Author Archives
Founder: Elements of Madness | Contributing Senior Film Critic: CLTure | Freelance Film Critic: Mountain XPress | Bylines at Pretty Vacant One and FilmFed | The Cine-Men podcast co-host | NC Film Critics Association, Southeastern Film Critics Association, & Critics Choice Association member | Rotten Tomatoes approved individual critic
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Beautiful, painful, hilarious, & uncomfortable, Sam Levinson’s “Malcolm & Marie” is a declarative statement of artistic talent.
It’s 1 a.m. and Malcolm (John David Washington) and Marie (Zendaya) return home from the premiere of Malcom’s film, a film which left the audience in tears and the critics raving. This should be a time of celebration for the… Read More ›
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Derek DelGaudio’s powerful Broadway show “In & Of Itself” challenges our notions of identity.
From my perspective, the purpose of a critic is to observe art, in this case film, and analyze it for what it does well and what it doesn’t. To some degree, this is objective as one considers the artist’s ability… Read More ›
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“Let Him Go” Digital Code Giveaway
Outings to theaters may be inconsistent, but do you know what aren’t? Performances from Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. This dynamic pair starred together in the Thomas Bezucha-written/directed 2020 release Let Him Go and we’ve partnered with Universal Pictures Home… Read More ›
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Be careful out there. If you “Flinch,” you’ll catch a bullet.
If you’re familiar with Cameron Van Hoy, it may be because of his work as Eddie Alvarez in STARZ’s Crash or as Deputy Duke in the hilarious slasher-comedy Tragedy Girls (2017). With luck, thanks to his feature-length directorial debut Flinch,… Read More ›
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The “PG” in Steven Kostanski’s horror comedy “PG: Psycho Goreman” stands for “plenty-o-gore.
According to the production notes accompanying my screener, writer/director Steven Kostanski (The Void) grew up wondering what it would be like to hang out with the iconic villains of his youth: Skeletor, Megatron, Cobra Commander, etc. As an adult, his… Read More ›
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You’ve got next now that “Max Cloud” is coming home.
Trends are entirely cyclical. What was once deemed out of date becomes retro, reabsorbed into the lexicon of society, often repurposed into something new. It’s not just clothes (ex. tie dye and bell bottoms), music (ex. vinyl and cassettes), or… Read More ›
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“Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror” Blu-ray Giveaway
In 2019, horror streaming service Shudder premiered the incredible documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, directed by Xavier Burgin, co-produced by Tananarive Due (instructor of Sunken Place Class), and inspired by Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman’s book. On… Read More ›
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“Synchronic” Blu-ray Giveaway
If you’ve seen The Endless, Spring, or Resolution, then you understand exactly what creative team Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson are capable of. Due to the pandemic, you may have missed their latest project, Synchronic, when it hit select theaters in Fall 2020,… Read More ›
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A true story, “The Mauritanian” presents the moral failings of a country who mistakes vengeance for justice.
… We think of justice as a quality that may exist in a whole community as well as in an individual, and the community is the bigger of the two. Possibly, then, we may find justice there in larger proportions,… Read More ›
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Meet Me at the Movies: 2020 Memories, Part One.
One of the first big things I did professionally in 2020 was attend the 25th Annual Critics Choice Awards. It was my first time attending and I got to go with my podcast co-host Darryl Mansel, as well as the… Read More ›
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Check out the unexpectedly life-affirming apocalypse world of “Love and Monsters” on home video.
Despite how things may look from a cinematic perspective, there have been a number of reputable films released this year. In fact, one of the best things to come out of reduced access to theaters is an increase in access… Read More ›
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Ten Films From 2020 That Stuck With Me
With 2020 over (finally), it’s time for EoM to unveil its Fifth Annual Sticky List! If you’re unfamiliar with the Sticky List, these are the films which made me want to watch, rewatch, discuss, and share. While certainly several films… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 45 – Top 10 Movies of 2020, Part 2.
As 2021 begins, so ends The Cine-Men. For Now. That’s right, we’re taking a bit of a break until April, but we promise to be back with more in-depth discussions about cinema. For now, please enjoy the second half of… Read More ›
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Travel the globe with gentlemen thief Lupin III in his latest adventure “Lupin III: The First.”
First created by artist Monkey Punch in 1967, the adventures of gentlemen thief Lupin III have generated multiple mangas, tv series, and films depicting a variety of escapades. During a press interview for Lupin III vs. Detective Conan: The Movie… Read More ›
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“Max Cloud” Blu-ray Giveaway
What better way to ring in the new year than with the latest Scott Adkins action flick! Thanks to Well Go USA, ahead of its physical release, we’re giving away three (3) copies of Max Cloud, the sci-fi action comedy… Read More ›
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The Poprika Podcast, Episode 224 – Top 10 Movies of 2020, Part 1.
Before The Poprika Podcast departs for a well-earned hiatus, Poprika founder Darryl Mansel invited EoM founder Douglas Davidson to join him to discuss five of our current Top Ten films of 2020. In addition, we discuss our thoughts on 2020… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 44: Favorite Original Songs.
Music has a way to anchor itself in a moment that sticks with us long past that first listen. On this episode of The Cine-Men, hosts Darryl Mansel and Douglas Davidson explore their favorite songs through cinema history. Frankly, narrowing… Read More ›
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In a world full of criminals, what we need is an “Honest Thief.”
At this point in Liam Neeson’s career, the frequency of Taken-like stories he headlines has got to be purposeful. For one, Neeson makes for a damn fine action hero. His characters tend to be believable in their strength and skill,… Read More ›
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Meet Me at the Movies: The Holiday Special, Episode 409.
The holidays are upon us once more and Episode 409 of Meet Me at the Movies is all about the holiday cheer! MAM host Noel T. Manning invited EoM founder Douglas Davidson and many others to discuss films that bring… Read More ›
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Packed inside the superhero excess of “Wonder Woman 1984” is a compelling story of greed versus virtue.
As a follow-up to 2017’s Wonder Woman, director Patty Jenkin’s Wonder Woman 1984 is undeniably ambitious. It seeks to expand the mythos of Themyscria, the home of the Amazons; continue the story of Diana Prince as a continuation of her… Read More ›