Some argue that a town only truly comes to life once the sun has set. That’s when the things hiding from sunlight feel more comfortable to come out, stretch their legs, and roam the streets freely; when those who strive… Read More ›
Reviews
Quick Take Review: “Beasts Clawing at Straws.”
If you found a duffle bag filled with money, what would you do? That’s the question that drives the Korean film Beasts Clawing at Straws. The mystery crime-noir thriller is from first time director Kim Yong-hoon. On this Quick Take… Read More ›
Psychological thriller “Archenemy” explores man’s superhero obsession, asking who is the real enemy of our heroes.
Writer/director Adam Egypt Mortimer is developing a very specific artistic aesthetic after only three full length features. The first, Another Kind of Hate (2015), appears to explore bullying with a supernatural bend. The second, Daniel Isn’t Real (2019), is an… Read More ›
Reintroduce yourself to the Daywalker in the first-time 4K UHD home release of “Blade.”
In the ‘90s, you couldn’t take two steps without seeing Wesley Snipes projected somewhere. A gifted actor and martial artist, Snipes demanded audiences’ attention with a varied list of projects including White Men Can’t Jump (1992); Passenger 57 (1992); Rising… Read More ›
40 years later seems like a perfect time to revisit Robert Altman’s Broadway-esque “Popeye” in a special edition home release.
December 12th, 1980, isn’t that important to many people. Hanukkah had just ended, I wasn’t quite born yet, and Christmas was still just a glow in the distance. What it did bring is Robert Altman’s live-action ode to E.C. Segar’s… Read More ›
“Possessor” is a cinematic experience unlike anything else this year.
There’s something particularly wonderful about a film that challenges you, one which unnerves, unsettles, and burrows in, prompting contemplation past its clear end. This happens with joyful films like Over The Moon (2020), whose infectious songs linger, instilling a desire… Read More ›
For a period romance, “Ammonite” is too cold to generate heat.
Queer period romance films have had a bit of a kick as of late, and I have been very grateful for them thus far. Colette, The Handmaiden, Carol, The Favourite and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, among others, have… Read More ›
Documentary “Dear Santa” showcases the magic of the season and the people who keep it alive for others.
From the director of Batkid Begins (2015) and Pick of the Litter (2018) comes a joyous and heartfelt exploration of Operation Santa, an initiative within the U.S. Postal Service that works to answer letters of children and adults sent to… Read More ›
Quick Take Review: “The Climb.”
On this Quick Take episode, Noel T. Manning II reviews the Sony Pictures Classic buddy dramady, The Climb. It’s been said that relationships are messy, and in this film, that is an understatement. The Climb, opened in select theaters November… Read More ›
Return to Busan in the highly anticipated “Peninsula,” available on home video.
2016’s Train to Busan (Busanhaeng) is a marvel of a film. Directed by Yeon Sang-Ho and co-written with Park Joo-Suk, the story of a zombie outbreak in South Korea beautifully balances the emotional stakes (father-daughter) with the larger scope implications… Read More ›
Shudder’s “Porno” makes real that feeling where getting laid is a life-or-death proposition.
Look, if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that trying to find something to do as a family during the holidays is hard. You’ve got competing interests to manage, a variety of talents, and maybe even ages… Read More ›
“The New Mutants” drops on home video and so ends the Fox Era of “X-Men” stories.
If you’ve been tapped into the entertainment industry at all over the last few years, you’ve likely heard about the tumultuous release of the final 20th Century Fox X-Men-related film, Josh Boone’s The New Mutants. Set for an original release… Read More ›
Quick Take Review: “Mank.”
Director David Fincher brings to life a script originally written by his father, Jack. Mank explores the Oscar-winning writer of Citizen Kane, Herman Jacob Mankiewicz. In this Netflix film, we examine the vices, self-destructive behavior and uncanny ability of this alcoholic… Read More ›
Quick Take: Reviewing “The Last Vermeer.”
If you’re interested in a World War II period mystery, thriller, courtroom drama with a bit of art history, you may want to check out this Quick Take movie review of the Tri-Star pictures flick The Last Vermeer. This based-on… Read More ›
Arrow Video’s new 4K restoration of “The Last Starfighter” will have you feeling ready to take on the Kodan Armada.
You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Kodan Armada. These seemingly innocuous words displayed across an arcade cabinet as an unseen voice declares them are, in fact, a glorious call to… Read More ›
“Ashens and the Polybius Heist” is going to steal your heart and little else.
Stuart Ashen joined YouTube in Feb 2006 and has developed a long history of comedy videos that are a mixture of gadget reviews, food reviews, and other assorted nonsense. This hustling multi-hyphenate has developed short form and long form narratives… Read More ›
Jackie Chan’s “Vanguard” offers the comedic martial arts spectacle you expect.
The simplest way to describe writer/director Stanley Tong’s (Rumble in the Bronx) latest film Vanguard is a mixture of the Fast & Furious, Mission: Impossible, and The Expendables series of films. You don’t even have to squint to see it… Read More ›
Dystopian drama “2067” is strongest when focused on character, not the intrigue of time travel.
Time travel movies are a tricky wicket. Use consistent rules and a clear narrative, you end up with Looper (2012). Explain things in in too wide manner which allows for numerous interpretations, you get Avengers: Endgame (2019). Create a rule… Read More ›
Don’t wait. “Run” toward Aneesh Chaganty’s latest psychological thriller.
You know when you have a friend who is smart, pretty, and generally good at everything, but has a significant other who constantly brings them down? And how you can’t imagine that someone with so much talent and potential could… Read More ›
“All Joking Aside” is a comedy-based coming-of-age story that needs a longer set.
Doing is inevitably harder than dreaming. You can want something, crave something, use positive affirmations to will something into existence, but still not get where you want to be. You may have all the right pieces and still remain far… Read More ›