The Screen Scribe

Side Notes: The History and Decline of Romcoms

February 27, 2026

In this month’s recommendations, I alluded to the fact that romcoms were basically relics of the Hollywood cinemascape. After some consideration, I decided to unpack this a little more. Dive a little deeper into the details, the history, and the eventual decline of one of the greatest cinema staples, the romantic comedy. The romcom has…
Recommendation: Friends with Benefits

February 25, 2026

2011 was arguably the last year of great cinematic romcoms, before they retreated to the obscure realms of online streaming, and invariably lost a great portion of their appeal, and inevitably, their quality. Before that exodus, they were confident, glossy, attracted big name stars, and were unapologetically sexy. Friends with Benefits is one such example.…
Review: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

February 23, 2026

It would be a fair assumption to claim that many…well, the majority of, Game of Thrones fans are still rather upset regarding how the final few seasons played out. In particular season 8. I would include myself in that for many years after, but lately I look back and can enjoy the show for what…
Recommendation: Crazy, Stupid, Love

February 20, 2026

Many would argue that the modern romcom is a dying breed in cinema, and they may be right. But over the last 15 years, Hollywood has still managed to produce some gems that are still top tier in the genre today. Crazy, Stupid, Love is one of those, a rare ensemble romantic comedy that juggles…
Review: Wonder Man

February 17, 2026

It’s no secret that I have been especially critical of the vast majority of MCU entries in the last few years. Captain America: Brave New World was simply a disaster. I am not even going to get into it. The Thunderbolts* had its merits and I genuinely enjoyed it, but it felt like the wrong…
Review: Shelter

February 9, 2026

Jason Statham has reached an interesting phase in his career. At this point, you know exactly what you are getting, but you also know that it can swing wildly in quality. In the past few years alone he has delivered the surprisingly enjoyable The Beekeeper, followed by the far blander A Working Man. So going…
Review: The Housemaid

February 4, 2026

There was something quietly refreshing about sitting down to watch The Housemaid. Not because it promised prestige, awards chatter, or cinematic reinvention, but because it didn’t. In an era dominated by bloated franchises and endless cinematic universes, this was a smaller, meaner, more intimate experience. A limited cast. A handful of locations. A story allowed…
Review: Knives Out – Wake Up Dead Man

February 3, 2026

There’s a particular kind of comfort in a proper murder mystery. Not the modern “gritty prestige” kind where everyone whispers in grey rooms, but the old-fashioned ensemble puzzle box where secrets clatter out of wardrobes and everyone is guilty of something, even if they didn’t do the murder. The Knives Out series has become the…
Review: Stranger Things Season 5

January 21, 2026

It is hard to overstate what Stranger Things meant when it arrived in 2016. It was not just a hit show. It was a cultural moment. A lightning strike of nostalgia, mystery, and character-driven storytelling that reminded audiences how powerful television could be when it trusted atmosphere and patience. Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger…
Review: Avatar – Fire and Ash

January 20, 2026

The big Christmas event. The Disney flag pole film of the year that they desperately hoped would save them. Granted, it made the dosh, clocking in over one billion dollars, but critically? It left a lot to be desired. Fire and Ash was, ironically, a perfect title. Not because it captures anything profound about Pandora,…