The Bear Season 3 | Review by: Benjamin Garrett

After two Michelin Star quality seasons, The Bear has returned for another course. Season three is missing some of the ingredients that earned the series universal acclaim, but make no mistake, this is still one of the best shows currently airing.

It’s a testament to the exceptional quality of seasons one and two, that this (still great) season of television feels like a bit of a comedown. These ten episodes play out like the first part of a larger story, and therefore the season lacks a true, complete arc. Seasons 3 and 4 were reportedly filmed back to back, and there’s a lot of great groundwork laid here for whatever comes next. The narrative momentum is taken from a boil to a simmer, in favour of spending time developing the characters we’ve come to know and love. The lack of story progression left me occasionally wanting something meatier, but the character work is so damn strong that I still loved every moment we got to spend with them.

This show has become so much bigger than the restaurant at its centre. Last season saw us explore characters’ lives further outside of the kitchen, and that continues here. There’s still plenty of the beautiful culinary chaos the show is known for, but this season’s best moments are the smaller ones between various characters. There aren’t any episodes in this batch that reach the heights of “Fishes” or “Forks”, but there’s one that comes close. “Napkins” - an episode directed by Ayo Edebiri, is easily the best of the season, and among the finest episodes of the show in general.

The production value continues to showcase an exceptional level of care and precision. The series understands and respects the culinary arts as well as the service industry in general. The editing is razor sharp, and the cinematography is stunning. This season also finds the series indulging in its artsier side. Episode one in particular takes a bold approach, with an expertly cut vignette that cycles through the highs and lows of Carmy’s culinary career. Some may find it slow or pretentious, but I think the show has earned the right to experiment with its presentation - much like how a restaurant tests out new dishes.

Salt. Fat. Acid. Heat. A great dish is all about balancing its components - something The Bear has previously excelled at. Season three isn’t as finely focused or expertly balanced, but it’s hard to judge fairly, as it’s the first part of a two course meal. This remains one of television’s best offerings, and I can’t wait to dig into season four.

4/5

Review by: Benjamin Garrett

Boss Level Film Review

Boss Level is a new addition to the time loop genre, with a twist. Ex-special forces officer, Roy Pulver, played by Frank Grillo, relives the same day until he dies. Every day he is hunted by assassins and when killed, he wakes up back in his bed where he started, only to have to try and survive all over again. Roy has no idea why he is stuck in this infinite time loop but he must do what he can to survive, and the longer he survives, the more he uncovers about his particular situation. Unlike most action films that take time to build up, this film gets right into it and offers tons of non-stop combat sequences that would satisfy any lover of action films. Its erratic flow makes for some fun action scenes which come out of nowhere since Roy can expect the assassins to attack at any moment. If you play video games often and have ever been stuck on a level for hours or even days, you know the feeling of having to repeat the same thing over and over again u...

Better Man | Review by: Benjamin Garrett

What at first feels like a CGI gimmick allows Better Man to climb and swing it’s way beyond standard biopic conventions. This larger than life musical is worth a watch even if, like me, you needed to ask “Who the hell is Robbie Williams?”. A pop icon in the UK who didn’t quite make a household name for himself in North America, Robbie Williams bares his life (the good the bad and the drug fueled ugly) in this dazzling account of his rise to fame. Musician biopics often focus too heavily on the creation of the artist’s work, and not enough on the actual artist. Better Man gives audiences a sobering portrait of the man behind the monkey, with his songs placed in pivotal life and career moments to move the narrative forward. This works especially well if you aren’t entirely familiar with Williams’ work, because you won’t find yourself waiting to hear specific needle drops. Instead they flow organically into the story, with gorgeously choreographed musical numbers. And bo...

Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day | Review by: Stefano Bove

Four close friends and renowned filmmakers in 1959’s Yugoslavia are out to make a feature film of the war. They have a unique perspective and are able to discuss the war as decorated war veterans. Lovro, Nenad, Stevan and Ivan use film to express themselves and criticize society but that doesn’t sit well with the Yugoslavian Communist Party. As The Party steps in to control the film for propagandistic reasons, the four filmmakers fear it may be to gain insight on their sexual orientation. Emir Hadžihafizbegović is entrusted by the head of the Communist Party to oversee the films production but is also told by the party to sabotage the film by any means necessary. Emir as well as our four filmmakers are all exceptional in this film. The dynamic between these five actors is a wave of emotions as Emir hides his true intentions and the filmmakers hide their sexual orientation from the world. The film is in a gorgeous black and white and boasts absolutely stunning cinematography from ...

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