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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There’s more than a few surprises within “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” now available on home video.
Of the various Disney live-action adaptations, few have really struck a chord beyond the “I remember that thing!” moments that occasionally occur. There’s some debate as to whether this is a result of the adaptations not bringing anything new other… Read More ›
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“Like A Boss” is a celebration of the bonds we share with the family we choose.
Originating from the mind of Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (My Name Is Earl, Whitney) and featuring the direction of Miquel Arteta (Beatriz at Dinner, Duck Butter) comes Like A Boss, a love story about friendship, loyalty, and faith centered around two lifelong… Read More ›
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Is it real? Or is it just fantasy? Dig into the bonus features of “Joker” on home video to find out.
At the time of this writing, director Todd Phillips’s Joker is the highest grossing R-rated film of all time, has earned two Golden Globe wins for Best Actor in A Drama Motion Picture and Original Score with two individual nominations… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 24: Top Films of 2019
As if the final recorded episode of 2019 and first presented episode of 2020 wasn’t special enough, The Cine-Men are joined by one of the original Poprika members and longtime Patreon supporter Veronica to discuss the Top Films of 2019…. Read More ›
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Coming To Theaters: January 2020
Don’t let anyone ever tell you that nothing good ever releases in theaters. The following 20 films are only the tip of the iceberg and that’s just for theaters, not including streaming services. There are several horror films slated, as well… Read More ›
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Goodbye, 2019.
When the clock strikes midnight today, 2019 is official over and 2020 begins. As most are wont this time of year, a bit of reflection on what’s gone and what’s to come is appropriate. In its current incarnation, Elements of… Read More ›
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Meet Me at the Movies: Favorite Films of the 2010s.
On this very special episode of Meet Me at the Movies, hosts Noel Manning and Greg Tillman, along with guests Douglas Davidson and Thomas Manning, discuss their favorite films of the 2010s. It gets a little fast and furious as… Read More ›
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Ten Films From 2019 That Stuck With Me
As 2019 comes to a close, it’s time for the Fourth Annual Sticky List! Instead of banging the drum for my top ten films of the year, I like to share the ten films whose touch lingered the most. This… Read More ›
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Poprika Podcast Special Test Your Might Episode: Most Stable at the Table
If you’re heard of Wrestlemania, the World Cup, the Super Bowl, the Masters, and the World Series, but none of them could prepare you for Test Your Might’s special episode: Most Stable at the Table. Consisting of a four-man round… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 23: Favorite Films of the Decade, Part 2.
Episode 23 of The Cine-Men is not only the penultimate show of 2019, but it’s also the second half of our “Films of the 2010s” show. That’s right – we pick right up with our favorite singular films of 2015-2019…. Read More ›
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The echoes of the past in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” will have you laugh, cry, gasp, and cheer like you’re a kid again.
As written two years ago, Star Wars fans are notoriously hard to please. It seems as though, with every new release, the Fandom finds some aspect to develop disdain for as though these films are serious dramas and not space… Read More ›
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Tom Hooper’s adaptation of Broadway hit “Cats” is more the cat’s meow than the dog’s bullocks.
The play Cats is a strange and mysterious thing. Lacking a typical narrative, the story unfolds as each cat introduces itself in song and details of a larger undertaking are revealed upon each new tune. By and large, though, Andrew… Read More ›
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Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of “Little Women” masterfully captures the timelessness of the novel with a top-level ensemble cast.
Published in 1868, Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women continues to be read, studied, and poured over by readers of all ages and stripes. Alcott’s story of the four March sisters is timeless in nature, despite being anchored in the… Read More ›
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When it comes to “Spies in Disguise,” Team Weird FTW.
What if James Bond, but he’s a pigeon? This crazy premise doesn’t sound all that enticing, but what if I told you that’s just the lede for 20th Century Fox’s animated spy action-adventure family film Spies in Disguise. First time… Read More ›
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“Jumanji: The Next Level” remains solid holiday fun, even if it never advances past its premise.
In recent memory, there’s only one film franchise that seems to have unlocked the key to longevity after an extended break and that’s the Fast & Furious series. They found a way to revitalize the car drama by bringing back… Read More ›
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The home release of “It Chapter Two” includes a full curtain pullback worth checking out.
“You’ll Float, too.” Three innocuous words infused with horrible terror thanks to Stephen King’s 1986 novel It. Then, in 1990, a television mini-series adapted from the book shifted the way the average person looks at clowns, thanks in large part… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 22: Favorite Films of the Decade, Part 1.
After an unexpected hiatus The Cine-Men return to discuss their favorite films of the decade! Not content to do this within one show, your hosts Darryl Mansel and Douglas Davidson are discussing 2010-2014 on this episode and then coming back… Read More ›
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Novel adaptation “The Goldfinch” is beautifully constructed and executed, yet feels somehow disconnected.
Published in 2013, Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch went on to earn best-selling status, along with the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2014. It’s a book that — it seems — entranced readers, including future cast member Sarah Paulson (Ocean’s… Read More ›
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Coming To Theaters: December 2019
With the start of December the Awards Season damn bursts wide open, releasing into theaters a veritable onslaught of prestige pictures in the run-up to both the holidays and the 2020 Oscars. The offerings in theaters aren’t all high-brow nor… Read More ›
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“The Curse of the Monkey Bird” pairs the familiar with the modern for an undeniable fun Looney Tunes adventure.
A pig and a duck ride an elephant into the jungle. No, this isn’t the set-up for a joke, it’s the basis for The Curse of the Monkey Bird, the latest in a series of Looney Tunes cartoons set for… Read More ›