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
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.’
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’
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’?
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
By Jamie Lynn It was a good short overview of The Bluebird Cafe. I would have like to seen and heard more success stories that have come from this place The Bluebird Cafe is must visit when coming to Nashville. It’s always interesting to see how artist got their start! I was wanting just a little bit more from this film. Continue reading Educational and Experimental
“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
“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
“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’
“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
“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’
“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
“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
“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’
“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’
“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
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’
An Egypt Affair Rating: 8/10 Director: Marlin Darrah Writers: Will Patching, Eric Weinstock Style: Adventure Thriller Rated: PG-13 Time: 1 hour and 23 minutes Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a66fUIli24 Review by Mike Szymanski A languid trip down the Nile turns into a sensual nightmare as an unexpected couple boards the boat. With a steamy cast, twisting plot and a stunning backdrop, “An Egypt Affair” is one affair you won’t … Continue reading You Should Look Forward to ‘An Egypt Affair
By Mike Szymanski All kinds of film festivals exist: those focused on vampires, or cannabis, or veganism. Filmmaker Kyle Schickner’s has dreamt for the past three decades to have a festival of movies that cater to his specific interests: telling stories that focus on women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ communities. Of course, some quite prominent individual film festivals exist for each of those, … Continue reading Fencesitter Films Creates a Unique Film Festival for All Shades
By Mike Szymanski (all photos by Mike except as noted) It’s a true Hollywood story. On April 19, 1935, MGM Studio chief Louis B. Mayer had a brainstorm and celebrated the joint birthdays of the studio’s youngest star Cora Sue Collins along with one of the oldest stars May Robson. It was to be a great publicity stunt with every major star on the lot … Continue reading The Golden Age of Hollywood: MGM Turns 100 and A Little Girl Turns 97
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