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Laura Babiak

Laura Babiak

Observer

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‘Dope Thief’ Review: Derivative Crime Drama With Outstanding Cast

‘Dope Thief’ Review: Derivative Crime Drama With Outstanding Cast

You’ve seen plenty of shows like ‘Dope Thief’ before, but a riveting ensemble led by Brian Tyree Henry makes the Apple series worth...

10.03.2025 5

Observer

Laura Babiak

Oscars Recap: Biggest Winners, Surprise Snubs & Memorable Moments

Oscars Recap: Biggest Winners, Surprise Snubs & Memorable Moments

The 97th Academy Awards were full of surprises good and bad, from major first-time winners to a new low for live streaming.

03.03.2025 4

Observer

Laura Babiak

The State of the Oscar Race: Analysis & Predictions for the 97th Academy Awards

The State of the Oscar Race: Analysis & Predictions for the 97th Academy Awards

From the controversies surrounding 'Emilia Pérez' to the hotly contested Best Picture race, the Oscars will be full of surprises.

28.02.2025 4

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Running Point’ Review: Easy, Breezy, Bingeable Basketball Sitcom

‘Running Point’ Review: Easy, Breezy, Bingeable Basketball Sitcom

Netflix and Mindy Kaling’s new sports comedy doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, making for a perfectly watchable if forgettable series.

27.02.2025 10

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘The Monkey’ Review: Goofy Gore & An Occasional Bore

‘The Monkey’ Review: Goofy Gore & An Occasional Bore

An R-rated Looney Tunes sensibility makes the movie a fun time, but the horrors of childhood trauma weigh it down considerably.

20.02.2025 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

SNL50: The Highs and Lows of Saturday Night Live’s Anniversary Special

Live from New York, SNL50 pulled off quite a show, but it wasn't all perfect.

17.02.2025 10

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Review: Intrigue and Uncertainty in Thailand

The third season of Mike White's addictive anthology drama meets the expectations set by its predecessors, but it hasn’t hit the heights of Season 2...

11.02.2025 5

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ Review: Netflix Series Tries To Be ‘The Wolf of Wellness’

The show takes a few episodes to find its footing, but this searing exposé of online wellness culture will sink its manicured claws into you.

03.02.2025 5

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Paradise’ Review: Sterling K. Brown Can’t Save This Series

It's a show that falls apart the more you look at it, no matter how much its capable cast tries to hold it together.

25.01.2025 2

Observer

Laura Babiak

Oscar Nominations: Surprises and Snubs for the 97th Academy Awards

This morning's nominations saw some real shake ups, with new favorites emerging and plenty of interesting picks.

23.01.2025 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Prime Target’ Review: Apple’s Math Conspiracy Doesn’t Add Up

Though intermittently entertaining, this thriller is largely unremarkable.

22.01.2025 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

David Lynch and ‘Twin Peaks’: An Enduring Television Legacy

The late American auteur leaves us with some phenomenal cinematic achievements, but the influence of 'Twin Peaks' endures on television.

17.01.2025 6

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Severance’ Season 2 Review: More Questions, Fewer Answers

Adam Scott as Mark in Severance Season 2. Courtesy of Apple TV Press Severance fans should have a lot of patience. It’s been three years since the...

08.01.2025 6

Observer

Laura Babiak

The 82nd Golden Globes: Surprises, Snubs, and Takeaways for Awards Season

The 82nd Annual Golden Globes were held at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Gregg...

06.01.2025 20

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Cunk on Life’ Review: Blessedly Stupid, Wickedly Smart

Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk. Jonathan Browning Few modern minds have been able to plunge the depths of human existence like English presenter...

02.01.2025 2

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Review: Thrills, Kills And Fan Service

Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game Season 2. No Ju-han/Netflix Watching Squid Game Season 2, you can tell that multiple seasons weren’t a...

26.12.2024 10

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘No Good Deed’ Review: This House Has Good Bones—But a Big Crack in the Facade

Lisa Kudrow as Lydia and Ray Romano as Paul in No Good Deed. SAEED ADYANI/Netflix Why does it feel like every new show these days boasts a big...

12.12.2024 10

Observer

Laura Babiak

Golden Globe Nominations: Surprises and Snubs to Kick Off Awards Season

Golden Globes are seen during the 79th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association ‘Tis...

09.12.2024 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld’ Review: A Stellar Supernatural Animated Series

Consistently funny, frequently moving and always bursting with color and creativity, Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld is a wonderful addition to the...

06.12.2024 10

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘The Madness’ Review: Netflix Series Will Drive You Crazy

Look, there’s been a lot of bad television this year. I’ve had the (dis)honor of reviewing some of these shows, but none have stretched my critical...

28.11.2024 5

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Bad Sisters’ Season 2 Review: Not Quite Killer TV, But Still a Thriller

It starts, naturally, with a body in the boot of a car. There’s no other way that Season 2 of the Irish tragicomedy Bad Sisters could begin,...

13.11.2024 4

Observer

Laura Babiak

The 20th New York Comedy Festival: Big Laughs and Bright New Comedy Stars

With the doom and gloom of an election, a dodgy World Series and oncoming seasonal depression, New Yorkers need a laugh badly right now....

05.11.2024 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘The Diplomat’ Season 2 Review: A Sophomore Slump, But Still A Passing Grade

The Diplomat is one of the few Netflix shows to really stick after its premiere, having already been renewed for a third season ahead of Season 2’s...

30.10.2024 10

Observer

Laura Babiak

Melissa Barrera Talks Scream Queen Status and Sweater Weather in ‘Your Monster’

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s the season of scary movies and all things horror. But jump scares and sequels aren’t all that await...

25.10.2024 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Rivals’ Review: The Brits Want You Hot and Bothered

There may be a bit of a learning curve for Americans when watching Rivals. An adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s “bonkbuster” book series of upper...

18.10.2024 2

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Disclaimer’ Review: Alfonso Cuarón’s Thriller Is Must-See TV

In the past decade or so, there has been no shortage of “bodies in the water” shows. From Big Little Lies to The White Lotus, networks and...

09.10.2024 2

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘La Máquina’ Review: Boxing Series Throws a Lot of Punches That Don’t Land

Daddy issues, mommy issues, traumatic brain injury issues, international organized crime syndicate issues . . . Hulu’s first Spanish-language...

05.10.2024 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

2024 New York Film Festival Preview: The Best Movies & Biggest Events

Every year at the turn of the season, New Yorkers get the chance to see some of the most notable movies of the year at the New York Film Festival....

24.09.2024 4

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Omni Loop’ Review: Sci-Fi Indie Offers Some Ham-Fisted Heart

In Omni Loop, Mary-Louise Parker’s has-been physicist Zoya has a black hole growing where her heart should be. The doctor’s diagnosis is...

18.09.2024 2

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez’ Review: Too Broad to Make an Impact

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez has a lot of ideas about why the titular athlete’s life went the way it did, but that expansiveness is the...

17.09.2024 10

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘KAOS’ Review: Netflix Series Makes Good on Greek Mythology

On one level, Netflix’s new series KAOS is Percy Jackson for adults; it makes Greek mythology contemporary, bringing it to life in a world not so...

29.08.2024 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Chimp Crazy’ Review: A Disturbing Docuseries From Director of ‘Tiger King’

As a teenager, I volunteered at a local dog shelter that specialized in taking care of larger dogs. Huskies, German shepherds, pitbull mixes—if it...

19.08.2024 2

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Skincare’ Review: A Thriller That’s Only Skin Deep

With an introductory note that reads, “This is a fictional story inspired by true events,” Skincare seems like it may provide a vague take on a...

14.08.2024 3

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Bad Monkey’ Review: Apple’s Very Florida Crime Dramedy

Florida has been the site of a few ambitious-but-exhausting television shows this year, but thankfully Apple’s newest series Bad Monkey breaks the...

13.08.2024 4

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘Time Bandits’ Review: A Fairly Fun Redux of an ‘80s Classic

It’s a world of remakes and reboots these days, from barn burner summer blockbusters like Twisters to the enduring success of the series Cobra Kai...

24.07.2024 7

Observer

Laura Babiak

Emmy Nominations: Surprises and Snubs for the 76th Emmy Awards

Television’s award season kicked off earlier today with the announcement of the nominees for the 76th Emmy Awards, honoring some of TV’s best and...

17.07.2024 1

Observer

Laura Babiak

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars’ And The Franchise’s Imperial Peak

Drag fans the world over got a special treat on July 15th thanks to the surprise announcement of RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars , the newest...

16.07.2024 1

Observer

Laura Babiak