Sometimes, the movie experience you need most is the one with the least number of hurdles to get over. There’s a comfort that comes from a film that’s so straight-forward and streamlined that you can just kick back and enjoy… Read More ›
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“Thunder Force” is on the way to protect your town.
Given the option of choosing a Melissa McCarthy-led drama or comedy, the former is near-guaranteed to be stellar while the latter can be hit/miss. She’s a fantastic actor and one whose willingness to embrace physical comedy is something akin to… Read More ›
Ran Slavin’s feature debut, “Call for Dreams,” is “A Page of Madness” for the 21st century.
According to the press notes for Call for Dreams, Israeli director Ran Slavin started the project in pursuit of a “new cinematic form.” Slavin began with the idea to collect dreams from strangers that he could use as inspiration for… Read More ›
Studio Ghibli’s “Earwig and the Witch” is now available on home video.
February 2021 saw the theatrical release of a new Studio Ghibli film, Earwig and the Witch, and it wasn’t quite as well received as hoped. While the switch from hand-drawn animation to 3D CG was, initially, off-putting, the real issue… Read More ›
The Cine-Men, Episode 47 – Resurrections in Cinema.
Since we’re in the time of year where some folks are celebrating either Passover or Easter, I pitched to Darryl the idea of exploring resurrections in cinema. Our reasonings may surprise you for what we choose. We also, of course,… Read More ›
“Godzilla vs. Kong:” Showdown for the Monsterverse.
Not since the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla have the mighty titans faced each other in combat on the silver screen. It was the third film for both and, in keeping with the traditions of perceived heroism, Kong won… Read More ›
Life is good. But it could be better with “Wonder Woman 1984” out on home video.
Kicking off Warner Bros. Pictures’s new simultaneous release policy with HBO Max, Wonder Woman 1984 debuted in select theaters and on the burgeoning streaming service on December 25th, 2020. For 31 days, audiences could elect to either head to theaters… Read More ›
To celebrate its 65th Anniversary, Paramount Home Entertainment releases “The Ten Commandments” on 4K UHD for the first time.
For every time, there is a season. As March gives way to April, entertainments give way from the secular to the non-secular as Passover and Easter come into focus. For many, this means a specific tradition is about to grace… Read More ›
Bonkers B-Movie gore fest “Jakob’s Wife” is brimming with bloodlust. [SXSW Film Festival]
Immediately after I finished watching Jakob’s Wife, I sat there in a state of confusion, perplexed by the madness of what I just witnessed. A jumbled mess of incohesive thoughts and emotions floated around in my mind as I tried… Read More ›
If you can stomach it, “Violation” from writing/directing team Dusty Mancinelli and Madeleine Sims-Fewer has something worth hearing.
**Trigger Warning: Discussion of topics surrounding sexual assault** There’s this strange sort of thought process that goes into the writing of the stereotypical rape-revenge film. Woman (always a woman, because that’s totally not something that ever happens to a man,… Read More ›
Ahead of the modern MonsterVerse showdown, revisit Gareth Edwards’s “Godzilla” for the first time in 4K UHD.
Alright, everyone: WHO IS READY TO RUMMMMMMMMMMMMMBBBBLLLLLEEEEE????!!!!! (Copyright Michael Buffer.) On March 31st, the fight kaiju fans have been waiting for is going down: Godzilla Vs. Kong. In the run-up to the glorious smackdown in which Kong will sucker punch… Read More ›
Just In: “Breaking News in Yuba County” fails to live up to the promise of its cast.
No one can accuse Tate Taylor of being the kind of director who’s confined to one genre or style. He’s tackled book adaptations with the Oscar-winning The Help (2011), biographical material with Get on Up (2014), suspense with The Girl… Read More ›
Documentary “Hysterical” is a showcase of the sheer fearlessness and tenacity of female comics. [SXSW Film Festival]
There is a lot to take away from the official SXSW selection, Hysterical, a documentary feature directed by Andrea Nevins, which examines the culture of women in stand-up comedy. Just to set the scene, I am a straight, white male… Read More ›
Riveting documentary “Introducing, Selma Blair” captures the spirit of a person unbroken. [SXSW Film Festival]
There’s a point about two-thirds of the way through Introducing, Selma Blair where the titular Selma Blair is recounting her career based on her magazine appearances, including an admittedly unfortunate Seventeen Magazine cover, a stunning Italian Vogue cover, and the… Read More ›
“Language Lessons” offers an honest look into what a COVID-19 riddled world has become.” [SXSW Film Festival]
On paper, a film like Language Lessons sounds like your typical love story waiting to happen. Two people (Natalie Morales, Mark Duplass) find the thing they’ve been looking for over the confines of a weekly Zoom call. The catch is… Read More ›
Fistful of Features: Week of March 16th
Welcome to this week’s edition of Fistful of Features, a weekly column that celebrates film preservation through physical media and discusses cinematic treasures from every genre to maintain their relevance in the cultural lexicon. There are some great releases that… Read More ›
“Sound of Violence” fails to deliver on promising concept by sliding into familiar horror territory. [SXSW Film Festival]
On paper, Alex Noyer’s Sound of Violence has all the building blocks needed to succeed as a dark and twisted indie horror. The concept and synopsis sound fascinating, and the film expands upon themes Noyer has already explored for years…. Read More ›
“Breaking News in Yuba County” Blu-ray Giveaway
In February of this year, MGM released the dark comedy Breaking News in Yuba County featuring an all-star cast including Allison Janney, Mila Kunis, Regina Hall, Laura Dern, Awkwafina, Ellen Barkin, Clifton Collins Jr., and Juilette Lewis. Starting on March 23rd,… Read More ›
War is on the way in “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.”
There have been stories of gods and monsters for as long as there have been oral traditions in communities — stories of creation, stories of destruction, which warn of great evil or encourage altruism. Some of these stories turned into… Read More ›
Effulgent and joyous, “Mr. Soul!” is a celebration of one man’s work.
In 1968, you couldn’t turn on the television, listen to the radio, or read something in print without seeing a White face. Even during the Civil Rights Movement, any presentation of the Black experience was almost always presented through a… Read More ›