Film and TV Reviews and Podcasts
The underlying message of honor and perseverance in the face incredible odds in 1917 is a noble undertaking and a worthy tribute to the people who fought in WWI. Although that message does get slightly lost in the spectacle, the single shot technique is a wonder to behold and impressive in and of itself.
Cats is a lifeless husk of barely comprehensible storytelling interspersed with an endless string of songs, only two of which are memorable.
The Beach Bum left me genuinely questioning whether it was meant to be a drama about a stoner’s laid back attitude toward life or if it was a comedy about a bumbling, carefree guy coasting through it. The sad truth is, I really think it’s neither of those things.
Writer/star Mindy Kaling and director Nisha Ganatra’s “boss from hell” movie about an underdog in late night TV is plagued by underutilized supporting characters, underdeveloped subplots, and a borderline unlikable co-lead character. Late Night’s saving grace is a strong performance by Emma Thompson who, despite her character being nearly irredeemably obnoxious, is served well enough by a script that misuses most of the other characters and subplots.
The Irishman (2019) Premise: A mob hitman recalls his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa. The Irishman is Martin Scorsese’s examination of time, regret, and aging through the lens of the gangster epic. It’s a perfectly fine film whose biggest strength is in the powerful performances of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. Unfortunately, aside from […]
In a New York Minute (2019) Narrative Feature/Official Selection 102 Minutes/USA/2019 Drama/Romance Director: Ximan Li Premise: “In A New York Minute” follows three strangers connected by a single pregnancy test. Amy is haunted by a past breakup that has manifested into an eating disorder. Angel is caught between a loveless marriage to an American businessman and a passionate affair with […]
House of Hummingbird (2019) Narrative Feature/Grand Prize Winner 138 Minutes/South Korea/2019 Drama/International Director: Bora Kim Premise: A lonely 14-year-old, Eun-hee moves through life like a hummingbird searching for a taste of sweetness. Deprived of attention from her family, she spends her time finding meaning in the love and friendships of her peers. When Young-ji, a new teacher, arrives, she becomes […]
Last Year at the Crossing (2018) Documentary Feature/Indiana Spotlight 75 Minutes/USA/2018 Education Director: Kathy Bruner Premise: An alternative high school in small-town Indiana is the last, best chance for four struggling teens to earn a diploma. Their dedicated school administrator holds out hope that this is the year they can overcome their obstacles. A heartbreaking and hopeful portrait of teens […]
Man Camp (2019) Narrative Feature/Official Selection 94 Minutes/USA/2019 Comedy/Drama Director: Nate James Bakke Premise: It’s Man Camp weekend, the few days every year when brothers Adam, Tim, and Kevin head to the family cabin to memorialize their dad. When they arrive to discover their mom with some new guy she apparently plans on marrying, the trip becomes a wild test […]
Whelm (2019) Narrative Feature/Indiana Spotlight 114 Minutes/USA/2019 Thriller/History Director: Skyler Lawson Premise: “Whelm” is a thriller set deep in the Great Depression where two estranged brothers get tangled in a rivalry between a legendary bank robber and an eccentric young criminal. Through a series of bizarre occurrences, they find they are part of a larger historic scheme.
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace (2019) Documentary Feature/Official Selection 85 Minutes/USA, Australia/2019 History Director: April Wright Premise: “Going Attractions” celebrates the splendor and grandeur of the great cinemas of the United States, built when movies were the acme of entertainment and the stories were larger than life, as were the venues designed to show them.
Rewind (2019) Documentary Feature/Official Selection 87 Minutes/USA/2019 Drama/Social Justice Director: Sasha Joseph Neulinger Premise: Drawing upon an immense home video archive, Sasha Joseph Neulinger exposes the family secret which destroyed his world. The camera that followed his footsteps from the day he was born also captured the story of an unraveling childhood, a high-stakes court battle, and a generational reckoning.
Safe Spaces (2019) Narrative Feature/Official Selection 92 Minutes/USA/2019 Comedy/Drama Director: Daniel Schechter Premise: A comedy about a New York City professor (Justin Long) who spends a week reconnecting with his family while defending his reputation over controversial behavior at his college.
Greener Grass (2019) Narrative Feature/Finalist in Competition 95 Minutes/USA/2019 Comedy Directors: Jocelyn DeBoer & Dawn Luebbe Premise: A deliciously twisted comedy set in a demented, timeless suburbia where every adult wears braces on their straight teeth, couples coordinate meticulously pressed outfits, and coveted family members are swapper in more ways than one in this competition for acceptance.
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot is a melancholic study of a man who has closed himself off from the world as he deals with what he did in the war. – 3 stars
The Obsessive Viewer 