REVIEWS

There’s a frustrating element to watching a film that is only partly effective. Certain elements draw you in, while others push you away. Sometimes that can be a content issue, but in the case of Most Wanted, it’s more just in how the story is being told. The dramatic elements,[...]

A coming of age story can take a number of routes when doing its thing. Some opt to really get raunchy, relying on sex to sell. Others focus on the emotional journey of a teenager. Few are able to meld the two cohesively, since there’s usually a high art/low art[...]

Whenever an actor steps behind the camera, I’m always fascinated to see what they choose that first directorial project to be. Especially when they’re writing as well as directing, there’s a big-time curiosity factor about what kind of a movie they opt to craft. In the case of Dave Franco,[...]

Sports documentaries are, when they work, able to stir up something strong within you. The joy of victory and the agony of defeat are always cinematic, so when they can be depicted in a non-fiction format, focused on real competition, there’s strong potential on display. This weekend, a sports doc[...]

Quirky dramedies can be an absolute delight. Especially when the actor or actress in the lead role can react properly to the quirk on display, the possibilities for quality cinema are strong. Independent cinema is littered with examples of this. Unfortunately, the indie film world is also filled with efforts[...]

It’s a real crime that Jeff Daniels doesn’t have more awards on his mantle. To date, he’s never won an Academy Award, or even been nominated for one. Throughout his career, he’s done Oscar-worthy work on multiple occasions, but the Academy has repeatedly snubbed him. Now, showcasing his talents in[...]

At least in 2020, going to the theater for a rollicking summer blockbuster is not a thing. It just isn’t. Part of the summer movie season is the feeling of watching a big budget flick with a cold drink, some popcorn, and the air-conditioning blasting as a refrain from the[...]

When you hear what We Are Little Zombies is about, the concept that it could have more than a little bit of influence from the world of video-games may come as a shock. After all, the story of a quartet of kids bonding over the mutual loss of their parents[...]

Contained horror has an added bit of resonance right now. After all, many of us are still essentially stuck in our homes. Moreover, eco-horror is rather under-explored as a sub-genre of fright flicks. So, The Beach House enters with a few things in its favor. However, the genre offering, debuting[...]

The high concept romantic comedy seems to be a thing of the past. Whether it has to do with the cost of producing one, audience tastes, or just the changing of the times, a rom-com that mixes in something else tends to be rare. At least on the independent scene,[...]