Cortland Wrote It

  ROOSTER Steve Carell is back in Michael Scott form. The sarcasm and comedic precision are still there. Like most The Office fanatics, there’s a part of me that’s always wondered what Michael Scott would be like as a father—how he’d grow, how he’d love, how he’d handle life as it gets more real. Rooster feels like a glimpse into that imagination. It’s a multi-universe comparison, sure—but somehow, HBO delivers something NBC never did. It gives us evolution. At the same time, Rooster reveals a more mature, intellectual side of Carell that really highlights his range as an actor. When we talk about the best male actors working today, his name deserves to be in that conversation. His résumé speaks for itself. What makes this show hit is its relatability. It pulls you in because it captures the full spectrum of adult life—humor, heartbreak, confusion, growth—all wrapped into what could easily be any given day for any given person. There’s a beautiful contrast between the fresh perspec...

Ken Burns’ documentary, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION , was an interesting watch. I highly anticipated it and can honestly say it was worth every minute. I learned more about the American Revolution from this six-part series than I ever did in grade school or college. I especially appreciated how the first two or three episodes focus heavily on the perspectives of Indigenous peoples of North America and enslaved Africans who were kidnapped and forced into labor on this land. I also liked the reminders that slavery was not confined to the American South, but existed throughout the Midwest and the North as well. Many Americans tend to forget that the largest slave plantation in the country was once located in what is now Brooklyn, New York. While the North abolished slavery earlier than the South, life for Native Americans and Black people in those regions was still extremely difficult, as they were viewed as lower-class citizens or peasants. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new p...

I’m always intrigued by sequels that have 20 year gaps, like this one. Gladiator came out in May 2000 and Gladiator II came out November 2024 but the alignment was pretty accurate. I feel like they had to go out of their way to make the movies connect but they ultimately did it. The character-importance was fairly confusing in the end because it seemed Hanno’s wife, Arishat was relevant to the story but she in fact was not. They also set the seen for the character of Jugurtha (played by Peter Mensah) to be relevant to the movie almost in the same sense of Juba’s character in the first Gladiator, but he in fact was not either. I think the movie was written out of excitement and maybe a little force. It doesn’t seem to have been an organic process… which could also be the reason it took 24 years for the sequel to come out. Personally, as a writer, I’ve been there before. At the time this review is being released I currently have 4 published books and I definitely rushed two of them. The ...

  Let me start by saying…What a phenomenal series! Apple TV+ doesn’t have the most expansive selection of original content but they did the DAMN thing with this one. Samuel L. Jackson played Mr. Grey so well I thought he was a real person at first. I had to Google whether or not this person existed. I think the writers put in some Easter Eggs and deeper messages reminding us of how important it is to take care of our own and how important it is to love on one another. As Mr. Grey had a foggy mind over the years, all it took was some love and curiously to help heal him. I love that he chose to (mostly) do good while his mind was clear, versus going on a revenge tour. I was so into this one that my heart broke when he when Hilly took Mr. Grey, his uncle, to his family’s house for a funeral. His family was really messed up, minus Reggie—Reggie was a great man! Dominique Fishback who plays Robyn aka Bird, also killed her role. Her instant chemistry and TLC with her “uncle” aka Mr. Grey...

Hollywood, are you okay? I was hesitant to watch this movie because it’s a blend of comedy and mystery—two genres that don’t typically mesh well. The movie stars Lil Rel Howery, who’s perfected the art of stealing the show. However, I have to ask:  Hollywood, what’s going on? The script was predictable, and there wasn’t a genuine mystery in the plot. Within the first ten minutes, the writers practically hand us the answer to the “whodunit.” Besides Howery, the only other recognizable face for me was Jillian Bell, who plays her usual quirky character. I’m not trying to be funny, but it felt like this was the casting team’s first rodeo; there wasn’t any real on-screen chemistry among the actors. Now, don’t get me wrong—everyone deserves a chance to showcase their talents, update their reels, and get their paycheck. But this movie just wasn’t it. It was predictable to the point that I almost felt the stars were in it more for the check than out of passion for their craft. One detail I...

I’ve waited 22 years for something to happen that I never knew was possible! A television spinoff of the greatest international movie ever, CITY OF GOD! I do understand that they made a City of Men tv show in Brazil and there was a 10-year anniversary of The City of God but The Fight Rages on is direct and special. I’m writing this review in full excitement although it’s a bummer that the first season is only six episodes. I’m not completely shocked because that seems to be the way the TV industry is headed as streaming becomes bigger and bigger. I’ve noticed a lot of shows only have 6 to 10 episodes per season, which sucks to see because a lot of of us grew up on sitcoms and television shows from the 70s, 80s, 90s and early 2000s and these shows would have 24-to-28-episode seasons, the TV Studios were pushing out episodes for dang near half a year at times. HBO/MAX did a really good job with the scenarios in the script for season one the way they were able to recast a lot of the origi...

At the time of writing this critique, only the first two episodes of this show have been released. I’m reviewing it this early because I don’t see it lasting much longer. It’s very rare to see a spinoff of a spinoff, and Georgie and Mandy’s first wedding shows us why that’s so rare. I’m not sure if this show looked good on paper or whose idea it was to bring a grandchild of  The Big Bang Theory  into existence, but it’s simply not working. The reason I call it the “grandchild” of  The Big Bang Theory  rather than the “child” of  Young Sheldon  is because this show is filmed in front of a live studio audience, much like  The Big Bang Theory , while  Young Sheldon  is a traditional sitcom without an audience. Simply put, this show just isn’t funny. Before I dive deeper, I have to say—and I’m probably not the only one who thought this—that Mandy’s mom looks noticeably different on  Young Sheldon  compared to this show. I’m not sure if ...

  First and foremost, Edward Regan Murphy is an ICON. The new *Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F* stays true to the spirit of the franchise. The movie deserves two ratings: within the context of the previous three films, it’s an 8/10. However, by modern film standards, it gets a 5.5/10. I considered adding a *Spoiler Alert Warning*, but the movie is so predictable that it feels unnecessary. The plot revolves around corrupt cops mingling with notorious criminals, a character the protagonist cares about being kidnapped and used as leverage for an electronic chip or disk, and a young cop who goes rogue after being suspended. The predictability extends to knowing who the bad guys are and what’s going to happen next. One highlight is the director and editing crew’s excellent work in making Detroit look like it did in the 80s: cold, miserable, and tough. Unless, of course, things haven’t changed much in the city. The film almost gave off *Scooby Doo* vibes, where every episode is the same and pr...

So I went to see *Inside Out 2* with the family this past weekend, and I must say, it was subpar at best. This movie adds fuel to the burning fire that says, “Sequels are never as good as the original film.” Some movies don’t need sequels, and *Inside Out 2* is one of those movies. The movie was predictable from the jump. I feel like whoever wrote the film only wrote it because they needed a check. Instead of writing this film as if they needed a check, I wish they would’ve written this film as if RENT WAS DUE (If you know, you know). I would like to point out that June Squibb playing Nostalgia was GREAT casting; her lines in the movie were few, but she subtly stole the show. It’s cool that Riley is growing up and we get to see her next chapter in life as she’s sharpening her hockey skills, prepping for high school, and experiencing a wider range of emotions as she gets older. Her puberty experience was written as if she were Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde with a twist of Robert Frost’s “Th...

W H O A ! I have so much to say about SZN 2 of David Makes Man. This show may have given us one of the best jumps from season to season. I couldn’t have ever predicted seeing what I saw from SZN 1’s end to SZN 2’s begin(bars). First of all, OWN did a sensational job with casting. The adults they casted to play the older version of the children from SZN 1 was pretty spot on. From Young David(played by Akili McDowell) to Adult David(played by Kwame Patterson) to Young Shella(Kimaya Naomi) to Adult Shella(Zsané Jhé). Can’t forget young JG(Cayden K. Williams) & Adult JG (Arlen Escarpeta). Okay so back to the show, the concept that the writers of SZN 2 used is very therapyesque & mentally appealing. SZN 2 is basically setup to allow Adult David to reconcile his past relationships with everyone in his childhood, from his mom to his brother to his schoolmates to his neighbors. As an adult, David has a casual relationship with a woman named Nicole, played by the beautiful Brittany S. H...

We Don’t Talk About Bruno  *ENCANTO* 🕯 offers a fascinating yet important take on life. In J. Cole’s track “Love Yourz,” he raps, “No such thing as a life that’s better than yours.” I could be wrong but it feels like whoever wrote *Encanto* is a diehard J. Cole fan because this movie is the animated, mild version of that song. The main character, Mirabel, initially comes off as a hater. Her entire family is blessed with unique gifts, while she appears gift-less. She spends most of her time focused on her family’s gifts and her lack thereof, believing that a person’s gift defines their entire worth. Later in the movie, the writers show and prove that this mindset is neither true nor healthy. As humans, we are much more than the gifts God has blessed us with. Nobody is truly perfect, and anyone claiming to be perfect is probably unhappy on the inside. Another line from “Love Yourz” goes, “There’s beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success.” This bar is embodied in *Encanto* (as...

Alright, alright, alright! If you haven't seen "King Richard" yet, you're missing out! This film is a profoundly inspiring story that showcases the incredible journey of Venus and Serena Williams, two of the greatest athletes of all time. The trials and tribulations that their parents, Richard and Oracene Williams, went through to give their daughters the chance to become legends are truly motivating. It's a powerful portrayal of a Black father doing everything in his power to ensure his family's success and opportunities—a narrative we need more of. The movie doesn't shy away from showing Richard Williams' stubborn side, making it more realistic and relatable. As a Black father myself, I understand that his struggles and the process were far more detailed and challenging than depicted, but the film had to condense his story. The chemistry among the actors was natural and impressive, and they all deserve recognition for their performances. While I didn...

"Dickinson" might be the most underrated show right now. With shows like BMF dominating STARZ, INSECURE ruling HBO, SQUID GAME taking Netflix by storm, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga thriving on HULU, we must not overlook Dickinson on Apple TV+. Hailee Steinfeld is phenomenal as Emily Dickinson, bringing the poet and her poetry to life in a way we've never seen before. Given that we only have a few paintings of Dickinson, Steinfeld and the production team provide a vivid depiction of who she was, much like how we imagine dinosaurs from their bones. Dickinson's poems are her bones, providing the pieces to reconstruct her life. Steinfeld's on-screen chemistry with every character, especially with Wiz Khalifa, who plays "Death," is outstanding. Their interactions during the carriage ride scenes are captivating. The way they connect is so authentic that if someone told me they were a real-life couple, I'd believe it. The dynamics of their conversations ar...

First things first, whoever was in charge of casting for this series might be the greatest casting director of all time. Casting TJ Atoms as Ason, aka Ol’ Dirty Bastard, is one of the most accurate castings since Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles or Will Smith as Ali. TJ Atoms completely embodies the character of ODB, and it's even more impressive given that ODB is deceased and unavailable for TJ to study his full personality firsthand. Similarly, Ashton Sanders as Bobby Diggs, aka RZA, is a brilliant casting choice. Sanders nails RZA’s speaking voice and delivers a standout performance overall. He's one of those generational actors destined for greatness—I hope Hollywood recognizes his talent. This show was and is definitely needed. The Wu-Tang Clan never fully received the respect they deserved. The fact that they managed to set aside their Park Hill-Stapleton beefs and personal egos to form the Wu-Tang Clan is impressive. These guys took numerous risks, both calculated and uncalcula...

As a fan of West African culture and British accents, "In The Long Run" made my heart smile! Idris Elba's show is intriguing from start to finish—a hilarious, heartwarming, and culturally aware hit that deserves more recognition and accolades.  The story begins with Walter (Idris Elba) welcoming his younger brother Valentine (Jimmy Akingbola) to his home in England after moving from Sierra Leone. Set in the 80s, the show is filled with Jheri Curl juice and eccentric furniture. Valentine adjusts to his new life with the support of Walter, his wife Agnes (Madeline Appiah), and their son Kobna (Sammy Kamara). However, outside the home, Valentine faces the harsh realities of living in a majority-white country. Despite the cultural clash between his Sierra Leonian roots and England, his family and friends guide him along the way. Walter's best friend, coworker, and neighbor Bagpipes (Bill Bailey) is an understanding and modern-thinking man. Bagpipes and his wife Kristy (Ke...

First and foremost let me start by thanking Ed Helm’s character, Nathan Rutherford, for pronouncing “ NEVADA ” correctly. As a Vegas native I love hearing people from the other side of The Mississippi pronounce my home state correctly. Rutherford Falls, so far, has been a unique watch. I don’t think I’ve quite seen a (modern) show like this. Rutherford Falls is based in a town called…Rutherford Falls. A small town founded by European settlers who actually stole the land that they “found” from the local Native American tribe. That’s the typical American Discovery Story though so no one is surprised! The Town of Rutherford Falls is unofficially ran by Nathan Rutherford and officially ran by The Mayor, Diedre Chisenhall, who just so happens to be a Black woman, and officially unofficially owned and ran by the Minishonka Nation. See the dilemma ? Ultimately this show is about (the removal of) a controversial statue within the towns center square. Some want it removed because if it’s racis...

“White People Money” is an interesting watch! I always try to support my people and their art, regardless of the budget. This film is about 70 minutes long, but it covers a lot of important issues and topics within the African-American community. The beginning portrays a toxic relationship between a couple, which many can relate to. The film also highlights how Black women are often more financially mature than the Black men they date—a situation I've experienced myself. Kareem, the main character, works at a dead-end job with white colleagues who display implicit bias and racist behaviors, despite the company being Black-owned. Kareem and his toxic girlfriend, Nora, come into a lot of money and face the challenge of how to spend and invest it. While they have potential, the wrong people find out, and soon everyone wants a piece. Midway through the film, a burglar couple detains Kareem and Nora, and they deliver some harsh but valid truths about how many Black people handle newfoun...

“Free Guy” is an entertaining film about an 'Average Joe' who discovers he doesn't have to let life just happen to him every day. The CGI sequences and overall settings are top-notch, deserving of awards. The movie has a goofy, sarcastic tone that perfectly suits Ryan Reynolds. Having Lil Rel Howery as a co-star is initially surprising, but their comedic chemistry is spot-on, making their interactions hilarious. I can easily see them teaming up for another film. One of the standout features of “Free Guy” is its blend of multiple genres: science fiction, romance, comedy, and action. Initially, the romantic subplot seemed off to me, as Jodie Comer’s character, Molotov Girl, overlooks the love of her business partner for a virtual romance with the main character. However, this twist reflects the unpredictability of life, which often doesn't go as we imagine. This unpredictability adds to the film's charm. The cast also includes Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery, Taika Waitit...