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Reviews
Above the Best (2019)
Immersive and emotional
Very few films, let alone documentaries, have the emotional impact that Above the Best carries with it, similar to the weight that the soldiers carry themselves. In David Salzberg's fifth U.S military documentary, the filmmaker places us, literally, into an Apache cockpit, the seat of a Humvee gunner, and ducked behind cover as we experience two separate battles in 2006 Afghanistan. These events chronicle the personal stories of several soldiers who luckily lived to tell the tale, opening a window into the strength of their brotherhood and the immediacy of their selflessness. Through this incredible real body cam footage and powerful editing, we feel the claustrophobia and anxiety that Pilot Daniel Flores overcomes as well as the helplessness of Terry Best and his men as they all quickly run out of ammo, succeeding only through their bond and courage. These acts of heroism should not go undetected, and thankfully they haven't, as Salzberg has crafted a heart-stopping and emotional experience that I feel compelled to recommend.
Empathy, Inc. (2018)
a successful genre mashup
Empathy Inc. is a movie that seamlessly traverses multiple genres thanks to Yedidya Gorsetman's adaptable direction and Mark Leidner's versatile script. What starts off as a sci-fi thriller with protagonist Joel (Zach Rabidas) investing in a new VR startup, soon shifts its premise into the visceral horrors of technology and even the crime genre as our characters become more corrupt and morally ambiguous. Darin Quan's slick black and white cinematography also dips the film's toes into the noir genre, enhancing Empathy Inc.'s cryptic characters and mysterious story. With the efficiency of the indie sci-fi film Primer, and a mood akin to Memento, I can't help but recommend Empathy Inc.