From Robert Eggers, the incredible filmmaker behind The Witch and The Lighthouse, comes a different kind of movie that displays more of what makes Eggers an impressive auteur. Based on the Viking tale of Amleth, a story which later inspired Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, The Northman is definitely a theatrical experience that goes to dark places… Continue reading THE NORTHMAN
Category: Reviews
SXSW 2022: THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT
When it was announced that the programmers of this year’s SXSW had selected this new action-comedy starring Nicolas Cage, I was beyond excited. Since I first heard about this film, I simply could not wait to watch it, and seeing it at Austin’s Paramount Theater at the film festival, with the filmmakers and lead actors… Continue reading SXSW 2022: THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT
STANLEYVILLE
From Oscilloscope Laboratories, the strange, independent studio that is known for their often intriguing and bizarre films, comes an offering this is certain to perplex and bewilder audiences. Of course, this should come as no surprise anyone familiar with the label. However, this new entry definitely raises more questions and never really answers them. Though… Continue reading STANLEYVILLE
THE BAD GUYS
Based on the popular children’s book series of the same name, Dreamworks’ adaptation of The Bad Guys is guaranteed to entertain audiences of all ages, regardless of their familiarity with the source material. With a mix of classic cartoonish silliness, physical gags, smartly written comedy, and thrilling action, this movie delivers laughs and excitement galore.… Continue reading THE BAD GUYS
BRUT FORCE
California has a decades long history of conflict when it comes to picking grapes and the treatment of those who toil in the fields to get them ready for market. The narrative feature written and directed by Eve Symington, Brut Force, presents a dramatic story based on several topics in the California wine country in… Continue reading BRUT FORCE
THE WHITE FORTRESS – Tabija
Bosnian filmmaker Igor Drljača opens his new gritty yet poetic crime drama, Tabija/The White Fortress, in the rundown, graffiti-covered Sarajevo suburb of Alipasino Polje. The war-torn ghetto is the perfect landscape for this unsettling film.
STANLEYVILLE
Stanleyville is bizarre. There, I said it. I sat through the 90-minute runtime, wanting to turn it off half the time and wanting to see how it ends for the other. My guest tuned out and I stayed put. Writer/director Maxwell McCabe-Lokos makes an apparent effort to create an intriguing dark comedy, but it never… Continue reading STANLEYVILLE
THE DUKE
In film, intrigue and art theft are typically reserved for suspense thrillers with handsome leads dressed to the nine’s plotting the perfect heist. A stodgy, slightly bumbling low-class thief isn’t the typical type unless the story is true. Based on a radio play story, director Roger Michell’s version is nearly perfect – cast, sets, costumes,… Continue reading THE DUKE
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, movie audiences would have to wait four years for this sequel to Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. While I am not a massive fan of the “Wizarding World” franchise, I feel that I actually benefitted greatly from this longer-than-expected break for this next installment. With its flaws and problems,… Continue reading FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE
FATHER STU
Based on the true story of Catholic priest Father Stuart Long (portrayed in the movie by Mark Wahlberg), this biopic definitely has a firm foundation, with an inspiring spiritual story of redemption. During Long’s youth and young adult years, he endured heartbreak through the loss of his brother, and the subsequent divorce of his parents… Continue reading FATHER STU