Review: Tumbledown + The Dead Poet

Tumbledown Takes a Bit of a Stumble

By Jaya Daniel

Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Rebecca Hall, Joe Manganiello, Blythe Danner

In 250 Characters or Less:

A young widow is forced to come to terms with her husband’s death – a folk singer who died in a tragic accident – when a writer comes along, interested in writing about the young singer’s life.

What Works:

Two words…Jason Sudeikis. A college professor who wants to tell the story of a young musician he admired, Andrew has to deal with a tempestuous widow who does all she can to keep her husband’s memories to herself. But, in trying to find out the truth about his life, as well as his death, Andrew is forced to come to terms with some demons of his own. Sudeikis is charming and a good sport, considering the roadblocks thrown his way, including a woman who is unnecessarily rude and malevolent.

Be Aware:

I found it incredibly hard to sympathize with Hannah, the young widow. While you can feel for her loss, she makes a bad first impression and continues to act in a way that makes it hard for you to feel compassion for her situation. While trying to protect her husband’s legacy, she’s rough and coarse. Though at times you could sense Hannah’s vulnerability, it was gone as soon as it arrived.

Tumbledown is available on iTunes and Amazon video.

Overall Grade: C+

 

The Dead Poet

By Soraya Hanzus

Courtesy of TheDeadPoet.com

In 250 Characters or Less:

The Dead Poet is the place to be for all things whiskey, popcorn, conversation, literature and, most importantly, beer! This laid back establishment satisfies patrons from all walks of life -- everyone from college kids to the after-work crew.

What Works:

This Irish pub (hint: “Irish” is the theme of this week… stay tuned for many more related posts!) boasts a lengthy beer menu that includes numerous craft beers well beyond what a Budweiser or Miller are able to offer. It is also known for pouring one of the finest pints of Guinness in the area -- and is always served with a shamrock! Another plus is the free popcorn that pairs nicely with the beer and relaxed atmosphere. In addition to beer, the bar offers an extensive cocktail list including a large Irish whiskey menu.

What most differentiates The Dead Poet though is that it was created to celebrate the lives and spirits of famous writers and poets. As such, the bar’s walls are decorated with portraits, quotes, and poems. To top it off, patrons can literally take home a book -- choosing from the library of classic literature offered at the bar.

Be Aware:

Do not mistake The Dead Poet for many of the other seemingly similar bars in the Upper West Side. It may look like any of the other dives lining Amsterdam Ave, but this is no Bourbon Street or Jake’s Dilemma… No bras hanging from the ceiling. No two-for-one tequila shot deal. And that isn’t a bad thing. The Dead Poet is a much more sophisticated joint than its next-door neighbors -- without the pretension of a wine bar. This easily overlooked bar simply prides itself in serving up beer from many parts of the world for patrons to enjoy during a quiet evening with friends. Just know this isn’t a place to indulge in martinis while dancing to Britney. If that’s your cup of tea, head down the street to The Gin Mill.

Overall Grade: A

450 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper West Side

(212) 595-5670

www.thedeadpoet.com

TV Shows That Were Cancelled Too Soon

By Jaya Daniel

There are too many shows out there that have gotten unfairly cancelled due to low ratings. As pointed out in TV ADD = Missing Out?, in this day and age many times shows aren’t given the chance to grow an audience. Here is my list of the top 5 show that were cancelled too soon.

Veronica Mars

Cast: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Percy Daggs III, Enrico Colantoni

 

While it’s true the series had a chance to wrap up its story with a movie, it doesn’t ease the sting of the show getting cancelled before its time. Revolving around a young private detective, Veronica Mars was a smartly written show with witty dialogue and excellent characters.

If you like Veronica Mars you may want to try iZombie. A newly turned zombie, Liv helps the police department solve cases based on the visions she gets from the brains she eats. Rose McIver as Liv is nothing short of brilliant with all the characters she plays.

Firefly

Cast: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin

Another show that ended its short life with a movie (Serenity), Firefly only had one season, but grew a large cult following in the sci-fi world. This space western centers on Mal (Fillion) and his crew of smugglers. The show is funny, sharp and full of action and drama.

If you like Firefly you may want to try Supernatural. A supernatural thriller about brothers who hunt demons, the show is funny, clever and full of heart. And 11 seasons in, it shows no signs of slowing down.

Selfie

Cast: Karen Gillan, John Cho

Eliza is young and self-centered, but finds her social status plummeting when an embarrassing video of her goes viral. To revamp her image, she enlists the help of her marketing expert boss. The show may have had a slow start, but really picked up as the season went on and you found yourself falling in love with Eliza with each passing episode.

If you like Selfie you may want to try Younger. A divorced mother in her 40s decides to take charge her life and pretends to be a 20-something to get a job in publishing. But, she finds that keeping her secret may not be as easy as she thought.

Pushing Daisies

Cast: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Kristin Chenoweth

Ned, a sweet pie maker, has a unique ability to bring things back from the dead. The catch? He has one minute to touch them and return them dead, or something/someone of equal size will die in its place. Ned helps a private detective solve murders and collect the reward money, but they hit a snag in the plan when Ned brings his childhood sweetheart back to life and doesn't have the heart to kill her again.

If you like Pushing Daisies you may like Chuck. A tech for the nerd herd -- think Best Buy’s Geek Squad -- Chuck's life takes a turn when he inadvertently gets all the governments secrets, aka the intersect, downloaded into his brain and uses his newfound abilities to help catch bad guys.

Enlisted

Cast: Geoff Stults, Chris Lowell, Parker Young, Angelique Cabral

Three brothers, all in the army, find themselves serving at a base in Florida. While two of them are happy with their low-key assignments, the oldest brother, Pete, is less than thrilled with his new assignment of leading a troop of misfits. Critically acclaimed, the show only lasted one season, but deserved more with its funny antics and sensational characters.

If you like Enlisted you may like Brooklyn Nine-Nine. This comedy focuses on Detective Jake Peralta of Brooklyn’s 99th precinct. While an unconventional cop who may not follow the rules, he always get the job done. But, when a new, no-nonsense captain joins the precinct, Jake finds himself struggling to adjust to the new rules.

Honorable Mention

• Matthew Perry’s Go On - a man who lost his wife and is ordered to go to group therapy after having a breakdown
• Jay Harrington’s Better Off Ted - a work-place comedy with quirky characters and one man who has to keep it all going
• Bryan Fuller’s Wonderfalls - a girl hears voices from inanimate objects and she has to listen or risk the consequences
• Malin Akermin’s Trophy Wife - a young newly-married women dealing with her husband’s three children and two ex-wives
• Judd Apatow favorites Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared - a group of high school and college students deal with the pitfalls of growing up

Fun Night In: Netflix Originals Worth Checking Out + Tasty Homemade Arroz Con Pollo

Shows Worth Checking out on Netflix

By Jaya Daniel

Netflix is no longer just a platform for streaming programming, but has become a network on its own offering a cornucopia of original programming.

Given a Second Life

Netflix has brought a number of shows back to life, years after they ended their run on network television or played on the big screen. These titles include Wet Hot American Summer about a group of campers and counselors on their first day at Camp Firewood; Arrested Development about the dysfunctional Bluth family; and Gilmore Girls, which hasn’t aired yet, but will be returning with four 90 minute episodes.

The newest addition to this category is Fuller House. Similar to the original concept, DJ is a single mom of three who finds herself overwhelmed with the daunting task of raising her children alone. To help her out, her sister Stephanie and best friend Kimmy, along with her daughter, move into the house. Peppered with cameos from past cast mates, Fuller House offers a more mature and watchable show…if you can get past the nostalgia overloaded first episode.

Documentaries

From Blackfish, about the dangers of capturing and containing killer whales, to uncovering King Richard III’s bones underneath a parking lot over 500 years after his death in Secrets: Richard III Revealed, Netflix is full of compelling documentaries. However, the one that has recently received the most attention is Making a Murderer. Wrongly accused and sent to prison for murder, Steven Avery is released from prison only to be arrested again for murder a year later. But, was he justly arrested or did police corruption play a role in his incarceration?

Movies on the Small Screen

Netflix had such great success with original television shows that they tested the waters with a full-length film, Beasts of No Nation starring Idris Elba and Abraham Attah. The drama centers on Agu, a child soldier forced to fight in a civil war, leading him to experience cruelty no child should ever have to endure.

A Dose of Comic Relief

Comedies are in no short supply on Netflix. While they may not garner as much attention as the dramas, they are still worth checking out. Created by Tina Fey, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a quirky comedy about a woman who was kidnapped and lived in a bunker, thinking the world had been destroyed. Freed from captivity, she’s living a full, though incredibly naïve, life in NYC. On the other end of the spectrum is Grace and Frankie. Two women find out their husbands, who are partners in a law firm, have fallen in love and are partners outside the courtroom as well. Now they have to adjust to being newly single so late in life, as well as accept their new family dynamic.

However, if you’re looking for a smart and refreshing comedy to sink your teeth into I recommend Aziz Ansari’s Master of None. It follows the everyday life of a young actor trying to make it in NY. The show has compelling content that is incredibly relatable to audiences of all ages.

Pause for Dramatic Effect

There are so many amazing dramas to watch on Netflix that the issue ends up being how do you find time to watch everything? You can experience prison life in Orange is the New Black; the pitfalls of drug trafficking in Narcos; living under the rule of Kublai Khan in Marco Polo; navigating family and life while keeping everyone’s skeletons hidden in the closet in Bloodline; or saving the people of Hells Kitchen in the superhero thrillers Daredevil and Jessica Jones.

But, with the political climate so intense right now, the premiere of House of Cards’ fourth season couldn’t have come at a better time. A political thriller full of scandal, backdoor deals and manipulation, this show is so much more than a guilty pleasure.

Click here to see what’s streaming on Hulu.

Click here to see what’s streaming on Amazon Prime.

***

Arroz Con Pollo

by Soraya Hanzus

As Narcos takes place in Columbia, get in the right mindset for this intense show with a classic Colombian favorite - arroz con pollo, aka chicken and rice.

This recipe yields four servings:

Ingredients

• 2 whole chicken breasts, bone and skin removed
• 2 ½ cups of chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon tablet
• 1 cup of long-grain white rice
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 scallion
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 minced garlic clove
• ½ cup of frozen peas
• ½ cup of frozen diced carrots
• ½ cup of frozen diced green beans
• ½ white onion
• ½ tablespoon of ground cumin
• ½ tablespoon of sazon Goya with azafran
• ¼ cup of chopped onion
• ¼ cup of chopped red bell pepper
• ¼ cup of chopped green pepper
• ¼ cup of chopped fresh cilantro
• Salt and pepper

Directions

• Put the chicken breast, 5 cups of water, and the remaining ingredients for the stock in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to a medium low. Cook for 20-25 minutes. Turn the heat off and let the chicken rest in the pot for roughly 15 minutes covered. Let it cool, shred, and set aside. Strain stock and measure 2 ½ cups and set aside.  
  
• Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, green peppers, garlic, and red bell pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent.
  
• Add the rice, tomato paste, chicken bouillon, and sazon Goya. Stir until the rice is well coated. Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for approximately 15 minutes. Add the peas, carrots, and green beans. Cook for an additional 7 minutes, add the shredded chicken and cilantro, mix well with a fork, cover, and cook for five more minutes.