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The Mentor (2020)
Indie lovers will enjoy this
A very unique film that indie film lovers will certainly enjoy, particularly filmmakers. The plot revolves around a young film student who meets her hero and requests mentorship, only to find them kidnapped together. No spoilers from me, but lots of twists and turns in this one. There are shades of Reservoir Dogs, Living in oblivion, and The Usual Suspects in the film and enough plot twists to keep you guessing. Cinematography was very well done.
Again, this is a film lovers film, using a lot of film industry lingo, and references to filmmaking. Fun and unique.
Normandy Is My Name (2015)
Teens without internet - hilarity ensues
A charming coming of age film centered around 5 teenagers who must suddenly learn to survive together without the internet, cellphones, or any digital devices for 1 month. The teens hail from different backgrounds, so not only do they have to live without internet conveniences, but they have to learn to live with each other.
Cory Cole steals the show as Normandy, and shines throughout the film with quick one liners and a genuine performance. Overall the film is funny, good-hearted and a pleasure to watch. If you were a fan of the breakfast club, this is up your alley.
The Stalker (2020)
Suspenseful indie stalker flick!
A fun, vengeance-driven stalker film. A scorned employee returns to wreak havoc on the family he blames for his misfortune. He stops at nothing to rip the family apart and nothing is off limits including children. An interesting plot twist, is the family itself winds up commiting a serious crime in the process of defending themselves.
With a name like "The Stalker" you know what you are getting. A fun, kill or be killed suspense film that keeps you guessing.
Why We Fight (2020)
Great insight into the mind of a fighter
A fascinating insight into the motivation and psychology of today's combat sports athletes. This documentary takes a deep dive into the minds of 3 athletes and their approach to fighting. Unique about this doc, is 2 of the 3 fighters featured are female.
Driven primarily through interviews, the documentary expertly answers the questions "why they fight". This film will be of particular interest to fight fans, or anyone considering learning a martial art. An inspiring film that honors combat sports and those that practice them.
Reaptown (2020)
Slow-burn supernatural thriller
Super creepy, slow burn thriller that constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat. Filmed almost entirely in a dark, eerie, claustrophobic setting this film has hints of the 2005 thriller "The Cave". Creepy and suspenseful.
The Berlin Bride (2019)
Fun, surreal, fantasy art movie. Potential cult classic
The film is a crazy ride of loneliness, jealousy, betrayal and loss... but told in an almost upside down way, with the female lead being played by a mannequin. There is nothing predictable about this film. It pays homage to many art films of old, and is clearly helmed by a very talented director.
I enjoyed this film but be warned it is not for everybody. If you don't enjoy surreal, off the wall art films than this is not for you. If you have never watched a film in the genre, you should give it a try. A potential cult classic.
Older (2020)
Coming of age romance done right
I would call this a more realistic romantic drama than the more typical Hollywood fare. Alex, a struggling filmmaker, anchored down by is own failures in life finds even more failure in his romantic life. As he stumbles through his career and relationship with his parents, he suddenly finds himself in a complicated love triangle between his best friend and his decade long fantasy woman. No longer in his 20's, he has some serious issues to work through.
A great film for couples or guys trying to figure out how to get their act together. Very enjoyable.
Disrupting Wine - The Life of an Entrepreneur (2020)
A must watch for startup dreamers
An excellent doc revolving around the life of a startup founder in his quest to create the perfect wine app. I'm not much of a wine drinker, although after watching I did download the app to check it out.
This documentary is not necessarily for the wine connoisseur as it will not teach you anything about wine. The real story here is the about the complicated life of Heini, the startup founder, and the trials and tribulations his passion has caused for his family. In a lot of ways it is a cautionary tale for those dreaming of founding their own startup. None of the youtube videos or books deal with the interpersonal struggles that come along with creating an international business from scratch. This film does, and it will make you think. Success always comes at a cost.
Stylistically excellent, well directed, shot beautifully and perfectly paced. If you have ever even considered getting your own business off the ground, let alone a tech startup, this is an absolute must watch.
The Evil Down the Street (2019)
Haunted house thriller
A good re-telling of the classic haunted house story. A family moves into a new home only to learn the house has demons. Mom is quickly possessed and cause havoc on the rest of her family in this psychological thriller. Indie horror fans will like this film.
The Town that Loved Bigfoot (2020)
Bigfoot invades Alabama
This quirky doc continues the legend of bigfoot, this time centering around little known Evergreen, Alabama. Evergreen has the unique distinction of being the bigfoot capital of Alabama and its cast of characters prove it. True to the title, the town loves bigfoot, even including bigfoot calling contests into their town fair. Lots of fun bigfoot related anecdotes and interesting facts about the town. Truly an enjoyable film for a bigfoot purist.
Love Is Not Enough (2019)
Fun romantic comedy
A down to earth romantic comedy. The film tackles the perils of dating in today's social media, materialistic landscape. The protagonist is a struggling inventor looking for love in all the wrong places, who finally decides to make a move on his longtime friend. Hilarity ensues. Extra love because the film was set in Detroit.
Broken Ceiling (2018)
A fun, suspenseful ride
I suggest not watching the trailer for this one because the film throws some serious surprises your way. I'm not a fan of posting spoilers, but I will say that film deals with a lot of the complexities of working within a corporate structure. It touches on aspects of discrimination, bullying and corporate backstabbing. All this leads up to an explosive storyline with enough twists and turns to keep you on edge until the end. If you have ever considered quitting your job, you may or may not want to watch this film for ideas. ; )
The Stand Up Doll (2019)
Watch with your parents or grandparents.
A beautiful film that makes some very poignant points about how we perceive the elderly. Risa, the films protagonist show we are more than our age. Her incredible life is chronicled nicely in this film, from her struggles to her triumphs. While one might think the most powerful moments in the film were of her memories of the holocaust, there are more subtle moments, just as powerful. This is one of those films that conjures a range of emotions, from sadness to inspiration. I'm not usually a fan when a filmmaker injects themself into the doc, but in this one it worked. That perspective was needed. Recommended, particularly for those with aging parents or grandparents. It will make you appreciate them more, and probably give you questions to ask them.
East LA Interchange (2015)
Fascinating history of an LA neighbourhood that deserves to be celebrated
As an LA transplant, this film really opened my eyes. Focusing on Boyle Heights, the film provides an enlightening history of this iconic neighbourhood, and tackles subjects of oppression, gentrification, community activism, and struggle. Boyle Heights seems to have experienced it all.
The film is well directed and paced, and is given some shine from a few local celebrities. Most importantly, I think the film hits the mark. It makes me want to spend some time in Boyle Heights and learn a bit more about the community. Really well done. Check out the film, and then if in LA, check out Boyle Heights.
Purdah (2018)
Defiant of stereotypes. Fascinating and insightful.
Purdah starts off almost teasing a "Bend it like Beckham" style narrative. What it delivers is infinitely more powerful. Beautifully filmed, scored, and skillfully told, Purdah is much deeper than what a simple one liner might suggest.
The film revolves around Kaikasha, a relatively poor, young, Muslim woman in India, whose conservative culture-defying passion for cricket brings challenges to her family and surrounding community. Her unyielding passion for the game of cricket seems to serve as her sword of defiance in the face of any and all criticism. The film delves deep into many of the issues young Muslim women face in India not only in the context of sports, but in overall personal autonomy. We learn about Kaikasha's religious, class and cultural obstacles which accurately frame her complex day to day life. The film tackles Muslim issues far outside the typical news cycle most are accustomed to.
As the film progresses, the lives or her family are slowly woven into the story line, and I quickly realized this film has more to do with family, following one's dreams and overcoming obstacles, than it does with cricket. One could call this film a tribute to women, as the female characters in this film show a strength and resilience we don't often see in films of this nature. Despite countless hardships, nobody is portrayed as a helpless victim. Without giving away any spoilers, the film satisfies in the fact that it represents the uncertainties of life, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
You walk away from Purdah feeling connected to the characters, and wanting to know more. Films like this teach us more about the word by reminding us just how complicated things can be outside of our own bubble. It also shows us just how strong people can be in the face of hardship and rejection. An extremely worthwhile journey. Watch it and see for yourself.