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Reviews
Sweet Sunshine (2020)
Navigating Success
I really enjoyed the themes that Sweet Sunshine explores. Our lives must always ride the line between our dreams and our responsibilities. And then there are those moments when the unexpected hits us; unexpected tragedies as well as unexpected joys! Sweet sunshine is a really optimistic film, despite some of the harrowing moments that happen throughout it.
But resilience and finding the positive side of things is the message of the film. Each moment of greatness comes at a cost (like hitting your big break when your father needs you more than ever) and each cost comes with a lesson that the protagonist (TJ) must learn. And those are the kinds of lessons that bring us down to earth, and ultimately make us better people.
I highly recommend it!
Before the Dawn (2019)
An Important Conversation-Starter
Before the Dawn takes a really sincere look at the dynamic between female teachers and male students with all of the complexities surrounding that dynamic.
Why is it that some find the notion absolutely repulsive while others don't see it as much of an issue? Why is there a double standard when it comes to male teachers and female students? Is that double standard justified?
I thought that this film did a terrific job drawing out and highlighting those complexities without making any decisions for us about what's appropriate. Additionally, I thought the performances were approached in just the right nuanced way to compliment the themes put forth.
I really liked this film, and I think it could be useful in psychology or current events classrooms as a way to kickoff serious discussions surrounding the issue.
Earthrise (2014)
A Reminder of What We Take for Granted
Imagine never having lived on our planet, but still calling it home. Earthrise provides a compelling glimpse of what a possible future might look like for us (as a species) if we're not careful.
While this film shows its budget along its seams, the concept is fascinating and the emphasis on well-crafted characters is superbly executed. Just to explore the psychological impact that being an alien to the world of our origins is what makes this film very worthwhile.
The performances are terrific all-around, and if you're intrigued by science fiction with a psychological bent, I highly recommend it!
Unlawful Justice (2018)
A Tightrope Walk Done Well
Telling a story about the complexities surrounding the tension between officers of the law and the communities they police is no easy task, but Unlawful Justice manages it really, really well. The performances (and characters as they're written) make it extremely easy to understand the pressures that confront them. And they prove that "not making it personal" is nearly an impossible task. On each side of the divide, there are flawed, complex, and emotional human beings just trying to navigate the world. My favorite character in the film was Russel who was beautifully played by Will Green. He seems to encapsulate the film's sincerity and multi-level messaging extremely well. Don't miss this one!
Dirty Beautiful (2015)
We Can Change, Right?
This film is excellent! The conundrum that fuels this funny/tragic story is all too familiar to anyone who's been in a toxic relationship (or a few). I so enjoyed how brutally honest Dirty Beautiful is. While the behaviors that fuel the chaos in the film touch on the extreme, the premise is entirely relatable for most of us: it takes two to make a relationship crazy. And I honestly couldn't tell who I sided with more in the relationship. She's an agent of chaos. He's an agent of control. Both cross every line, but they just spiral back inward, toward each other. Like some primal magnet. Again--relatable. The performances are really, really good and so much of the dialogue felt like it must have been pulled from some very real experiences. Both of those things working in harmony brought about a superb energy. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Love Is Not Enough (2019)
Is it Enough?
Love is Not Enough is a playful romantic dramedy that highlights the complexities of love versus sex versus status. It has heart, honesty, and it had me laughing throughout. The characters are all sympathetic in their honest quest to understand the rollercoaster surrounding what draws us to one another. Beyond that, the film had some solid commentary about what we do for show and what we do for ourselves. Whether it be showing off for friends or publicly displaying our intentions/thoughts on social media, there is always a balance between being true to ourselves and trying to fit into our culture. I thought that commentary was greatly represented here. Terrific film!
Hex (2017)
A Universal Human Drama
I thought this film was excellent. Between the haunting original score, the beautiful forest setting, and the 1600's English Civil War era coloring each character's history, I was so drawn in by Hex's overall feeling.
What was really spectacular, though, was how the story seemed to capture something more universal about how we behave toward one another during wartime, particularly when our minds are so influenced by dogma. Hex is a story about tribalism--the tribe of nations and ideas.
Christianity unites the two main characters despite the fact that they're enemies of war, but what Hex shines a light on so beautifully is: if the religious framework that these men hold so dearly doesn't prevent them from wanting to kill one another--how just is it?
Sometimes it takes an "outsider" to represent that light.
Return to Horror Hotel (2019)
Tales From the Crypt on Acid
Return to Horror Hotel is a zany, gut-wrenching treat that would be good to put on during a party. Four unique stories make up this twisted ride. My favorite was probably the third one, which centers around a lost submarine crewman and a curious bookstore employee. Their chemistry was great, and the execution (and art direction) of the theme was fantastic. At times, the performances are campy or over-the-top ridiculous, but that's the point. Grab a beer, pop a fake blood capsule, and laugh red juice out of your mouth for this guilty pleasure!
The Evil Down the Street (2019)
The Devil is in the Details
"The Evil Down the Street" is supposedly based on true events, which is what piqued my interest about this film going into it. After having watched it, I'm very curious to learn more about the real life story that inspired it. One of the major successes of the film is how it represents the awkward tension between family members when one of them suffers from a mental illness--the deception, verbal abuse, and how the rest of the family has to overcompensate in major ways to make their existence tolerable.
Where I thought the film suffered was in the dialogue--both in terms of the writing and the delivery. It often felt over expository and emotionally flat. Regardless, I recommend giving it a watch, particularly if you're interested in the subject matter of demonic possession!
We'll Test It on Humans (2016)
A Buddy Comedy From Hell
"We'll Test it on Humans" follows in the tradition of films featuring badly-hatched schemes concocted by amoral screwballs. "Death to Smoochy", "Throw Momma From the Train" and "The Lady Killers" all come to mind.
Although the editing and cinematography had its deficits, I thought "We'll Test it on Humans" had a compelling moral tale at its core and strong performances throughout.
If you could force the person you love to love you back using a drug, you will ultimately pay a price.
I don't want to give the impression that "We'll Test it on Humans" is a serious moral tale in any way, though. It had its fair share of solid comedic moments, especially during the closing credits.
Long Lost (2018)
What a Trip!
I. Love. This. Film. Sure, the payoff at the end is absolutely awesome, but it's such a great journey along the way because it grabs you and keeps you wondering where on earth it's all going to go.
Long Lost is a tough film to review, because there are so many bizarre twists and turns that I'd hate to ruin anything. Funny, sexy, surprising, mysterious, suspenseful--this is a love triangle wrapped inside of a puzzle that's locked inside of a time bomb. Brilliantly written and directed, and perfectly casted.
The performances are strong across the board. Adam Weppler kills it as the bewildered bookish fella with integrity and Nicholas Tucci does a fantastic job striking the balance between intimidating and hilarious. I think Catherine Corcoran steels the show though. She's downright magnetic as the proverbial rabbit that keeps the dog running along the track. Without her, nobody would believe that anyone would be able to stomach what the protagonist goes through.
Go for the ride. Stay for the ending! You won't regret it.
Maussan's UFO Files (2019)
Vindication!
After decades of investigating UFO phenomenon, Mexican journalist Jaime Maussan is presented with very compelling evidence that his pursuits have been on the right course.
Covering Maussan's decades of journalistic endeavor's, Beyond the Spectrum paints a portrait of a man with integrity, conviction, and a hunger for the truth. As video technology has found itself in the hands of more and more people across the globe since the 1980's, evidence of UFOs have been piling sky high. More recently, however, such evidence has been coming from the Air Force pilots of governments across the globe--lending fantastic credibility to the stories that accompany said evidence.
Throughout this journey, Maussan has been sitting center stage, and this film tells the story of his career and passion up to the point where he is given a stamp of approval from the Mexican Secretary of Defense to disseminate and analyze infrared footage from a group of Mexican fighter pilots, thereby--on a major level--vindicating the work of his career.
I can't recommend Beyond the Spectrum highly enough. It's a fascinating story about a man that should be much more recognized in the United States and I look forward to seeing where his search goes from here.
Lie Low (2019)
A Sorrowful (But Beautiful) Tale
Lie Low is about vengeance, honor, truth, and family.
It's a hard look at the cycle of vengeance and how difficult it is to shake. This film is beautifully filmed--utilizing a shallow depth-of-field-but-still-wide-angled aesthetic that provides the viewer with enough perspective to get a sense of the space while also highlighting how narrowly focused or willfully blind the characters are.
The performances in Lie Low were all uniquely strong, whole, and complex. The actors brought heart to an otherwise hypnotically bleak landscape.
If I have one criticism, it's that the film is a disturbing downer with very few glimpses of light and humor, which makes it difficult to sustain (as a viewer) for its 98 minute runtime.
That being said, the subject matter requires darkness, and by and large, it should disturb you. Make no bones about it--that's what Lie Low aims to do and it does so quite successfully. It's not for everyone, but for those who enjoy bleak thrillers that provoke thought, this is a "can't miss."
Purdah (2018)
Heartbreaking but Hopeful
Purdah is an absolutely terrific film. In the midst of the #metoo movement in the U.S., it's enlightening to be reminded of what life is like in many parts of the world. These young women are full of bold aspirations--for how they want to carry out their lives as mothers, wives, and professionals. To challenge the expectations of their religiously devout and culturally conservative community takes a serious degree of strength that is nearly unimaginable in the states.
One of the things that stood out to me while watching Purdah was just how optimistic these women are in the face of adversity. When any of them talk about receiving terrible news: about a dire health issue (for both herself and her child), about abandonment, or about professional failure--they all remain in good humor and they discuss their problems with a smiling optimism that is so beautifully encouraging. Honestly, it's life-affirming to witness.
Purdah is both a gorgeously made and important film that features profoundly inspiring individuals and I feel so grateful to have had a chance to peer into their world.
Stadium Anthems (2018)
Mallrats for the Music Industry
With all the raunchiness, Star Wars references, and sexually-charged jokes, Stadium Anthems feels like a 1995-era Kevin Smith written and directed a mockumentary about the music industry in its post-streaming technology death throes. I mean that in the best way.
All of the archetypes you'd expect are present: the arrogant (and sexist) businessmen who wish to be artists, the artists who never quite got their big break, the arrogant, washed up, and out-of-touch hams who are trying to stay relevant, and the underpaid peons who are far too often the smartest people in the room.
Given its ensemble cast of characters, it can be difficult to attach yourself to a single strong protagonist, and the film tends to meander a bit too much narratively for its own good.
All of that said, Stadium Anthems is a very funny, expertly acted film with a lot to say about the clash between art and commerce in the 21st century.
Bad, Bad Men (2016)
Cheeky on Top, and Brilliant Below the Surface
I really liked Bad, Bad Men. The writing was as unique as it was genuinely funny. And between laughs there was a (somewhat) subtle poignancy about "bro culture." Tonally, Bad, Bad Men doesn't take itself too seriously, which is almost indicative of the dangers of "toxic male culture." These guys are flippant--about women, children, their jobs, the future, and each other. Its almost as if the film was satirically produced by a shallow man who wants to tell the story about how shallow men behave in the world. What makes it work is how self-aware it is.
It also works as a lighthearted male-centric comedy that felt close to films like "Extract" or "Hall Pass." There were so many great moments (and lines) that had me in stitches. One scene that I thought nailed it involved a father entering his home to take money out of his children's "dream fund" to use as a last resort for a ransom exchange. He encounters every member of his family tenderly reminding him about how sweet, innocent, and full of hope they are. The writing and performance of that moment was perfect.
If you're in the mood to laugh at "boys being boys" in a way that highlights just how awful boys (and people in general) can be, don't miss this one.
Viral Beauty (2018)
Being Human... In Front of Everyone
A strong metaphor for life in the era of Social Media, Viral Beauty takes on a journey through what it means to be vulnerable, insecure, and in love--with an audience of dispassionate, if not downright cruel onlookers.
The performances are really excellent--especially Casey Killoran, whose portrayal of Marsha is particularly authentic. It's really fascinating to watch her transformation throughout the story, and how it impacts her life and those judging her.
Although zany and lighthearted, Viral Beauty quietly examines the brutality and apathy that comes about from ubiquity in the era of social media.
Everlasting (2016)
Haunting and Beautiful
Evoking a similarly gothic and nightmarish aesthetic to films like 8mm or Lynch's Lost Highway, Everlasting examines jealousy and love in the often cruel underbelly of the modeling world. The leads all deliver captivating performances, but Valentina de Angelis is particularly magnetic as the elusive Jessie. Overall the film felt like a dream that wanders somewhat chaotically around Matt's mission to find Jessie's killer. This is not at the film's peril, however. The serpentine storytelling gives it an almost 90's-era Oliver Stone-like quality, where multiple perspectives elevate the emotional dimensions in each given moment. The soundtrack only enhances the ethereal qualities that are already present throughout. I look forward to seeing what this filmmaker does next!
Broken Ceiling (2018)
Ruthlessly Honest
Broken Ceiling lifts the ugly rock of corporate office culture and exposes all of the classism, sexism, racism, and dehumanizing pettiness that festers underneath. Karan Kendrick's performance won't be easily forgotten. She puts a battle hardened face to the slow and steady suffering felt by so many. Don't miss this one!
The Redeeming (2018)
A Boy's Best Friend
This well-acted psychological thriller shines a bright light on the nature of madness driven by dependency. Above all else, the performances from the two main characters are very strong. The Redeeming is a steady, patient, and deliberate film that waits until just the right moment to reveal its cards. And boy is it well worth that wait!