Tom Hooper has two upcoming projects due to come out in the near future: the BBC/HBO fantasy series His Dark Materials and an adaptation of Cats. This means it is a great time to revisit his adaptation of the musical Les Misérables. Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) was a man who was released on parole after serving a 19-year sentence for stealing […]
Watchmen – It’s Summer and We’re Running Out of Ice Review
A bit of housekeeping before I jump into my review of the Watchmen series premiere, “It’s Summer and We’re Running Out of Ice.” First up, I’ll be reviewing this exquisite new series on a weekly basis here at Pop Culture Maniacs, and I’m happy you’ve opted to join me on this journey. Next, as with […]
Big Mouth Season Three Review
Perhaps the best compliment I can give Big Mouth is that when I reached the end of season three, I didn’t realize it and was utterly crushed that there wasn’t another episode to watch. It’s rare to find a show that is both so smart and so soulful – that isn’t afraid to really go […]
Gemini Man Review
Gemini Man was a high-concept action-thriller that has been in development since 1997. Directors like Tony Scott and Curtis Hanson were attached as well as actors like Nicolas Cage, Mel Gibson, and Clint Eastwood before Ang Lee and Will Smith took it on. Henry Brogan (Smith) is the best assassin the American government has. He’s able […]
Succession: Television’s Most Relatable Unrelatable Series
Remember when Game of Thrones went off the air back in May and everyone wondered if HBO would ever have another hit show that captured the cultural zeitgeist? Well, who would have thought it would only take them a few months to clean-up once again? For those of us who fell in love (or fell […]
Modern Love (Spoiler-Free) Review
Amazon’s latest television offering sounds great on paper: an anthology series exploring love in the Big Apple, starring the likes of Anne Hathaway, Dev Patel, Tina Fey, John Slattery (Mad Men), and Andrew Scott (the Hot Priest of Fleabag), where each episode clocks in at around 30 minutes. With those bonafides, Modern Love should be […]
Sanditon Episode 8 Review
Sanditon has come to an end after eight episodes. After their ups-and-downs will Charlotte and Sidney finally find happiness together or will the Gods of fate conspirer against them again? The Regatta was a success, boosting Sanditon’s reputation as a seaside resort. It means preparations can be made for the Midsummer Ball. There are important changes […]
El Camino (Spoiler-Filled) Review
I should know by now to trust Vince Gilligan when he says he has an idea that will bring us all back into the Breaking Bad universe. But, as with the announcement of Better Call Saul six years ago, I approached El Camino with caution. After all, I was part of the camp of critics […]
Joker Review
What does it take for someone to become a villain? Does it take a lifetime of abuse or simply one bad day for them to snap? This is the question Todd Phillips attempts to answer in his foray into the superhero genre. Gotham is a crime-ridden, rat-infested hellhole. There’s a huge divide between the rich […]
The Day Shall Come Review
Chris Morris made a real splash with his directional debut Four Lions, a dark comedy about four idiots who want to become suicide bombers. After nine years he returns to filmmaking with his follow-up film The Day Shall Come. Moses Al Shabz (Marchant Davis) is the founder of the Star of Six mission in Miami. He preaches […]










