Recent Posts - page 2
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Take flight anytime you want with “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” on home video.
As I left the theater in early February, I knew instantly that director Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) was not for me. The post-fight margaritas, the bullet-proof bustier, the severity of Black… Read More ›
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A Conversation with multi-hyphenate Rapman.
Rapper, writer, and filmmaker Rapman chats with Noel T. Manning II about his feature film debut Blue Story on this Meet Me at the Movies extra. Blue Story was released in the UK in November, and is now available in… Read More ›
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A Conversation with director Robin Hauser.
Documentary director Robin Hauser speaks with Noel T. Manning II about her documentary Bias. She explores her own journey into discovering who we are and why we each carry some sort of bias … even if we’re unaware of it…. Read More ›
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Teen comedy “CRSHD” is a fun and colorful take on coming-of-age in the social media generation.
From Rebel Without a Cause (1955) to The Breakfast Club (1985) to Lady Bird (2017), each generation has its special coming-of-age films that it can claim as its own. These are the movies grounded in a cultural milieu that take… Read More ›
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“Clementine” has all the makings of a juicy coming-of-age story, but struggles to pull it all together.
From writer/director Lara Jean Gallagher, Clementine is a psychological drama and emotional think-piece that deals with the consequences of a breakup and the rocky, unstable journey from one stage of life to the next. Aspiring artist Karen (Otmara Marrero) is… Read More ›
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Chinese YA adaptation “Better Days” is a genre-bending coming of age story.
Trigger Warning for discussion of bullying, suicide, sexual assault, and violence. In a conversation between an older and younger cop early into the 135-minute Better Days, one says to the other something to the effect that either you were the… Read More ›
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Slow burn neo-western “Arkansas” is a strong first feature directorial debut for Clark Duke.
When you do something for the first time, you don’t expect a grand slam, even out of a big swing. You might hope, you might dream, but you’re more likely to keep expectations close. For author John Brandon, this meant… Read More ›
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Animated adaptation of Chinese tale “Ne Zha” asks children what we owe each other.
Myths and legends, stories like those of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round, Robin Hood, and Paul Bunyan and those of gods, goddesses, demons, and immortals, are often given the adaptation treatment in cinema. These stories are often… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 29: Cult Films
We’ve got something really special for everyone on this, the 29th episode of The Cine-Men. This time around, co-hosts Douglas and Darryl are joined by Adam Frazier to discuss their favorite cult films. That doesn’t sound special for you? Frazier… Read More ›
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Paramount Pictures unveils the first three films of their new “Paramount Presents” home release label.
The Paramount Pictures library contains some of the most cherished films in cinema history, films like It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Footloose (1984), and all four Indiana Jones films; critically acclaimed films like Oscar-nominated Hustle & Flow (2006) and Oscar-winner… Read More ›
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Shailene Woodley’s performance in “Endings, Beginnings” is really what makes this movie strong.
Romance movies typically skew for a certain instead of appealing to all audiences. The great ones (The Fault in Our Stars, Titanic, and The Big Sick) are the ones that can resonate and move a wide variety of people, both male… Read More ›
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“Tammy’s Always Dying” is an honest, non-judgmental look into toxic relationships.
For her first feature script, Joanne Sarazen (I Came Here Alone) nails the endless pain and difficulty of a parental toxic relationship: the way the parent, an incubus born of weaponized love, cycles through terrible behavior after terrible behavior, pulling… Read More ›
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Ready for home viewing, “The Rhythm Section” is an interesting twist on the spy thriller whose sum is rarely as strong as its parts.
Sometimes, no matter how many strong pieces a story has or how fantastic of a cast and crew, it doesn’t gel as expected. This is the case with The Rhythm Section, a film starring Blake Lively (All I See Is… Read More ›
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A Conversation with director Amy Jo Johnson.
Amy Jo Johnson is a singer, songwriter, TV star and filmmaker. She made her debut on TV as the original Pink Power Ranger (Kimberly Ann Hart), starred in the CBS series Flashpoint and has gone on to become a film… Read More ›
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“The Wretched” is a nuts and bolts monster movie, and it delivers.
The horror genre is arguably the most diverse genre in Hollywood when you take into consideration of all the sub-genres that it offers. Slasher, zombies, paranormal, and psychological are all prime examples of sub-genres of horror movies, but one should… Read More ›
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Discover surrealist artist Reine Paradis in the VOD documentary “Queen of Paradis.”
The tale of Reine Paradis begins with the story of how the French-born artist came to the United States to pursue her dream of being an artist. After being fired as a photographer’s assistant, she had to make a decision,… Read More ›
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A Conversation with actor Angus MacFadyen.
Scottish actor Angus MacFadyen had his feature film breakthrough as Robert the Bruce in the Oscar-winning Braveheart. In 2020, he revisits that role in a film where he also serves as screenwriter. Noel T. Manning II interviews McFadyen on this… Read More ›
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Justin Kurzel’s rendering of Ned Kelly and his gang in “True History of the Kelly Gang” sizzles with punk rock energy.
Every culture has their notorious outlaws, and in Australia, probably no such figure looms larger than bushranger Ned Kelly, who famously wore a suit made of bulletproof armor during his last standoff with local authorities. While at least 10 movies… Read More ›
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Netflix Original “Extraction” is a theater-quality adventure that deserves a big screen.
The names Joe and Anthony Russo have become synonymous with big blockbuster comic book films thanks to their work with Marvel Studios directing Captain America: The Winter Solider, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. However you… Read More ›
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The Cine-Men, Episode 28: Films from First-Time Directors.
This may be the episode that finally breaks Douglas. That’s right, everyone, Darryl came up with a topic so simple, yet so complicated, that it nearly broke Douglas’s ability to make decisions. On episode 28 of The Cine-Men, these two… Read More ›
Featured Categories
Reviews ›
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When these “Debt Collectors” come ‘round, pay fast or get knocked down quick.
May 28, 2020
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Nuclear Age meta-drama homage “The Vast of Night” answers questions with more questions.
May 26, 2020
recommendation ›
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Surprise, Leigh Whannell’s “The Invisible Man” is a masterwork of tension.
May 25, 2020
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Like a traditional fairytale, “Tigers Are Not Afraid” will lift you up and cut you down.
May 23, 2020
Publications ›
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Musical dramedy hits “The High Note.”
May 25, 2020
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The Cine-Men, Episode 30: Period Films
May 21, 2020