I am breaking out this week’s TV show and movie recommendation: “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Hush.” These two are very different from last week’s recommendations so that you have many options to choose from.
I suggest that you watch one after the other, considering one is comedic and the other is horrific.
Description: After being rescued from an underground bunker in which she lived the past 15 years, Kimmy Schmidt decides to move to New York to have a normal life. She makes friends with her new roommate, Titus, and works as a babysitter for Jacqueline Voorhees, the wife of a billionaire with many issues. Even though many obstacles are thrown her way, Kimmy makes the best of her new life while having to adapt to the new world around her.
Average duration: ~ 30 min
Reaction:
Before- I recognized Ellie Kemper from “The Office,” which is my favorite television show.
After- It took me two attempts, but I finally finished it, and it was totally worth it.
Analysis:
- Centered or on the rule of thirds grid
- The medium close ups, medium shots and wide shots are used
- Fast cuts for conversation
- Costumes emphasize the characters’ eccentricities
- Vibrant colors are used to create a contrast.
Breakdown:
- Comedy
- Drama
- TV-14
- Netflix
- Three seasons and 52 episodes
- Kimmy in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is Ellie Kemper (“The Office”)
- Titus in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is Tituss Burgess (“Set It Up”)
- Lillian in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is Carol Kane (“The Princess Bride”)
- Jacqueline in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock”)
- One Critics Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Keywords: female protagonist, abduction, New York, fake apocalypse, cult
“Hush”
Description: A deaf writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window.
Duration: 1 hr 21 min
Reaction:
Before- There was a chance that this would be a good horror movie. Netflix is a great place to find horror movies that aren’t very popular but are really scary.
After- I was intrigued because it is one thing not to hear an intruder and another thing not to be able to hear at all.
Analysis:
- Underexposed
- Centered or on the rule of thirds grid
- Close ups and wide shots
- Pans
- The setting was a house in the woods.
- There are few props. Props are only used to move the story along.
- Little lighting
- Facial expressions and body language are important to the genre. When paired with music and sound effects, fear is evoked.
Breakdown:
- Horror
- Thriller
- R
- Intrepid Pictures
- Blumhouse Productions
- Man in “Hush” is John Gallagher Jr. (“10 Cloverfield Lane”)
- Sarah in “Hush” is Samantha Sloyan (“Grey’s Anatomy”)
- Keywords: home invasion, woman in jeopardy
If you like these, you should also check out: “Grace and Frankie,” “The Santa Clarita Diet,” “Would You Rather” and “The Girl in the Photographs.”
