jcanni Reviews

The Berlin Bride (2019)

Delightfully nostalgic and cleverly done

[9/10 · 7 July 2020]

This arthouse film was a true delight, harkening back to the magic of Hollywood's silent era. While not entirely a silent film, it's powerful, provocative visuals do most of the communicating, along with a beautiful, effective score. While maintaining a light, playful tone, the film simultaneously explores deep themes of identity, loneliness and connection, and succeeds at being both entertaining and thought-provoking.

For the Weekend (2020)

Perfect film to watch with your friends on the weekend

[9/10 · 21 April 2020]

I really enjoyed this film. It worked for me on multiple levels. The characters were believable and relatable, people I felt I knew lol. Their interpersonal drama was very relatable too and kept me engaged and entertained. The film had some laughs too and some solid tension, and a satisfying climax. Good film to watch on the weekend with your buddies.

Huckleberry (2018)

Smart, well-acted, full of heart

[8/10 · 21 April 2020]

A smart, well-done teenage drama, I was pleasantly impressed with it's level of heart and depth. I did find some of the choices of the lead character to be off-putting, and the liberal stereotypes--white cisgender males are toxic, police bad, minorities good--felt tired, but ultimately don't detract from a well-written, well-acted, emotionally powerful film that at it's core is universally relatable and compelling.

My Senior Year (2020)

Relatable high school drama with heart

[8/10 · 20 April 2020]

While it captures familiar high school drama tropes, this film elevates itself with some depth of emotion and a thoughtful backstory. Through this lens, the film is a satisfying exploration of the high school experience, making you connect with the lead character and empathize. While it makes some attempts to pull on your heart strings, it ultimately remains grounded in a story that is relatable and compelling.

Silent Panic (2018)

Superb, well-acted film with excellent, tense drama

[9/10 · 19 April 2020]

This thriller was delightfully good, with a strong premise about friends being stuck with a dead body and the intense drama that unfolds. The characters felt very real, and I particularly noticed how genuine their dialogue felt...kudos to the strong writing and great acting. The camerawork and editing lend to the effective drama and tenseness of the film...every scene felt engaging. This is an indie gem that will hook you and keep you glued to the end.