A Disturbance in the Force: How the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened

A Disturbance in the Force (2023)

How the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened

by Ray Manukay

★★★☆☆

Watched 21 Dec 2023

An entertaining documentary exploring one of the most infamous TV specials in network television history. A Disturbance in the Force shares how the Star Wars Holiday Special became the famous disaster of epic proportions we know today.

🎬 Production Credits

Directors: Jeremy Coon, Steve Kozak

Writers: Jeremy Coon, Steve Kozak

Cinematography: Tim Irwin, Quinn Hester

Editor: Jeremy Coon

Music: Karl Preusser

Based on: The Star Wars Holiday Special

The documentary sympathetically shows how rushed timelines, inappropriate creative talent and the television landscape of the time all contributed to the doomed from the start project. — Ray Manukay

The Autopsy of a Disaster

What is interesting is how the film illustrates all the obvious faults with the concepts, ideas, and storylines of the special. It serves as a fascinating look at the insanity of 1970s variety television—a world where George Lucas was persuaded to turn his sci-fi phenomenon over to a format dominated by song and dance numbers.

💡 Fun Facts

• This documentary features the final film appearances of legendary comedian Gilbert Gottfried and author Jonathan Rinzler.
• In 1978, CBS pre-empted Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk to air the two-hour special to 13 million people.
• The special marks the first on-screen appearance of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in the Star Wars universe.

Key Contributors

• Seth Green & Weird Al Yankovic: Leading voices in the nerd community who help explain the special's bizarre legend.
• Donny Osmond: Offers surprising insight as someone who performed Star Wars spoofs on his own variety show.
• Bruce Vilanch: A writer for the original special who provides hilarious context on why the "aliens kept fainting".

✅ Pros

• Thoroughly researched historical context.
• Sympathetic look at the creators.
• Entertaining "VH-1 style" interviews.

❌ Cons

• Lacks new interviews from the core original cast (Ford, Hamill, Fisher).

Read the original review on Letterboxd

🏆 Final Verdict

A Disturbance in the Force is a must-watch for Star Wars completionists. It’s an affectionate, thorough, and often hilarious breakdown of why the Holiday Special happened—and why we can't stop talking about it decades later.

The Equalizer 3

The Equalizer 3 (2023)

Justice Knows No Borders

by Ray Manukay

★★★½

Redemptive adventures in Southern Italy

The Equalizer 3 continues the redemptive adventures of Robert McCall. A lethal mercenary who dedicates his life to leveling the playing field against evil and corrupt forces who prey on the helpless. There is no shortage of stories to tell, considering the origins of the character, so it's not too surprising that the audience still enjoys watching these adventures.

🎬 Production & Cast

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Robert McCall: Denzel Washington

Emma Collins: Dakota Fanning

Marco Quaranta: Andrea Dodero

Vincent Quaranta: Andrea Scarduzio

Runtime: 109 Minutes

Denzel Washington elevates the final instalment with some strong character work of his likeable, yet lethally deadly lead character. — Ray Manukay

The key to these stories are the villains. They have to be so despicable and unsavory that it's actually enjoyable to see McCall dispense justice with his slow burn torture and lethal equalizing. That is certainly the case here, with some of the most abhorrent antagonists to ever cross paths with McCall. Especially enjoyable is when Marco Quaranta (Andrea Dodero) learns a hard lesson on why it doesn't pay to be bad in McCall's presence.

Joining the series is an affable Dakota Fanning, marking a reunion with Washington since they shared the screen in Man on Fire. In terms of where this film ranks, I'd argue it's probably the best of the bunch—definitely superior to the second film.

✅ Pros

• Satisfying Man on Fire reunion with Dakota Fanning.
• Classic "slow burn" justice and lethal equalizing.
• Superior character work by Denzel Washington.

❌ Cons

• Generic plot beats found in the middle act.
• A rushed ending, that is supposed to possibly provide series closure, but feels insincere.

READ ORIGINAL REVIEW ON LETTERBOXD

🏆 Final Verdict

A satisfying conclusion to a revenge-filled trilogy. As long as Denzel is willing and able to keep playing McCall, these stories should continue to entertain.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

A Beautifully Shot but Emotionally Inert Epic

by Ray Manukay

★★½☆☆

Watched 29 Oct 2023

Strong performances try to buoy a beautifully shot movie, but Killers of the Flower Moon is lacking in any suspense, thrills, or even any drama that was not already revealed in the film's trailer or synopsis. The movie for me, unfortunately, fails to deliver anything dramatically satisfying.

🎬 Production Credits

Director: Martin Scorsese

Writer: Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese

Cinematography: Rodrigo Prieto

Editor: Thelma Schoonmaker

Music: Robbie Robertson

Based on: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

The film unfolds painfully slower than a strong documentary. — Ray Manukay

The Narrative Focus

The true, historical events are retold with almost documentary-like precision. According to reports, the original script focused on the FBI investigation of the murders, but Leonardo DiCaprio wanted to shift the focus to the twisted love story between his character and his Osage wife. I think I'd have preferred the FBI story, or at least a film from the heartbreaking perspective of the Osage people themselves.

💡 Fun Facts

• The original draft was over 200 pages and centered on Tom White, the lead FBI investigator.
• Martin Scorsese worked closely with Osage Nation consultants to ensure cultural and linguistic accuracy.
• The film marks the sixth collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio.

The Performances

• Robert De Niro & Leonardo DiCaprio: Deliver well-performed acting histrionics that provide the film's primary zest.
• Lily Gladstone: Anchors the "twisted love story" that became the film's central focus.
• The Violence: Choreographed and re-created with a precision that, by design, makes the viewer feel almost sadistic in witnessing.

✅ Pros

• Admittedly strong, high-caliber acting.
• Visually stunning cinematography.
• Historical precision in recreation.

❌ Cons

• Painfully slow pacing.
• Lack of dramatic suspense or surprises.
• Focus shift away from the investigation/Osage perspective.

Read the original review on Letterboxd

🏆 Final Verdict

One can argue that this story of murder and injustice against the Osage needs to be told, but did it need to be so long, slow, and unmoving? While technically proficient, the film remains ultimately unsatisfying.