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 ›
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 a moment in writer/director Mitzi Peirone’s Braid where you’re either all in or all out. When the mayhem’s rising, the blood flowing, and the veil of reality’s so thin it’s barely perceivable, a choice has to be made: embrace… Read More ›
February is becoming a strange month. Like January, February tends to be a dumping ground for films not likely to find an audience or for films leaning into Hallmark’s notion of love. While some aspects of this remain true (markets… Read More ›
In times of crisis, the mind seeks a reason, an explanation, to latch onto to make sense out of the chaos, to offer something to rail against, barter with, and blame. State Like Sleep tackles this notion in a twisting… Read More ›
Writer/director Drew Goddard is no stranger to a good mystery. Having made his bones writing for shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Alias, he went on to write 2008’s Cloverfield and co-write 2012’s The Cabin in the Woods,… Read More ›
There’s something about a good anti-hero that makes audiences fall in love. Whether it’s watching the slow moral corruption of Michael Corleone, the oft-horrific charm of Hannibal Lecter, or the nihilist machismo of Tyler Durden, the well-executed anti-hero brings a… Read More ›
In today’s service-based economy, it’s all about creating the best experience for your customers in order for them to return. Gone is the authentic customer service experience, replaced with a script meant to feel honest. More often than not, we… Read More ›
More often than not, the best stories are the ones that take risks, that play with convention, and defy expectations. Other times, the risks fail to pay off and leave the audience with a diminishing sense of fulfillment. So rarely… Read More ›
Whatever aspect of the film industry you’re in, you’re in because you love it. It could be the creation of creatures, the set design, or the costumes that lured you in or maybe it’s crafting the stories performed, being the… Read More ›
Ever wondered what the 1990 classic Home Alone would’ve been like if it weren’t a kids’ movie? That seems to be the starting point for director Michael Peterson’s thriller Knuckleball, which sees a clever 12-year-old stave off the murderous advances… Read More ›
Appearances can be deceiving. Always be the smartest person in the room. There’s no such thing as coincidence. These may be rote clichés, yet the failure to adhere to them will get you killed in Vaughn Stein’s feature debut, Terminal…. Read More ›
With only one other directorial credit under his belt, writer/director Philip Gelatt helms the full feature adaptation of Laird Barron’s Lovecraftian short story —30– under the name They Remain. Tracking the complex relationship between two scientists working in a remote encampment,… Read More ›
Studio A24 has built a reputation on bold approaches to cinematic storytelling. Rarely intended for wide audiences, their films are frequently quirky, insightful, and psychologically challenging, offering a risky experience for filmgoers used to the straight-and-narrow approach of larger studio… Read More ›
Though Summer may be winding down to a close, there is still a relentless supply of films coming in the next month. Here is a short list of thirteen films that may provide the cinematic experience you desire. Action? Drama?… Read More ›
David Leitch is a name most audience don’t know. He’s a stunt man turned director who’s worked in show business since the mid-90s. His uncredited co-direction for the 2014 sleeper hit John Wick established that he can do more than… Read More ›
An alternate version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on October 14th, 2016. There is nothing better than watching an actor – any actor – melt into a roll so completely that you forget what you’re watching is mere shadow… Read More ›
From the creative team of Fede Alvarez and Sam Rami, who brought you Evil Dead (2013), comes Don’t Breathe, a claustrophobic suspense-filled horror-thriller that twists and turns all the way to the credits. Don’t expect a gorefest this time around… Read More ›
Beware Crimson Peak. These are wise words for a movie that begins with the line, “ghosts are real. This much I know.” With dialogue like this, it must be October, with the spook-factor high in the cinemas as the tortured… Read More ›