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 ›
In Theaters
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 ›
Emilo Estevez’s drama “The Public” dives into society under the guise of a light drama.
The Buckeye State is known for many things. Sports fans know Ohio as the home of the Cincinnati Reds and the Bengals. Foodies come for LaRosa’s pizza, Skyline Chili, and Graeter’s Ice Cream. Music lovers jam to the sounds of… Read More ›
A reliance on generic scares make the unique “The Wind” more of a breeze than a cyclone.
When it comes to often-trod-upon Hollywood genres, there might not be one more used than that of the American Western. The Western has received a bit of a boost in the last decade with films like True Grit, Bone Tomahawk,… Read More ›
Irish dramedy “Lost & Found” ponders the interconnectedness of our everyday lives.
Writer/director Liam O Mochain’s Lost & Found is an honest labor of love. While filming over five years in Ireland, Mochain drew from stories he either experienced himself, knew others personally experienced, or knew as urban legends to create a… Read More ›
“Shazam!” – A New Challenger Enters the Ring!
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman − four names audiences around the globe recognize, not merely because of the recent Zack Snyder-directed films, but because of their lengthy history in the comic industry. Superman first appeared in 1938, Batman in 1939,… Read More ›
Bolstered by strong performances, “The Wedding Guest” transforms a focused narrative into an engaging character piece.
Given his roles in Slumdog Millionaire, Chappie, and HBO’s The Newsroom, the last person audiences would picture as a methodical badass is Dev Patel. That’s bound to change after audiences get a glimpse of him in writer/director Michael Winterbottom’s The… Read More ›
“Triple Threat” brings the pain you expect and surprises you don’t.
With so many films relying on CGI for action sequences, there’s something really delicious about a fight scene where you can tell the actors are as close to making full contact as they can be without physical injury. Fight scenes… Read More ›
Horror thriller “Starfish” focuses on personal loss within a global apocalyptic scenario.
The phrase “Based On A True Story” elicits many responses. In some instances, it suggests an attempt to recreate significant events, whereas, in others, it implies not a recreation, but an interpretation of events. It’s Schindler’s List or 127 Hours…. Read More ›
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” once more captures the imagination in a surprisingly emotional finale.
When audiences attend a children’s film, they don’t expect much: a few laughs, some sort of adventure, and perhaps a moral or two tucked in to give the adults something to discuss with the kids. Generally, expectations are pretty low…. Read More ›
Move aside Reeves and Theron, Ngo Thanh Van’s bringing the “Furie”.
Despite being in films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, and Bright, American audiences still haven’t caught on to the talent that is Ngo Thanh Van, known in the U.S…. Read More ›
Documentary “A Tuba to Cuba” is a celebration of a shared rhythm.
Established in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe, Preservation Hall functions as a living monument to New Orleans Jazz. Preservation Hall is never stagnant due to the changing membership of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, as well as the various… Read More ›
While not perfect, “Alita: Battle Angel” still warrants the expense of an IMAX and/or 3D viewing.
Adaptations from novel to film are notoriously difficult to pull off, with the chances of success dwindling when the adaptation includes a jump from one culture to another, often because the cultural elements of the source material are intrinsic to… Read More ›
Director Peter Jackson’s “They Shall Not Grow Old” brings the past to life like nothing before it.
Roughly four years ago, the Imperial War Museum began working with director Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) to develop a documentary focused on World War I. His only directives: make it fresh and original. As a self-professed… Read More ›
Dark drama “Everybody Knows” focuses on character to create a compelling and beautiful film. [Film Fest 919]
Representing EoM as press, contributor Hunter Heilman attended the first annual Film Fest 919 in Raleigh, NC, to review several films that are either in limited release now or are yet to be released. For a filmmaker, at least from… Read More ›
“A Violent Man” is a crime thriller with surprising depth.
Athleticism and cinema go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s Harold Lloyd appearing to climb the side of a building in 1923’s Safety Last!, Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky series, or Dwayne Johnson in anything from the last 23 years, actors continuously find ways… Read More ›
There’s genuine magic to be found “Under the Eiffel Tower”.
Love stories are rich fodder for cinema and, especially come February, pop up everywhere. Typically, these stories are focused on the young: first love, young love, naïve love in high school or college, or right at the start of the… Read More ›
Quiet and bold, “The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot” ruminates on heroism and the consequences of actions.
When you hear a title like The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot, you’re likely to imagine some kind of grindhouse-esque action thriller filled with gun fights, explosions, and absurd badassery, something, perhaps, akin to Iron Sky, a… Read More ›
“The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part” isn’t just another brick in a cinematic wall.
In the five years since directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller confirmed that everything was, indeed, awesome, the LEGO Cinematic Universe has seen two more official entries, but no direct sequel to the film which spawned them all. The world… Read More ›
Shout! Studios’s latest release “Then Came You” deifies love, not illness in their coming-of-age rom-com.
When a film comings along touting a relationship between a terminally ill character and a clearly healthy one, there’s a big chance said film is going to fall into a heap of expected tropes. Even a charming cast can’t save… Read More ›