“A Fantastic Fear of Everything”
What it’s about:
Jack, played by Simon Pegg, is an author that has driven himself mad. His marriage has fallen apart and now he drowns himself in his work, trying to produce scripts for a series he has conceptualized called “Decades of Death.” Once an unpublished children’s author, Jack now writes in detail about Victorian-era serial killers. With his life in shambles, Jack has become wrought with paranoia, restricting himself to his house for fear that he might become a murder victim like those he has researched so much about. But, when Jack’s agent sets up a meeting between him and a BBC executive, he’ll need to face his fears and finally face the outdoors.
Why you should watch it:
“A Fantastic Fear of Everything” does an impressive job handling difficult ideas. Not only is the film masterful in the way it blends humor and horror, it also manages to make Jack, despite his clear psychological disorders and poor problem solving skills, a likable and relatable character. Though not scary in the sense many moviegoers are used to (“Fantastic Fear” is lacking in both gore and jump-scares), the film is terribly unnerving at times, while still managing to be laugh-out-loud funny at others. It is a truly unique film that is definitely fun to watch.
What it’s about:
This Showtime series follows Hank Moody, a novelist played by David Duchovny. Moody, as his name suggests, suffers from combative behavior, addictive tendencies and writer’s block. Amidst his confused attempts at happiness, Moody spends a large portion of his time trying to reconnect with his former partner Karen, and their child Becca.
Why you should watch it:
The process by which Hank Moody’s story develops is among the most interesting in modern television. While the story takes its time when displaying Moody’s nuanced relationship with himself and the people around him, the show never seems to drag. The writing for the series is uniformly solid, but the most impressive part of “Californication” is David Duchovny’s performance. Some parts demand to be played by a specific actor. Hank Moody demanded to be played by David Duchovny.
What it’s about:
Steven, played by Matthew Broderick, has recently moved into a new apartment in order to give his girlfriend some space (at her request) following her rejection of his marriage proposal. Following a piece of advice given to him by his friend Rick, played by Jack Black, Steven slips his cable guy, played by Jim Carrey, some money in exchange for free cable. The cable guy asks Steven if they can hang out and, after some persuasion, Steven accepts. As time goes on, it becomes apparent that the cable guy is desperate for companionship. Despite Steven’s attempts at putting a stop to their friendship, things end up working differently than he ever could have expected.
Why you should watch it:
The sheer number of people in this film is reason enough to watch it. In addition to Broderick, Carrey and Black, the cast includes such now-familiar faces as Owen Wilson, Andy Dick, David Cross and Bob Odenkirk, many of whom were yet to become widely recognizable. Top that off with a hilarious, though sometimes frightening performance from Carrey, strong directing from Ben Stiller (who also makes appearances in the film) and numerous television and film references throughout, and “The Cable Guy” becomes a wild representation of the best the 90s had to offer.
