Author Archives
Founder: Elements of Madness | Contributing Senior Film Critic: CLTure | Past Bylines at Pretty Vacant One, FilmFed, & Mountain Xpress | 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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Jennifer Lopez-focused documentary “Halftime” offers a surprising chastisement for the entertainment industry which devours celebrity. [Tribeca Film Festival]
To most folks, Super Bowl LIV, the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, was a game like any other, an opportunity to cheer on their favorite team, to denounce their enemy, or gather together with friends and eat… Read More ›
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Director Laura Checkoway’s “The Cave of Adullam” highlights the power of emotional regulation to break generational trauma. [Tribeca Film Festival]
Transformation of any kind requires not confidence, but commitment. Anyone who’s observed small children as their minds develop will tell you that it’s a miracle that the majority of us survive into adulthood given the commitment to explore one’s surroundings…. Read More ›
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Before there could be “Toy Story,” there was “Lightyear.”
In 1995, Pixar’s first film, Toy Story, tapped into the imaginations of filmgoers young and old through an adventurous animated story of friendship told from the perspective of toys, specifically, a group of toys owned by a young boy, Andy… Read More ›
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Any time is morbin’ time with “Morbius” on home video.
Created by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Gil Kane, the vampiric villain Dr. Michael Morbius was debuted by Marvel Comics as an adversary to Spider-Man in 1971. Since then, Morbius has shifted from enemy of Spider-Man and vampire hunter Blade… Read More ›
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When one realizes that there’s always a “Next Exit,” life becomes an unending journey, not a quest with a hard stop. [Tribeca Film Festival]
**Trigger Warning: Next Exit explores concepts of life and death, which involves discussion/examination of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and euthanasia.** “On this bridge,” Lorca warns, “life is not a dream. Beware. And beware. And beware.” And so many think because Then… Read More ›
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“Hostile Territory” Blu-ray Giveaway
Earlier this spring, actor/writer/director Brian Presley’s Hostile Territory landed in select theaters. Now, through Well Go USA, Presley’s tale of hope and reclamation is coming available on physical formats. If you’d like to check out the film, Well Go USA has… Read More ›
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Celebrate 60 years of Sir David Lean’s epic drama “Lawrence of Arabia” with a limited edition steelbook 4K UHD release from Sony Pictures.
“Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.” ― Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:9; Yerushalmi Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin 37a. To celebrate… Read More ›
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Documentary “The Janes” chronicles the unlawful acts of a few who provided a medical necessity to the many.
Before the passing of Roe v. Wade in January 1973 made the process of abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy legal in 46 states where it was previously illegal, abortions happened. They happened in backrooms, hotels, apartments, and anywhere… Read More ›
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“Unhuman” Digital Code Giveaway
Who says that horror has a season? Certainly not Blumhouse Television and Epix who are releasing Marcus Dunstan’s new flick Unhuman on digital June 3rd via Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment. Courtesy of Blumhouse Television, Epix, and Paramount Pictures, EoM is giving… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 67: Favorite Tom Cruise Films.
With the release of Top Gun: Maverick ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, we felt it was best to discuss our favorite Tom Cruise films. With such a strong catalogue of films, narrowing it down to three can be a difficult task,… Read More ›
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Russian horror-thriller “Row 19” is a bumpy, albeit clever, ride.
More than any other form of storytelling, horror provides an opportunity of self-discovery through exploration of the darkest parts of ourselves. Sometimes this takes the form of a wordless, unstoppable shape, sometimes a clown with an acidic tongue, and other… Read More ›
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Learn all about the Chicago Way in first-new 4K UHD clarity in the Paramount Pictures 35th anniversary edition of “The Untouchables.”
Looking back on history, we have a way of making the average person appear exceptional. This isn’t to suggest that there are no remarkable people, but that humans have a way of memorializing things so that good guys become famous… Read More ›
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For joy, for the love of music, for the Foo Fighters: “We Are The Thousand.”
July 30th, 2015: With little more than hope and a prayer, Fabio Zaffagnini uploaded a 7:28 minute video he and his friends had made to YouTube in hopes of getting the attention of rock band Foo Fighters. What did he… Read More ›
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“Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko” with lots of love, and that’s all you need.
Author Kanako Nishi has written 22 novels, as well as assorted illustrated and nonfiction works. Five of her novels have been adapted for theaters with her 2011 novel, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, being the fifth. This adaption, a collaboration between… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 66: Favorite Weird & Wild Films.
Welcome to an episode of The Cine-Men that very much lives up to its subject matter, even if you’d never realize it. On this episode, we decided to have a discussion about films we’ve seen that we deem “weird and… Read More ›
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“Ambulance” 4K UHD Digital Code Giveaway
Who’s in the mood for some BAYHEM?! Michael Bay’s latest project – Ambulance – landed in theaters in April and audiences ate it up. Now you can enjoy the ridiculous ride from the comfort of your couch via digital-to-own or by… Read More ›
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Meditative drama “Montana Story” offers provocative material to chew on, even if not totally satisfying in the conclusion. [SFFILM Festival]
After a nine year break from directing, filmmaking partners Scott McGehee and David Seigel (What Maisie Knew) return with family drama Montana Story, screening during SFFILM Festival 2022 and releasing in select theaters on May 13th courtesy of Bleecker Street…. Read More ›
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“X” Blu-ray Giveaway
SXSW 2022 saw a number of A24 films premiere, including the Ti West-directed X. This horror/slasher throwback to the Seventies put a group of young filmmakers (and the audience) through a ringer, leaving everyone feeling frightful but ready for West’s upcoming X… Read More ›