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Screener Squad: The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad Series Review

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SERIES REVIEW

Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, the Oscar winning director of “Moonlight” brings the pages of “The Underground Railroad” to life. Deep in the heart of Georgia, a slave named Cora (Thuso Mbedu) with her friend Caesar (Aaron Pierre) escape their plantation through an underground railroad. In this particular version of magical reality, a LITERAL underground railroad. In pursuit is a slave hunter named Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton) and his child companion Homer (Chase W. Dillon) who stalk our heroes throughout a nation ravaged by white supremacy which is still poisoning the hearts and minds of folk these days. Bradly, Harmony, Michael and Melina discuss the beautiful dream-like whimsy of the south, debate whether or not the scenes of violence can be classified as torture porn, and praise the overall importance of telling stories from a history too often forgotten or mistold.

**This review is available in a longer, uncut, video version for TIME LORD subscribers and above right here**

WATCH HERE

CREATED BY: Barry Jenkins

STARRING: Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Joel Edgerton, Fred Hechinger, Peter Mullan, Aaron Pierre, Justice Leak, Damon Herriman, William Jackson Harper, Amber Grey, Jim Klock, Lily Rabe, Benjamin Walker, Lucius Baston, Owen Harn, Bri Collins, Ryan James, Will Poulter, Sheila Atim, Peter de Jersey, Chukwudi Iwuji, IronE Singleton, Mychal-Bella Bowman, Marcus “MJ” Gladney Jr.

 

YOUR REVIEWERS

 

Bradly Martin (Screener Squad, Eye on the Prize, Breakfast Pub)

Bradly Martin was born in the united states and grew up on a healthy diet of sports, films, and books. A rather shy lad who kept to himself, Bradly soon discovered the best way to know a person was to know what people liked. Throughout the years Bradly became a fan of many things and a fanatic of none. From Doctor Dre, to Doctor Strange and the who’s who of Whos. From Playstation to the Dreamcast and Marvel to DC. From LeBron James to James Bond and Lord of the Rings to Lord Palmerston (or Pitt the Elder if you agree with Wade Boggs) and is a huge fan of dad jokes and randomly obscure Simpsons references. Armed with a vast knowledge of comics, films, and pop culture. Bradly traveled the world making friends and sharing takes. As a young man Bradly married the love of his life young and grew older every year with each new child brought into the brood. If trends continue, Scientists predict that .2% of Canada (where Bradly and family reside) will be populated by Bradly’s children by the year 2029. You can hear him leading and listening to his favorite critics on the Screener Squad and Eye on the prize and maybe even provide some comments of his own.

 

 

Harmoni Anderson (Screener Squad, Highly Suspect Reviews, Unstabletop Gaming)

Harmoni is a mermaid-haired, millennial, rum drinking, Section 31, Slytherin (who’s divorced J.K. Rowling) preschool/nursery teacher and multi genre geek who also loves all things film, tv, fashion, makeup, and an embarrassingly huge BTS stan. Like really embarrassing. As in, mention them and then sit back and watch the insanity. Harmoni likes being able to game and talk movies/TV with people that aren’t 3 feet tall or all that demanding of her. Plus she can curse at us and not get fired….so bonus!

 

 

” width=Michael Van Slyke (Screener Squad)

Michael is a second-generation Air Force brat born in Tucson, raised in San Antonio, and living in Austin since the mid ’80s. Since being introduced to Star Trek as a child by his mother Michael has had an obsessive love of all things sci-fi. He is a cartoonist, illustrator, costumer, leatherworker, amateur luthier, singer, aspiring voice actor, and a motion graphics artist. With all these interests and skills, he thinks the term “Renaissance Man” sounds better than “artsy guy with ADHD”. He lives with his lovely and nerdy wife Harmoni Anderson and their two cats. When not watching and discussing sci-fi and fantasy movies and TV he looks for new hobbies and skills to try. He also listens to Harmoni try and teach him things about K-pop band BTS. Like… all the things about BTS.

 

 

Melina Eames (Screener Squad)

Melina first discovered that she carried the nerd gene at the tender age of four following her exposure to a little film called A New Hope. In the twenty-some years that followed, Melina continued to grow into her geek identity through the discovery of Batman, Mst3k, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Mandalorian. But perhaps her most significant discovery came at the age of fourteen when a night of YouTube mining led her to the review site of Spill.com. Melina became a devoted follower whose fandom did not end with the site’s demise. By then, it had worked its dark magic and left her with a love and appreciation for film criticism that she has yet to shrug.

 

 

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