Tag: Movie Review

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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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

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

“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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Movie Review

Michael Vick An American Tale Of The Rise Of A Imperfect Legend

By Vernon Nickerson America has the highest expectations for the uber- talented athlete, the high-performing iconoclasts and innovators who literally often change the way a particular sport is played. When performing at their peak, theses athletes are in equal parts feared, respected and held in awe by fans. Whether or not it is fair, these expectations of perfection carry over into every aspect of the … Continue reading Michael Vick An American Tale Of The Rise Of A Imperfect Legend

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Arts

Bastard’s Road Talks About The Strength To Keep Going, Something that Is Important in today’s time

By Sanyukta Thakare Bastard’s Road is a journey taken on with no self-interest or benefit. It was meant to be a medium of survival, but instead, it becomes a beacon of love, and hope for so many others. Directed by Brian Morrison, the documentary feature may help many veterans as well as their family members who are in need of inspiration to keep going and … Continue reading Bastard’s Road Talks About The Strength To Keep Going, Something that Is Important in today’s time

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Movie Review

Terry Sawchuk Did Not Regret A Minute Of His Life, He Lived And Died A Goalie

Goalie blurs the line between real and reel from the start, we get to see the best and the worst of Terry Sawchuk’s life as it passes by in the memories of those who lived and played with him. Terry had a troubled pasted, but nobody knew how it affected him until after the end. ‘Goalies go first,’ we hear the cast say it numerous … Continue reading Terry Sawchuk Did Not Regret A Minute Of His Life, He Lived And Died A Goalie

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Movie Review

Sanzaru, Warns You Against The Power Of Secrets

By Sanyukta Thakare SANZARU is a Gothic tale, a journey to the heart of a haunted house. A house haunted, as much by death, as by secrets.   Sanzaru does not belong in your immediate ideas of horror, there are no creepy faces or bodies lurking in the dark. Instead, we meet the demons of our minds and our pasts. The only way out is … Continue reading Sanzaru, Warns You Against The Power Of Secrets

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Movie Review

Murmur: A Glorious Summer in the Winter of Our Discontent

By Vernon Nickerson Murmur, a film written and directed by Heather Young, making its debut at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival, takes an intimate look at the intersections between 1. a lonely and heartsick mother who longs to love and be loved in return, 2. the substances the mother has used to numb her pain, 3. a lonely and heartsick dog who desperately wants tender … Continue reading Murmur: A Glorious Summer in the Winter of Our Discontent

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Movie Review

La Restauración A Tale Of Damnation And Redemption

By Monteque Pope-Le Beau Director Alonso Llosa’s tragicomedy La Restauración will have its World Premiere at the 2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. La Restauración is a poignant cautionary tale about excess, greed, disillusionment and elitism. The story takes place in a period of rapid urban growth in Peru when money is flowing freely allowing those who were once unable to graduate to the elite … Continue reading La Restauración A Tale Of Damnation And Redemption

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Arts

Gem Of A Film

By Steven Buckner Writer/Director Tammy Minoff’s richly layered, award winning directorial debut “Limerence,” cleverly tips the scales on Hollywood’s approach to a romantic comedy. Women get to see themselves in female lead Rosemary—as complex, independent and real, breaking the stereotypes society has fed us. Limerence starts off right away as a romantic comedy with Rosemary (Tammy Minoff) who moves to Venice CA pursues a career … Continue reading Gem Of A Film

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Movie Review

2020 Sundance Film Festival Review Of “LITTLE CHIEF”- A Poignant Winter’s Tale

By Vernon Nickerson Ouch! That’s what many black preachers jokingly tell their congregants to shout when the sermon is directly applicable to their lives. i.e., stepping on their toes. As a second-year special education teacher at an inner-city Title 1 school, “Ouch!” was my immediate reaction to Erica Tremblay’s visually powerful short, “Little Chief”, from the first minute until the last. In too many classrooms … Continue reading 2020 Sundance Film Festival Review Of “LITTLE CHIEF”- A Poignant Winter’s Tale

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Arts, Movie Review

All Aboard for Shoot to Marry, Steve Markle’s 21st Century ‘Love Train’

By Vernon Nickerson “Love is beautiful and painful…what else is there?” Thankfully, there is also Shoot to Marry, a 2020 Slamdance Film Festival selection. Written, produced, and directed by documentarian Steve Markle, Shoot to Marry is a quirky video memoir of one man’s journey (Markle) in search of a life partner.  From a home base in Toronto, Steve introduces the audience to an array of … Continue reading All Aboard for Shoot to Marry, Steve Markle’s 21st Century ‘Love Train’

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Movie Review

2015 Slamdance Film Festival Review: 20 YEARS OF MADNESS, a documentary directed by Jeremy Royce.

By: Monteque Pope- Le Beau When the eccentric cast of a mid-90s Public Access show in Detroit reunite after 20 years to make a new episode, they are forced to take a hard look at their lives and reconcile their teenage dreams with the realities of adulthood. When one is young we are often full of dreams and hope. It is not a  time to not to … Continue reading 2015 Slamdance Film Festival Review: 20 YEARS OF MADNESS, a documentary directed by Jeremy Royce.

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Movie Review

A Superman Underdog Story for the Ages: I AM THOR (Official Selection of the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival)

By: Vernon Nicerson Can a 20th Century super-smart-and-talented entertainment impresario find happiness in the 21st Century?  After watching force of nature Jon Mikl Thor and a stellar supporting cast in the Ryan Wise and Alan Higbee documentary, “I AM THOR”, I am fully inclined to shout ABSOF**KINGLUTELY! As the compelling story of the life and times of bodybuilder/rocker/master entertainer and merchandiser unfolds, it makes perfect … Continue reading A Superman Underdog Story for the Ages: I AM THOR (Official Selection of the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival)

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Arts

The Hidden Gems of Sundance 2015

  By: Monteque Pope-Le Beau Images By: The Sundance Film Festival Here in the beauty that is Park City surrounded by tall snowcap mountains The 2015 Sundance Film Festival has returned with an outstanding selection of films, filmmakers and artist of which has made this years festival one to remember. From Robert Redford’s wonderfully fun film “A Walk In The Woods” to Director Adam Salky’s shockingly … Continue reading The Hidden Gems of Sundance 2015

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Movie Review, Social Issues

The simple power of abiding love, Slamdance 2015 feature film Reveiw: “THE RESURRECTION OF JAKE THE SNAKE ROBERTS”

  By: Vernon Nickerson It took a village to raise former professional wrestling star Jake “The Snake” Roberts  from the depths of alcohol and substance abuse that almost ate him alive in Writer-Director Steve Yu’s documentary feature film, THE “RESURRECTION OF JAKE THE SNAKE ROBERTS”. Watching how a team of helping professionals and other wrestlers in recovery from their addictions came alongside their friend and … Continue reading The simple power of abiding love, Slamdance 2015 feature film Reveiw: “THE RESURRECTION OF JAKE THE SNAKE ROBERTS”

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Arts, Movie Review

2015 Slamdance Film Festival Review: Alisi Telengut’s Tears of Inge

  By Vernon Nickerson Alisi Telengut’s short- Tears of Inge is a delightful depiction of the fluidity of relationships between an planet earth and its nomadic inhabitants: male and female, earth, camels in childbirth, humans and camels, and earth, animals and humans.     A four-plus minute feast of hand-painted animated impressionist art brings the “canvas” of film to 3-D quality life  (without those annoying … Continue reading 2015 Slamdance Film Festival Review: Alisi Telengut’s Tears of Inge

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