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J.M. SuarezAbout J.M. SuarezJ.M. Suarez holds a BA and MA in History and works as an archivist by day. Features
Woman or Object: Selected Female Roles in the Films of Pedro AlmodóvarWhat many of the women in Almodóvar’s films do have in common, despite their characterization as victim or martyr or heroine, is that they are survivors. [18 November 2009] Reviews
Note By Note: The Making of the Steinway L1037The attention to detail and sheer amount of time devoted to building a piano is extraordinary, and Niles makes a compelling case for Steinway’s approach. [9 November 2009] 
Murphy’s Law: Series OneMurphy’s Law stands as a somewhat average crime drama, while its greatest strength lies in its casting of James Nesbitt and Claudia Harrison. [8 October 2009] 
Dexter: The Complete Third SeasonDexter's façade of normalcy has gotten more credible and he begins to believe that he can truly live the life he has created for himself. [25 August 2009] 
Designing Women: Season TwoQuick, smart and frank, these women were let loose to create the kinds of characters that are still vibrant, 20 years later. [23 August 2009] 
The Middleman: The Complete SeriesSometimes its cleverness gets the best of it, but The Middleman’s mix of cynicism, innocence, and quirk makes for a hugely enjoyable and original show. [21 August 2009] 
The Lucy Show - and - The Lucille Ball SpecialsLucille Ball's chemistry with her talented cohorts shines on in these two DVDs. [30 July 2009] 
Burn Notice: Season TwoThe series is developing a mythology filled with mysterious agencies, rivals, and characters that often don’t reveal their true intentions right away. [9 July 2009] 
Everwood: The Complete Second SeasonThis show succeeds in creating characters that are nuanced and three-dimensional. [17 June 2009] 
Fillmore: The Last DaysGraham could spot real talent and he fearlessly presented bands solely on the basis of what he liked. [1 June 2009] 
Morrissey: From Where He Came to Where He WentUnfortunately, this set is an unauthorized account of Morrissey’s career and it shows. [22 April 2009] 
Rhoda: Season 1Rhoda strove to portray a modern woman balancing the personal and professional aspects of her life while dealing with a close knit family. [21 April 2009] 
The Paper Chase: Season OneThe series tackled sexual harassment, affirmative action, and equal rights for women, while also devoting time to the demands of academia and romantic entanglements. [13 April 2009] 
Room 222: Season OneThis series broke a lot of ground when it came to race relations, largely because it often went out of its way to leave race out of the equation. [5 April 2009] 
TwilightWhile Meyers’ books tend toward formulaic characterizations, Hardwicke takes the material and successfully transforms it into a subtle, layered atmospheric film. [23 March 2009] 
Family Ties: The Fifth SeasonThe series managed to create characters that have become iconic and over 20 years later, their stories still offer wonderful moments of comedy and emotional resonance. [22 March 2009] 
Frozen RiverBy the time there’s a crack in the river, it’s clear that something has to give in both Ray and Lila’s lives. [10 February 2009] 
Skins: Vol. 1Frank sexuality, open drug use, and incessant swearing mark this as different from a typical teen drama. [4 February 2009] 
Alison Krauss: A Hundred Miles or MoreWhile Krauss' most obvious gift is her ethereal voice, her relationship with the material truly makes her a timeless artist. [9 December 2008] 
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Series MegasetInterested in issues of lasting relevance, the series was successful and unapologetic when things got a little sappy. [8 December 2008] 
Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union: Complete Season OneUllman's chameleon-like presence is sometimes astonishing, particularly in playing characters as disparate as Andy Rooney, Renee Zellweger, and Arianna Huffington. [24 November 2008] 
Sports Night: The Complete Series 10th Anniversary EditionAll the usual elements of a Sorkin series are here: rapid-fire dialogue, his classic walk-and-talks, and stories with a political bent. [13 November 2008] 
TV Sets: Holiday TreatsThe episodes range from classic variations on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi to, as in the case of Taxi, only a cursory attempt to include holiday content. [29 October 2008] 
Johnny Cash Christmas Specials:1978 & 1979While there are Christmas songs interspersed throughout the specials, the majority of the music consists of standard country tunes. [17 October 2008] 
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Three-Disc Unrated Collector’s Edition)A better than average romantic comedy, despite a plot with few surprises, this owes a great deal of its success to Segal and the sincerity he brings to his character. [13 October 2008] 
Californication: Season 1An imperfect show that, much like its protagonist, has the potential to be better than it is. [21 August 2008] 
Friday Night Lights: The Second SeasonEven with such an obvious misstep as the murder storyline in the second season, this is still one of the most well-executed series on television. [2 July 2008] 
The National: A Skin, A Night [DVD]Moon makes use of cityscapes, landscapes, and still images to paint a unique picture of a band at work. [23 May 2008] 
Kurt CobainSchnack has gone to great lengths to humanize Cobain and offer more than the usual icon worship usually attributed to such a tragic figure. [17 April 2008] 
Destination HamburgPoor quality film, grainy photographs, and but snippets of songs – it's difficult to imagine who this DVD is geared toward. [1 April 2008] 
The IndependentPredating Tarantino and Rodriguez’s Grindhouse by seven years, this small film makes excellent use of poor production values, bad acting, and outlandish plots to create authentic-looking schlock. [6 March 2008] 
The AmateursThis film has a great deal of potential, but like many of the characterizations, it's not fully realized. [5 March 2008] BlogsChannel Surfing: Why We Need “Chuck” [4 May 2009]Channel Surfing: Bea Arthur R.I.P (1922-2009) [27 April 2009]Consuming Consumables: The Lemonheads: It’s a Shame About Ray (Collector’s Edition) [2 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Pushing Daisies: The Complete First Season [26 November 2008] |
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