Author Archives
Founder: Elements of Madness | Contributing Senior Film Critic: CLTure | Past Add'l Bylines: Freelance Critic Mountain XPress, Critic Pretty Vacant One, & Contributor FilmFed | The Cine-Men podcast co-host | Member: NC Film Critics Association, Southeastern Film Critics Association, Film Independent, & Critics Choice Association member | Rotten Tomatoes-approved individual critic
-
Everyone’s a little suss when there are “Werewolves Within.”
When it comes to adapting games, especially video games, for cinema, the track record is low for success. While there’s some fun to be had in Doom (2005) or Mortal Kombat (1995), it’s best not to mention any appreciation for… Read More ›
-
“Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” 4K UHD Blu-ray Giveaway
The candyman isn’t the only one capable of bringing you treats. Thanks to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, EoM can offer you a most dazzling, charming, and, yes, even horrifying adventure via the 4K UHD restoration of Willy Wonka & the… Read More ›
-
“The Paper Tigers” reenter the ring thanks to Well Go USA’s home release edition.
Martial arts films hold a special place in cinema. Whether it’s the swirling wonder of wuxia or a straight-forward bare-knuckle brawler, the Asian import captured the imagination in the 1970s – 1980s and has yet to loosen its hold on… Read More ›
-
Paramount Pictures celebrates the 40th anniversary of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” with a brand-new 4K UHD “Indiana Jones” 4-movie collection.
June 12th, 1981, one of the most revered franchises in all of cinema history begins with the release of the Lawrence Kasdan-written (The Empire Strikes Back), Steven Spielberg-directed Raiders of the Lost Ark, later retitled to include the Indiana Jones… Read More ›
-
Without stooping to sensationalism, Dawn Porter’s “Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer” offers hope amid horror.
In 2020, documentarian Dawn Porter explored two very different political figures via her films John Lewis: Good Trouble and The Way I See It. The first followed Congressman and activist John Lewis, who passed away in 2020, while the second… Read More ›
-
By-the-numbers action thriller “Assault on VA-33” surprises in its examination on veteran treatment.
Around Elements of Madness, story is everything. We’re not looking for giant budgets, major studios, or the biggest names; we’re looking for an interesting idea or an engaging twist on something old. Enter the Scott Thomas Reynolds-written (2nd Chance for… Read More ›
-
Let them fight anytime you want with “Godzilla vs. Kong” on home video.
In the blue corner, at a height of 394 feet, is the force of nature himself, Godzilla! In the red corner, at a height of 335 feet, is the one and only King, Kong! As all of humanity waits with… Read More ›
-
More ≠ better for “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.”
When I left the Patrick Hughes-directed The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017), the first thought I had was “Looney Tunes.” The way in which the narrative exploits the chemistry between its leads, Ryan Reynolds (Waiting…) and Samuel L. Jackson (Formula 51), the… Read More ›
-
In thrilling documentary “The Penny Black,” trust half of what you see and less of what you hear.
It all begins with a story. A young man (Will Cassayd-Smith) is sharing a smoke with his Russian neighbor, Roman, who unexpectedly asks if Will could watch a package for him for about two weeks while he leaves town. The… Read More ›
-
The Cine-Men, Episode 50 – Favorite Party Scenes
50. 50 episodes. After three years of recording, we’ve hit a benchmark I suspect both Darryl and I are shocked to have gotten to. We honor our fiftieth by spending a little time talking about the journey that got us… Read More ›
-
Enjoy the summer blockbuster feeling at home with director Antoine Fuqua’s “Infinite” on Paramount+.
In 2009, author D. Eric Maikranz self-published his book, The Reincarnationist Papers, with a message inside, a “request for help,” offering an agent’s commission (roughly $10K) if someone in his readerships could help get the book noticed by a Hollywood… Read More ›
-
“Indiana Jones” 4-Movie Digital Code Giveaway
The kind folks at Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment sent us a review copy of the newly released Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection and it contained within it an unexpected surprise: an extra set of digital download codes. Delighted as we are to… Read More ›
-
Martial arts crime comedy “Undercover Punch & Gun” is largely undercooked despite good ideas.
Over the last few years in America there’s been a surge of “gun fu” films: The Matrix (1999), Equilibrium (2002), all the way up to the recent John Wick series. It’s not that the combination of martial arts and weaponry… Read More ›
-
Surprise! Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani’s “The Lovebirds” is coming to home video.
One of the many adjustments from the COVID-19 shutdowns is that several theatrical releases from major studios were sold/moved to streamers. NEON’s Palm Springs went to Hulu, Paramount’s Coming 2 America went to Amazon, Sony’s An American Pickle went to… Read More ›
-
“Nobody” Digital Code Giveaway
After a theatrical and VOD release in March/April, the Bob Odenkirk-led Ilya Naishuller-directed Nobody comes home permanently with a cornucopia of bonus materials. Coming in three iterations, you can snag the digital edition on June 8th or wait for the… Read More ›
-
If you go into writer/director BenDavid Grabinski’s film clinging to expectations, your cinematic experience won’t end “Happily.”
Shot over 20 days with the intent to premiere at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, writer/director BenDavid Grabinski’s genre-hybrid Happily eventually hit select theaters on March 19th, 2021, along with a simultaneous VOD and digital release. The film is difficult… Read More ›
-
In honor of the 20th anniversary of Angelina Jolie’s “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” snag both adventures in a new 4K UHD 2-pack.
Its 1996 and British gaming company Core Design has released action-adventure game Tomb Raider for PC, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn consoles. Centered around archeologist/adventurer Lara Croft, the title challenged gamers to solve puzzles and confront strange enemies in pursuit of… Read More ›
-
Director James Kicklighter’s “The Sound of Identity” is the rare documentary which delicately shifts the audience away from the expected.
First performed in October 1787, Wolfgang Mozart’s Il dissoluto punito; ossia, il Don Giovanni (The Libertine Punished; or, Don Giovanni) has since been performed countless times around the globe. Like other pieces of art, it’s been recreated and recontextualized to… Read More ›
-
A Pinch of Cine-Men: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” [Patreon Special Episode Sneak]
December 16th, 2016 saw the release of the eighth Star Wars film, the one-off prequel story Rogue One. It tells the story of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and a hodgepodge of individuals who band together to steal the Death Star plans to… Read More ›
-
“Minari” is a no-frills tale of a family pursuing the American dream.
Of the many decisions made for the 93rd Academy Awards, the shift away from running clips of films seemed like the most bizarre according to vocal viewers online. Whether it was for technical awards or the top six, not running… Read More ›