Author Archives
Founder: Elements of Madness | Contributing Senior Film Critic: CLTure | Bylines at Pretty Vacant One and FilmFed | The Cine-Men podcast co-host | NC Film Critics Association & Southeastern Film Critics Association member | Rotten Tomatoes approved individual critic
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Expectations and perception collide in Mike Gan’s “Burn,” a provocative view into human nature and connection.
Looking at the catalogue of films writer/director Mike Gan has developed, each film appears to deal with the darker sides of humanity. This is not to say that there aren’t protagonists, but that they are muddied and never completely wholesome…. Read More ›
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Generational conflicts play out as bloody mayhem in Richard Bates Jr.’s “Tone-Deaf”.
Probably for as long as there have been parents and children, there’s been a war waging between generations. Parents tend to think that the ones coming up have no regard for way things used to be and children think it’s… Read More ›
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“Ready Or Not,” here comes the bride.
Every family has their traditions, the little things that they do in order to carry forward to the future the notions of the past. Where things tend to get tricky is when someone marries in. Suddenly it’s not about one… Read More ›
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YA adaptation “The Sun Is Also a Star” indulges in romance more than the real world.
While there’re varying degrees with which one can look at themselves in relation to the universe, there are two distinct perspectives which stand in opposition. Either the universe is an uncaring, vast space born out of chaos and we are… Read More ›
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Manga adaptation “Kingdom” is not just for the fans, but for adventure-seekers everywhere.
For the uninitiated, watching the trailer for director Shinsuke Sato’s (Inuyashiki) Kingdom will be confusing and potentially befuddling. Frankly, it’s just a whirlwind of content as text lays out the plot amid rapid images from the film all while “Wasted… Read More ›
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Mitch McLeod’s “Silhouette” packs big budget tension in a small budget film.
No matter the genre, the most compelling stories are the ones which tap into something primal in the audience. Fear, delight, rage, and joy are ingrained in us as a means of survival in an uncontrollable cosmos. A good writer… Read More ›
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Sudeikis, Pace, and Greer make “Driven,” the somewhat true story of John DeLorean’s fall from grace, an emotional ride.
If you’re a child of the ‘80s, there’s one car that pops into your mind the moment you think about the era; a vehicle made famous by Robert Zemeckis’s Back to the Future series and infamous throughout automotive history. The… Read More ›
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HBO Documentary “Alternate Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America” follows six stories of final arrangements that go beyond traditional methods.
The process of dealing with death is a universal one. A popular axiom is also one of the great truths, “time comes for us all.” How one’s life or death is honored or celebrated upon passing can be influenced by… Read More ›
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Six Must-See Films at the 2019 DC Black Film Festival
The DC Black Film Festival returns on Thursday, August 15th, 2019 when it kicks-off with a screening of Solace at The Miracle Theatre. Over the course of its three-day run, the DC BFF will host viewings of features and documentaries short and… Read More ›
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Relive the emotional conclusion to the MCU’s Infinity Saga – “Avengers: Endgame” – on home video now.
Quantifying the significance of Avengers: Endgame is a lofty task. For some, the 22-film collection Marvel Studios crafted is an exercise in inconsequential extravagance which has shifted how studios make movies for the worse. These films have even been described… Read More ›