I’m a pop culture nerd who cares a lot about the Oscars. That means I usually review:
1.) Films and shows that plug into a science fiction, fantasy, or superhero universe. Star Wars, Marvel, DC, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, etc. While that Galaxy far, far away is nearest and dearest to my heart, I’m a big fan of any film or show involving heroes, whether they’re donning capes or carrying blasters. You can always count on me to cover a Star Wars or Marvel series on Disney+ with weekly episode breakdowns.
2.) Films that are part of the Oscars conversation. I obsessively listen to any podcasts that will help me predict this year’s Oscar winners, and I make a point to try to see big contenders as they come out. I post written reviews of them when I can, but more often than not I recruit my friends to chat with me on my podcast, The Long Take Review.
Why The Long Take?
All of my reviews start with “The Short Take,” which is a bite-sized distillation of my thoughts on the film or episode, usually including a Siskel and Ebert style recommendation (or warning). If you’re just looking for a quick, spoiler-free compass, that’s all you need.
The Long Take, on the other hand, offers a more in-depth analysis of what I thought worked or didn’t work, what thematic threads I can pull on, and, where appropriate, the sociopolitical significance of a work. The scholar in me wants to make space for meaningful discourse and nuance. But I also get that we all lead crazy busy lives and sometimes only have time to read the short take. As I recently learned on The Big Picture’s mini-series, “Gene and Roger,” Siskel and Ebert openly said that they didn’t think movie reviews should be as simple as a thumbs up or thumbs down; and yet, that binary judgment made them pop culture icons because their reviews were more accessible.
Plus, the “long take” is a neat little nod to the history of the moving picture.
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