“Pratfall’ is More Than a Walk in the Park

Pratfall Rating: 8/10 Director: Alex Andre Writer: Alex Andre Style: Drama Time: 1 hours, 48 minutes Rating: PG-13 Review by Mike Szymanski The opening of this film reminds me a bit of my favorite Edward Albee play “The Zoo Story” where an erratic, over-talkative pushy guy inflicts himself on another guy on a Central Park bench who really wants to be left alone. Their encounter … Continue reading “Pratfall’ is More Than a Walk in the Park

A Hero You Never Knew in ‘Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.’

Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin Rating: 9/10 Director: Todd Komarnicki Writer: Todd Komarnicki Style: Drama/ Thriller/ Biopic Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes Rating: PG-13 Review by Mike Szymanski Great filmmakers still find true stories in past heroes that have yet to be told. Who could possibly imagine that someone of heroic proportions involved in WWII has not already been canonized in a great movie. Komarnicki became … Continue reading A Hero You Never Knew in ‘Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.’

Lots of Twists and Edges in ‘A Very Flattened Christmas’ 

A VERY FLATTENED CHRISTMAS Rating: 7/10 Director: Shane Wallace Writer: Key Tawn Toothman and Shane Wallace Style: Comedy Horror Time: 1 hour, 31 minutes Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJKG2IVHO_o Review by Mike Szymanski Sometimes, usually late at night, when you can’t sleep and you have the munchies, you need to watch something that is light, funny, exciting enough to keep you awake, but not so complicated you have to … Continue reading Lots of Twists and Edges in ‘A Very Flattened Christmas’ 

Who is Being Conned in this Comedic ‘Con Job’?

Con Job Rating: 7/10 Director: Ian Niles Writers: Guy Harry and Ian Niles Style: Comedy Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes Review by Mike Szymanski Let these two friends, Chris and Angus, take you on a strange journey where they try to con just about everyone they know, and things get scary. And there are bodies. You will like not like a single person in this … Continue reading Who is Being Conned in this Comedic ‘Con Job’?

Don’t Monkey Around With Endanger Species in “Escape from Extinction Rewilding”

“Escape from Extinction Rewilding” Rating: 9/10 Director: Matthew R. Brady Writers: Alex Vincent Blumberg and Peter Meadows Style: Documentary Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSF5F6Ff-so Review by Mike Szymanski The mark of a good documentary is one that will make you take notice, react emotionally, or angrily, and go out and do something about it. Usually right away. Usually you are researching on your phone … Continue reading Don’t Monkey Around With Endanger Species in “Escape from Extinction Rewilding”

Emotional, Educational, Entertaining and Experimental

By Jamie Lynn As someone that has lived in Nashville since 2002 this film moved me to my core! The changes have been bitter/sweet! Change is inevitable where ever we go. You have to take the good with the bad! With that being said it is heartbreaking to see big cooperations come in annihilate these smaller businesses! In 1950 Nashville, Tennessee was dubbed “Music City … Continue reading Emotional, Educational, Entertaining and Experimental

As a Baseball Movie, ‘You Gotta Believe’ is in a League of Its Own

“You Gotta Believe” Rating: 7/10 Director: Ty Roberts Writer: Lane Garrison Style: Family Sports Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r_nbHSOyDE Review by Mike Szymanski Funny, poignant, charming and delightful in every way, “You Gotta Believe” is more than a kid’s baseball movie — it’s a feel-good family film for everyone of every age. It may have moments that remind you of “The Bad News Bears” … Continue reading As a Baseball Movie, ‘You Gotta Believe’ is in a League of Its Own

This Documentary of ‘The Mandela Effect Phenomenon’ Will Blow Your Mind About Your Failed Memories

“Mandela Effect Phenomenon” Rating: 7/10 Director and Writer: Robert Kiviat Style: Documentary Time: 1 hour, 32 minutes Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwjXuTs5Ycg Review by Mike Szymanski OK, this is going to blow your mind. Remember spreading Jiffy Peanut Butter on your sandwich? Or your grandmother putting on Depends diapers? How about the evil queen in Snow White saying, “Mirror Mirror on the wall”? Or remember Forrest Gump saying “Life … Continue reading This Documentary of ‘The Mandela Effect Phenomenon’ Will Blow Your Mind About Your Failed Memories

See and Hear an Up-and-Coming Great Film Hyphenate Moviemaker if You ‘Listen Carefully’

“Listen Carefully” Rating: 8/10 Director and Writer: Ryan Barton-Grimley Style: Horror Time: 1 hour 22 minutes Trailer: https://vimeo.com/953775859 Review by Mike Szymanski Sometimes big things come in little packages, and this odd quirky indy film is one of those. In a film noir motif (actually, everything is really pretty dark in the entire film), it has a small cast with oddball characters, misguided motives and dark … Continue reading See and Hear an Up-and-Coming Great Film Hyphenate Moviemaker if You ‘Listen Carefully’

This Charming Documentary ‘The Last Keeper’ Explores All Sides Only Too Well

“The Last Keeper” Rating: 9/10 Director and Writer: Tom Opre Style: Documentary Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI8wPU-5kZo Review by Mike Szymanski Very few places on the planet are more beautiful than the Scottish countryside, with all the lush greenery, the large stags, the beautiful birds. It may be surprising that it could all come to an end because of warring factions that all … Continue reading This Charming Documentary ‘The Last Keeper’ Explores All Sides Only Too Well

Real or Not, this ‘Protocol 7’ Will Scare You

“Protocol 7” Rating: 7/10 Director: Andrew Wakefield Writers: Terri Rossio and Andrew Wakefield Style: Drama Thriller Trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=o-NyF2d_hVY Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes Rating: R Review by Mike Szymanski This is a thriller, and it’s frightening, because it’s real. From the outset, I am not an anti-vaxxer, and do not support the anti-vaxxing campaign. I have always received my vaccinations, including my Covid shots, and … Continue reading Real or Not, this ‘Protocol 7’ Will Scare You

Changing the Foster Care System with ‘Sound of Hope: The Story Of Possum Trot’

“Sound of Hope: The Story Of Possum Trot” Rating: 8/10 Director: Joshua Weigel Writers: Joshua and Rebekah Weigel Style: Biopic/ Drama Trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=-nyh9tcGFcI Time: 2 hour, 18 minutes Review by Mike Szymanski Inspired by true events, this is one those stories that sneaks up on you and you wonder, “Why didn’t know I know that happened?” “Sound of Hope: The Story Of Possum Trot” is … Continue reading Changing the Foster Care System with ‘Sound of Hope: The Story Of Possum Trot’

There’s Nothing Like ‘The Mimic’ in Quirky Dark Comedy

“The Mimic” Rating: 7/10 Director and Writer: Thomas F. Mazziotti Style: Dark Comedy Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_nwNNRlxC8 Time: 1 hour, 22 minutes Review by Mike Szymanski This quirky dark comedy is reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film, with all the odd-ball characters. And, it’s also like a Todd Solondz film, but without the meanness. Anderson, of “Rushmore,” “Asteroid City” and “The Royal Tenenbaums” fame, is also known for … Continue reading There’s Nothing Like ‘The Mimic’ in Quirky Dark Comedy

Can ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Break Box Office and Awards Expectations? I’ll Bet it Will

“A Quiet Place: Day One” Rating: 9/10 Director and Writer: Michael Sarnoski Story by: John Krasinski and Michael Sarnoski Based on characters created by: Bryan Woods and Scott Beck Style: Horror Trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=YPY7J-flzE8 Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes Rating: PG-13 Review by Mike Szymanski OK, let the Oscar campaign begin right now for Lupita Nyong’o for her work in “A Quiet Place: Day One.” A … Continue reading Can ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Break Box Office and Awards Expectations? I’ll Bet it Will

Tense Moments Explore Inside the Scope of ‘The Sniper’

“The Sniper” Rating: 8/10 Director: Dastan Khalili Writer: Chris Calzia Style: Short Drama Time: 20 minutes Review by Mike Szymanski Ever have a bad day at work? You know, when you bring work home with you and you can’t escape the anxiety of it. Now, what if you were a sniper? This brilliant metaphor of work-stress anxiety explores how all of us obsess too much … Continue reading Tense Moments Explore Inside the Scope of ‘The Sniper’

Inspirational ‘Sight’ Puts the Real World in Focus

“Sight” Rating: 9/10 Director and writer: Andrew Hyatt Style: Biopic/Drama Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes Review by Mike Szymanski Just when you think you know everything about every possible true story, some amazing tale makes it to the big screen and overwhelms you. I am particularly tuned in to medical breakthrough stories — and with a special interest in eyes and blindness — yet I never heard of this … Continue reading Inspirational ‘Sight’ Puts the Real World in Focus

Jean-Claude Van Damme is Back in Gritty Noir Action Thriller ‘Darkness of Man’

“Darkness of Man” Rating: 8/10 Director: James Cullen Bressack Writer: Alethea Cho and James Cullen Bressack Style: Action / Thriller Time: 1 hour 48 minutes Rated: R Review by Mike Szymanski It’s great to see Jean-Claude Van Damme in a gritty crime drama after the rumors that he was hanging up his martial arts belt. Apparently, if there’s anyone who can keep him going in … Continue reading Jean-Claude Van Damme is Back in Gritty Noir Action Thriller ‘Darkness of Man’

These Wise Guys in ‘Jersey Bred’ Don’t Think Change is Funny, But it is

“Jersey Bred” Rating: 8/10 Writer and Director: Greg Russo Style: Crime/ Action / Drama Time: 1 hour 31 minutes Review by Mike Szymanski Change in the mob game isn’t always a good thing. When the gangsters like those from the days of “The Godfather” (and all the violence involved) get mixed up in online gambling and crypto-currency, some people can’t give up their old ways. … Continue reading These Wise Guys in ‘Jersey Bred’ Don’t Think Change is Funny, But it is

A Wild and Crazy Take on ‘The Take Out Move’ 

The Take Out Move Rating: 7/10 Director and Writer: Andrew Simonian Style: Comedy Time: 74 minutes Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV2stp7Md6s Rating: R Review by Mike Szymanski This clever comedy is like a small-scale “Animal House” where two guys try to fulfill some assignments to get into a fraternity. It’s rife with all the dick jokes you can handle, and as juvenile as that may sound to you at … Continue reading A Wild and Crazy Take on ‘The Take Out Move’