Author Archives
Founder: Elements of Madness | Past Bylines at CLTure, Pretty Vacant One, FilmFed, & Mountain Xpress | NC Film Critics Association, Southeastern Film Critics Association, & Critics Choice Association member | Rotten Tomatoes approved individual critic
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Inconvenience turns to opportunity in the musical “Stuck”.
In 2008, writer Riley Thomas premiered his musical Stuck at the La Costa Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. From there, it moved to off-Broadway in 2012 before being commissioned as a film in 2016. With screenings taking place at festivals as… Read More ›
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“Just Say Goodbye” tackles suicidal ideation with brave honesty.
Depression lies. It whispers in our ears, penetrating our minds, until it resides in our hearts, turning all that’s good into ash. It tells us the worst we can imagine and removes all hope, convincing us that the world might… Read More ›
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“The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part” is super cool amazing on home video.
If you didn’t catch The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part when it was in theaters and you want to remain unspoiled about whether you should or should not see it, then check out the spoiler-free review of the film… Read More ›
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After every “Storm” comes a chance at a new beginning. [Tribeca Film Festival]
There’s a notion that bigger is always better. Creators of short films disprove this notion every day. The latest is Storm by writer/director Will Kindrick, currently screening in the short program section “Down to Earth” in 2019’s Tribeca Film Festival…. Read More ›
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Documentary “Cradle of Champions” puts you right in the mix without a cornerman to guide you.
Developed with obvious love for boxing, director Bartle Bull’s Cradle of Champions shifts between feeling like an absolute first feature and the work of a seasoned pro. It’s the way Bull frames his subjects – three fighters competing in New… Read More ›
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Short film “Albatross Soup” turns a simple riddle into an existential journey.
A man goes into a restaurant and orders albatross soup. After he eats, he goes outside and shoots himself. Why? Ever wondered what it would look like to animate confusion, to make visual the inner turmoil one feels when confronted… Read More ›
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Coming To Theaters: May 2019
April showers bring May flowers, but May also heralds the Summer Blockbuster. While not all the films hitting theaters this month are going to rock the box office, that doesn’t mean they can’t tickle, titillate, or otherwise stimulate your senses…. Read More ›
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Beautiful and powerful, director Zhang Yimou’s “Shadow” achieves the balance it seeks.
If you’ve ever seen one of director Zhang Yimou’s films, then you’re aware of his general aesthetic: beautiful colors, historical periods, and performances wherein feats of martial arts are as essential to communication as dialogue. His latest work, Shadow, contains… Read More ›
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“Avengers: Endgame” is here and it’s the perfect end to the MCU’s Infinity Saga.
After an unprecedented 21-film lead-up, Avengers: Endgame, the culminating moment in what’s now been dubbed “The Infinity Saga,” is finally here. Audiences are coming to this film with a hope of closure after an emotionally devastating end to 2018’s Anthony… Read More ›
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Transhumanist thriller “Replicas” suffers from an identity crisis.
Humanity’s been fascinated with extending its life since about the time it realized its mortality. Stories run rampant of the relics like the Fountain of Youth or the Holy Grail, believed to possess restorative powers strong enough to put a… Read More ›
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“J.T. LeRoy” is a soft entry point to learn more about the once-and-former literary icon, J.T. LeRoy.
All art walks a line between reality and intention. This is made more complicated when the reality and intention the artist puts forth conflicts with that of the receivers. In many ways, the artist themselves becomes unimportant in comparison to… Read More ›
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Limited Engagement: Make your reservations to visit “Okko’s Inn” now.
Whether you’re familiar with anime studio Madhouse or not, it’s likely you’ve seen their work: the hilarious and satirical adaptation of the One-Punch Man manga, 2008’s Batman: Gotham Knight, 2006’s The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and many more. The… Read More ›
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When times are hard, faith can help us “Breakthrough”.
January 19th, 2015, John Smith (portrayed by Marcel Ruiz) was playing on an iced-over lake in Missouri with some friends when the ice broke underneath them. While the other two got out, John remained in the water for 20 minutes… Read More ›
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Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 14
With Avengers: Endgame coming ever closer, The Cine-Men return to discuss their top three favorite comic book films. Never one to focus on any one thing, we also dig into the first teaser trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of… Read More ›
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“Master Z: Ip Man Legacy” delivers all the fantastic action and heartfelt drama you expect.
The name Yuen Woo Ping is synonymous with quality action. As an actor, he’s been working since 1962; as a stunt coordinator or fighting instructor, since 1971; and he began directing in 1978. His hands have touched films like Jackie… Read More ›
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Things do not go as planned when two brothers connect in “Long Lost”.
Expectations are frequently a killer when it comes to enjoying a film. Maybe it’s the fault of marketing in the way it frames a film. Maybe it’s what the audience brings to the experience. But however audiences approach a film… Read More ›
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“On the Basis of Sex” presents the fierce battle for gender equality wrapped in a fuzzy comfort blanket.
It would be difficult to find anyone who hadn’t either heard the name Ruth Bader Ginsburg, heard her nickname “the Notorious RBG,” or seen one of Kate McKinnon’s SNL skits poking fun at the seemingly eternal 86-year old Supreme Court… Read More ›
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When we succumb to “The Browsing Effect” we forget to communicate.
In order for a romantic comedy to stand out among the pack these days, it needs to have more than a strong cast. Not every romantic comedy needs some gimmick to hook its audience, but it never hurts to appear… Read More ›
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Watch: Meet Me at the Movies, Show 326
EoM founder Douglas Davidson was invited to join fellow NCFCA member Noel T. Manning for the April 5th broadcast of his program Meet Me at the Movies. This marks Douglas’s first time being on broadcast television and Noel, Greg, and Tim… Read More ›
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Listen: Picture Lock Show, Ep 115: Fall Back Spring Forward
Kevin Sampson, founder of Picture Lock Show, invited EoM founder Douglas Davidson to join him for a discussion of their most anticipated and least anticipated films of Spring 2019. Are there any here which surprise you? Which films are you… Read More ›