Tag Archives: Kevin Spacey

House of Cards Season Five Episode Five Recap & Review

June 3, 2017 Alex Brannan

Nine weeks after the botched election, there is still no president-elect. By the 12th amendment, Congress will select the president and vice president. Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is prepared for it. In fact, he devised the snafu that allowed America to get to this point. Now he just has to do what he does best: manipulate the spineless miscreants of American politics.

With everything in flux, every character is dealing with Continue reading House of Cards Season Five Episode Five Recap & Review →

Television Reviews, TV Drama

House of Cards Season Five Episode Four Recap & Review

June 3, 2017 Alex Brannan

Low voter turnout on election day threatens Frank Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey) chances of winning. On top of these grumblings that Underwood is on the losing path, the administration receives word of a potential terrorist attack at a polling place.

These two situations frame the fourth episode of season five of House of Cards. The weighty resignation of Underwood’s almost certain loss shifts to Continue reading House of Cards Season Five Episode Four Recap & Review →

Television Reviews, TV Drama

House of Cards Season Five Episode Three Recap & Review

June 3, 2017 Alex Brannan

Ah, the campaign trail. Inherently compelling. Post-Halloween, the election is ramping up, and both Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman) are working on their winning strategies. Conway takes his campaign to the people, initiating a 24-hour virtual town hall with the American people. Frank, conversely, is wining and dining political officials and having big campaign rallies.

The contrasts between these two candidates could not be more Continue reading House of Cards Season Five Episode Three Recap & Review →

Television Reviews, TV Drama

House of Cards Season Five Episode Two Recap & Review

June 3, 2017 Alex Brannan

Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is deep in election strategizing as he fights ICO, giving a speech to state governors as a way of getting five of them on his side. Five that just so happen to be from key swing states.

The end game is voter suppression. We wouldn’t expect anything less from the Underwood administration. Central to this coup is Continue reading House of Cards Season Five Episode Two Recap & Review →

Television Reviews, TV Drama

House of Cards Season 5 Episode 1 Recap & Review

June 3, 2017 Alex Brannan

At the beginning of Season Five of House of Cards, President Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) takes over Congress, literally stepping in where he is not allowed. Because abuse of power in the House of Cards war is only met with slight perturbation.

With the repetition of “I will not yield,” the ultimate rallying cry of Frank Underwood’s slimy political persona, the President demands Continue reading House of Cards Season 5 Episode 1 Recap & Review →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Leave it

Nine Lives (2016) Movie Review

August 5, 2016 Alex Brannan

Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) is a thrill-seeking corporate man; a no-nonsense upper crust suit whose company is warring against a competitor to build the tallest building in the Northern hemisphere. However, another exec at Brand’s company is aiming to usurp his power. This is exactly what children want in a movie: building contractors and heated discussions about public offerings. With this narrative intrigue, it is almost a shame when Spacey turns into a cat!

In all seriousness, Nine Lives holds a premise that has Continue reading Nine Lives (2016) Movie Review →

Television Reviews, TV Drama

House of Cards Season Four Finale Recap & Review

March 12, 2016 Alex Brannan

The season four House of Cards finale picks up where the previous episode left off, with President Frank Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey) powerplay in process. A brash ultimatum leaves the fate of the ICO hostages in the balance.

Following the phone call, Frank sends Republican Presidential candidate Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman) on his way, having cornered him in a lie that threatens to Continue reading House of Cards Season Four Finale Recap & Review →

Television Reviews, TV Drama

House of Cards S04E12 Recap & Review

March 12, 2016 Alex Brannan

Caution: Spoilers for House of Cards season four, episode 12 (and previous episodes) ahead!

House of Cards season four, episode 12 opens on White House covert surveillance guy Aidan MacAllan (Damian Young) blasting loud music as he watches traffic in relation to the dual President-Vice President debate.

The debate, which highlights the major points of contention with the presidential race, is interrupted and Continue reading House of Cards S04E12 Recap & Review →

Television Reviews, TV Drama

House of Cards S04E11 Recap & Review

March 12, 2016 Alex Brannan

Caution: Spoilers for House of Cards season four, episode 11 (and previous episodes) ahead!

The new Underwood-Underwood ticket is campaign strategizing when Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) has a medical issue. He is told by a specialist that air traffic should be limited. Given the campaign, this is impossible if Frank is to win. He remains grounded as Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) continues campaigning, not to mention continuing her affair with speech writer Thomas Yates (Paul Sparks).

Doug Stamper’s (Michael Kelly) newfound obsession, the wife of Continue reading House of Cards S04E11 Recap & Review →

Television Reviews, TV Drama

House of Cards S04E10 Recap & Review

March 9, 2016 Alex Brannan

Caution: House of Cards season four, episode 10 (and previous episodes) spoilers ahead!

House of Cards season four episode 10 begins by educating the viewer on some state delegate politics. President Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), vying for re-election, entered the DNC with the popular vote majority due to Heather Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel) dropping out of the race. However, the superdelegates can still be pledged anywhere, as well as 24 states that don’t legally have to pledge their delegates to the primary winner.

Long story short, Underwood can still lose the Democratic nomination during the DNC. Hey, it’s an open convention, so anything can happen.