Black & A Half

The Longest Running Comedy Podcast In Seattle. Probably.

Video – The Bookend #6 – After “From The Desert Comes A Stranger”

Here’s episode #6 of The Bookend, an unauthorized, unsanctioned, and un-asked for aftershow for the Book of Boba Fett, Episode #6 “From The Desert Comes A Stranger.” Hosted by Silas Lindenstein and Brian Trendler


ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Episode #194: The Greatest TV Couples Of All Time

Guest and comic Tara Weidner joins Silas for this episode to discuss The Greatest TV Couples Of All Time.

Video – The Bookend #5 – Aftershow for The Book Of Boba Fett Episode 5 – “The Return of Mandalorian”

Here’s episode #5 of The Bookend, an unauthorized, unsanctioned, and un-asked for aftershow for the Book of Boba Fett, Episode #5, The Return of The Mandalorian.

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Episode 193: Silas’ Top 11 Favorite Films of 2021

Silas breaks down his favorite 11 films from 2021.

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Review: The Tender Bar

Tender Bar Review (2021)

R ‧ Coming of Age Drama ‧ 1 hour 46 minutes

Directed by George Clooney
Screenplay by William Monahan

Based on The Tender Bar by J. R. Moehringer

Review by Silas Lindenstein

THE CAST

Ben Affleck as Uncle Charlie
Tye Sheridan as J. R. Moehringer
Lily Rabe as Dorothy Moehringer
Christopher Lloyd as Grandpa
Daniel Ranieri as Young J. R. Moehringer
Rhenzy Feliz as Wesley
Briana Middleton as Sidney
Max Casella as Chief

THE STORY

Set in 1970s Long Island,[2] 9-year-old J. R. Maguire and his mother Dorothy move back in with his grandparents following her breakup with his father. There, he forms a bond with his Uncle Charlie, the owner of a local bar. Charlie acts as a surrogate father to J. R. and encourages him in his pursuit of becoming a successful writer. Charlie’s mother is determined that he will go to Yale or Harvard and become a lawyer.

THE REVIEW

Watching The Tender Bar is like getting a big hug from an Aunt you like. It’s a comforting hug. It feels nice because it’s familiar. It isn’t the best hug, you’ve had hugs like this before, and you’ll have them again. It’s nothing special, but it’s nice. 

The Tender Bar is ripe with the nostalgia you expect from a coming of age story.  A lot of it is familiar, even if you can’t place it exactly; the boy who wishes his Dad was around, and gets more love from his Uncle and his friends than he ever could from his Dad. Dreaming of a better life when they get older and getting to see the slow crawl toward that something better. 

So the story is okay. The premise is alright. The acting….that’s where this film really shines. Ben Affleck is really great as Uncle Charlie, the “smarter than everyone else in the room Uncle” who owns a bar called The Dickens. Affleck is so natural and speaks and matches the tone of film just perfectly. He’s charming, funny, kind, and empathetic. He’s the uncle we all want and he plays it with very little effort. 

Our main character is split into two actors, the young  J. R. Moehringer played by Daniel Ranieri  and the older JR played by Tye Sheridan. Both do an exceptionally well job portraying the lead character, their innocence while marching forward in life is very relatable, slightly awkward, and fun. 

The other well done aspect of the film is the direction. The tone of the film is hit just right by director George Clooney. He does an excellent job of directing really solid moments of the film that engage you with the characters and make you root for them. He also has impeccable comic timing and makes sure that the comedy in the film runs through without being over the top or out of tone with the rest of the film. 

What stops the film from being truly great is that there is nothing new or overwhelmingly moving about the film. There isn’t a stand out scene that blows you away. It’s a solid film, but one that doesn’t make you feel like you are

seeing something incredibly special. 

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

  1. Ben Affleck – Golden Globe Nomination and my pick
  2. Skillful Direction
  3. Story  Well adapted from the book

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

  1. Can feel slow at times
  2. Story jumps from little kid to young man quickly. 
  3. Nothing New to the story. Coming of age story is now when I was coming of age. This makes me feel old

THE LESSON

Everyone needs an Uncle Charlie.

THE FINAL WORD

You don’t watch this kind of film because you want to learn more about humanity, you watch it because of the comfort that nostalgia allows. You watch it because you are finally seeing your generations growing up on the big screen. You watch it because it will give you warm feels and you don’t risk a lot.

Will you laugh?

Yes, at times. 

THE VERDICT

My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

The Tender Bar gets a Like It

The Tender Bar is available to watch for free on Amazon Prime with membership.

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Episode 184: Khaled Ridgeway and Death Of A Telemarketer, Plus 8-Bit Christmas Review

This week Silas is joined by director and writer of the new film Death of A Telemarketer, Khaled Ridgeway, for an interview. Before that Silas reviews that film and the new HBO Max Original film 8-Bit Christmas.

5:29 – Review of 8-Bit Christmas
16:10 – Review of Death Of A Telemarketer
24:28 – Interview with Khaled Ridgeway

Episode 183: Reviews of Encanto, King Richard, and Tick Tick Boom

This episode Silas reviews the new Disney film Encanto, the new WB film King Richard, and Netflix’s Tick Tick Boom.

Episode 181 Reviews: Soulmates, Lovehard, The Harder They Fall

This week Silas reviews the new films Soulmates, Lovehard, and The Harder They Fall.

Episode 176: Five SIgns You May Not Be Taking Care Of Yourself


Silas & Samantha discuss Five Signs you aren’t taking care of yourself.


Episode #146: The Million Dollar Episode

Recurring guest Joe Grienauer joined Samantha and Silas to chat about his $100 to $1 Million Dollar challenge that he just started attempting and Silas is joining him, using the stock trading app Robinhood.  If you want to try the Robinhood App and get a free stock valued anywhere between $1 and $250, and support the show by getting Silas a free stock also, use this link to sign up. https://join.robinhood.com/silasl

Ways to support Black & A Half!!!

Please give us a 5 star rating and review & subscribe to us on iTunes!

Become a supporter on Patreon for a small monthly donation: www.Patreon.com/blackandahalf

Get free stock to trade by clicking these links and support us at the same time

ROBINHOOD – Get a free stock and we will too when you sign up for the stock trading app Robinhood at https://join.robinhood.com/silasl

WeBull – Sign up Webull and get anywhere between 2-4 stocks depending on the promotion when you deposit $100 or more. We get two free stocks when you make that deposit within the first 30 days. Sign up for WeBull here.

Sponsorship

This episode is brought to you by Silas Lindenstein at Boutique Brokerage, real estate agent and host of the top 25 apple podcast – You’re Buying A Home with Silas Lindenstein listen to that here. If you are in the Seattle area and looking to buy or sell a home. Email Silas at Silas@SilasGetsReal.com or text him at 206-351-9230.

If you are out of the Seattle area but looking to buy or sell a home, you can also support Black & A Half by getting a real estate referral partner from Silas. Email him for more info.

Beyond Technique Coaching by Samantha RundSamantha is an actor, comedian, and coach who has performed on stage and screen across the country. Recently, she can be seen on 3 Busy Debras on Adult Swim. She is passionate about enriching and empowering people’s lives through the arts. Her coaching business Beyond Technique Coaching uses performance principles to help people bring more of their whole selves ( voice, body, and mind) to their lives and work. www.samantharund.com

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