progression, took viewers through t
“You can’t please everyone” is an old adage that rings with unquestionable truth. In the entertainment arena, it is an edict that seemingly absolves creative powers from the responsibility of pleasing fans. There will always be unpopular decisions that send out reactionary shockwaves, and there is
Donning a white crop top and matching skirt, Taylor Swift announced her new album ‘1989’ complete with a retro Polaroid picture serving as the cover art. It will be released October 27 th and fans can anticipate a deluxe edition. The deluxe will incorporate original audio recordings of select s
Pretty Little Liars: Emily finally came to her senses about Ali in “A Dark Ali”. After ranting about Emily’s undeterred faith in Ali for weeks, she deserves some kudos for finally seeing the light and acknowledging her mistake. As the Liars join forces to fight the foe within, things are
Best New Bet: "The Giver" Lois Lowry’s 1993 children novel gets the film treatment in this adaptation directed by Philip Noyce (who helmed the exceptional 1989 thriller “Dead Calm” among others). “The Giver” centers on a radical society in which there are no emotional variances (peaks
Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton shine in their first joint venture as co-stars. Directed with a deft hand by Rob Reiner, he keeps the heartfelt moments tenderly genuine, while maintaining a comedic bite. “And So It Goes” tells the tale of the curmudgeonly Oren (Douglas) who is emotionally isolat
As long as I can remember Robin Williams was a part of the cinematic universe. He was a consistent presence who entertained audiences by bringing laughter to one of his countless comedies or surprising in a dramatic turn. Whether he was a car salesman trying to make a deadline (“Cadillac Man”),
Tyrant: Barry made his boldest grab for power yet, as it becomes increasingly clear that he might be the titular “tyrant” to which the title refers. At first unassuming, Barry continues to descend into a moral void with every passing episode. He has known the depths of Jamal’s madness since the
Best New Bet: "The Maid’s Room" In 2002 Paula Garces made a memorable impression in the sci-fi adventure movie “Clockstoppers” playing Jesse Bradford’s love interest. Now, 12 years later she takes the lead in this dramatic thriller about a maid who starts working for a wealthy famil
A visceral depiction of backwoods life that is authentically searing and hauntingly exasperating. Director David Gordon Green picks up where he left off with his last film “Prince Avalanche”, a slow, character driven drama that drops actors amidst the fray of ordinary people. “Joe” is somber an
A magnificent ensemble leads this dramatic comedy about a flawed group of friends who head out on a lavish vacation, despite their beloved buddy suffering a severe motorcycle accident shortly before their planned excursion.
When it comes to Luc Besson’s illustrious filmography you will find a plethora of cinematic treats. From “La Femme Nikita” to what is arguably his best film, “Leon: The Professional” to last year’s “The Family,” he has supplied a bevy of entertainment throughout his career. “Lucy” joins the annal
Teen Wolf: Scott saved a well-bound Liam and then proclaimed at the end of the episode that he would save everyone on the dead pool (aka the kill list of supernatural persons). Someone has become mighty confident in their abilities. Elsewhere, Malia and Derick worked to sniff out a mystery and
Best New Bet: “Guardians of the Galaxy” Chris Pratt finaly gets a chance to take on a leading film role in Marvel’s latest superhero movie. The story follows Peter Quill (Pratt), a pilot, who steals an orb desired by the villainous Ronan (Lee Pace). To protect the orb and save the universe, he
A rambling Rorschach, “Enemy” is a surprisingly involving ride that takes viewers down the winding road of a puzzle that does its best to keep its pieces hidden. Tinged in dark yellow lighting, the movie provides viewers with an array of options. As it infuses as much overwrought emotion and coun
Best New Bet: "Lucy" Luc Besson’s latest is not exactly the movie one would expect given the advertising campaign which seemed to indicate a female powered action flick with sci-fi elements. In actuality it is more of a meditative analysis of evolutionary theory and Darwinism. Lucy (Sc
This week the internet was shaken with the hotly anticipated trailer and first glimpse of “Fifty Shades of Grey”, the film adaptation of the first book in E.L. James’ best-selling series. So many questions continue to surround the film. Whether it will stay true to the nature of the book and how
The Emmy nominations were recently announced and reaction to the snubs was on track with outrage in years past. The drama ballot included the usual suspects, veteran nominees “Breaking Bad”, "Downton Abbey" and “Mad Men” along with the star studded freshman series “True Detective”
Overview: Norma attempted to hold together the fragile life-force of her family and business, Norman continued his descent into madness, Dylan became more engrossed in the local drug cartel, as Emma felt on the periphery of all of the excitement. Meanwhile, Sheriff Romero tried to keep the peace
Witches of East End: After the premiere’s “oh my” moment where Ingrid hooked up with a blue entity that bared a striking resemblance to Dr. Manhattan, the series went for another sight shocker. This time it concerned recently returned prodigal son, Frederick, as he charmed his Aunt Wendy’s earr
Best New Bet: "I Origins" A trippy mindbender that attempts to unravel the scientific reasoning behind the old adage “the eyes are the windows to the soul”. Written and directed by “Another Earth” helmer Mike Cahill, this film appears to be similarly tackling sci-fi drama in a modern
Overview: Glee Club was disbanded as viewers bid farewell to Lima. Recent graduates Blaine, Artie and Sam joined Rachel, Kurt and Santana in New York and Mercedes made a much needed return to the series. Storyline Direction Pros: The goodbye to Lima, while painful, was done with remarkable
Director Shana Feste’s remake of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 film adaptation of “Endless Love” shares little in common with its predecessor, which is both a good and bad thing. On the positive side, Feste works hard to make sense of the first film's outlandish characterizations by incorporating e
In the universe of “Neighbors” you will find the familiar faces of recent adult comedies, that of grown adults who wish to be children and young people who are just children. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne star as the parents of an adorable baby daughter, who are forced to fight their new next door ne
Pretty Little Liars: Liar’s hit the 100 episode mark and it delivered, mainly with two fierce confrontations between Ali and the survivors of her bullying. For the first time since she returned from the “dead”; Ali stood face to face with Paige offering an olive branch. Lindsey Shaw’s magnificent
Best New Bet: "Affluenza" It’s the buzzword and portmanteau (affluence + influenza) which the Oxford Dictionary defines as “a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation.”
Justin Stephens / NBC Another season of television has flown by and with that, the reflection process can begin. Eclectic Pop has deconstructed and graded a multitude of television series that aired in the 2013-2014 season. The grading process was broken into five categories. Those five categorie
Dirty Cakes Band | Out of Los Angeles, California comes the Dirty Cakes Band, a group that’s self-described “psychedelic desert grunge” composes the nostalgic sounds of their EP ‘Never Alone’. A throaty vocalization breathes life into the titular single, a tune that starts timidly before indul
