Better Late Than Never on "An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn"

I've been in a movie watching phase as of late, as my blog would let you all know. So, after watching yet another movie yesterday, I want to talk about this one. The movie is called "An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn".

I remember hearing about this movie ages ago, and then kind of forgot about it. Then, while channel surfing last Saturday, I stumbled upon it on premium cable. I had a little time before college football started, so I watched about 40 minutes of it. That wasn't enough, especially after talking to my buddy Kirk about the movie. He said he liked it, and that I should watch it to get the full jist of the movie. So, with my free time yesterday, I settled in and turned the movie on.

I'm here to say, I really liked what I saw in this movie. This is one of the strangest, wildest and funniest movies I've seen. The quick story of this movie is this mysterious musician, Beverly Luff Linn, is doing a one night show in some podunk town. In this town we meet the locals, who are an odd bunch of eclectic strangers. Beverly Luff Linn is played by Craig Robinson. He only communicates in grunts and facial expressions. Matt Berry plays Rodney Von Donkensteiger, Luff Linn's partner and somewhat of a personal assistant. He's possessive, but he also genuinely cares about Beverly. Emile Hirsch and Aubrey Plaza play a married couple, the Danger's, but there is definitely dissonance between them, and when Jermaine Clement, Colin, shows up to rob them, this is where the movie kicks into high gear. Aubrey Plaza, Lulu, runs off with Colin and they go to the hotel where Bevelry and his crew were staying. They pretend to be a married couple, and this only makes Beverly more upset. Apparently Beverly and Lulu have a past that is unresolved. Colin begins to fall in love with Lulu, but she does not reciprocate this feeling. Emile Hirsch, Shane, is clearly upset and he gets his employees, Zach Cherry and Sky Elobar to help him get her back. All while this is going some of the strangest and funniest stuff happens throughout the movie. People enter the scene and just yell at one another over nothing. Beverly goes swimming at one point and this entrances Lulu. During this swim session, Beverly lets out some wild guttural screams. It shocked me at first, but then I found myself chuckling. The hotel manager yells at people. The owner of the hotel has a wild haircut and weird way of talking to people. Shane has stolen from Lulu's brother, and he is constantly going into the coffee shop and yelling at Shane. Every scene between Colin and Lulu was so cringeworthy and made me laugh very hard. The way Colin yells at himself was great. Shane stands like a gremlin the whole movie. He is always hunched over, and that choice by Hirsch made me laugh. And the fight scene at the end was so sloppy, on purpose, and I loved every second of it.

This movie won't be for everyone. But if you like absurd and loud humor, it is perfect. I thought it was great. I laughed the whole time. Hell, it even had heartfelt moments sprinkled in there. What I liked best though, was the nostalgia of weird indie movies in the mid 2010's. These types of movies used to be put out more often than not and they have always held a special place in my heart. I wish we had more of them now. I definitely recommend checking out "An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn", especially if you're into absurdist comedy. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Severance"

I fully understand that I'm late to all of this, but "Severance" is one hell of a tv show. I just started to watch the first season this week, and I have already seen all of season 1. I have watched half of the first episode of season 2, and I'm all in.

"Severance" isn't the freshest idea in the sci-fi world, but damned if it isn't one of the best written and acted shows. I find myself endlessly floored at the performances that the actors give. This is a whole new world for Adam Scott and he is absolutely nailing it. I always find it fascinating when an actor who is so entrenched in one genre, I'd say comedy for Scott, does something totally different. It shouldn't be a surprise, Adam Scott is a professional actor. But, going from a very joke heavy show like "Parks and Rec", to doing hard sci-fi like "Severance", this is an accomplishment from him. He does such a wonderful job. Britt Lower matches him punch for punch. She is rebellious and knows this whole world that this show has created is not good. She does a fantastic job, and the big twist with her at the end of season 1 makes her role that much more impressive. John Tutturo is in this show and he shows us all why he is one of the better actors working right now. The two versions of himself in the show couldn't be more different, but I find myself rooting for each one. There are scenes with him and Christopher Walken, another powerhouse performance, that are sweet and heartbreaking in one shot. The work the two of them do together is beautifully done, and Tutturo steals the show for me. Zach Cherry is the "comic relief", but he also does some heavy stuff here. I have always liked Cherry's work, but he is on another level in "Severance". I cannot wait to see what his character does in season 2. Outside the four main actors, Trammel Tillman is so menacing and nice and singularly focused on the task at hand. He has quickly become my favorite character in the show. Jen Tullock, as Scott's sister, and Michael Chernus, as Scott's brother in law, bring a realness and a grounding to this show that is a nice break. And Patricia Arquette is on a whole other level here. I realized watching this show that I had not seen much of her work. She is magnetic and outstanding in this show.

The writing takes this show to a different level as well. For a sci-fi series, the things that happen are easy enough to follow. The show isn't weird just for the sake of being weird. From what I've seen to this point, whenever something odd happens, it has a nice payoff. I like that questions get answered. When the actors deliver the written lines, I believe what they're saying is coming from their character's perspective. This show is so good on every single level. Even the way it is shot, it is cool to look at on my screen. Oh, and the opening credits sequence to season 1 is one of the coolest openings in tv history. I usually skip through the intro of a show, but not here. The music and the animation is so rad.

Look, "Severance" is a critically acclaimed show. It has been nominated I assume. I'm not telling you all anything new if you already watch the show. But if you don't, and you may be on the fence, watch it. It is so well done and so interesting and cool. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "Fallout"

Recently my wife and I started to watch "Fallout" due to RD giving it some rave reviews. I didn't know much about the show, but I did hear Johnny Pemberton talk about it on a recent episode of the podcast "Doughboys". I have been a Johnny Pemberton fan ever since I first saw him on "Superstore". He was hilarious on that show, and that gave me the push to watch his standup and his other movie and tv appearances. I was an instant fan. Then, after listening to "Doughboys", RD and I were recording a podcast of our own, and he kept asking me if I had seen "Fallout", or if I was going to check it out. I mentioned the Johnny Pemberton stuff, and with the push from RD, that was all I needed to check it out. I told my wife I was going to start it, but she asked me to wait. She wanted to watch it as well. It was a wonderful surprise.

So, over the weekend, we started, and three episodes in, I'm all in. This is a good show. It is gory. It is violent. It is profane. It is bleak. It is hilarious. And it is doing some cool, interesting things for a newish tv show. I have never played the videogame that it is based on. I don't think RD has either. I know my wife hasn't either. But, I don't think you need to to watch this show. The characters look like what I have looked up on the internet from the game, but that is where it seems to end. This is a whole story outside the game from what I gather. This is new and unique to the show. And it works. I have been so excited to watch with each passing night. I'm doing a thing where I don't want to binge watch shows. That means one show a night. It makes for a much more fun experience watching a show. It reminds me of how I used to watch tv as a kid. It also helps build suspense. I am so ready to focus on the episode when we turn it on. I am fully locked in on what is happening on the screen. No phone, no Nintendo Switch. It is just me, my wife and "Fallout". I love it that way.

Outside Pemberton, who plays an army brat, the cast is pretty great. Ella Purnell is the lead. She is really awesome as a vault dweller. Her naivate is great to watch on screen. Kyle MacLachian plays her dad, and he has only been in the first episode so far, but it is clear there is more of him to come. Moises Arias plays her brother, and while he seems meek, his arc looks like it is going to take a cool turn. Leslie Uggams and Zach Cherry are on the vault board, and they are in over their heads. Aaron Moten plays Maximus, another Army brat, who is out doing his own thing in this wild post apocalyptic world.

And then we have Walton Goggins.

Walton Goggins may be the coolest person on Earth. He is so, so wonderful here as "The Ghoul". I have a whole piece coming up strictly dedicated to his acting career. That is for another day. But in "Fallout", Goggins continues to be so incredible. He makes a show instantly watchable when he is on screen. He is the absolute best.

Outside the acting, the scenery is rad. The world they created is dark and bleak and arid. It is a good look at a crazy possible outcome of a bomb. And even in the dark times the show has created, there is still humor peppered in and out of each episode. I find myself laughing a few times each episode.

I'm very glad this show is in my life now. I highly recommend people watch it if you have Prime. "Fallout" is very, very well made. Check it out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.