A film regarded as a “coming of age” story can be perceived in a couple of ways. Some people may want to pass on viewing it because it may be formulaic and predictable. I try not to set expectations and am open to seeing what the filmmakers offer. How creative is it when it comes… Continue reading Almost Popular – Another Coming of Age Film with Some Good Scenes
Category: Reviews
Movie Review: The Fantastic Golem Affairs – Fantastic Fest Presents Spanish Sci-fi Comedy
From writers/directors Juan González and Nando Martínez comes The Fantastic Golem Affairs, an absurdist Spanish sci-fi comedy that was showcased internationally at the 2023 film festivals, including Fantasia and Fantastic Fest (Austin, TX), among others. The film explores friendship and relationships, particularly those between parents, but in a manner that diverges from the conventional portrayal… Continue reading Movie Review: The Fantastic Golem Affairs – Fantastic Fest Presents Spanish Sci-fi Comedy
NE ZHA 2 Is A Sequel With A Tad Too Much Ambition
Before receiving the invitation to this screening, I had never heard of the Chinese animated movie Ne Zha. However, after reading the synopsis of the film, I was definitely intrigued. One day before the Ne Zha 2 screening, I watched Ne Zha, the first installment of this Chinese fantasy saga, and fell in love. The… Continue reading NE ZHA 2 Is A Sequel With A Tad Too Much Ambition
HONEY, DON’T! Begs For Better Writing
Some filmmaking pairs need both members to be present to pull off great work. The perfect example of this is the Coen Brothers. For whatever reason, the Coen Brothers have decided to part ways and make movies on their own. However, Joel and Ethan Coen have yet to deliver something exciting and remarkable individually, despite… Continue reading HONEY, DON’T! Begs For Better Writing
Eden – This Survivalist Thriller is Based on A True Story
Eden unravels the shocking true story of a German doctor and his partner who have left Germany to live a distinct life from that of World War I. They reside on an island in the Galapagos and write letters “back home” about how they are satisfied and at peace. Those letters are printed in the… Continue reading Eden – This Survivalist Thriller is Based on A True Story
Nobody 2: a quick, 89-minute burst of bone-crunching, campy chaos
Sometimes you just want a late-summer blast that doesn’t demand much of your brain beyond keeping up with the next punchline or the next punch. Nobody else delivers exactly that: a quick, 89-minute burst of bone-crunching, campy chaos that swaps the first film’s surprise for a looser, more playful good time. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto,… Continue reading Nobody 2: a quick, 89-minute burst of bone-crunching, campy chaos
NOBODY 2
Suburban dad Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk), a former lethal assassin, is pulled back into his violent past after thwarting a home invasion, setting off a chain of events that unravels secrets about his wife Becca’s (Connie Nielsen) past and his own (IMDB). I have never seen anything that Bob Odenkirk has acted in. But when… Continue reading NOBODY 2
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
Akira Kurosawa’s film, High and Low, was a movie I had never watched. That is, until I knew I would be covering Highest 2 Lowest, filmmaker Spike Lee’s interpretation of the same story that inspired one of Japan’s more iconic filmmakers to adapt it for cinema. While watching High and Low, I was absolutely riveted.… Continue reading HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY
As much as I like a wide variety of music, Jeff Buckley’s music has managed to escape my hunger for the genre for decades. Though I was familiar with his name and had heard his version of “Hallelujah,” that was all I had to work with going into this screener for this documentary. After experiencing… Continue reading IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY
WEAPONS Is Another Amazing Cinematic Offering From Zach Cregger
In 2022, filmmaker Zach Cregger blew me away with his horror-thriller Barbarian. His direction, storytelling, and ability to deliver surprises showed that he is a director who deserves more opportunities to show his talents. So, it was with much excitement that I attended the screening of his new film, Weapons, a movie I, thankfully, knew… Continue reading WEAPONS Is Another Amazing Cinematic Offering From Zach Cregger