Category: Movie Review

Arts, Movie Review

“The Fourfold” Film Review: Animation for Big Screens!

By Vernon Nickerson Alisi Telengut’s animated film and Official Selection at Sundance 2021, “The Fourfold”, is a visual feast of nature, sound, color, and humans in animation. As soon as it opens in theaters post-pandemic,  you can look forward to enjoying it on the big screen where it was born to be seen. Based on the ancient animistic beliefs and shamanic rituals in Mongolia and … Continue reading “The Fourfold” Film Review: Animation for Big Screens!

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Movie Review

2021 Slamdance Film Festival Film Review of “Man Under Table or: I’m Writing a Movie”

By Vernon Nickerson I found music video director / filmmaker / actor Noel David Taylor’s “Man Under Table or: I’m Writing a Movie” fascinating. It is unique as a film made PRE-COVID-19 and released in the midst of a global pandemic which has changed irrevocably how films are marketed/ distributed and “build an audience” in the neo-virtual digital media multiverse. Watching “Man Under Table or: … Continue reading 2021 Slamdance Film Festival Film Review of “Man Under Table or: I’m Writing a Movie”

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Movie Review

Film review of Critically Acclaimed “Cut Throat City”

By Vernon Nickerson What would happen if a diverse POC cast made a 21st century redux of Les Miserables? It would be “Cut Throat City”. From director RZA and writer P.G. Cuschieri comes the explosive “Cut Throat City”, the story of four boyhood friends from New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward who return after Hurricane Katrina to decimated homes, no jobs, and no help from FEMA. … Continue reading Film review of Critically Acclaimed “Cut Throat City”

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Movie Review

Review of “Everything: The Real Thing Story”

Something for everyone, See “Everything – “The Real Thing Story” as soon as you can! By Vernon Nickerson  Wow! Who knew? 1976- America turned 200. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic (pond), “Everything – The Real Thing Story” was making history and breaking barriers. A rabid pink-skinned racist’s rant opens a film about the greatest Black British band that most Americans never knew existed. To really appreciate … Continue reading Review of “Everything: The Real Thing Story”

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Movie Review

2021 Slamdance Film Festival Review Of “Bleeding Audio”: It Is The Holy Grail Of Alternative Punk Band biography…And So Much More!

By Vernon Nickerson Chelsea Christer’s reality drama-documentary “Bleeding Audio” will be a hot ticket for fans of fan favorite punk rockers “The Matches” as soon as tickets are available. If, like most feature length films in the COVID era, it is streamed, that platform had best be prepared to be shredded. Officially, “Bleeding Audio” is the deep, wide and multilayered story of an Oakland California … Continue reading 2021 Slamdance Film Festival Review Of “Bleeding Audio”: It Is The Holy Grail Of Alternative Punk Band biography…And So Much More!

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Movie Review

“Through The Night” Film Review

By Liisa Cohen “Through The Night”, directed and produced by Loira Limal, captured my heart and attention. Whoa! What is Love? This heart warming and deeply moving film captures the life and soul of an exceptional woman. “Through The Night” is an intimate cinema verité portrait of three working mothers whose lives all intersect at a 24-hour daycare center: a mother working the overnight shift … Continue reading “Through The Night” Film Review

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Movie Review

“Softie” Film Review

By Liisa Cohen “Softie”, a film by Sam Soko is a perfectly paced, gut wrenching account of Boniface Mwangi as we follow this photojournalist turned political activist turned MP candidate on his personal journey. Boniface “Softie” Mwangi has long fought injustices in his country as a political activist. Now he’s taking the next step by running for office in a regional Kenyan election. From the … Continue reading “Softie” Film Review

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Arts, LGTQ, Movie Review

“AVIVA” Extremely Stunning Storytelling

By Liisa Cohen AVIVA, written and directed by the incredibly gifted Boaz Yakin, is an intensely sensual, borderline erotic, love story told through the lens of gender fluid dance, romance and unapologetic physical interactions. It is very gender fluid. The character Aviva is a young Parisian who develops an online romance with a New Yorker named Eden. After a long-distance courtship they meet in person, … Continue reading “AVIVA” Extremely Stunning Storytelling

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Arts, Movie Review

“NASRIN” Movie Review

By Liisa Cohen The opening frames had my heart pounding, the ending frames had me in tears. NASRIN is a deeply moving, heart breaking and all too real story of Nasrin Sotoudeh, an attorney, human rights activist and political prisoner in Iran. With the back drop of modern day Iran, director/ writer/producer Jeff Kaufman and cinematographer “anonymous” risked their lives to tell the story of … Continue reading “NASRIN” Movie Review

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Arts, Movie Review

MR SOUL! So Before It’s Time

By Liisa Cohen Completely captivating, “MR SOUL!” is not just a documentary about Ellis B. Haizlip and his 1968-1973 Public Television show “Mr. SOUL!”. “Mr. SOUL!” is a deeply moving, beautifully edited, must see, absorbed and cherished film about a television show that started a movement reflecting the SOUL of all black people and the man behind this push . “MR. SOUL!” showcased black and … Continue reading MR SOUL! So Before It’s Time

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Arts, Movie Review

“The Terrible Adventure” Empowers Children For a Better Tomorrow

By Monteque Pope-Le Beau Writer and Director Kel Thompson’s independent feature film “The Terrible Adventure” is a delightfully sweet children’s film. “The Terrible Adventure” was the creative idea of Director Kel Thompson and his children. In the age of Greta Thunberg, “The Terrible Adventure” give gives a powerful message to children that there is nothing they can’t achieve. In the style James Albert Varney Jr’s … Continue reading “The Terrible Adventure” Empowers Children For a Better Tomorrow

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Movie Review

“The Gesture And The Word” Review: A Message Of Love Through Flowers and Words

By Monteque Pope-Le Beau In the day to day bustle of  life a gesture can means so many things. A word can be used to bring happiness or a weapon to hurt. Together they create the defining aspects of the book of one’s life. The chapters in one’s life tells the story of how they lived. Were they bold and live out loud or were … Continue reading “The Gesture And The Word” Review: A Message Of Love Through Flowers and Words

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Movie Review

“Don’t Read This On A Plane”: The Discovery Of One’s Hidden Truth

By Monteque Pope-Le Beau “Don’t Read This On A Plane” is a delightfully funny and poignant film about finding what it is you truly want out of life. Who would not enjoy traveling across the European country side meeting wonderfully interesting people while having the privilege of visiting some of the most beautiful and prestigious book bookstores Europe has ever known. Yet sometimes a trip … Continue reading “Don’t Read This On A Plane”: The Discovery Of One’s Hidden Truth

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Arts, Movie Review

“Days of the Whale” Review: A Relevant Message For Today

By Joanna Panayi Director Catalina Arroyave Restrepo was born in Medellín, Colombia. In 2010 she co-funded Rara, an-art house producing company based in Medellín. Her debut film, Days of the Whale, won two screenplay awards, the most important Colombian production fund (FDC), and had its world premiere at the 2019 SXSW film festival. It will have a U.S. virtual cinema release on July 24, 2020. Days … Continue reading “Days of the Whale” Review: A Relevant Message For Today

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Movie Review

Pot Luck film A Fresh, Versatile Perspective On The Cannabis Industry

By Joanna Panayi From Emmy-nominated and award-winning filmmaker Jane Wells, Pot Luck, is a 3 Generations production narrated by Robin Quivers. This documentary takes us on an enlightening adventure across the Colorado state, exploring the normality of the legalization of cannabis. Pot luck is an insightful analysis of the legalization of cannabis’s direct, cultural, and structural impacts on society. The documentary focuses on the pros … Continue reading Pot Luck film A Fresh, Versatile Perspective On The Cannabis Industry

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Arts, Movie Review

Rachel Mason Reopens a World of Memories and Family Dynamics in her Netflix Hit ‘Circus of Books’

By Mike Szymanski When I first met Rachel Mason, I was unprepared for the wave of personal emotions, memories and love that would overcome me after first being touched by this talented performance-artist-turned-filmmaker. Her touching family story is told in “Circus of Books” which thankfully has eclipsed “Tiger King” as Netflix’s go-to odd documentary. It’s a story about her family, but it was also about … Continue reading Rachel Mason Reopens a World of Memories and Family Dynamics in her Netflix Hit ‘Circus of Books’

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Movie Review

DisGraced: A Humorous Take On Everything Wrong With Entertainment Industry

By Sanyukta Thakare DisGraced is unexpectedly fun and raw, just as the leading character Grace Greene. The 8 part show follows Grace several years after her big break which turned out to be a dud, despite the immense fan following for her film. The best part is, DisGraced is an episodic series, we are not watching Grace struggle but, watching her react to all that … Continue reading DisGraced: A Humorous Take On Everything Wrong With Entertainment Industry

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Movie Review

Angelfish: To Live Your Life To The Fullest, Surround Yourself With The Right People 

By Sanyukta Thakare The coming of age love story will remind you of all the right reasons for falling in love. It also talks about being surrounded by the right people, who listen, love and support you. The story follows Eva a young Puerto Rican woman and Brendan, an Irish-American man, both struggle in their own world full of responsibility but with each other’s support, they … Continue reading Angelfish: To Live Your Life To The Fullest, Surround Yourself With The Right People 

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Arts, Movie Review

“Adventure Boyz” Is About Surfing The Real World More Than The Virtual One

By Sanyukta Thakare “Adventure Boyz” will take you on an innocent bike ride down the familiar path, reminding you of the happy old days. But ex motorcycle speedway champ Mike Harris, does not have the same carefree experience in the story. We meet Mike who has given all his life to his passion and hopes his kids will do the same, but when he finds … Continue reading “Adventure Boyz” Is About Surfing The Real World More Than The Virtual One

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Arts, Movie Review

“The Prison Within”: The Hurt People. Hurt Other People — Empathy Can Safe Lives And Heal Communities

By Sanyukta Thakare The Prison Within is about taking a long and hard look at yourself and separating you from your actions to gain and better perspective and take on responsibility. The documentary explores the destructive impact untreated trauma has on individuals and communities through the powerful stories of survivors of violent crimes and prisoners incarcerated for murder in San Quentin prison. As a viewer, … Continue reading “The Prison Within”: The Hurt People. Hurt Other People — Empathy Can Safe Lives And Heal Communities

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