POOR THINGS Delivers a Bold Evolution of Feminism Within a Surreal Period Piece

From Yorgos Lanthimos, the visionary filmmaker behind The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and The Favorite comes what I believe is his latest piece de resistance. With an excellent screenplay by Tony McNamara, based on the novel Poor Things: Episodes from the Early Life of Archibald McCandless M.D., Scottish Public Health Officer, by… Continue reading POOR THINGS Delivers a Bold Evolution of Feminism Within a Surreal Period Piece

May December – Complex Morality Unraveled

In Todd Haynes’ latest psychological drama ‘May December’ the acclaimed director takes audiences on a riveting journey into the complexities of truth, morality, and the blurred lines between reality and performance. Anchored by stellar performances from Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and breakout star Charles Melton, the film explores the aftermath of a scandalous affair and… Continue reading May December – Complex Morality Unraveled

How the Gringo Stole Christmas

Director/producer Angel Gracia (director -From Prada To Nada) and producer of King of Killers that our site reviewed earlier this year, and writer Ezequiel Martinez Jr. (The Last Hope, A Gunman’s Curse) teamed up to provide the holiday feature film, How the Gringo Stole Christmas. There are similarities to prior films like Meet the Parents,… Continue reading How the Gringo Stole Christmas

‘Saltburn’: Navigating the Complex Tapestry of Aristocratic Opulence and Dark Manipulation

A still from "Saltburn," 2023. Amazon Studios

Emerald Fennell, renowned for her Oscar-winning debut, “Promising Young Woman,” unveils her sophomore film, ‘Saltburn,’ a captivating exploration of the British aristocracy’s intricacies. The film boldly defies the tendency in cinema to relegate the upper class to a relic of the past, offering a compelling portrayal of their contemporary existence. Set against the backdrop of… Continue reading ‘Saltburn’: Navigating the Complex Tapestry of Aristocratic Opulence and Dark Manipulation

Who We Become

Filipino-American filmmaker PJ Raval (Call her Ganda, Come & Take It, Before You Know It, Trinidad) is a well-known name in Austin, with five of his films (features, shorts, music videos) nominated for awards at the SXSW Film & Television Festival since 2010, according to IMDb. I have attended the SXSW festivals in Austin since… Continue reading Who We Become

With MAY DECEMBER, Todd Haynes Offers His Take On Media Controversy

Controversy permeates our news, social media, television, and film. These often-disturbing stories often fuel melodramatic and hackneyed retellings of them, with little regard for the actual people involved. May December takes a genuine, scandalous event and deconstructs the public reactions to them and how opportunistic people vampirically feed off these moments in human history. Natalie… Continue reading With MAY DECEMBER, Todd Haynes Offers His Take On Media Controversy

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Categorized as MAIN, Reviews

It’s a Wonderful Knife Horror Film available on Shudder on AMC+

Directed by Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls, V/H/S/99) and written by Michael Kennedy (Freaky), It’s a Wonderful Knife is a horror film where gentrification and the high-end life is taking over established homes (even historic) and declining the offer to sell is not an option. Although some viewers have expressed similarities to the 1946 film, It’s… Continue reading It’s a Wonderful Knife Horror Film available on Shudder on AMC+

Candy Cane Lane

Director Reginald Hudlin’s Christmas film Candy Cane Lane stars two well-known actors as a married couple, Chris Carver (Eddie Murphy) and Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross). The screenplay by Kelly Younger features them as having three children, and Chris is passionate about the holidays. He handcrafts decorations for the home exterior. All the homeowners on Candy… Continue reading Candy Cane Lane

Published
Categorized as MAIN, Reviews

Candy Cane Lane: Lacks the Holiday Sparkle

Eddie Murphy stars in CANDY CANE LANE. (Photo: Amazon Studios)

Eddie Murphy, in ‘Candy Cane Lane,’ takes on a role that feels akin to driving a sportscar to the local supermarket—an unnecessary extravagance for a holiday movie aimed at family-friendly audiences on Amazon Prime. With full-on-flashy-smile charisma, Murphy tries to compensate for the film’s lackluster energy but often appears to sleepwalk through the festivities, contrasting… Continue reading Candy Cane Lane: Lacks the Holiday Sparkle