Movie Review, Social Issues

“Bridget and Iain” Displays The Impact The Walls Of Addiction Has On Family

By William Engel Told with great simplicity and power, “Bridget and Iain” is a heart wrenching story of a mother and son who have a wedge driven between them by the latter’s drug addiction. The film begins with the mother, Bridget, visiting her son, Iain, in rehab. The two of them have a tense conversation about Iain’s current financial and residential situation. Iain claims that … Continue reading “Bridget and Iain” Displays The Impact The Walls Of Addiction Has On Family

MontequeJune 8, 2018June 5, 2018

Movie Review, Social Issues

“The Chinese Exclusion Act” Shows The true Cost And Exploitation Of The Chinese Immigrants

By William Engel The PBS broadcast of “The Chinese Exclusion Act”, was a daring, sobering documentary about the titular law that prevented Chinese-Americans from being recognized as citizens for more than half a century. Through multiple accounts and both primary and secondary sources, the film provides an in-depth look at the history of the Chinese in America, beginning in the early 19th century with the … Continue reading “The Chinese Exclusion Act” Shows The true Cost And Exploitation Of The Chinese Immigrants

MontequeJune 7, 2018June 5, 2018

“Regionrat” Tragic Consequences Of High School Drama

By William Engel “Regionrat”, based on the Richard Laskowski novel of the same name, follows Ray (Connor Williams), a broke and lonely young man who spends six months trying to make it in Seattle before deciding to move back to his hometown to finish high school. He runs into trouble before long, however, when the high school cutie Erin (Natassia Halabi) starts to hit on … Continue reading “Regionrat” Tragic Consequences Of High School Drama

MontequeJune 6, 2018June 5, 2018

With “Troll Inc.”, Filmmaker George Russell Gives Us A Provocative Tour Of The World Of Internet Trolling

By William Engel It is a world that proves to be more intricate, more fascinating and even more disturbing than it appears on the surface. The film focuses on Andrew “Weev” Auernheimer, one of the most accomplished and notorious trolls in the history of the net. The prodigious provocateur has, to date, publicly revealed a flaw in AT&T’s programming that allowed him to leak … Continue reading With “Troll Inc.”, Filmmaker George Russell Gives Us A Provocative Tour Of The World Of Internet Trolling

MontequeMay 10, 2018May 9, 2018

Top Special Effects Gurus, Hiroshi Katagiri Creates A terrifyingly Brilliant Horror Film For His Directorial Debut

By William Engel After years of building up a reputation as one of the industry’s top special effects gurus, Hiroshi Katagiri made his feature length directorial debut with the premiere of c. I’m happy to report that it succeeds not only as a horror film, but as a harrowing drama that casts a damning light on the consequences of colonization. In the film, a Real … Continue reading Top Special Effects Gurus, Hiroshi Katagiri Creates A terrifyingly Brilliant Horror Film For His Directorial Debut

MontequeApril 26, 2018April 24, 2018

Who’s “Jenna?” Is A Thoroughly Enjoyable Romp

by William Engel Who’s “Jenna?” is very Funny, daring, and surprisingly intense. The film follows Jonathan Burke (Bill Sorvino), a financial advisor who starts dating a lawyer named Jenna Casey (Tracey Birdsall) after meeting her at a bar. His best friend, Andy Roma (Joseph D’onofrio) notes that she bears a striking resemblance to a prolific porn star, leading both of them to suspect that … Continue reading Who’s “Jenna?” Is A Thoroughly Enjoyable Romp

MontequeApril 20, 2018April 17, 2018

“Perfect” Mesmerizing And Tragic

by William Engel If there’s any doubt in your mind that synchronized swimming is a legitimate sport, that doubt will be extinguished upon viewing “Perfect”, a spellbinding documentary about one of the athletic world’s most under-appreciated pursuits. “Perfect” gives us an inside look at the Canadian synchronized swimming team as they prepare for the national tryouts – which will qualify them for the 2016 … Continue reading “Perfect” Mesmerizing And Tragic

MontequeApril 19, 2018April 17, 2018

Arts, Movie Review

“Fear, Love and Agoraphobia” A Distressing Yet Refreshing Look At The Default Difficulties Of Life

By William Engel “Fear, Love and Agoraphobia” is a sobering, poignant story of two people struggling to break free from their respective prisons – one confined by mental illness, the other by grief. The film follows two different people, whose lives converge about one-third through. The first, a man named Chet (Dustin Coffey), suffers from severe agoraphobia, or fear of sunlight and going outside. … Continue reading “Fear, Love and Agoraphobia” A Distressing Yet Refreshing Look At The Default Difficulties Of Life

MontequeApril 19, 2018April 17, 2018

“Russian Doll” Film Review

By William Engel “Russian Doll” follows Viola Ames (Melanie Brockmann Gaffney), a veteran police detective who’s assigned to investigate the disappearance of a woman who stumbled upon a murder plot behind the scenes of an upcoming play called The Russian Doll. As opening night draws closer and closer, Viola and her partner, EJ (Sarah Hollis) are tasked with unraveling a twisted thread that will lead … Continue reading “Russian Doll” Film Review

MontequeApril 17, 2018

Stephen Kogon Is Set To Make His Film Debut As The Star Of “Dance Baby Dance” A Charming – Albeit A Bit By-The-Numbers – Inspirational Story

By William Engel The film follows Jimmy Percer (Kogon), an aging tap dancer who seeks to enter an international dancing competition. On one hand, he has plenty of people in his corner, including his wife, Tess (Beverly Mitchell), his boss, Mr. Dalyrmple (Jim O’Heir), and his niece, Kit (Hayley Shukiar). On the other hand, a few obstacles stand in his way; for one thing, the … Continue reading Stephen Kogon Is Set To Make His Film Debut As The Star Of “Dance Baby Dance” A Charming – Albeit A Bit By-The-Numbers – Inspirational Story

MontequeApril 6, 2018

Intense, Powerful and Suspenseful, Kuleana Is A Spellbinding Tale

By William Engel A powerful story of one man’s task to clear his family name and save his family’s property. The film follows Nohea Kanekoa (Moronai Kanekoa), a one-legged war veteran who finds himself in a desperate bid to save his ancestral homeland. His ailing grandmother (Marlene Sai) owes thousands of dollars in property taxes, and a predatory real estate mogul named Victor Coyle (Stefan … Continue reading Intense, Powerful and Suspenseful, Kuleana Is A Spellbinding Tale

MontequeMarch 29, 2018

The 2018 Pasadena International Film Festival Review Of “Bare”: A Gripping, Heart Wrenching Story Of Illness And The Perception Of Beauty

By William Engel Bare tells the harrowing yet uplifting story based on the short story written by Rebecca Hall (a friend of the filmmaker Kerith Lemon), who’s own devastating breast cancer diagnosis at age drastically 25 changed the course of her life. The story is of a woman (Aurora Perrineau) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctor prescribes chemotherapy, which unfortunately means that she is likely going to … Continue reading The 2018 Pasadena International Film Festival Review Of “Bare”: A Gripping, Heart Wrenching Story Of Illness And The Perception Of Beauty

MontequeMarch 28, 2018

“Roll With Me” Film Review: A Transcendent Journey That Touches Everyone Along The way

By William Engel Director Lisa France captivated the 2018 Slamdance Film Festival audiences with “Roll With Me”, a sobering yet inspiring look at a disabled man’s attempt to overcome his limitations and accomplish something extraordinary. The documentary follows Gabriel Cordell, a newly sober paraplegic who sets out to be the first person to roll across the United States in a wheelchair. He’s joined by … Continue reading “Roll With Me” Film Review: A Transcendent Journey That Touches Everyone Along The way

MontequeMarch 22, 2018March 19, 2018

“Quest” Flim Review: A Flawed But Nonetheless Evocative Tale of Adversity And Second Shances

By William Engel Santiago Rizzo made his directorial debut last year with the striking “Quest”. One of the reasons filmmaker Santiago Rizzo made his 2018 Slamdance Film Festival narrative feature “Quest” was to fulfill a promise to his life-changing mentor and friend, Tim Moellering. Moellering was a humble Berkeley, California middle school teacher and football coach who took Rizzo under his wing and helped him … Continue reading “Quest” Flim Review: A Flawed But Nonetheless Evocative Tale of Adversity And Second Shances

MontequeMarch 21, 2018March 19, 2018

“Knife Skills” Is A Bitter Pill To Swallow

by William Engel What does it take to build a world-class French restaurant? What if the staff is almost entirely men and women just out of prison? What if most have never cooked or served before, and have barely two months to learn their trade? The message of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Knife Skills” is a bitter pill to swallow; for ex-convicts, change is possible, … Continue reading “Knife Skills” Is A Bitter Pill To Swallow

MontequeMarch 20, 2018March 19, 2018

Edith And Eddie Review

by William Engel Nominated for an Academy Award®, Edith+Eddie is a film by Laura Checkoway (LUCKY) is a devastating film about the country’s oldest interracial newlyweds Edith + Eddie provides us with an unflinching look at the disrespect and condescension with which we treat the elderly, forcing them to relinquish their lives to third parties with no emotional connection to them. The documentary short … Continue reading Edith And Eddie Review

MontequeMarch 20, 2018March 19, 2018

Movie Review, The Environment

“Food Evolution” A Film Which Has Something Important To Add To The Conversation

By: Lori Hoffman “Food Evolution” is a documentary From Academy Award®-nominated director Scott Hamilton Kennedy (THE GARDEN, FAME HIGH, OT: OUR TOWN) and narrated by Neil DeGrasse Tyson showing both sides of the GMO debate around the world. The film portrays the idea that people develop beliefs based on their gut and due to this, non-GMO advocates are challenging empirical scientific evidence. When results are … Continue reading “Food Evolution” A Film Which Has Something Important To Add To The Conversation

MontequeJuly 19, 2017

Introduction to the Artist, Movie Review

“Thirteen” A Message Of Ideologies Passed Through Generations

By: Lori Hoffman Edited: by Colleen Page “Thirteen” is a short film that portrays a message that two hour films might never be able to do. In the short thirteen minutes of running time, I was able to empathize with one of the main characters, a thirteen year old boy, Musa, who was part of ISIS. Once learning that his parents were killed by … Continue reading “Thirteen” A Message Of Ideologies Passed Through Generations

MontequeJune 19, 2017

“Defenders of Life” Film Review

By: Adrienne Vaught In this gritty drama we see and feel the slam of modern socially accepted rules into ancient indigenous cultures. First we meet a twenty first century cultural anthropologist and her young son in the forests of South America. The mother son duo struggles to understand one another while forming bonds with a dying tribe whom they meet and live with for a … Continue reading “Defenders of Life” Film Review

MontequeApril 20, 2017April 20, 2017

One mother’s vision of Having it All: A review of DIrector David Gaddies film, “Beautiful Dreamer”

By Vernon Nickerson Kudos to Writer and Director David Gaddies for collaborating with Co-Writer Steven Kelleher to produce the powerful, provocative and evocative film adaptation of Ken Liu’s short (but sweet) story,”Memories of My Mother”. In just under 30 minutes, the film Beautiful Dreamer captures the deepest desire of every mother who loves their children– for their children to be happy. Facing a terminal disease, … Continue reading One mother’s vision of Having it All: A review of DIrector David Gaddies film, “Beautiful Dreamer”

MontequeJanuary 11, 2017