Month: September 2020

AVA

By: Laurie Coker Rating: D By virtue of the genre, thrillers should be thrilling and Ava, starring Jessica Chastain falls short in countless ways. Instead of using his exceptional cast better, director Tate Taylor relies on clichés and wow-able international sets. Chastain puts heart and soul into the role of a former drug-abuser turned hitwoman… Continue reading AVA

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THE SWERVE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) There have been several kinds of movies about mental health disorders. Some have that feel-good, triumph over adversity feel, while others serve as cautionary tales, presenting the worst-case scenarios. The Swerve definitely falls into that latter category, serving as stern, disturbing warning that if left unchecked,… Continue reading THE SWERVE

THE RACER

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) At this point in our history, most people already know that performance-enhancing drugs have had a huge impact in the world of sports. One of the major controversies to affect professional sports has to be the doping scandal that tainted the sport of cycling. A new… Continue reading THE RACER

Film News & Interview: MURDER IN THE WOODS

By Liz Lopez REZINATE Pictures presents the slasher film Murder in the Woods on Digital and Video on Demand platforms September 18, 2020. The film opened in theaters nationwide in August and is directed and produced by Mexican filmmaker Luis Iga Garza (The Call) and written and produced by Yelyna De León (Will and Grace,… Continue reading Film News & Interview: MURDER IN THE WOODS

ANTEBELLUM

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) There is little doubt that the life experiences of Black slaves can be best described as horrific. However, as far as I know, most cinematic portrayals have never fully gone the horror route. Such is the attempt of filmmakers Gerald Bush and Christopher Renz with their… Continue reading ANTEBELLUM

RATCHED – a Netflix Series

Sarah Paulson is Mildred Ratched

By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ I taught the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as a senior English teacher and many of my students agree that Nurse Ratched is one of the most interesting antagonists ever written. In the 1975 film version of the novel, Louis Fletcher put the perfect pursed puss on the… Continue reading RATCHED – a Netflix Series

ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) In the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, Stacey Abrams became the first African-African female nominee for a major party. After a hard-fought campaign, Abrams lost to her Republican opponent Brian Kemp. On the surface of things, this kind of loss probably seemed normal; however, to Abrams and… Continue reading ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY

TENET

By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ I remember sitting through Inception and leaving confused and unimpressed. I watched it again and some aspects became clearer, but I never really did love the film. With Tenet, the ride, even in reverse action, entertains and engages completely. Action-packed from the first moment, Christopher Nolan’s thriller, like Inception, bends… Continue reading TENET