Humanity exists in cycles. We’re born, we propagate, and we die — with luck, improving things for the next generation before we go. In between are a multitude of steps and phases leading toward one stage and away from another…. Read More ›
family drama
Dramatic thriller “The Other Side of Darkness” battles itself in an effort to serve two genre masters.
What lies on the other side of darkness? The most obvious answer is “light.” But there’s a big difference between the knowing of something and the actual experience of the thing. So while one might presume to find light on… Read More ›
It is difficult to mind your “Dress Code” when dealing with complicated shadows.
Of the stories made in America, none are as prolific worldwide as mafia stories. They’re used to tell immigrant stories, crime stories, family dramas, and even comedies. You’d be hard pressed to find any genre today that doesn’t include some… Read More ›
New rom-com doesn’t tread new paths as it asks audiences to consider “What’s Love Got to Do with It?”
Romance has been a part of storytelling for centuries. There’s a Greek myth that Zeus tore humanity from their original form of two heads, four arms, and four legs because he worried about their strength, thereby causing humanity to search… Read More ›
Seth McTigue’s feature-length directorial debut “Take the Night” is full of potential.
In his directorial debut, writer/actor Seth McTigue decided to tackle the hefty subject of parents and children. In his crime thriller Take the Night, the relationship between a parent and child, in this case primarily fathers and sons, is explored… Read More ›
Director Kyra Sedgwick’s “Space Oddity” implores audiences not to travel in a tin can alone. [Tribeca Film Festival]
“For here Am I sitting in a tin can Far above the world Planet Earth is blue And there’s nothing I can do – David Bowie, “Space Oddity.” With all the arguments about what is or isn’t the natural order,… Read More ›
“Sylvie of the Sunshine State” highlights how struggles are universal even in isolation.
In the late months of 2019, there were rumblings of a virus with the potential to grow catastrophic. There had been instances like this previously with outbreaks of H1N1 in 2009 and Ebola from 2014-2016, but it always been contained… Read More ›
Be transported back to the bittersweet moments of adolescence in Sophia Silver’s “Over/Under.” [SFFILM Festival]
Summer 1996 — I was 15 and spent several days with a childhood friend, Glen, his sister and her friend, and his father at a beach house on the Outer Banks. To this day, I remember the days we spent… Read More ›
Pedro Almodóvar’s always tender humanity enables “Parallel Mothers (Madres paralelas)” to examine complex matter.
There’s something to be said about “movie magic” or whatever word or phrase you use to describe those “Nicole Kidman sitting in the world’s cleanest, emptiest AMC” moments where you really just appreciate every aspect that not only went into… Read More ›
Amid the discord, Jesse Eisenberg’s feature-length directorial debut “When You Finish Saving the World” finds bittersweet harmony. [Sundance Film Festival]
Over the course of his career Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg has played many roles. He’s been a nebbish hero (Zombieland), a sociopath (The Social Network), a stoner badass (American Ultra), and the greatest criminal mind of the DCEU (Batman v…. Read More ›
“Two Yellow Lines” is a heartfelt tale of family in-front and behind the camera.
Stories that depict a road trip tend to connect with most audience members considering that we all commonly share in the ultimate extended road trip — that is, the journey of life. Sure, this is a clichéd metaphor that has… Read More ›
Halle Berry’s directorial debut is “Bruised” but not broken.
It’s perfectly natural to want to find ways to grow in your craft. Someone who starts as an intern likely has their eyes on a manager’s seat, wanting to absorb as much as possible in order to get there faster…. Read More ›
“The Water Man” Blu-ray Giveaway
After a theatrical run in May 2021, the feature film directorial debut for actor David Oyelowo, The Water Man, is coming home. Evoking such childhood stories such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial or The NeverEnding Story, The Water Man is a tale about a young boy’s… Read More ›
“Peace by Chocolate” isn’t tempered to satiate an instant craving, but to preserve a legacy. [Tribeca Festival]
Immigrant stories are treated as all-to-common and extraordinary in the same breath, especially in the United States and Canada. The majority of people who live in both countries did not originate there and each possess a legacy of doing terrible… Read More ›
Open Dialogue with “Farewell Amor” actor Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine.
Farewell Amor is a family love story that transcends time, place and war. Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine stars as a man trying to connect with his wife and daughter after 17-years apart. On Meet me at the Movies: Open Dialogue,… Read More ›
Indie drama “Take Out Girl” delivers a thoughtful meal, not a dissatisfying snack. [Indie Memphis Film Festival]
There are many paths to success. Even one generation ago, that meant going to school, getting a job, and working there until retirement. On that path at that time, a single income was typically enough to provide for an average… Read More ›
Alex Wolff’s “The Cat and the Moon” is a strong directorial debut from a creator just getting started.
Your age likely defines how you know actor Alex Wolff. If you’re my age (near 40), then films like The House of Tomorrow (2017), Hereditary (2018), and the two new Jumanji (2017, 2019) films are your touch points. If you’re… Read More ›
Documentary “Dick Johnson Is Dead” is an oft silly and poignant celebration of life.
Alzheimer’s is often described as a “long goodbye.” It’s a progressive disease which slowly robs the individual of their memories and facilities, up to the point of loss of all communication skills and the inability to engage with anything around… Read More ›
A quiet film with fantastic suspense, “Wildland (Kød & blod)” is a different flavor of mafia movie. [Fantasia Film Festival]
Although the Fantasia International Film Festival was held virtually this year, it still featured an incredible lineup of wild and visceral films that celebrated everything gory and horrific. Many of the featured titles were loud and boastful with their colorful… Read More ›
“Words on Bathroom Walls” offers an astonishingly frank presentation of schizophrenia within a YA package.
Author Julia Walton’s 2017 young adult novel Words on Bathroom Walls centers on Adam Petrazelli, a high school senior whose dreams of culinary school seem destined for tragedy soon after he’s diagnosed with schizophrenia. Adapted for the big screen by… Read More ›