William Bibbiani Reviews 'Ocean's 8'

Sandra Bullock leads an all-star cast in "Ocean's 8," a spin-off of Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's 11" reboot franchise, in which an ex-con assembles a team of women with special skills to an astoundingly valuable necklace from the Met Gala in New York City. Gary Ross ("The Hunger Games") directs, and Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Mindy Kaling and Sarah Paulson co-star.

In his review, William Bibbiani says that "Ocean's 8" is "the most satisfying installment in the franchise," and that the film also "delivers sharp commentary on celebrity culture."

Read: William Bibbiani Reviews "Ocean's 8" at IGN

Top Photo: Warner Bros.

Canceled Too Soon #100: Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

It's the 100th episode of Canceled Too Soon, and we're celebrating with our most requested show ever! It's "Freaks and Geeks," the celebrated comedy that jumpstarted the careers of Judd Apatow, Paul Feig, Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Busy Philipps, John Francis Daley, Martin Starr and this week's special guest, Samm Levine!

William Bibbiani and Witney Seibold look back on what made "Freaks and Geeks" so special, and interview Samm Levine for behind the scenes stories about his favorite episodes, in this epic 100th episode spectacular!

Critically Acclaimed #30: 'The Haunted Mansion' and '13 Ghosts'

We're your best nightmare! This week on Critically Acclaimed, by listener request, we're reviewing the family horror comedy "The Haunted Mansion," based on the Disney amusement part ride, starring Eddie Murphy. And we're pairing this expensive CGI would-be blockbuster with William Castle's ultra-cheap, but infinitely more effective all-ages haunted house classic "13 Ghosts!"

Plus, reviews of the new releases "Adrift," "Upgrade," "Action Point," "The Misandrists" and "American Animals," and we also respond to more of your emails!

Give it a listen!

Witney Seibold Reviews 'Action Point'

Tim Kirkby's "Action Point" is based on the real-life story of a notoriously unsafe amusement park, and stars Johnny Knoxville (of "Jackass" fame) as the owner of the establishment. Johnny Knoxville's particular brand of death-defying physical humor takes center stage as usual.

In his review, Witney Seibold says "Action Point" is "as shabby as its rides" and that Knoxville's performance as an old man looking back with fondness on the film's dangerous gags "may be his subtle way of acknowledging his own ebbing cultural significance."

Read: Witney Seibold Reviews 'Action Point' at IGN

Top Photo: Paramount Pictures

Witney Seibold Reviews 'American Animals'

Bart Layton's "American Animals," starring Barry Keoghan from "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" and a believably manic Evan Peters, tells the true story of a quartet of bored college kids who, inspired distantly by heist movies, decide to rob their campus library of several valuable Darwin and Audubon volumes. Their story is told using both traditional fictionalized storytelling and actual interviews with the real men who committed the crime. 

In his review, Witney points out that the meta-textual elements are somewhat engaging, but the pacing is too slow and sleepy for the film to be wholly successful. 

Read: Witney Seibold Reviews "American Animals" on IGN

Top Photo: The Orchard / MoviePass Ventures

The Beginner’s Guide to Movies: Where Do I Start?

One of the questions film critics get asked a lot is where a young movie fan should get started, and frankly, I sympathize. Every year we get further and further away from the dawn of cinema, and the amount of material a film fan needs to “catch up on” only gets larger, and more daunting.

The simple answer to that question is… you just have to start somewhere. Pick a filmmaker, or pick a genre, and start watching movies! But as with most journeys, it’s easier - and frequently, more fun - to have a guide to help you along.

That’s where The Beginner’s Guide comes in. Every week, the critics here at Critically Acclaimed will help you on your path to film fandom, with starter courses on filmmakers, subgenres, terminology, and even how to read film criticism in a way that expands your view of the medium.

And since we just have to start somewhere, let’s start at the very beginning, and make sure you have the tools you’ll need to explore film history and become an expert!

Here’s what you’ll need…

Double Features: Adrift (2018)

No motion picture exists in a vacuum. Every week on Double Features, film critics William Bibbiani and Witney Seibold watch a new release and offer their individual picks for the perfect film to watch right afterwards, illuminating the themes, the artistry and the history of each movie.

This week's new release: "Adrift," based on the true story of Tami Oldham, a young woman who sailed across the ocean with her boyfriend, ran into a devastating storm, and had to survive the elements for over a month.

Here's what the critics picked...!