Cinema at First Sight with Annabel McConnachie

In the penultimate episode, Annabel takes on Emmy award winning Canadian series 'Schitt's Creek'. Created by and starring Daniel and Eugene Levy, the show follows the Rose family's fall from grace as a privileged throng of quirky characters are forced to take up residence in the backwater town of Schitt's Creek. Will out of touch ex New Yorkers, small town America and claustrophobic motel rooms be a combo worthy of a glowing review? Stream now to find out.

This week, Annabel tackles the first half of Wes Anderson's newest, long awaited zany comedy 'The French Dispatch'. Starring every actor currently working in Hollywood, this film revolves around three different vignettes detailing off-kilter, action packed articles previously published in titular magazine 'The French Dispatch', that have been hand picked to be featured in the publication's final edition upon editor Arthur Howitzer Jr.'s (Bill Murray's) sudden death. Will a meticulously quirky aesthetic, elitist humour and a completely disjointed structure be the power trio worthy of my praise? Stream now to find out. 

This week, Annabel goes head to head with the pilot of new Hulu original series 'Only Murders in the Building'. The show centres around three amateur crime Podcast enthusiasts Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez), who form an unlikely sleuthing alliance when a man in their building is suddenly murdered and they decide to try and crack the case. Will a strange mash-up of icons, mild homicide and aggressive quirkiness be the trio of qualities worthy of a glowing review? Stream now to find out. 

In this week's podcast instalment, Annabel comes face to face with the first half of Edgar Wright's newest psychological horror film 'Last Night in Soho'. Set in the titular London nook, the movie centres around fashion student Ellie (Thomasin McKensize) whose dreams become plagued with visions of 1960's aspiring singer Sandy (Anya Taylor-Joy), a woman who used to live in her apartment. However, things take a turn for the potentially murderous when Sandy's life becomes darker and the lines between the past and the present continue to blur.  Will the bold combination of 60's bops, rampant stereotypical sexism and potential schizophrenia be a recipe for success? Stream now to find out. 

In this week's episode, musical theatre fangirl Annabel takes on the pilot of Apple TV+ musical comedy series 'Schmigadoon!'. The show revolves around rocky couple Melissa (Cecily Strong) and Josh (Keegan Michael Key), who one day accidentally get trapped in the zany, hyper-colour town of 'Schmigadoon!' whose residents are seemingly plucked straight from a Golden Age musical. Will a daunting amount of Broadway stars, spontaneous, partially ironic corny musical numbers and 20th century repression and conservatism be the perfect recipe for a glowing review? Stream now to find out. 

In this week's episode, host and musical theatre fanatic Annabel tackles the first half of the movie adaptation of Tony Award winner 'Dear Evan Hansen'. Starring 27 year old Ben Platt as the 17 year old titular character, the movie surrounds anxiety ridden Evan Hansen getting caught up in a web of lies as he grows close with the family of ex classmate Connor Murphy who recently committed suicide, under the pretence that the two were secret best friends. Will controversial casting, complete moral ambiguity and spontaneous musical outbursts be a combo worthy of praise? Stream now to find out. 

Resident judgemental host Annabel returns to come face to face with the Paramount + revival of Nickeldeon hit tween show 'iCarly'. Lead by former child star Miranda Cosgrove, this new iteration of the hit classic tracks Carly Shay as she chooses to once again reboot her web series at the ripe old age of 26. Will the combination of grown adults acting like they're straight up 15 year olds and an inorganic infusion of woke edginess be enough to earn a glowing review, or will the novelty of nostalgia simply not cut it? Stream now to find out.

This week Annabel goes up against DC's newest blockbuster 'The Suicide Squad'. Acting as a reimagination of the universally hated 'Suicide Squad' with new director James Gunn at the helm, 'The Suicide Squad' centres around a group of partially rehabilitated villains forced to work together in the fight for justice in exchange for reduced prison sentences. Will DC's choice to regurgitate its own content and jam pack it with cartoonish violence, dad jokes and an all star cast have what it takes to dazzle the second time around? Stream the review now to find out. 

Our resident reviewer Annabel returns in this season 3 premiere to take on the pilot of Hulu's newest Liane Moriarty adaptation 'Nine Perfect Strangers'. Starring Nicole Kidman as Russian retreat leader Masha, the show tracks nine incredibly wealthy LA residents looking to aid their first world problems at wellness centre 'Tranquilum' - a self indulgent pity party that is more insidious than it first appears. Will an all star cast, questionable accent work and exploitative, potentially drug induced hijinks be the winning recipe worthy of a glowing review? Stream now to find out. 

In the season 2 finale, host Annabel dares to take on the first half of Marvel's newest mega blockbuster 'Black Widow'. Starring Oscar noms Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh as estranged pseudo sisters Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova, these feuding heroes put aside their differences and team up to take down the ringleader of an exploitative and corrupt female spy training facility called the 'Red Room' and ultimately save the world. Will this action packed fare filled with hammy Russian accents and continuous, arguably unnecessary fight scenes be the thrilling combo worthy of winning me over? Stream the review now to find out. 

In season 2's penultimate episode, Annabel and her mother candidly deconstruct the pilot of the Disney plus original show 'High School Musical: The Musical - The Series'. Set at the high school where High School Musical was originally filmed in a strangely meta universe in which the franchise exists, this show tracks East High's fall stage production of  the aforementioned cult classic all the way from auditions to opening night. Will this intensely self referential mockumentary jam packed with overdramatised teen angst, countless Disney song covers and  relationship drama surrounding 15 year olds both on and off screen be the winning formula worthy of our praise? Stream now to find out. 

In today's episode, host Annabel slightly deviates from her typical analytical fare and reviews the first half of content creator Bo Burnham's Netflix special. Written, performed and edited in quarantine entirely within the confined and very claustrophobic space of Bo's cluttered apartment, this special combines a number of art forms including song, stand up comedy and meta-commentary to create a form and genre defying 90 minute journey guaranteed to leave you feeling empty and directionless. Will this self aware, partially comedic and partially soul destroying special win over our resident judgemental millennial? Stream now to find out. 

In episode 7, host Annabel takes on the pilot of Amazon Prime's newest YA original series 'Panic'. Starring a cast of relative unknowns, the show surrounds a group of fresh Texan high school graduates participating in dangerous and potentially life threatening challenges for a grand prize of $50,000. Will Jack Nicholson's son, toxic small town America and the prospect of teenage death be enough to lure our resident millennial? Stream the review now to find out. 

In this week's episode, resident commentator Annabel deconstructs the first half of Disney's newest live action prequel 'Cruella' starring Academy Award winner Emma Stone in the titular role. Acting as an origin story for 101 Dalmatians' notorious villain Cruella de Vil, the movie follows recently orphaned Estella's journey from street urchin to assistant fashion designer working underneath haute couture icon the Baroness (portrayed by the equally iconic Emma Thompson). However, this rags to riches story quickly turns sour when Estella discovers that the Baroness is less of a mentor and more of a vindictive tormentor directly responsible for the death of her mother. Will this vengeful tale jam packed with a duo of Oscar winning Emmas, cold blooded murder and aggressive monochrome be a combination worthy of high praise? Stream the review now to find out. 

Alongside her father, millennial host Annabel tackles the pilot of HBO limited crime series 'Mare of Easttown'. Starring academy award winner Kate Winslet as police investigator Mare Sheehan, this show revolves around the brutal murder of a 16 year old single mother in an always overcast Pennsylvanian neighbourhood. Will the interpersonal lives of toxic residents in small town America and ongoing mystery be a combo worthy of winning over this multigenerational, analytical duo? Stream our review now to find out. 

In Episode 4, special guest/George Lucas mega fan Francesca Cooper and host/Star Wars neophyte Annabel McConnachie take on the first half of the 1977 cult classic 'Star Wars: Episode IV (A New Hope)'. Starring legends Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, this epic space opera tells the tale of an intergalactic civil war between the Rebels and the Galactic Empire. Has this 70's gem jam packed with overly talkative androids, high stakes angst, metrosexual form fitting plastic and horrendous special effects aged poorly, or does it hold up 44 years down the track? Stream now to find out. 

This week, resident millennial commentator Annabel bravely takes on the first half of 2021 Best Picture Academy Award winner 'Nomadland'. Starring three time Oscar winner Francis McDormand, this partially fictional quasi bio-pic details the struggles of houseless nomad Fern, who travels around the country solo after being displaced as a result of the Great Recession. Is this slow moving tale of poverty, pain and loss an unexpected riot, or is it as completely and utterly depressing as it sounds? Stream now to find out. 

Resident reviewer and long time fan Annabel joins special guest and 'Search Party' novice Ellen McFadden to review the pilot episode of the TBS/HBO Max original series. Starring Alia Shawkat, this satirical dark comedy mystery surrounds four New York based millennial narcissists forced to tackle relationship drama, boozy brunches and the mysterious disappearance of ex college classmate Chantal Witherbottom. Will this eclectic mix be a recipe worthy of impressing these two reviewers? Stream now to find out. 

In the season 2 premiere of 'Cinema at First Sight', millennial host Annabel takes on the pilot of Netflix's controversial teen dramedy 'Ginny & Georgia'. Centring around responsible 15 year old Ginny and her wildly impulsive mother Georgia, this untraditional 'Gilmore Girls'-esque duo navigate the quaint town of Wellsbury, New England with mixed success. Will the thrilling combo of self indulgent teen angst, love triangles, cold blooded murder and a Southern twang be enough to pique my interest? Stream now to find out. 

In the season 1 finale, host Annabel McConnachie takes on the first half of critically acclaimed black comedy thriller 'I Care a Lot', starring Golden Globe winner Rosamund Pike. Centring around scammer Marla Grayson whose game is falsely taking guardianship over wealthy elders and absolutely bleeding them dry, drama ensues when her most recent target just so happens to be the mother of a crime lord. Is this chaotic storm of fraud, organised crime and unapologetic feminism a match made in problematic heaven? Stream the review now to find out.

Join millennial Marvel neophyte Annabel and special guest star/MCU expert Ben Thomas as they endeavour to review the pilot of the new Disney+ miniseries 'WandaVision'. Starring Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda/Scarlett Witch and Paul Bettany as Vision, this show transports two superheroes into an idyllic, suburban 1950's sitcom jam-packed with canned laughter and rampant sexism. Does this loving, black and white parody work, or is too far out of Marvel's typical action packed comfort zone to escape our scathing critique? Stream now to find out.

In this week's podcast instalment, judgemental millennial Annabel returns to analyse and deconstruct the pilot of HBO Max's new Golden Globe nominated comedy-drama 'The Flight Attendant'. Starring Kaley Cuoco as the titular flight attendant Cassandra Bowden, this series has it all from murder and intrigue to one night stands and never-ending Vodka. Does this eclectic mix of ingredients satisfy this particular reviewer's televisual cravings? Stream now to find out.

In this week's episode, resident reviewer Annabel and special guest star/horror movie buff Renee Halse take on the first half of Ari Aster's 2019 experimental folk horror film 'Midsommar'. Starring academy award nominee Florence Pugh, this movie has everything from copious hallucinogens to mandatory euthanasia, all set against the picturesque backdrop of rural Sweden. But will this ambitious and unsettling combo earn a glowing review from first time viewer Annabel, or hold up in Renee's rewatch? Stream now to find out.

In Episode 6, Annabel comprehensively deconstructs every inch of the pilot of Amazon Prime original series 'The Wilds'. Starring Rachel Griffiths and a raft of young up-and-coming talent, the show serves audiences a female driven millennial take on 'Lord of the Flies' as it centres around a group of teenage girls stranded on a deserted island after a not so accidental plane crash. Is this low-key dystopic survival drama as derivative as it may seem or does its fresh take give it its own legs to stand on? Stream this week's review to find out.

Host/self appointed millennial representative Annabel returns with special guest star - her mother (Donna Hayward) - to deconstruct the first half of Netflix's attempt to seamlessly weave itself into the Sherlock canon. Starring Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock Holmes' unconventional and highly academic sister Enola, this YA mystery promises to pack a punch with appearances from Helena Bonham-Carter, Sam Claflin, Henry Cavil and Fiona Shaw. However, does this all star cast do Arthur Conan Doyle's classic characters justice? Stream now to find out this multigenerational duo's judgement call.

Resident judgemental millennial Annabel returns to tackle the first half of Sia's controversial directorial debut 'Music'. Starring neurotypical reality TV star and 'Dance Moms' alum Maddie Ziegler as Music - a young girl living with severe autism - this movie has been touted by the Sydney Morning Herald as a "baffling tone deaf fiasco". Can the addition of Kate Hudson and Leslie Odom Jr in supporting roles or elaborate fantasy musical interludes set to songs from Sia's new album save this film from its seemingly overwhelming political incorrectness? Tune in now to find out.

Opinionated millennial Annabel and this week's special guest reviewer - her father (Alastair McConnachie) - take on the pilot of the new Netflix original coming-of-age period drama 'The Queen's Gambit'. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and a copious amount of hallucinogenic drugs,  the series centres around up and coming orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon competing in competitive tournaments against the aggressively sexist backdrop of 1960's caucasian privilege. Are hardcore drugs and second-wave feminist antics enough to win over this multigenerational judgemental duo? Listen now to find out. 

Resident reviewer Annabel is back and more opinionated than ever and she sets out to critique the first half of the newest DC instalment 'Wonder Woman 1984'. Director Patty Jenkins pulls out all the stops in this kitschy action packed blockbuster starring Hollywood heavy weights Gal Gadot, Kristen Wiig and Chris Pine. But did it do enough to earn itself a glowing review? Listen to find out. WARNING: Detailed spoilers ensue.

In this first episode of Season 1, resident opinionated millennial Annabel reviews the pilot episode of Ryan Murphy's 2009 hit Fox show 'Glee'. From song and dance to low level drug possession and problematic depictions of disability, this episode has it all. But will it fare well under Annabel's unapologetic scrutiny? Listen to find out.

A glimpse at what's to come on this season of 'Cinema at First Sight' with your host Annabel McConnachie. A deconstruction of millennial cinematic first impressions coming Thursday the 7th of January on Apple and Spotify.