Wild and Crazy Guys (2019) – Nick de Semlyen

I loved Nick de Semlyen’s The Last Action Heroes which took readers behind the scenes of the big 80s action heroes, their successes and blunders. When I heard he’s also written one about the big comedy stars of the 80s I sought out a copy of Wild and Crazy Guys immediately. The focus of this…

Tropic Thunder (2008) – Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller directed the ultimate Hollywood satire with Tropic Thunder. He developed the story with Justin Theroux, and the pair wrote a script with Ethan Cohen. It’s sharp, pointed, and under its endlessly quotable dialogue and performances is a skewering look at Tinsel Town. Everything seems to be a lie, from promotions to images to…

Ballers: Season 1

  Dwayne Johnson takes to the field in the new HBO series, Ballers, from creator Stephen Levinson, which was released on June 14. I dug into the series on blu-ray to have a look. My first instinct, and I stand by it, is that it’s more of a dramedy than the pitched comedy, and it…