Land Review: A Beautiful Film About Survival And Community

Release date: February 12, 2021
Running time: 89 minutes
Cast: Robin Wright, Demián Bichir, Kim Dickens
Director: Robin Wright
Writers: Jesse Chatham, Erin Dignam

From acclaimed actress Robin Wright comes her directorial debut LAND, the poignant story of one woman’s search for meaning in the vast and harsh American wilderness. Edee (Wright), in the aftermath of an unfathomable event, finds herself unable to stay connected to the world she once knew and in the face of that uncertainty, retreats to the magnificent, but unforgiving, wilds of the Rockies. After a local hunter (Demián Bichir) brings her back from the brink of death, she must find a way to live again.

Robin Wright picked an interesting film for her directorial debut.  The film, set in the Wyoming wilderness, really emphasizes the beauty of this natural setting.  As you would expect from a movie set in the Wyoming country, there are some absolutely stunning nature shots throughout.  You can't help but be in awe of the natural beauty of Edee's surroundings.  And it is not just the nature footage that will keep your interest.  The film has an exceptional soundtrack as well.  The world of Land--much like the natural setting it is based on--is filled with sound; you'll feel every animal, jump at every screech or growl, and marvel at the falling rain.  And these sounds also make it so that any scenes with civilization can feel overwhelming and chaotic compared to the serenity of nature.  And the wonderful sound doesn't just encompass nature.  The film has a great country music soundtrack to help fill the void and evoke emotion. 

Land starts off mysteriously, without much context.  Edee is out in the woods and hoping to survive on her own, but you don't' really understand why at first.  But even without the context, the first scenes of Land help to establish the natural setting and the beauty of her surroundings.  And in keeping with Edee's isolation and natural setting, the film starts with little to no dialogue.  Unlike a film like Dances With Wolves, where Costner narrated to himself regularly, I was struck by Land's lack of dialogue.  At the start, the only sounds you hear are nature sounds so in a way, you experience what Edee is feeling.  The isolation, nature, and beauty are all reflected back in this film.  And you also experience the harsh reality of life in the wilderness.  The film starts off idyllic with this wonderful back to nature feel, but when some of the harsher, crueler aspects of the wild life come into play, you feel just how cold this natural beauty can be.  

But one thing I loved about this film was Edee's perseverance.  No matter what happened and what hardships came her way, she continued to stick it out in the wilds.  And the film also shows the benefit of interactions and community.  In a film about living out in the wilderness and making it on your own, the film teaches a nice lesson about trusting others and relying on them.  But Edee's strength is also frustrating to the viewer, when she is stubborn at the start without more context.  Some of her decisions seem irrational without more information.  But there is no faulting the appeal of this lifestyle in our hyperconnected, always on world.  Seeing someone surviving on their own and connecting with nature has a charm all its own and this film captures that perfectly.  

Land will take you back to nature with its stunning wilderness cinematography, fantastic soundtrack, and harsh realities of life and survival. 

Watch it.

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Land will be released in theaters on February 12, 2021.

For showtimes, click here.

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Earwig and the Witch Review: Studio Ghibli Rocks Out In 3D

Release date: February 3, 2021
Running time: 82 minutes
Stars: JB Blanc, Thomas Bromhead, Alex Cartañá 
Director: Goro Miyazaki
Writers: Diana Wynne Jones, Keiko Niwa

Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch. As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells and potions, and a mysterious song that may be the key to finding the family she has always wanted. 

Earwig and the Witch is from Studio Ghibli, a studio that could be characterized as the Disney of Japan due to its wonderful animation and propensity for creating classics.  And like Disney, who has been transitioning away from hand drawn animation into more of a CG look, Earwig and the Witch is definitely a CG film.  The movie has the same Ghibli style and characters, but they are fully rendered in 3D with some computer generated and hand drawn elements in the background.  It is an interesting trick and a bold choice to try and recreate the same style that the studio is known for, and the animators did a good job doing it.  The same characteristic anime expressions, craziness, and exaggerated features are all present in this CG representation.

However, the switch to CG is going to be hit or miss for a lot of people.  I appreciated the effort but thought that the characters did not move as fluidly as their hand drawn counterparts and also some of the effects had a plastic look.  I applaud the effort and was intrigued by the style but it just didn't hit for me.  It actually more looked like a video game representation of a Studio Ghibli film, rather than a full on original effort.  Additionally, the film has a slow pace and almost feels like it should have had additional episodes.  Not a lot happens and despite the poster showing a rocking young girl, most of the film involves her cleaning a house and learning potions.  It does have the characteristic Ghibli style in the characters, but unfortunately just does not feel like much of an adventure happens.  For a film about a rocking witch there is not enough magic and not enough rock.  If there are more movies in this series, I would love to see where they go as they established a solid base.  But it feels like this needed some more time to really explore and to have the story be the fantastical type that Ghibli is known for.

And the film definitely feels setup for additional films.  The opening has a dire circumstance hinting at a backstory that was not fully explored in the film.  Additionally, the film ends on a sort of cliffhanger, with a a reveal that could go multiple directions.  And one thing that I haven't mentioned yet, but absolutely loved, is the soundtrack.  Although there is not a lot of rock by the characters, the film has a wonderful soundtrack that has elements of rock, jazz, and punk thrown in.  I would listen to the soundtrack by itself, it was just that good.  The film is being released with both the original Japanese audio and an English Dub.  I watched half the movie in English and half the movie in Japanese, and I am happy to report that either version will provide a good experience.  The English Dub is nice as they used British actors (or at least had them do British accents) to match the setting in the film.  And it had a fluid style that fit the characters and their expressions.  

Earwig and the Witch shows a vision of where Studio Ghibli might go, with more of a CG focus, the same trademark style, and a rocking soundtrack. 

Rent it.

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Earwig and the Witch opens in select theaters starting February 3, 2021.  It will debut on HBO Max on February 5, 2021.

For showtimes, click here.

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What to Watch This Weekend: Our Friend, True Mothers, Dark Whispers, Max Cloud, Come Play, White Tiger, Ad Astra, MacGruber

For A Powerful Friendship Drama: Our Friend
Our Friend is a poignant, painful, and powerful movie about love, family, and friendship that feels so real and raw and should not be missed.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Oscar Worthy Adoption Drama: True Mothers (Virtual Cinema)
True Mothers is a thoughtful, delicate film that approaches a difficult subject matter with beautiful cinematography, realistic and realized characters, and a balanced approach to the story telling that will leave you speechless.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Collection of Scares: Dark Whispers Volume 1 (Digital)

Dark Whispers Vol. 1 is a scary good compilation of horror stories, that highlights some frightful female voices in the horror genre.  For more information, check out the review!

For A 90s Inspired Space Opera: Max Cloud (Digital and Physical)

Max Cloud is the ridiculous 90s science fiction and video game homage that we didn't know we needed with plenty of fun, 16 bit gaming references, and a great space opera cast.  For more information, check out the review!

For Those Looking For Digital Horror: Come Play (Redbox)

Come Play is a modern Babadook, with fantastic sounds, a creepy modern creature, and palatable tension.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Compelling Drama About Class: The White Tiger (Netflix)

The story of a poor villager's rise to successful entrepreneur, this film has rave reviews based on its great source material and compelling drama.  Definitely check this out if you're looking for something new to watch!

For Two Hours of Brad Pitt and Phenomenal Sound: Ad Astra (HBO)

Ad Astra is leaving HBO after this weekend, so if you've been thinking of watching this one now is your chance!  It is a slow burning near future space journey that will take you to the stars and beyond if you give it the time.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Ridiculous Time: MacGruber (Amazon)

MacGruber is all ridiculousness that will have you laughing at the slapstick comedy and insane situations.  Plus it has some stars in it who have become household names!

Wetware Review: A Neon Setting and Interesting Ideas

Release date: December 10, 2020
Running time: 83 minutes
Starring: Jerry O'Connell, Cameron Scoggins, Bret Lada, Morgan Wolk
Writers: Joan McCall, David Sheldon 

Wetware is set in a near future where there are tough and tedious jobs no one wants to do, and people down on their luck who volunteer for genetic modifications to make them right for this work.  With business booming, programmers at Galapagos Wetware up the stakes by producing high-end prototypes, Jack (Bret Lada) and Kay (Morgan Wolk), for more sensitive jobs like space travel, deep cover espionage, or boots on the ground for climate or resource conflicts.  Galapagos genetic programmer Hal Briggs (Cameron Scoggins) improvises in his gene splicing for Jack and.  Then word gets out that Jack and Kay have escaped, before Briggs has completed his work. As Briggs scrambles to track his fugitive prototypes, he makes a provocative discovery that changes everything.

Wetware is an interesting idea that makes the most of its limited budget.  I liked the premise of the film, that there are those who are so down on their luck or sad at life that they would want to essentially become robots to better their situation or forget about their current troubles.  You can tell the film is low budget and indie but they definitely do a good job creating this future city.  Well thought out shots and nice neon style make this film feel like a near future experience.  And the story itself has some interesting beats, looking into what it means to be human and where love and desire come from.  And they also were able to gather a great cast given the limited budget.  I was happy to see Jerry O'Connell back on the big screen, but the biggest surprise was Morgan Wolk.  Her cyborg portrayal was intriguing to watch and she definitely towed the line between person and machine.  

That being said, despite the good setting there are some hit or miss effects and less than stellar CG.  The film does the setting very well but some of the effects do feel like they could have either been spruced up or dropped.  And the story itself is interesting but also feels overly dramatic.  The motivations of Hal are not explored as much as I would have hoped, and the characters have a few too many coincidental encounters for my liking.  I really loved the subject matter and the overall setting, but the film just didn't have enough nuance to really explore these topics.  That being said, I did like a lot of the characters and the actors did a good job creating this world.  And, as I mentioned, the film did a good job with its limited budget, creating a cyberpunk style world that is visually appealing. 

Wetware explores what makes us human with a well done setting and interesting characters in this near future neon world. 

Rent it.

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Wetware is available digitally and on demand December 10, 2020.

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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Fat: A Documentary 2 Review: A Trim Documentary About Fat and Nutrition

Release date: January 1, 2021
Running time: 80 minutes
Director: Vinnie Tortorich
Stars: Vinnie Tortorich, Robert Atkins, Ancel Keys

FAT: A Documentary 2 is the sequel to the international sensation that delves deeper into the lies and myths surrounding the age old question: "What should I be eating?"

I have always been interested in nutrition and diet so was excited to check out Fat 2.  I missed the first film but this one continues the subject matter of that by again delving into the question of what we should be eating and are we getting the best information about health?  And Fat 2 is packed with information and introduces doubt into some of the more conventional diets we have been introduced to.  It looks into how the general understanding of diets evolved to where it is now, and what might have influenced that.  And the film definitely has an agenda, but that is not a surprise.  The film is pretty transparent in its goal of shaking up the conventional dieting formula and questioning the foods we have been taught to eat.  And this film does have important information that one could use to start to change their life.  There is so much noise in the diet and health world that having a long discussion about some of that information is definitely a good thing. 

But one issue I had with the film is that it seems to strike down a lot of conventional wisdom but doesn't come up with its own citations in doing so.  The film will often speak in opinions from its experts, but without citing much additional information.  That is not to say that the documentary is devoid of facts and studies.  There are several studies that are cited in this film. But it also often felt like the experts would cut down some conventional thinking without citing a study of their own.  More of a "well they knew that it was wrong and they advocated it anyways."  I also wish that the film had a more definite conclusion.  It seems to end with a general idea of what one can do to try and stay healthy, without any concrete steps.  I wanted to see more of a plan, but the film mostly just left the viewer in a grey area.  But maybe that is part of the overall point of the film.  It seems like the Fat documentary series is all about challenging conventional wisdom and letting people learn more about what constitutes a healthy diet.  So the documentary seems more of a jumping off point rather than a be all end all.  

Fat: A Documentary 2 provides new insights into what we eat and continues the original documentary's goal of challenging the conventional dietary wisdom.

Rent it.

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Fat: A Documentary 2 is available digitally and on demand January 1, 2021.

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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Savage State Review: A Strong Setting and Beautiful Camera Western Camera Work

Release date: January 29, 2021
Running time: 120 minutes
Starring: Alice Isaaz, Kevin Janssens, Déborah François, Bruno Todeschini, Constance Dollé, Armelle Abidou, Maryne Bertieaux, Kate Moran
Written and Directed By: David Perrault

The American Civil War breaks out and a family of French colonists, settled in Missouri, decides to go back to France. Edmond, Madeleine, and their three daughters have to cross the whole country to reach New York.  To make this trip, they enlist the help of the mysterious and dangerous mercenary, Victor.

Savage State starts off with a bang, with an action-packed opening that shows off what this film has going for it.  It is set in this mysterious place with some great camera work.  It starts with this wonderful shot where it overlooks the action and cuts out inside a building.  And it establishes a lot of the mystery of the film because the overall scene includes a mix of action, intrigue, and magic.  The camera work of this movie remains a highlight throughout the film, with some wonderful period shots of the outdoors including snow landscapes, some intense night shots, and some sweeping landscapes.  And this is all made the more realistic by some great costumes and tools of the time, from the intricate guns and clothing to the valuable commodities that are being traded.  And the story itself has an epic feel that will have you on the edge of your seat during this harrowing journey.  And on top of the visuals, the film also has great audio, with some especially good gunshot audio.  The weapons stand out when they are fired and really make you jump, a nice change to make the weapons sound weighty.  

But Savage State also has some choices that make this film seem just a little off at times.  I really enjoyed the main story of survival and the journey to New York, but the start of this journey seems tacked on.  Sure it started with a very tense situation, but it seems like a situations that was simply used to force this journey.  It was an odd scenario that just didn't mesh with the overall care taken in much of the rest of the setting.  And throughout the trip, the party is being pursued by a strange cast of bandits.  I really liked the main leader but the rest of the bandits wear Strangers Come At Night style masks that seem a little laughable.  I think it was made to make them intimidating but it just makes them look like an odd set of sidekicks.  And at several points they treat their leader as less of a leader, particularly with an odd scene around a fire.  She didn't evoke the respect I thought she deserved, which is all the stranger because it is coming from nameless, faceless minions.  And the movie, has a good dreamlike final sequence that is over all too quickly and is not as exciting as it could have been.  It has some great build up, but I felt like it could have been drawn out some more to make for an even more exciting conclusion.  

Savage State will take you on an civil war western adventure with its wonderful camera work, costumes, and strong soundtrack.

Rent it.

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Savage State is available digitally and on demand January 29, 2021.

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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Screening: The Mauritanian starring Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley, and Benedict Cumberbatch!

Check out a screening of the new legal drama from STX Films, the Mauritanian!  This insightful and wonderfully executed film has an all star cast and plenty of intrigue.  Check out a free screening before it is released!  Enter today and we will be announcing winners on Sunday, 2/7!

Synopsis:

Captured by the U.S. Government, Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) languishes in prison for years without charge or trial. Losing all hope, Slahi finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley). Together they face countless obstacles in a desperate pursuit for justice. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), eventually reveals a shocking and far reaching conspiracy. Based on the New York Times best-selling memoir, this is the explosive true story of a fight for survival against all odds.  Check out the trailer here.

Starring: Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Zachary Levi, Saamer Usmani with Shailene Woodley and Benedict Cumberbatch
Directed By: Kevin Macdonald

SCREENING INFO

The Mauritanian
Wednesday, February 10
7:00pm
Virtual!

Check out the Trailer!

Screening Link!

Interview: Nick Sasso (Writer / Director / Star) of Haymaker, starring Nomi Ruiz, Veronica Falcón, Zoë Be

Nick Sasso, the writer, director, and star of Haymaker, discusses the film, how he was able to make this so stylish, and what it was like getting an indie made. We also discuss how he got into fight shape and his next projects! So give it a watch and make sure to check out Haymaker, available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on January 29, 2021! Stars: Nomi Ruiz, Nick Sasso, John Ventimiglia, Veronica Falcón, Udo Kier, Zoë Bell, D.B. Sweeney Written and Directed By: Nick Sasso Synopsis: Haymaker follows a retired Muay Thai fighter (Sasso) working as a bouncer, who rescues an alluring transgender performer (Ruiz) from a nefarious thug, eventually becoming her bodyguard, protector, and confidant. The relationship leads Sasso's character to make an unexpected return to fighting, risking not only his relationship, but his life. Haymaker tells a story about human dignity and love.

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Haymaker Review: A Stylish World-Trotting Film

Release date: January 29, 2021
Running time: 83 minutes
Stars: Nomi Ruiz, Nick Sasso, John Ventimiglia, Veronica Falcón, Udo Kier, Zoë Bell, D.B. Sweeney
Written and Directed By: Nick Sasso

Haymaker follows a retired Muay Thai fighter (Sasso) working as a bouncer, who rescues an alluring transgender performer (Ruiz) from a nefarious thug, eventually becoming her bodyguard, protector, and confidant. The relationship leads Sasso's character to make an unexpected return to fighting, risking not only his relationship, but his life. Haymaker tells a story about human dignity and love.

Although Haymaker is definitely an indie and labor of love by Nick Sasso, the film has much better production values than I expected.  The film has a much larger size and feel than I would expect from a new film and first time director.  Part of this feel comes from several scenes with large crowds, like a crowded concert scene, a nightclub scene, and a fight, which featured a large venue full of people.  Securing these venues and filling them up seem to be the work of both Sasso and Nomi Ruiz working contacts to make this film come true.  And Haymaker also has a larger size due to it taking place all over the world.  Again, this is a testament to both Sasso and Ruiz leaning on friends and industry individuals to set the film in exotic locations, a welcome retreat to the stir crazy nature of our current life.   

And the film has a bold style with a bright, loud at times color palette that gives the movie an energetic feeling.  I loved seeing the bold colors pop off the screen during Nomi's performance, and the travels to locales ensure plenty of beautiful scenery is on display.  And the film also experiments with long stretches of little to no dialogue, which makes for an interesting film.  And this is also generally a good thing as the dialogue itself can be hit or miss, making the experimental times all the more compelling.  And although Sasso is an interesting, matter of fact character as the main bodyguard / love interest, Nomi Ruiz is a larger than life addition to this film that helps to give it the bigger than its budget feel.  Her character has a diva mentality and many of the scenes with large crowds are created around her.  Additionally, because of her musical talents, Haymaker has an upbeat, impressive soundtrack.  Ruiz lent her musical stylings to the film and it pays off with a better than expected soundtrack for this movie.  

And although Haymaker has a great style and some bold choices, the film doesn't land all its punches.  As previously mentioned, the dialogue can be hit or miss, with some lines delivered in an unbelievable manner.  And the film itself often times feels like there is no purpose to what is going on, despite it having a great style.  There isn't a lot of drive in the film until the final section, which can lead it to feel like a beautiful, but idle adventure.  And although there are two main plots in the film, they aren't perfectly tied together.  The film does seem like it was inspired by Sasso's love of Muy Thai, but then had additional characters and story arcs bolted on to accommodate the end game.  But that being said, this is still a great first effort by a talented filmmaker, and I look forward to seeing Sasso's style and flair used to tell other stories.

Haymaker punches above its weight with its bold style, great music, larger than its indie budget feeling, thanks to the talents and efforts of Sasso and Ruiz. 

Rent it.

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Haymaker is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand January 29, 2021.

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Interview: Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Director of Our Friend, starring Dakota Johnson, Jason Segel, Casey Affleck

Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the director of Our Friend, discusses what drew her to this project and telling this difficult story on the big screen. We also find out what it was like to work with this amazing cast and what is on Gabriela's bucket list. So give it a watch and make sure to check out Psycho Goreman, available in theaters, digitally, and on demand! Starring: Dakota Johnson, Jason Segel, Isabella Kai, Violet McGraw, Casey Affleck Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite Writers: Brad Ingelsby, Matthew Teague Synopsis: After receiving life-altering news, a couple Matt and Nicole Teague (Johnson and Affleck) finds unexpected support from their best friend Dane Faucheux (Segel), who puts his own life on hold and moves into their family home, bringing an impact much greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined.

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True Mothers Review: A Delicate, Beautiful, and Emotional Film About A Difficult Subject

Release date: January 29, 2021 (American Streaming Release)
Running time: 140 minutes
Starring: Hiromi Nagasaku, Arata Iura, Aju Makita, Reo Sato, Hiroko Nakajima,
Directed by: Naomi Kawase
Written by: Naomi Kawase, Izumi Takahashi

After a long and unsuccessful struggle to get pregnant, Satoko (Hiromi Nagasaku) and her husband Kiyokazu (Arata Iura) decide to adopt a child. Over the next six years, the middle-class couple and their young son, Asato, settle into a comfortable, albeit routine, life. The family’s orderly existence is shattered by the arrival of Hikari (Aju Makita), a young woman claiming to be Asato’s biological mother, demanding his return. As tensions mount, Satoko grows more and more emboldened to defend her family and decides to confront Hikari directly.  True Mothers weaves together multiple timelines and genres with a contemplative pacing and keen sense of place.

True Mothers is Japan's Oscar entry for the best international film category and it shows.  As you would expect from an Oscar contender, the film is a complete movie.  First off, the acting is perfect.  It gives you insight into this family, the stress that infertility caused on their relationship, and the joy that they experienced upon finding their son.  But in the same vein, it gives you insight into the birth mother's predicament, her family situation, and her feelings after giving her child up for adoption.  The film treads a fine line as it explores these difficult subjects, but it also showcases the country's difficulty in dealing with teenage sexual activity, raising children, and infertility.  Hikari's mother's reaction to finding out her daughter is pregnant highlights this difficulty and the fact that she didn't once think her daughter could do this.  And the couple's shame at not being able to conceive is insightful.  Infertility can definitely put a strain on a relationship, and it is interesting to see how difficult one family member takes the news, and the very Japanese reaction to this.

True Mothers deals with a delicate subject matter, the rights and expectations of the two parents in an adoption arrangement.  And thankfully, it approaches this delicately, in a thoughtful and measured way.  The movie has an out of order story telling that gives you insights into both parties of this difficult family transaction.  And by giving insight into both sides, it tells a balanced family drama, with a fair representation of the emotions, pain, and joy that each side experienced.  I really loved this insight as I definitely skewed my personal view one way before seeing both sides of the story.  I do feel like the first sequence could have been cut to make the film a little shorter as it did not really relate to the underlying conflict in the film.  But I was also happy to spend more time with these characters establishing their situation.  And the first sequence did artfully give some clues into the family's overall dynamic and financial situation.

But it is not just the story telling; everything about this film feels delicate and balanced.  The cinematography is gorgeous.  It has some beautiful, light-filled shots to make sure this film evokes an overall hopeful tone.  It blooms the light in some scenes, giving this movie a dreamlike feel.  And despite the sometimes depressing subject matter, the movie keeps this positive, hopeful style.  And the music has a light, classic feel to it that helps to make sure that the tone never weighs too heavily and keeps the delicate balance that this film manages to hold.  And the credits songs are just beautiful; I rewatched the credit multiple times just to rehear them.  Overall, the film approaches a painful and sensitive subject matter with an understanding, a lack of judgment, and a wonderfully balanced tone.  And don't get me wrong, just because it is balanced, delicate, and tries to stay positive does not mean that there is no emotion.  This subject matter is sure to evoke some emotions in the viewers as these character's raw and real emotions are depicted on screen.  But True Parents lays these emotions bare on both sides; allowing the viewer to really delve into the family dynamic at play here.  And the film also concludes with a truly wonderful scene that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

True Mothers is a thoughtful, delicate film that approaches a difficult subject matter with beautiful cinematography, realistic and realized characters, and a balanced approach to the story telling that will leave you speechless.  

Watch it.

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True Mothers is playing in virtual cinemas across the country.  For more information and for showtimes click here.

Screening: Bliss starring Owen Wilson, Salma Hayek, Nesta Cooper

Check out a screening of the new Amazon Original Movie Bliss next week!  This mind bending trip will have you wondering what's real and what isn't.  We will be selecting winners on Sunday, 1/31 so enter now!

Synopsis:

Bliss is a mind-bending love story following Greg (Owen Wilson) who, after recently being divorced and then fired, meets the mysterious Isabel (Salma Hayek), a woman living on the streets and convinced that the polluted, broken world around them is nothing but a computer simulation. Doubtful at first, Greg eventually discovers there may be some truth to Isabel’s wild conspiracy. Check out the trailer here.

Written and Directed by Mike Cahill
Produced by James D. Stern
Starring Owen Wilson, Salma Hayek, Nesta Cooper

SCREENING INFO

Bliss
Tuesday, February 2nd
8:00PM
Virtual!
Check out the Trailer!

Screening Link: http://amazonscreenings.com/LslOa87893

Interview: Matthew Ninaber, star of Psycho Goreman Throwback Superhero Film w/ Nita Hanna, Kristen MacCulloch

Matthew Ninaber, who plays the hero / villain himself, discusses Psycho Goreman, what filming in the prosthetic suit was like, and gives some insights into the special effects that make this film so special. We also discuss the influences of this film and what it is like promoting a role that doesn't feature your face or your voice! So give it a watch and make sure to check out Paint, available digitally and on demand! Starring: Matthew Ninaber, Nita-Josee Hanna, Owen Myre, Adam Brooks, and Steven Vlahos Written and directed by: Steven Kostanski Synopsis: Siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was entombed on Earth millions of years ago after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. They nickname the evil creature Psycho Goreman (or PG for short) and use the magical amulet they discovered to force him to obey their childish whims. It isn’t long before PG’s reappearance draws the attention of intergalactic friends and foes from across the cosmos and a rogues’ gallery of alien combatants converges in small-town suburbia to battle for the fate of the galaxy. 

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Interview: Nita-Josee Hanna of Psycho Goreman, Throwback Superhero Film w/ Matthew Ninaber, Kristen MacCulloch

Nita-Josee Hanna, who plays Mimi, discusses Psycho Goreman, what it was like to play this competitive firecracker, and becoming like family with her castmates. We also discuss her acting process and her penchant for playing horror roles! So give it a watch and make sure to check out Paint, available digitally and on demand! Starring: Matthew Ninaber, Nita-Josee Hanna, Owen Myre, Adam Brooks, and Steven Vlahos Written and directed by: Steven Kostanski Synopsis: Siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was entombed on Earth millions of years ago after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. They nickname the evil creature Psycho Goreman (or PG for short) and use the magical amulet they discovered to force him to obey their childish whims. It isn’t long before PG’s reappearance draws the attention of intergalactic friends and foes from across the cosmos and a rogues’ gallery of alien combatants converges in small-town suburbia to battle for the fate of the galaxy. 

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Two Ways Home Review: A Charming Indie Drama About Second Chances

Release date: December 29, 2020
Running time: 92 minutes
Stars: Tanna Frederick, Tom Bower, Elizabeth Bauman, Rylie Behr, Joel West
Director: Ron Vignone
Writer: Richard Schinnow

A young woman living with bipolar disorder struggles to honor her grandfather's last wish while attempting to reunite with her estranged 12-year-old daughter.  The movie has Kathy (Frederick) returning home after some trouble with the law and a realization of an underlying mental condition.  However, her time away from her daughter Cori (Behr) and her daughter's father Junior (West) causes additional tension in this already tense homecoming.  

Two Ways Home features a small cast in a small town with an idyllic Americana setting.  The film is an indie through and through, but it has a surprisingly good setting and soft camera work to make it feel like a nice country drama.  The movie is set in a small town and the issues with small town angst and rumors are front and center.  Kathy has to not only deal with her own mental issues and shame, but also the weight and judgment of a town that has followed her every move since she was young.  And the movie is mostly focused on Kathy and rises and falls based on Frederick's performance.  And overall she does a great job as Kathy, having to juggle the inherent mental issues of the character but also the pent up rage and shame that she has inside her.  Kathy deals with comments from all over her life and the emotional toll this takes is communicated perfectly.  And she not only has to take this from acquaintances, but also from her own family including her daughter.  West is also good as Junior, and has a nice, level headed personality.  However, he does seem to adjust a little too quickly to Kathy being back and tries too hard to be the voice of reason in this scenario.  And although Behr does a good job as Cori, her character is not the most likeable during most of the film.

Two Ways Home has a story that chronicles Kathy's life being rebuilt, with all the ups and downs it brings.  However, the movie feels a little too convenient at times.  Some characters find a change of heart far too quickly after a lot of build up, and issues tend to resolve in far too easy of a fashion.  The movie has an overall air of ABC family, which is not necessarily a bad thing but I think it could have been a little more weighty.  The acting chops are definitely there from the performances on screen, and it seems like the movie could have added some additional drama and nuance.  However, the overall film does have a charm to it and the indie nature is endearing. The film is an interesting drama about second chances and rebuilding your life, and it is an overall enjoyable experience.

Two Ways Home tackles second chances in a charming indie drama that pushes some boundaries but resolves too easily.   

Rent it.

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The Queen of Black Magic Review: A Creepy Reimagining of the Indonesian Classic

Release date: January 28, 2020
Running time: 100 minutes
Starring Ario Bayu, Hannah Al Rashid, Adhisty Zara, Ari Irham and Muzakki Ramdhan.  
Director: Kimo Stamboel
Writer: Joko Anwar

A SHUDDER ORIGINAL.  The sins of the past come back with a vengeance in this new film from two of Indonesia’s modern masters of horror, director Kimo Stamboel (Headshot) and writer Joko Anwar (Satan’s Slaves, Impetigore). A family travels to the distant, rural orphanage where the father was raised to pay their respects to the facility’s gravely ill director. But his and his best friends’ homecoming turns into a terrifying supernatural ordeal that threatens their and their families’ lives: someone is using dark magic to avenge evil deeds, long buried but not forgotten. Stamboel’s film is a reimagining of the 1981 Indonesian horror classic of the same name.

Indonesia has some fantastic horror films and The Queen of Black Magic is a worthy addition.  The film has a great setting in an old orphanage, with all the creepiness you would expect.  It assembles a large cast for this location, allowing a suitably horrific experience to unfold.  The movie also has some wonderful atmospheric sound and music, amplifying the whole experience. And it has some truly horrifying special effects, although this film used more CG than I am used to in an Indonesian horror film.  It still has some quite disturbing make up and sequences, just uses more CG than I anticipated.  The overall setup has a very creepy vibe that only gets more pronounced as the film continues.  

And it definitely dials in the creepy at times, with some tense and unsettling scenarios.  There are some very disturbing dealing with the effect of black magic on this group of individuals, which really helps to escalate the dread.  One of the earlier scenes involving a bus had me on the edge of my seat.  However, there are quite a few instances of CG effects that look less than realistic.  These broke some immersion during some otherwise terrifying scenes.  Thankfully, these didn't happen that often in the build up but they are more prevalent as the movie progresses.  Additionally, the overall story and motivation of the film didn't quite make sense.  The setup is very good, with a wonderfully tense and obfuscated scenario, but as you start to learn more about what happened the motivation starts to fall apart.  Given what we learn about the characters throughout the film, the ending and justification just did not seem to gel with what happened.  It made for a disturbing film, but not for an ultimately satisfying one.

The Queen of Black Magic is another Indonesian horror spectacle with plenty of disturbing, gory scenes and an overarching sense of dread.

Rent it.

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The Queen of Black Magic is available to stream on Shudder starting January 28, 2021.