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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Mystery thriller “8 Remains” is a strong tale of feminine empowerment, if frustratingly uneven.
The act of creating is a cathartic experience for most. That feeling of something welling up inside which must be written, crafted, or molded or else the creator will burst. Sometimes this results in an extremely personal work which resonates… Read More ›
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It may not yet offer justice for Han, but “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” brings all the popcorn-munching, adrenaline-fueled action you desire.
When it comes to the Fast & Furious films, the first thing you do is check your brain at the door. These aren’t films for intellectuals, but are pure popcorn-munching, adrenaline-fueled action spectaculars where the men and women are fierce… Read More ›
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“Leo Da Vinci: Mission Mona Lisa” is fun for the whole family.
With the LEGO films, a Secret Life sequel, an upcoming Playmobil film — not a joke — and all the other big studio animated films, it’s easy to miss out on the smaller films from less well-known studios. One such… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 18
Before a brief hiatus of recording begins, hosts Darryl and Douglas bring on their first ever guest, Charlotte local and director Chris Baker, so that we can have a bit more credibility to discuss some of our favorite director/actor combinations…. Read More ›
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Though predictable at times, “Astronaut” manages to hit escape velocity with its emotional moments.
Time has a way of putting things into perspective. In our youth, we think it a limitless resource. In old age, we think it precious. Often, the older we become, the less concerned we are for how things look or… Read More ›
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“The Mountain” turns the camera on the darker aspects of 1950s America.
Art is, by and large, up to the individual to determine its value. What is beloved by one can be reviled by another. While some engage in heated debate, others forgo intellectual discourse for out-right verbal fisticuffs when others don’t… Read More ›
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Netflix Original “Point Blank” is a remake both familiar and unique.
In the battle for consumer attention, there are few who can proclaim the sheer amount of content Netflix offers on a daily basis. As one of the original disruptors of consumed content (first as a disc-only service before shifting to… Read More ›
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“Into the Ashes” is an engaging, introspective crime thriller.
Writer/director Aaron Harvey has a distinct thing for set-ups and betrayals. His last two features — Catch .44 and The Neighbor — deal distinctly in these aspects as characters don’t know who to trust at any given moment. Where those films… Read More ›
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“Iron Sky: The Coming Race” is the rare sequel to outdo its predecessor.
When director Timo Vuorensola made his feature debut with 2012’s Iron Sky, many likely presumed – this writer included – that a film centered on Moon Nazis likely wouldn’t make a splash, let alone create a cult following, when it… Read More ›
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“Fast Color” is the superpower movie you missed this year, but now you can catch it on home video.
At their start, children are nothing but raw potential. As they grow, they are either lean into their potential or they run from it. Sometimes it’s a reaction to their environment, sometimes it’s in their nature, but it informs who… Read More ›
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“Luz” is a strong first-go for director Tilman Singer, keeping audiences anticipating every move.
When you think of horror films, what names come to mind? If you’re going old school, you’ll get John Carpenter, Wes Craven, George A. Romero, Mary Lambert, Sam Raimi, Tobe Hooper, Takashi, Miike, Lucio Fulci, Dario Argento, and David Cronenberg…. Read More ›
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On home video now, WB’S “Shazam!” is fun for the whole damn Shazamily.
If you’d said that a DC Comics live-action film would make it onto anyone’s Best Of list, I’d have been one of the first to act surprised. Granted, Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman remains an outstanding outing for the warrior princess… Read More ›
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Now available on home video, director Neil Marshall’s “Hellboy” has freshman growing pains and potential for a great sophomore outing.
During ” The Forever Warriors: Story and Characters”, part one of the three-part documentary “Tales of the Wild Hunt: Hellboy Reborn,” lead actor David Harbour acknowledges that audiences are weary of anything seeming like a reboot or a remake. In… Read More ›
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Documentarian Pamela B. Green and her team unearth the legacy of Alice Guy-Blaché in “Be Natural: The Untold Story Of Alice Guy-Blaché”.
It’s not going to surprise anyone to read that the amount we don’t know frequently outweighs the vast amounts of information we think we do. Sometimes it’s hubris which makes us think this way, but more often than not, it’s… Read More ›
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“Amaurosis” excels in unsettling audiences through sensory stimulation, creating a uniquely disturbing experience.
It’s not uncommon for film to offer a catharsis in an environment far safer than any other. Emotionally, audiences go on a journey — can be comical or horrific or anywhere in between — and when the credits roll, everyone’s… Read More ›
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Even on home video “Furie” packs a punch.
2019’s been a great year for action films. It’s not just John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum or Avengers: Endgame which blew peoples’ minds, but smaller films like Shadow, Avengement, Master Z: Ip Man Legacy, Big Brother, and Furie. If… Read More ›
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Documentary “Origin Story” presents a raw and emotional journey for closure.
Imagine that you’re 14 years old, your parents are constantly fighting and you find yourself frequently in the middle of one of their arguments. You’re still in your formative years and this kind of persistent angst is routine in your… Read More ›