Friday, April 30, 2021

What to Watch This Weekend: Without Remorse, Tu Me Manques, Golden Arm, Limbo, Mitchell vs. Machines, Nomadland, Guns Akimbo, Marijuana Conspiracy

For Michael B. Jordan Action: Without Remorse (Amazon)
Without Remorse is a good action movie made great by Michael B. Jordan, some exciting effects and sound, and a story with plenty of intrigue.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Powerful Love Drama: Tu Me Manques (Digital)
Tu Me Manques is a beautiful, bittersweet, and poignant look into love, the need to be yourself, and the homosexual stigma in Latino culture.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Over-the-Top Sports Comedy: Golden Arm (Theaters and Digital)
Golden Arm flexes its movie biceps with its over the top characters, fun cameos, and strong female protagonists, making for a golden opportunity for a good time!  For more information, check out the review

For A Subdued and Entertaining Refugee Drama: Limbo (Hulu)
Limbo uses its stylish, subdued cinematography and stoic performances to tell a poignant and utterly entertaining tale that both entertains, humanizes, and provides biting commentary about the refugee experience.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Hilarious Family Trip: The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Netflix)
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is a modern animated film, with a great use of memes and internet culture, laugh out loud moments, and a story that has #allthefeels.   For more information, check out the review!

For Those Longing To Go Outside: Nomadland (Redbox and Hulu)
Nomadland highlights a different, beautiful lifestyle with a very human performance by McDormand, amazing cinematography, and a wonderful sense of community.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Gamer In Your Life: Guns Akimbo (Amazon)
Guns Akimbo is a thoroughly enjoyable video game-style movie with a ridiculously entertaining premise and plenty of video game effects and references to make sure you don’t say game over.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Looking For A Drama Based on A True Story: The Marijuana Conspiracy (Digital)
Critically panned but with good reviews, Kin is not a great movie, but it is an enjoyable science fiction film with some fresh new talent.  For more information, check out the review!

Screening: Jupiter's Legacy Episode 1


We have teamed up with Netflix to invite you to a special screening of the first episode of Jupiter's Legacy.  The screening takes place on May 6th and you can watch the episode anytime from May 6th at 3:00 pm EST to May 7th at 3:00 am EST!

Screening Info:
Jupiter's Legacy Episode 1
May 6th
Anytime from 3:00 pm to May 7th at 3:00 am
To RSVP, register at this link!
Screening registration closes at 6:00 pm EST today (4/30) so fly on over!

Synopsis:
After nearly a century of keeping mankind safe, the world's first generation of superheroes must look to their children to continue the legacy. But tensions rise as the young superheroes, hungry to prove their worth, struggle to live up to their parents' legendary public reputations — and exacting personal standards. Based on the graphic novels by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, Jupiter's Legacy is an epic superhero drama that spans decades and navigates the complex dynamics of family, power, and loyalty. From executive producers Mark Millar, Frank Quitely, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Dan McDermott, Steven S. DeKnight, James Middleton, Sang Kyu Kim. Jupiter’s Legacy stars Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, Ben Daniels, Elena Kampouris, Andrew Horton, Mike Wade, Matt Lanter and Ian Quinlan.

TRAILER


Cast

Josh Duhamel - Sheldon aka "The Utopian"

Leslie Bibb - Grace aka "Lady Liberty"

Ben Daniels - Walter aka "Brainwave"

Andrew Horton - Brandon aka "Paragon"

Elena Kampouris - Chloe Sampson

Matt Lanter - George aka "Sky Fox"

Ian Quinlan - Actor

Mike Wade - Fitz aka "The Flare"

David Julian Hirsh - Richard aka "Blue Bolt"

Tenika Davis - Petra



Things Heard and Seen Review: An Atmospheric Film That Does Not Do Enough To Be Seen Or Heard

Release date: April 29, 2021
Running time: 121 minutes
Directed by: Joe Penna
Written by: Joe Penna and Ryan Morrison
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

A Manhattan couple moves to a historic hamlet in the Hudson Valley and come to discover that their marriage has a sinister darkness, one that rivals their new home’s history. Based on the acclaimed novel by Elizabeth Brundage.

Things Heard and Seen's main draw is the stellar cast for this atmospheric haunting film.  It has Amanda Seyfriend and James Norton as a young couple who move to a rural town in the hopes of a better life.  The pair are great in their own respect and do a good job of portraying this couple.  I really liked James Norton's character, as a charismatic teacher who is always smiling and always scheming.  And although Amanda Seyfried's character doesn't portray a lot of emotion, I do think she did a fine job.  The film is set mostly in an old house, with plenty of creaks, electricity issues, and other telltale signs of a haunting.  The story is slow to progress with many ups and downs, and overall this is an interesting film to watch. I really liked the setting and some of the side characters who add some life to this world.

But Things Heard and Seen's story takes a long time to develop.  I feel like this is to set the tone of the film and let you really get to know this young couple, but it seems like it could have been shortened down.  Some of this could have been by removing extraneous plot threads that do help to flesh out the characters but don't contribute much to the overall film. And some of this could have been a quicker pace to get into the more supernatural elements.  Things Heard and Seen takes a very long time to get to anything supernatural, and when it finally does, the effects are not impressive and the overall supernatural elements do not wow you.  The whole film is an exercise in subdued story telling, but this also leads to a climax that does not surprise and that also doesn't feel as shocking as it could have.  And for a film that has so much development, the emotional turns in it seem to happen too quickly.  

Now Things Heard and Seen does have an interesting use of the supernatural to explore a marriage that already had issues.  It uses the supernatural to amplify the existing issues, and to frame the overall haunting.  And it also does get more interesting as it develops and as you learn more about this town and the strange house this couple resides in.  But in the end, the film just does not excite, does not scare, and doesn't cause you to care about the plight of this family.  Things Heard and Seen should not be ignored, but it doesn't scream out to be watched.

Things Heard and Seen has a great cast and a good atmosphere, but the overall pace of the film and the subdued nature make for a not scary horror / drama experience.

Rent it.

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Things Heard and Seen is available on Netflix on April 29, 2021.

The Marijuana Conspiracy Review: Rolling An Interesting Tale Of Laced Research

Release date: April 20, 2021
Running time: 123 minutes
Written and Directed By: Craig Pryce
Starring: Brittany Bristow, Morgan Kohan, Julia Sarah Stone, Tymika Tafari, Kyla Young, Marie Ward, Luke Bilyk, Gregory Calderone, Derek McGrath, Paulino Nunes

In 1972, young women looking for a fresh start in life endure isolated captivity in a true 98-day human experiment studying the effects of marijuana on females.

The Marijuana Conspiracy really feels like a true to life film.  It is set in the 70s and really feels like it came from this time.  From the costumes, to the activities, to the language, the film has a wonderful 70s style that feels right at home.  The movie also has an amazing commitment to the hippie lifestyle with period appropriate music.  And the overall story of The Marijuana Conspiracy is a fascinating one: paying a group of women to smoke pot everyday for 90 days and studying the effects.  It sounds like easy money and some people's dream job, but the study ends up being far more difficult than any of these women imagined.  It is interesting to see the effect that the constant marijuana usage has on them, and the overall changes in their work ethic, behavior, and mental health that occur as a result.  And the film also points to some underlying societal biases and the question of how research studies can be slanted for specific goals.  

The story of the Marijuana Conspiracy is slow to develop, which gives you plenty of time to get to know the five main subjects of this study, but it can also lead to a film that starts off well and gets very slow in the middle.  As the study progresses, sometimes it feels like the film just idles as the days count down.  It does pick up towards the end, but the film definitely feels the full two hours of run time.  And the movie also has a side plot part way through that deals with sexual orientation.  Although it was well done, it also felt like it didn't add much to the story of the study and just felt like a strange tangent in the middle of the movie.  The film definitely has an agenda with the study, showing how bias crept into the research into marijuana.  But the side plot made the movie feel a little disjointed and I think hurt the overall impact of the film.  

The Marijuana Conspiracy rolls an interesting tale with a fantastic 70s style, an impactful story, and a look into how bias can creep into research.

Rent it.


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The Marijuana Conspiracy is available digitally and on demand on April 20, 2021. 

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

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Separation Review: A Creepy Custody Battle

Rupert Friend	...	Jeff Brian Cox	Brian Cox	...	Rivers Madeline Brewer	Madeline Brewer	...	Samantha Mamie Gummer	Mamie Gummer	...	Maggie Violet McGraw	Violet McGraw	...	Jenny Troy James	Troy James	...	Nerezza Simon Quarterman	Simon Quarterman	...	Alan Manny Perez	Manny Perez	...	Officer Pitt Chelsea Debo	Chelsea Debo	...	Cori Eric T. Miller	Eric T. Miller	...	Connor Lorrie Odom	Lorrie Odom	...	Officer Rossi Ratnesh Dubey	Ratnesh Dubey	...	Victor Craig Marin	Craig Marin	...	Puppets & Puppetry Jenny Hann	Jenny Hann	...	Grim Figure Puppeteer Olga Felgemacher	Olga Felgemacher	...	Puppets & Puppetry Kareemeh Odeh	Kareemeh Odeh	...	Paramedic

Release date: April 30, 2021
Running time: 108 minutes
Directed By: William Brent Bell
Written By: Nick Amadeus, Josh Braun
Starring: Rupert Friend, Brian Cox, Madeline Brewer, Violet McGraw, Troy James

A young girl is in the middle of a marriage that is falling apart.  After tragedy strikes, she finds solace in her artist father and the strange spirit that she says is her dead mother.  But is this spirit helpful or something that is out to harm the family.

Directed by  William Brent Bell	...	(directed by)Writing Credits (in alphabetical order)   Nick Amadeus	 Josh Braun
Separation has a very creepy opening that highlights the artist father as well as the creepy characters he created.  The film uses this imagery throughout to highlight some of the strange entities that come into the father and daughter's life.  The creepy carnival old school aspect is great for keeping you on edge, and makes for some scary imagery.  Especially when dolls and other objects begin to move and interact, it will definitely keep you feeling uneasy.  I also really liked Rupert Friend as the father; he has a whimsical childlike nature at times and yet also feels like a father way over his head.  And Violet McGraw shows why she is both an amazing actor and a treat for the horror genre, providing an unsettling and sweet child that seems to be a conduit for the supernatural entities.  And I always love seeing Twisty Troy James in a horror film.  He adds a great, unsettling aspect with his otherworldly movement.  And I also did like a lot of the story, and the use of horror to add some unease to an already messy family situation.

But despite Separation's great atmosphere and inherent creepiness, the movie does have a few flaws.  For one the story does not come together in the end.  There is an interesting revelation that explains some things, but overall the supernatural aspect is not fulfilling when viewed in the full context.  And despite there being a heartfelt resolution, it still leaves something to be desired.  The spirits are not well explained and the explanation does not gel with what we find out later.  And the story tries to also wrap up some of the loose threads before the end, but this feels far too convenient.  The movie has a good introduction and a creepy build up, with a much more subdued sense of horror than I am used to, but the viewer is left wanting at the end.  Additionally, the film uses a lot of great practical effects (especially Twisty Troy and his amazing body contortions), but it has large chunks of CG.  These come into play during the scenes showing the outside of the house, which look obviously computer generated.  There are also strange red scenes involving the trees that are CG generated and take away from your engagement.  It made these sections feel almost illustrated, which I think was the intent given the father's job, but these cartoony aspects hurt the overall immersion.  It is just not that scary when someone is hanging on a ledge and it looks like they are about to jump into a comic scene.

Separation's inherently creepy creatures and good practical effects are hampered by an unfulfilling story and some less realistic CG touches.

Rent it.

Produced by  Jordan Beckerman	...	producer William Brent Bell	...	producer Russell Geyser	...	executive producer Jon Keeyes	...	co-producer Jesse Korman	...	producer Jordan Yale Levine	...	producer Siena Oberman	...	associate producer Jane Oster Sinisi	...	executive producer Clay Pecorin	...	producer Russ Posternak	...	producer Seth Posternak	...	executive producer Dennis Rice	...	executive producer
If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 
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Separation is available in theaters on April 30, 2021.  For tickets, click here.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

The Virtuoso Review: A Stylish Noir Cloak-and-Dagger

Anthony Hopkins	Anthony Hopkins	...	The Mentor Abbie Cornish	Abbie Cornish	...	The Waitress Diora Baird	Diora Baird	...	Johnnie's Girl Anson Mount	Anson Mount	...	The Virtuoso Eddie Marsan	Eddie Marsan	...	The Loner David Morse	David Morse	...	The Deputy Richard Brake	Richard Brake	...	Handsome Johnnie Chris Perfetti	Chris Perfetti	...	The Motel Clerk Lory Molino	Lory Molino	...	Background Shay Guthrie	Shay Guthrie	...	Camaro Girl Estelle Girard Parks	Estelle Girard Parks	...	Young Woman Jenna Hellmuth	Jenna Hellmuth	...	The Mom Basil Kershner	Basil Kershner	...	Pedestrian Ryan Jonze	Ryan Jonze	...	Camaro Punk Blaise Corrigan	Blaise Corrigan	...	Dude / Victim

Release date: April 30, 2021
Running time: 110 minutes
Directed By: Nick Stagliano
Written By: 
James C. Wolf
Starring: Anson Mount, Abbie Cornish, Eddie MarsanDiora BairdRichard Brake, with David Morse and Anthony Hopkins

Danger, deception, and murder descend upon a sleepy country town when a professional assassin (Anson Mount) accepts a new assignment from his enigmatic mentor and boss (Oscar® winner Anthony Hopkins). Given only where and when along with a cryptic clue, the methodical hit man must identify his mysterious mark from among several possible targets, including a local sheriff (David Morse). Meanwhile, a chance encounter with an alluring woman (Abbie Cornish) at the town’s rustic diner threatens to derail his mission in this noir-style cloak-and-dagger thriller.

Produced by  Chris Bongirne	...	executive producer Jennifer W. Conklin	...	co-executive producer Fred Fuchs	...	executive producer Andrew Hobson	...	associate producer Thomas P. Murphy Jr.	...	co-executive producer Stanley Preschutti	...	executive producer Jack Sojka	...	line producer Nick Stagliano	...	producerMusic by  Brooke Blair	 Will Blair	Cinematography by  Dejan Georgevich	...	segment cinematographer Frank Prinzi	...	director of photography
The Virtuoso wears its noir inspiration on its sleeve, with a mysterious main character who often seems to be plotting his next move, and a mysterious game of cat and mouse that will keep you guessing what will happen next.  The film starts with an explosive opening that shows how cold the main character can be, but also how good he is at his job.  His character is intriguing and I love the way that he narrates everything that happens, letting you get in his head.  And Abbie Cornish is another fun character who plays the Waitress perfectly.  She doesn't have a lot of time but quickly establishes a rapport with Mount.  Although the main draw of this film is Anthony Hopkins, his character just doesn't have much of a role in the film.  He is the mentor but we don't get to see much of him, probably because of the indie budget in this movie.  

But the main conflict in the film, as can often be the case in films where someone questions their previous choices, feels manufactured.  Not the cat and mouse game that occurs, but the event that leads to that game just doesn't have the emotional impact that I think it should have.  It is also tough to believe given the actions of the Virtuoso during the film.  I am not sure what could have been done to make it more realistic, but the triggering event could have fit in better with the story I think.  And the film does have some strange, unrealistic sound effects at times, but this might have just been the screener I was watching.  That being said, the story of the film is compact but has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.  As with any good cloak-and-dagger, you are left in the dark until the very end with a nice ending that ties everything together.  

The Virtuoso is a stylish noir film with great style, an interesting story that will keep you guessing, and entertaining leads.  

Rent it.

Directed by  Nick Stagliano	Writing Credits (in alphabetical order)   James C. Wolf
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The Virtuoso in select theaters and everywhere you rent movies on April 30th; on Blu-ray and DVD May 4th. For theatrical showtimes, click here

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

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

Without Remorse Review: Tom Clancy's Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan	...	John Kelly Jodie Turner-Smith	Jodie Turner-Smith	...	Karen Greer Jamie Bell	Jamie Bell	...	Robert Ritter Guy Pearce	Guy Pearce	...	Secretary Clay Lauren London	Lauren London	...	Pam Kelly Jacob Scipio	Jacob Scipio	...	Hatchet Todd Lasance	Todd Lasance	...	Dallas Jack Kesy	Jack Kesy	...	Thunder Lucy Russell	Lucy Russell	...	CIA Director Dillard Cam Gigandet	Cam Gigandet	...	Keith Webb Luke Mitchell	Luke Mitchell	...	Rowdy King Artjom Gilz	Artjom Gilz	...	Artem Brett Gelman	Brett Gelman	...	Viktor Rykov Merab Ninidze	Merab Ninidze	...	Andre Vaseliev Alexander Mercury	Alexander Mercury	...	Oleksiy

Release date: April 30, 2021
Running time: 110 minutes
Directed by: Stefano Sollima
Written by: Taylor Sheridan and Will Staples
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lauren London, Brett Gelman, Jacob Scipio, Jack Kesy, Colman Domingo, Todd Lassance, Cam Gigandet, Luke Mitchell and Guy Pearce

An elite Navy SEAL uncovers an international conspiracy while seeking justice for the murder of his pregnant wife in Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, the explosive origin story of action hero John Clark – one of the most popular characters in author Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan universe. When a squad of Russian soldiers kills his family in retaliation for his role in a top-secret op, Sr. Chief John Kelly (Michael B. Jordan) pursues the assassins at all costs. Joining forces with a fellow SEAL (Jodie Turner-Smith) and a shadowy CIA agent (Jamie Bell), Kelly’s mission unwittingly exposes a covert plot that threatens to engulf the U.S. and Russia in an all-out war. Torn between personal honor and loyalty to his country, Kelly must fight his enemies without remorse if he hopes to avert disaster and reveal the powerful figures behind the conspiracy.

Colman Domingo	...	Pastor West Rae Lim	Rae Lim	...	First Sergeant Tran Sumi Somaskanda	Sumi Somaskanda	...	Kelly's House Reporter Zoe Günther	Zoe Günther	...	Pentagon Staff / Whisperer Jill Holwerda	Jill Holwerda	...	Doctor Angus McGruther	Angus McGruther	...	Petty Officer Gutierez Conor Boru	Conor Boru	...	Randy Alec Rosenthal	Alec Rosenthal	...	Airport Authority Police Officer Derek Meisenburg	Derek Meisenburg	...	Airport Authority Police Officer Michael Akinsulire	Michael Akinsulire	...	U.S. Marshal Kevin Townsend James Ballanger	James Ballanger	...	Gleb Istomin Oxana Evdokimova	Oxana Evdokimova	...	Russian News Anchor Bella Shaw	Bella Shaw	...	News Anchor Jay Jackson	Jay Jackson	...	Political Analyst Mel Fair	Mel Fair	...	Hawkish Analyst Sam Coulson	Sam Coulson	...	CIA Suit George Asprey	George Asprey	...	Denis L. Stewart (A320 Pilot) Yolette Thomas	Yolette Thomas	...	Donna (as Yollette Thomas-Wunder)
Without Remorse would be your typical military government intrigue film if it didn't also have Michael B. Jordan.  He is basically amazing in everything he does and Without Remorse is no exception.  As John Clark, he gets to be a badass Navy SEAL and show off some of his more tactical side.  The film is a Michael B. Jordan highlight reel as he takes on many elite operatives, defends those around him, and then goes to some darker places to get the mission done.  And all throughout you have his trademark charm and charisma, even if his character delves into some darker places. The rest of the cast are likewise good and everyone plays their roles believable if a little campy, but Jordan is clearly the standout.  It was also nice to see Jodie Turner-Smith as a female operative in a leadership role.  Having strong female characters was much appreciated, especially in a military-focused film.

Without Remorse is also a good action movie.  The film has strong, chaotic action, excellent effects, and immersive sound.  It is a solid action contender and gives Amazon a tentpole film to build on. The movie also feels more based in the military than some other Tom Clancy movies, with a good sense of tactics and good communication between the squad.  Some movies bearing the Tom Clancy brand do lean more on the political intrigue and espionage angle, but without remorse also has strong action.  But that doesn't mean that there isn't any double crossing in Without Remorse.  The story is vintage Clancy, with plenty of intrigue, double crossing, and people playing both sides.  There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and although it generally doesn't have too many huge surprises, it keeps the story moving and keeps you entertained.  

Without Remorse is a good action movie made great by Michael B. Jordan, some exciting effects and sound, and a story with plenty of intrigue.

Watch it.

Kazy Tauginas	...	Vaseliev's Bodyguard Grisha Reydler	Grisha Reydler	...	Vaseliev's Bodyguard Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Gina Jun	Gina Jun	...	Pedestrian Frank Bliss	Frank Bliss	...	Entourage (uncredited) Reza Brojerdi	Reza Brojerdi	...	Aleppo Doctor (uncredited) David Burnell IV	David Burnell IV	...	US Marshal (uncredited) Corey Calliet	Corey Calliet	...	Seal #2 (uncredited) Tom Colley	Tom Colley	...	Pentagon Cop (uncredited) Marisol Correa	Marisol Correa	...	Stranded Motorist (uncredited) Paul D'Elia	Paul D'Elia	...	Train Station Passenger (uncredited) Emily Eaglin	Emily Eaglin	...	Camerawoman (uncredited) Rich Graff	Rich Graff	...	Detective Hue (uncredited) Sydney Lafaire	Sydney Lafaire	...	Rowdy's Wife (uncredited) Brooke Lawsing	Brooke Lawsing	...	Reporter (uncredited) Robert Maaser	Robert Maaser	...	Russian SWAT (uncredited) Stephanie McIntyre	Stephanie McIntyre	...	Passenger (uncredited) Jesse Milliner	Jesse Milliner	...	Tourist (uncredited) Anita Moore	Anita Moore	...	Train Station Passenger (uncredited)

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 
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Without Remorse is available on Amazon Prime Video on April 30, 2020.

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Screening: Limbo Tonight (4/29) at 7:30 PM ET

We would like to invite you to a 
VIRTUAL SCREENING 
of Focus Features' Upcoming Release 
LIMBO 
Tonight, Thursday, April 29th at 7:30PM EST 

LIMBO is a wry and poignant observation of the refugee experience, set on a fictional remote Scottish island, where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centers on Omar (El-Masry), a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland. 

DirectorBen Sharrock 

Producers: Irune Gurtubai and Angus Lamont 

Cast: Amir El-Masry, Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Kais Nashif. 

  

Running Time: 104 minutes 

Genre:  Drama/Comedy 


RSVP HERE: http://focusfeaturesscreenings.com/FLASHTIXDC 

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Tu Me Manques Review: Powerful Human Drama From Bolivia

Reyes Antelo	...	Rene / Gabriel 5 Fernando Barbosa	Fernando Barbosa	...	Sebastian Erwin Berzain	Erwin Berzain	...	Edu / Gabriel 4 (as Erwin Berzaín Arias) Pamela Bruno Cronenbold	Pamela Bruno Cronenbold	...	Nataly (as Pamela Bruno) Hugh Cha	Hugh Cha	...	Jonathan Dominic Colón	Dominic Colón	...	Alonso Rick Cosnett	Rick Cosnett	...	Chase Ricardo Costa	Ricardo Costa	...	Franco Rossy de Palma	Rossy de Palma	...	Rosaura Quim del Rio	Quim del Rio	...	Gabriel 2 Jorge Fabian Duabyakosky	Jorge Fabian Duabyakosky	...	Fabian / Gabriel 10 Jose Duran	Jose Duran	...	Gabriel 1 (as José Durán) Dale Dymkoski	Dale Dymkoski	...	Jesse Max Emerson	Max Emerson	...	Kolby Kevin Ferrante	Kevin Ferrante	...	Kevin / Gabriel 12

Release date: April 22, 2021 (Limited Theatrical); May 4 (DVD and Digital)
Running time: 111 minutes
Written and Directed By: Rodrigo Bellott
Starring: Oscar Martinez, Rossy de Palma, Fernando Barbosa, Quim del Rio, Jose Durán, Benjamin Lukovski, Dominic Colón, Rick Cosnett 

Following the death of his son, Jorge travels from conservative Bolivia to NYC to confront Sebastian - his son’s boyfriend. While Jorge struggles to accept the life of his son, Sebastian channels his grief into a bold play honoring his lost love.

Luis Gamarra	...	Real Gabriel Patricia García	Patricia García	...	Bina (as Pati García) Tommy Heleringer	Tommy Heleringer	...	TJ Modesto Lacen	Modesto Lacen	...	Padre Jaime (as Modesto Lacén) Manuel Landivar	Manuel Landivar	...	Christian / Gabriel 6 Benjamin Lukovski	Benjamin Lukovski	...	Gabriel 3 Oscar Martínez	Oscar Martínez	...	Jorge Dimitri Meskouris	Dimitri Meskouris	...	Manager Spiro Nakai Mirtenbaum	Nakai Mirtenbaum	...	Santos / Gabriel 8 Benazir Añez	Benazir Añez	...	Yashira (as Benariz Añez Mustafá) Enrique Quintero	Enrique Quintero	...	Jailson Ismael Ric	Ismael Ric	...	Daniel / Gabriel 16 Carlos Rocabado	Carlos Rocabado	...	Rodrigo Bobledo Glenda Rodríguez	Glenda Rodríguez	...	Brenda (as Glenda Rodriguez) Andrès Salvatierra	Andrès Salvatierra	...	Muscular Guy (as Andrés Salvatierra)
Tu Me Manques is Bolivia's official Oscars selection for best foreign film.  It is the film adaptation of a groundbreaking play that debuted in the country in 2015.  That play confronted the stigma of homosexuality, by telling the story of a young man who committed suicide because of who he was.  It is not an uncommon occurrence for LGBTQ youths, many of whom are wracked with shame and guilt over their feelings.  In Bolivia and many Latin American countries, there is little acceptance for this lifestyle even among family.  Tu Me Manques explores this and the life of Gabriel, his time in New York finding who he was, and his untimely death as a result.

Tu Me Manques takes pieces of the play and weaves them in with dramatizations of Gabriel's life.  It seems like the play itself tells this story, but we are generally only shown limited sections of the performance so it is tough to tell.  Regardless, this film tells a beautiful and heart wrenching story of a young man who finds himself only to give into fear at a perceived lack of acceptance at home.  The dramatization sequences are well acted with bold characters and plenty of emotion.  As Gabriel's father learns more about his son's life in New York, he sees the life and friends his son found and the place where he could be himself.  And this journey is painful and emotional for all as the father and Gabriel's boyfriend are forced to remember the young man that is no longer there.  And this is accompanied by some amazing music that will amplify your emotions.  This music is dramatic and sometimes soul-touching.

But Tu Me Manques really shines for how bold it is.  Like the play, this film confronts homosexual stereotypes and stigmas head on, but also shows love and sense of community.  In exploring Gabriel's life, his father meets his friends and goes to his old hang outs, finding out how different his lifestyle was, but also how supportive his friends and members of the community are.  Despite being a Bolivian film, it is not afraid to show the conservative, sometimes toxic culture that it comes from.  And I was most impressed with a series of interviews in the film, where gay men talked about the shame that they had in their feelings in honest, sometimes shocking ways.  They touch on family denial, cultural stigma, personal shame, and the strange ways that they went about trying to hide who they were.  This film also doesn't shy away from Gabriel's relationship and the pure love that these two men experience, both physically and emotionally.  The movie is a beautiful, bittersweet film that concludes with a dramatic, climactic ending.  It is definitely not a movie to be missed.

Tu Me Manques is a beautiful, bittersweet, and poignant look into love, the need to be yourself, and the homosexual stigma in Latino culture.

Watch it.

Robb Sherman	...	Taray Orlando Subirana Vaca	Orlando Subirana Vaca	...	Ricardo / Gabriel 14 Babak Tafti	Babak Tafti	...	Adnan Rodrigo Urdidinea	Rodrigo Urdidinea	...	Julio / Gabriel 13 Carlos Valverde	Carlos Valverde	...	Real Father of Gabriel Jose Roberto Velasco	Jose Roberto Velasco	...	Carlos Alberto / Gabriel 11 Andrea Waiss	Andrea Waiss	...	Neilson / Gabriel 7 Ericka Suárez Weise	Ericka Suárez Weise	...	Costume Designer Ricardo Dos Reis Costa	Ricardo Dos Reis Costa	...	Franco / Gabriel 9 Jonhatan Corea	Jonhatan Corea	...	Pipo / Gabriel 15 Luhan Ortiz	Luhan Ortiz	...	Gabriel 17 Santiago Wilkins	Santiago Wilkins	...	Gabriel 18 Erick Robles	Erick Robles	...	Gabriel 19 Ludwing Gil	Ludwing Gil	...	Gabriel 20 Jaime Luzio Bowles	Jaime Luzio Bowles	...	Gabriel 21 Esteban Gómez	Esteban Gómez	...	Gabriel 22 Manuel Bellido	Manuel Bellido	...	Gabriel 23 Miguel Justiniano	Miguel Justiniano	...	Gabriel 24 Felipe Ribera	Felipe Ribera	...	Gabriel 25 Ernesto Vadillo	Ernesto Vadillo	...	Gabriel 26 Leonardo Velarde	Leonardo Velarde	...	Gabriel 27 Rodrigo Ortuno	Rodrigo Ortuno	...	Gabriel 28 Diego Candia	Diego Candia	...	Gabriel 29 Roberto Moreno	Roberto Moreno	...	Gabriel 30 Dayan Huanca	Dayan Huanca	...	Musician Playing Cello Eimar Machado	Eimar Machado	...	Musician Playing Viola Francisco Javier Antelo	Francisco Javier Antelo	...	Musician Playing Violin #1 Junior Tovar	Junior Tovar	...	Musician Playing Violin #2 Ana Asensio	Ana Asensio	...	Andrea
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Tu Me Manques is available in select theaters on April 22, 2021 and available digitally and on DVD on May 4, 2021. For showtimes, click here.

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

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News: Peter Rabbit 2 Final Trailer Drops, Opens in Theaters June 18th

Final trailer available to watch HERE! Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway was one of the movies that was set to release right before COVID shut everything down.  It's finally popping up and attacking your garden this June 18, 2021!

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Interview: Ann Marie Allison, Jenna Milly of Golden Arm, Female Arm Wrestling Sports Comedy w/ Mary Holland

Betsy Sodaro, who plays Danny in Golden Arm, discusses the film, how she found the role of Danny, and how much fun she had filming it. We also discuss her plan to make more movies with her friends and get a hint at her next project! So give it a watch and make sure to check out Golden Arm in theaters and digitally on April 30, 2021! Directed By: Maureen Bharoocha Written By: Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly Starring: Mary Holland (Happiest Season), Betsy Sodaro (Trolls World Tour), Olivia Stambouliah (“The Walking Dead”), Eugene Cordero (Kong: Skull Island), Aparna Nancherla (A Simple Favor), Dawn Luebbe (Greener Grass), Ron Funches (Trolls Franchise), Ahmed Bharoocha (“Dream Corp LLC”) with Dot-Marie Jones (“Glee”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office”) Synopsis: When her best friend Danny ropes her into taking her spot at the Women’s Arm Wrestling Championship, nice girl baker Melanie must trade whisks for barbells as she trains to face off with the reigning champ for a chance at newfound badassery and the grand prize.

Please subscribe to be updated on the latest videos!

Interview: Betsy Sodaro (Danny) of Golden Arm, Female Arm Wrestling Sports Comedy w/ Mary Holland Kate Flannery

Betsy Sodaro, who plays Danny in Golden Arm, discusses the film, how she found the role of Danny, and how much fun she had filming it. We also discuss her plan to make more movies with her friends and get a hint at her next project! So give it a watch and make sure to check out Golden Arm in theaters and digitally on April 30, 2021! Directed By: Maureen Bharoocha Written By: Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly Starring: Mary Holland (Happiest Season), Betsy Sodaro (Trolls World Tour), Olivia Stambouliah (“The Walking Dead”), Eugene Cordero (Kong: Skull Island), Aparna Nancherla (A Simple Favor), Dawn Luebbe (Greener Grass), Ron Funches (Trolls Franchise), Ahmed Bharoocha (“Dream Corp LLC”) with Dot-Marie Jones (“Glee”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office”) Synopsis: When her best friend Danny ropes her into taking her spot at the Women’s Arm Wrestling Championship, nice girl baker Melanie must trade whisks for barbells as she trains to face off with the reigning champ for a chance at newfound badassery and the grand prize.

Please subscribe to be updated on the latest videos!

Golden Arm Review: A Golden Opportunity to Flex Your Funny Bone

Mary Holland	...	Melanie Betsy Sodaro	Betsy Sodaro	...	Danny Olivia Stambouliah	Olivia Stambouliah	...	Brenda Eugene Cordero	Eugene Cordero	...	Greg Dot-Marie Jones	Dot-Marie Jones	...	Big Sexy Dawn Luebbe	Dawn Luebbe	...	Tessie Ron Funches	Ron Funches	...	Carl Aparna Nancherla	Aparna Nancherla	...	Coco Cherie Ahmed Bharoocha	Ahmed Bharoocha	...	Jerry Kate Flannery	Kate Flannery	...	Randy Veronique Parker	Veronique Parker	...	Rambea Ashley Mandanas	Ashley Mandanas	...	Momo Lauren Knutti	Lauren Knutti	...	Kristen Dana Weddle	Dana Weddle	...	Gloria

Release date: April 30, 2021
Running time: 91 minutes
Directed By: Maureen Bharoocha
Written By: Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly
Starring: Mary Holland (Happiest Season), Betsy Sodaro (Trolls World Tour), Olivia Stambouliah (“The Walking Dead”), Eugene Cordero (Kong: Skull Island), Aparna Nancherla (A Simple Favor), Dawn Luebbe (Greener Grass), Ron Funches (Trolls Franchise), Ahmed Bharoocha (“Dream Corp LLC”) with Dot-Marie Jones (“Glee”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office”)

When her best friend Danny ropes her into taking her spot at the Women’s Arm Wrestling Championship, nice girl baker Melanie must trade whisks for barbells as she trains to face off with the reigning champ for a chance at newfound badassery and the grand prize.

Sue Ellen Reiman	Sue Ellen Reiman	...	Sue Ellen Ginger Gilmartin	Ginger Gilmartin	...	Lauren Matt Newell	Matt Newell	...	Steve Danny Tracey	Danny Tracey	...	Gritty Man Doug Van Liew	Doug Van Liew	...	Trucker #1 Russell Wayne Groves	Russell Wayne Groves	...	Makeshift Ref Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Beth Bennett	Beth Bennett	...	Rosie the Riveter Sorjia Buford	Sorjia Buford	...	Wrestler Paris Burris	Paris Burris	...	Extra Tracy Condit	Tracy Condit	...	Super Fan / Bar Patron Timothy Eason	Timothy Eason	...	Bouncer Tom Emmerich	Tom Emmerich	...	Arm Wrestling Fanatic Connie Franklin	Connie Franklin	...	Taylor Shonni Grady	Shonni Grady	...	Extra Cierra Jayde	Cierra Jayde	...	Arm Wrestling Fan
Golden Arm has the vibe of one of the early 2000s Will Ferrell comical sports movies; it takes a strange sport and puts an over the top spin on it.  The film treats arm wrestling like some sort of mix between roller derby and WWE, and we are all the better for it.  The film puts the crazy personas, flashy costumes, and dirty tricks from those sports into what most would consider a mundane sport.  But Golden Arm takes this idea and ratchets it up to 10.  I loved the mostly female cast and their gruff, type-A personalities.  It was really fun seeing Soldaro, Stambouliah, Jones, and Flannery really get to stretch their grungy sides.  And Holland is perfect as an unlikely competitor; her timid demeaner pairs perfectly with the more outspoken characters, and provides plenty of funny and awkward situations.

And Golden Arm also has a fun journey for our main characters.  The plot is a fairly predictable sports movie plot, think Karate Kid, but the spectacle of it all the raunchy humor make for a fun trip.  And it is fun to see Holland grow into her character, from unwilling participant into strong arm wrestling persona.  I loved seeing a sports film with an almost all female cast, written by two women, and directed by another.  It gives the film a different feel than most other sports movies, with characters that are competitive and play dirty, but not exploited.  The antics, the dirty tricks, the thrill of victory and the sting of defeat are all here and make for an entertaining sports drama / comedy. 

And this is what makes Golden Arm such a fun experience.  You have the glitz of an 80s style wrestling fight, with strong female characters, and a story that is so different that you have to take notice.  And it is also fun to see this gang of misfits who have a real sense of community and purpose.  The characters all know each other from this circuit and when they see each other, you have a lot of fun and silly interactions.  You can tell that the everyone involved in this film really loved it and had a blast making it.  It bleeds onto the screen along with the sweat and blood of the characters in the movie, making for a fun, over the top sports comedy.

Golden Arm flexes its movie biceps with its over the top characters, fun cameos, and strong female protagonists, making for a golden opportunity for a good time!

Watch it.

Mary Keck	...	Joan of Arc Warren Lane	Warren Lane	...	Bar Patron Da Leigh	Da Leigh	...	Bone Crusher Beorht Lewinski	Beorht Lewinski	...	Bus patron (as Bright Ayisi) Marlana Marshall	Marlana Marshall	...	Bartender Lea McCormick	Lea McCormick	...	Killer Katie (credit only) Grant McFadden	Grant McFadden	...	Bus Patron Jonathan Dale Moore	Jonathan Dale Moore	...	Super fan Serena Moore	Serena Moore	...	Event Worker Craig Musser	Craig Musser	...	Bar Fighter Leesa Neidel	Leesa Neidel	...	Fire Marsha Cecilia Okoye	Cecilia Okoye	...	Bay Amanda Pearce	Amanda Pearce	...	Super fan, Pedestrian Ginifer Ree	Ginifer Ree	...	Ultra Fan Thomas Rivas	Thomas Rivas	...	Events Worker Rayna Rodriguez	Rayna Rodriguez	...	Super Fan Justin C. Russell	Justin C. Russell	...	Super Fan / Trucker Bar Patron Sun Eagle Russell	Sun Eagle Russell	...	Arm Wrestling Fanatic
If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 
following us on our various social media platforms: FacebookTwitterInstagramYoutube
Golden Arm is available in theaters and digitally on April 30, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

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