“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

A Timely and Necessary Story 15 Years AFTER 9-11: Jake Hulse’s film, “Heroes Don’t Come Home”

By Vernon Nickerson Writer/Director Jake Hulse has created an intimate and riveting story for those of us living in the Post 9-11 Generation. Actors Andrew Casanova and Tyler McElroy helm a compelling ensemble cast telling the story of two childhood friends living in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.  Like many teenagers of their generation, best friends Tim Estey (played by Casanova) and … Continue reading A Timely and Necessary Story 15 Years AFTER 9-11: Jake Hulse’s film, “Heroes Don’t Come Home”

“POP” To The People! Right On!: Happily Reviewing Karen McPherson’s Playful Short

By Vernon Nickerson Some days,(and some years for this writer) being a responsible working adult can be incredibly lonely. One can feel almost invisible. Then, miraculously, an opportunity to connect and play presents itself. In an instant, once again, you realize that people needing people are still the luckiest people in the world. These are the powerful realizations released in just under eleven lyrical minutes … Continue reading “POP” To The People! Right On!: Happily Reviewing Karen McPherson’s Playful Short

I Live for You: Director Monika Wesley’s Sweet Summertime Fantasy

By Vernon Nickerson Director Monika Wesley’s teams with her Co-Writer Brandon Zinn to produce a film with more plot twists and turns than a typical California mountain highway. Leaving his father’s funeral, Sean discovers a note about an older half-brother named Henry that he never knew. When Sean arrives at Henry’s house, he meets Kate, the mysterious man’s stepdaughter. She is beautiful, disarming and instantly captivating. … Continue reading I Live for You: Director Monika Wesley’s Sweet Summertime Fantasy

Film Review Of Director Li Lu Complex Meditation Which is “There Is a New World Somewhere”

  By Monteque Pope-Le Beau Director Li Lu delivers a Tour de Force in her debut feature film “There Is a New World Somewhere” Director Li Lu masterfully crafts a story about the growing pains of life. “There Is a New World Somewhere” is a film which shows the journey we take in life is not as cut and dry as we might think. The … Continue reading Film Review Of Director Li Lu Complex Meditation Which is “There Is a New World Somewhere”

Film Review Of “HOW TO LET GO OF THE WORLD AND LOVE ALL THE THINGS CLIMATE CAN’T CHANGE”

By Saga Elmotaseb What is going on with the world today? Why are we not taking better care of our planet? Do we not see and hear and read the catastrophes of climate change and the worsening effects it’s having on our planet? Acclaimed and Oscar® Nominated director Josh Fox (GASLAND) takes us on a world wide journey where he personally injects himself into regions … Continue reading Film Review Of “HOW TO LET GO OF THE WORLD AND LOVE ALL THE THINGS CLIMATE CAN’T CHANGE”

Channeling Dysfunctional Family Life of the 70’s and 80’s: CREEDMORIA, a new film by Alicia Slimmer”

By:  Vernon Nickerson “CREEDMORIA” by Film Fatales filmmaker and Dances With Film alumni, Alicia Slimmer, is a powerful film that I hope will be seen by every adolescent who’s ever wanted to get up the courage to escape a soul-killing existence. Those of us who survived our adolescence in places like the Borough of Queens, New York where the story takes place, and South Paterson, … Continue reading Channeling Dysfunctional Family Life of the 70’s and 80’s: CREEDMORIA, a new film by Alicia Slimmer”

Film Review of Director Guy-Roger Duvert’s film “Virtual Revolution”

By: Vernon Nickerson “Is it possible to force people into freedom? And if it is, should it be done?” This is the question posed by Nash, the anti-hero of Writer/Director Guy-Roger Duvert’s film, “Virtual Revolution”.  Wonderfully complicating matters, the audience is masterfully taken on a sci-fi action adventure in parallel worlds to help viewers make up their own minds about the question. First, Duvert introduces … Continue reading Film Review of Director Guy-Roger Duvert’s film “Virtual Revolution”

Pumpkin Power Now! A review of “A Tricky Treat”

By: Vernon Nickerson In less than four minutes of their short,” A Tricky Treat”, writer Kamal John Iskander and director Patricia Chica exquisitely capture the pure essence of the random moment of adolescent self-loathing, rage and violence directed out toward others. After viewing this film, I wondered silently if in the apocalypse will there only be orange pumpkin people  who sound like Beaver Cleaver’s family … Continue reading Pumpkin Power Now! A review of “A Tricky Treat”

TROUBLING THE STILL WATERS OF DENIAL: Writer/Director Derek Hallquist’s Beautifully Crafted Telling of His Father’s Journey

By: Vernon Nickerson Still waters run deep is a proverb of Latin origin now commonly taken to mean that a placid exterior hides a passionate or subtle nature.” (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)   “Denial” Writer and Director Derek Hallquist’s exquisitely composed story of his parent Christine Hallquist’s (nee David Hallquist) life, is the ultimate 21st Century story of speaking truth to power.  The feature film … Continue reading TROUBLING THE STILL WATERS OF DENIAL: Writer/Director Derek Hallquist’s Beautifully Crafted Telling of His Father’s Journey

Film Review Of 2016 Dances With Films Feature, “LILITH’S AWAKENING”

By: Vernon Nickerson Lucy  Is On Top in Monica Demes’s Feature Film, “Lilith’s Awakening”   In “Lilith’s Awakening”, Writer, Director, Monica Demes film noir homage to Dracula, the Vampire is Lucy’s alter-ego portrayed with style and silent film acting panache by Barbara Eugenia. Plot-meets-13th Century rabbinical Lilith literature as our 21st Century heroine Lucy ( actress Sophia Woodward) somehow calls out the Vampire via her … Continue reading Film Review Of 2016 Dances With Films Feature, “LILITH’S AWAKENING”

Film Review Of 2016 Dances With Film Feature, “HOW WE MET” Laughing Out Loud On The Date From Hell…

A Delightful Comedic Romp With A Side Of Murder   By: Vernon Nickerson “HOW WE MET” stars Chadwick Hopson (The Long Way, Into the Mystic), Christina Marie Moses (Containment, Nikita, All My Children) and Brian Flaccus (Wizards of Waverly Place, All My Children, Movie 43) and is narrated by Ice-T. If limited budgets continue to result in well- written laugh-out-loud funny stories, Writer/Director Oscar Rene … Continue reading Film Review Of 2016 Dances With Film Feature, “HOW WE MET” Laughing Out Loud On The Date From Hell…

Film Review Of “TABLOID VIVANT”: Kyle Broom’s Dance Through The Flames Of The Artist’s Creative Journey

By: Vernon Nickerson Writer-Director Kyle Broom’s epic horror fantasy of a man and a woman’s obsession with fame, life and art is a gorgeously gritty deep dive into the 21st-century lives of 2 young artists obsessed with creating their magnum opus. “Tabloid Vivant” cleverly draws upon the true story of acclaimed psychoanalyst Lou Salomé, who famously indulged in her own dalliances with renowned German philosophers … Continue reading Film Review Of “TABLOID VIVANT”: Kyle Broom’s Dance Through The Flames Of The Artist’s Creative Journey

A Review Of The 2016 Dance With Film “Killer Friends”

  By:  Erica Summers   Have you ever want to do away with one of your friends. We are not talking about the friend that is constantly there for you when you’re in need or the friend that makes you cookies when you’re not feeling well. Or the friend that always has the right thing to say to lift your spirits; no, we are talking … Continue reading A Review Of The 2016 Dance With Film “Killer Friends”

A Review of 2016 LA Film Festival Film “Little Hero”

  By:  Erica Summers Because He Is Awesome   “Little  Hero” will have it’s  Los Angeles premiere at 2016 LA Film Festival on June 6th. “Little  Hero” is a  short documentary film  which is touching and deeply emotionally engaging.  This film takes it deeply personal and reflective look at how six year old twins Avery and Xande  perceives the world around them. Avery explains their … Continue reading A Review of 2016 LA Film Festival Film “Little Hero”

A Review Of The 2016 Dance With Film “Breaking Legs” Finding The Strength To Follow One’s Dreams

By: Austin Winter- Chase We all have gone through the awkward and frustrating situation of having to move to a new town, start anew in a strange new house, meet new friends and go to a new school. For some this process was not as traumatic as it was for others. Simply put if you were one of the popular people then you were in. … Continue reading A Review Of The 2016 Dance With Film “Breaking Legs” Finding The Strength To Follow One’s Dreams

A Review of the 2016 Slamdance Film “Fursonas”

  By: Alystar McKenneh-O’Neil   and Danielle McCormick   “Fursonas” is a documentary about people who dress up in animal costumes. Oddly, sex comes up a lot and it appears to be just another fantasy game put on by young gay men. With 80% of Furries are made up of men. Of that 80%, 80% of the men are bisexual or homosexual. There were of … Continue reading A Review of the 2016 Slamdance Film “Fursonas”

A Review Of 2016 Slamdance Film “Peanut Gallery”

By : Alystar McKenneh-O’Neil   “Peanut Gallery” is a documentary about revisiting and reexamining the death of a child in a family. Even though the director Molly Gandour was there when her sister died, her parents dealt with the death of their eldest daughter Aimee, Molly’s sister, in a very congenial and dignified way. Icing over the entire thing so as not to upset Molly … Continue reading A Review Of 2016 Slamdance Film “Peanut Gallery”

A review of 2016 Slamdance Film “HUNKY DORY”

By : Alystar McKenneh-O’Neil   Hollywood is full of those performers who didn’t make it and end up scratching their way through the day pimping and prostituting themselves just to be able to continue the lies they tell themselves on a daily basis. I am relevant, I am loved, I am creative, I am a star.   “Hunky Dory” is gritty, honest and real as … Continue reading A review of 2016 Slamdance Film “HUNKY DORY”