Mark Blankenship has written for The New York Times, Variety, The Village Voice, and many others. Look for his pop culture criticism at his website The Critical Condition.

Blog Entries by Mark Blankenship

The Movie "Precious" Tells Two Stories at Once

Posted November 9, 2009 | 01:10 PM (EST)


Warning: Major spoilers ahead


I loved the movie Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire because it told me two moving stories at once.

The film's first story is about Precious herself, a character whose endlessly miserable life is like something out of The...

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Should We Want Movies Like Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side?

18 Comments | Posted September 21, 2009 | 04:49 PM (EST)


If I think Sandra Bullock seems appealing in The Blind Side, opening November 20, does that mean I'm a racist?

Let's watch the trailer, and then I'll explain...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 12

127 Comments | Posted September 14, 2009 | 12:35 AM (EST)


Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)

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Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that Miss Jeanette was lying dead in the back seat of Andy Bellefleur's car, and now Eggs...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 11

180 Comments | Posted August 31, 2009 | 01:33 AM (EST)


Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)

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Okay, look... I know it's hard to be a television writer. You've got character development and plot continuity and about six million other things to think...

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Another Way to See "Inglourious Basterds"

12 Comments | Posted August 28, 2009 | 02:20 AM (EST)


Am I the only one who thinks critics have overlooked a valid and exciting interpretation of Quentin Tarantino's new film Inglourious Basterds?

Let me explain what I mean...

(Warning: Major spoilers ahead.)

You see, I was enthralled by this movie, which rewrites WWII history to include both a group...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 10

70 Comments | Posted August 24, 2009 | 01:36 AM (EST)


Note: This post contains spoilers

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

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Hey everyone! Before we begin, I want to thank you for the great discussion about last week's episode, "I Will Rise Up."...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 9

96 Comments | Posted August 17, 2009 | 02:34 AM (EST)


Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood

Warning: This post contains spoilers

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What can I say? I wasn't feeling it tonight. "I Will Rise Up" has a few Sucker Punches, but it mostly functions as a...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 8

113 Comments | Posted August 10, 2009 | 01:25 AM (EST)


Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

Warning: This post contains spoilers.
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Iximng ti pu.

See what I did there? I took the phrase "mixing it up," and I mixed it up. That's because True...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 7

38 Comments | Posted August 3, 2009 | 12:45 AM (EST)


Note: This post contains spoilers

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

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(We begin with an argument already in progress)

Are you serious, True Blood? Are you really going to spring Godric on me in the...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 6

18 Comments | Posted July 27, 2009 | 01:21 AM (EST)


Warning: This post contains spoilers.

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

Um... remember last week, when I worried the show was slowing down? Well, "Heard-Hearted Hannah" has settled my hash. There are so many...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 5

36 Comments | Posted July 20, 2009 | 10:23 AM (EST)


Note: This post contains spoilers

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

So ... Are you guys excited for Turned By a Twink: The Eric Northman Story? Because after watching last night's installment, "Never Let Me Go,"...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 4

65 Comments | Posted July 13, 2009 | 01:30 AM (EST)


Warning: This Post Contains Spoilers

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

I'd probably have guessed that series creator Alan Ball wrote this installment, "Shake and Fingerpop," even if I hadn't seen his name in the credits....

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Unpacking the Michael Jackson Commemorative Plate

2 Comments | Posted July 8, 2009 | 03:00 AM (EST)


mj-plate

Forget the pall bearers wearing spangly gloves. Forget the crowd inside the Staples Center. The real evidence of Michael Jackson's power over popular culture is in the lightning-quick appearance of tacky goods memorializing his death. I saw "RIP...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode Three

17 Comments | Posted June 29, 2009 | 12:26 AM (EST)


NOTE: This post contains spoilers.

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

To introduce this week's installment, "Scratches," let me quote my favorite line:

Sarah doesn't whip out her pudding for just anybody.

Yes, that's what Reverend...

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Perez Hilton and will.i.am Seek Internet Justice

23 Comments | Posted June 22, 2009 | 08:35 AM (EST)


perez

Update: Apparently, PH did call the cops before he Tweeted. But still, was Tweeting necessary?

If you had just been the victim of a crime, would you call the police before or after you Twittered about it? And...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode Two

24 Comments | Posted June 21, 2009 | 09:33 PM (EST)


NOTE: This post contains spoilers.

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

Before I get to the latest installment, "Keep This Party Going," let me say that after posting last week's journey through the season...

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True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode One

53 Comments | Posted June 14, 2009 | 09:53 PM (EST)


Ed Note-- This blog contains spoilers

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments on this week's episode of True Blood.

Because come on, y'all... gaudiness is True Blood's specialty. Yes, HBO's Southern Gothic vampire drama serves up a variety of delicious moments---ranging from steamy...

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In Pixar's Up, Two Chairs Mean the World (SPOILERS)

6 Comments | Posted June 4, 2009 | 05:49 PM (EST)


I never thought I'd cry while wearing 3-D glasses. Then I saw Up.

Spoilers ahead. And I'm going to assume you know the basic plot points.

My favorite image in the film is the sight of Carl and Ellie's chairs sitting on a cliff by Paradise Falls. We...

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The Hamsters in That Kia Soul Commercial: Why are They Funny? (VIDEO)

5 Comments | Posted May 18, 2009 | 03:47 PM (EST)


Who knew hamsters could be so cocky? Take a look at the thuggish, ruggish rodents in this ad for the Kia Soul:


Seriously, this commercial cracks me up. That's partly because...

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"Star Trek" Reminds Me Why I Liked Winona Ryder

18 Comments | Posted May 11, 2009 | 01:33 AM (EST)


ryder-trek

There were many things I enjoyed about the new Star Trek movie, such as...


  • Zoe Saldana's whip-smart appeal as Uhura.

  • The Romulan villain's effectively "human" backstory.

  • The fact that when...

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