
24 August 2014
Jon Favreau’s Chef
By Brock Swinson // Cinema
Much like the Cubanos and three-cheese Paninis created throughout the film, Chef warms the soul like a favorite comfort food. The underlying story of the film revolves around reuniting a …

01 July 2014
Flash Boys by Michael Lewis
By Brock Swinson // Books
“The U.S. financial markets had always been either corrupt or about to be corrupted,” writes Michael Lewis in his new book Flash Boys. The shadow-casting book about high frequency traders …

21 February 2014
Ocean’s Monuments Men
By Brock Swinson // Cinema
Despite having the deadly combination of an inspiring true story and a remarkable cast, The Monuments Men has that all-too-familiar feel of a Hallmark movie-of-the-week. George Clooney stars, directs, and …

02 February 2014
Stage to Screen Adaptation- August: Osage County
By Brock Swinson // Cinema
Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Cooper, Ewan McGregor, and Sam Shepard lead the remarkable ensemble that pick and drag their self-centered, infectious bodies through the captious county of Osage in …

24 January 2014
Dallas Buyers Club
By Brock Swinson // Cinema
“Let me give y’all a little news flash,” begins Ron Woodroof, after being diagnosed with HIV. “There ain’t nothin’ out there can kill Ron Woodroof in thirty days.” Matthew McConaughey …

19 November 2013
Charlie Countryman
By Brock Swinson // Cinema
It’s difficult to determine if there is simply an ingredient missing or if something is wrong with the entire recipe. In Charlie Countryman, originally titled The Necessary Death of Charlie …

16 November 2013
Redford, alone in All is Lost
By Brock Swinson // Cinema
Following up his pre-financial crisis film, Margin Call, writer-director J.C. Chandor’s second film, All is Lost, hits indie theaters like a storm. The film opens with a voice over and …

02 October 2013
Breaking Bad, In the End
By Brock Swinson // TV
With most shows, viewers spend countless hours discussing possible endings for the series. With Breaking Bad, however, there were certain truths that had to happen and most of us were …

28 September 2013
Breaking Bad 5.15 “Granite State”
By Brock Swinson // TV
The penultimate Breaking Bad launches with Saul entering his own version of witness protection. Played by Robert Forster (Jackie Brown, Mulholland Drive), Ed sets up Saul with a new identity …

26 September 2013
Dexter, Series Finale (+ DVD Update)
By Brock Swinson // TV
Over the past few episodes, Dexter fans have been forced to ride a range of emotions. While a roller coaster of heart-pumping reactions are expected from a series finale, the …

19 September 2013
Dexter 8.11 “Monkey In A Box”
By Brock Swinson // TV
With one episode left to go, it appears that Dexter has deluded himself into thinking that everything will work out for a perfect Argentina ending. If he had been able …

17 September 2013
Breaking Bad 5.14 “Ozymandias”
By Brock Swinson // TV
Designed to remind us of how far we’ve come, “Ozymandias” begins with a flashback. Before things got so complicated, Walter and Jesse cooked in a Winnebago in the middle of …

12 September 2013
Dexter 8.10 “Goodbye Miami”
By Brock Swinson // TV
Dexter Morgan is dangerously close to leaving Miami. As personal fans, viewers are torn between seeing our hero slay the evil Oliver Saxon to protect Dr. Vogel and seeing him …

11 September 2013
Breaking Bad 5.13 “To’Hajiilee”
By Brock Swinson // TV
Breaking Bad is arguably one of the greatest shows on television. This week, the writing staff and creators have actually topped themselves with one of the best episodes they have …