Archive for the 'Encapsulated Movie Reviews' Category
March 29th, 2021 by Jason Coleman
What a difference 24hrs. makes! The cinematic curtain has closed on a recent online fest that focused on a genre that has gotten a bit of a bad rap over the years – found footage. The Unnamed Footage Festival, which started on March 26th, 2021 and ran a full 24hrs. long, highlighted not only found footage but also faux-documentaries, screenlife film and POV cinema all in an attempt to entertain and fundraise helping local movie theaters. And for those who came, saw and witnessed UFF 2021 it was exactly as promised – a chaotic mix of everything first person including features, shorts, some Q&A material and block intros with goofball host Vernon Herman Salinger. (Think William Castle meets SCTV!)
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February 3rd, 2021 by Jason Coleman
The 2021 Sundance Film Festival has officially closed its virtual curtains and it was an interesting one to say the least. On the positive side one could not only check out various film fare from home but also skip past the way too revealing programmer intro so going into the movie cold was a blissful reality. Downside is even though it was impossible to see everything (wasn’t able to see Coda and I missed the screening time for Knocking!) what I did see was a mixed bag. While there were a couple of serious standouts, there were also some dismal outings that warranted a zero dog rating from yours truly. It’s a strange thing to see such subpar stuff coming out of the iconic Sundance and maybe marks a need for a shift in those who program the fest. (Weird doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better people!) In any case taking on the good, so-so and very ugly I was able to check out a whopping fourteen titles over a week and the opinions are now live. Docs about getting to the truth, tales of female empowerment, love during quarantine, the effects of trauma and so much more – check out our Sundance Film Festival 2021 Encapsulated Movie Reviews below!
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July 8th, 2020 by Jason Coleman
Trying to do my critical part during this time of quarantine and no open theaters, I thought it proper to take a gander at the wave of indie flicks hitting home for those in need of some good movie comfort. And despite the lack of current productions, there are still a massive amount of movies hitting various services to help those with a hankering for their film fix. I weed through a whopping nine titles, from well-woven dramas about father and daughters to horror outings set down under, I brave a batch of nine hopefuls to give you the skinny on what’s hot and not. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews for Guest of Honour, YES, GOD, YES, Relic, Two Heads Creek, We Are Little Zombies, Parallax, All Hail The Popcorn King, The Beach House and Superhuman: The Invisible Made Visible below!
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March 6th, 2020 by Jason Coleman
I thought I was completely out but…never say never again! (Especially if you’re Sean Connery!) Yup, it’s trusty critic Jason Coleman back to infuse a little lesser known indie into the lives of movie fans with a crop of four film hopefuls that all contain their fair share of controversial subject matter. (Plus I’m pitching my upcoming Friday the 13th 40th Anniversary Screening and Immersive Experience on March, Friday the 13th and 14th while I’m here – see the end of article for details!) From gals who swallow odd objects to well behaved boys looking for their deadbeat dads (and unfortunately finding them!) we are going to some off-the-wall places that some movies should not go…and beyond! Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of Swallow, Guns Akimbo, The Misogynists and Come To Daddy below!
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December 24th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Well this is it film fans! Not only is this officially the last Encapsulated Movie Reviews of 2018, but also the final review column ever for this humble film critic. That’s right, after a few amazing years right here at WhySoBlu.com this fun filled column, which began on June 24, 2016, will now come to a close and I will be leaving the balcony for good. And while I still have two magical and beyond the norm filled columns to come (both my Top Five Male/Female Performances of 2018 and Top Ten Films of 2018 both with special celeb guests bonuses are still to come – stay tuned!) the below marks my final batch of Encapsulated Movie Reviews as a film critic for all time.
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews (Last EVER!) – Twenty-Four New And Old Indie Titles (And One Short!)’
December 6th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Back with more films from 2018 new and old counting down to the end of the year and those highly anticipated Top Ten lists. This week sees three new outings, an exclusive single night director’s cut and a couple of notables that film folks have been chatting up all on the critical chopping block. Tales of unlikely friendships, aging hitmen, Christmas tales with bite, the damning cycle of abuse, killing in five parts and a murder mystery hatched out of self preservation all make up the six flicks covered via this week’s Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the short opinions on Green Book, Asher, All The Creatures Were Stirring, Gemini, Back Roads and The House That Jack Built: Director’s Cut below.
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Six New And Old Indie Titles’
November 21st, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Flicks from 2018 new and old are once again up on the cinematic chopping block in time for Thanksgiving – and to keep everyone’s year-end list up to date to boot. Docs on the damning effects of social media plus fictitious flicks featuring tales set in the old west, teens facing conversion therapy, internet models with doppelgangers, dysfunctional families that somehow work, wolves who hunt humans and South Korean murder mysteries make up the seven flicks dissected in this week’s edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on The Cleaners, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Cam, Shoplifters, Hold The Dark and Burning all below.
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Seven New And Old Indie Titles’
November 16th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Since the year is winding down yet award hopefuls are hitting now fast and furious, there is no shortage of indie outings to choose from. So to help alleviate the overabundance of movies past and present I’m taking fans over the next two months on my journey of not only the traditional tried and true weekly releases, but also flicks that have been mentioned to me as ones to see this year. So the twelve films listed below represent both the new and old (though still from 2018!) as I keep on the search for movies to fill out my end of the year best film list. From docs on kids who cook, Hollywood harassment, and the merits of communism in Gilligan’s Island to features about father/daughter relationships, bad call center events, killer horse wranglers, dads with dark secrets, killers who know how to party, love across time, hospitals designed for criminals, troubled teen mermaids and puppets that are putrid the following films are all given critical dissection for your convenience. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of Chef Flynn, Hearts Beat Loud, The Guilty, The Reckoning: Hollywood’s Worst Kept Secret, Lasso, The Clovehitch Killer, Monster Party, How Long Will I Love U, Hotel Artemis, Blue My Mind, The Gilligan Manifesto and Possum below. Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Twelve New And Old Indie Titles’
October 26th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
With the great pumpkin holiday soon upon us all, it seems fitting that there are five horror titles via the indie outings dissected below – all with varying degrees of satisfaction. (At least for yours truly!) Tales mired with a myriad of twists and turns that demand secrecy, redemption in the boxing ring, stones with time travel power, dancing that leads to dark deeds, brutal bachelorette parties, gals who hold a forty year grudge and quick ‘morning after’ scenarios make up the six feature films and one digital series covered in this weeks edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on The Dark, Glass Jaw, Silencio, Suspiria, Killer Kate!, Halloween and the digital series Waking Up With Strangers below!
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October 18th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
A mere tripod of full-length indie outings this week – plus one short – to give those with a hankering for smaller cinema some choices alongside big budget film fare. Tales of somber egg donation, the mystery behind cults, dealing with some ghastly apparitions and Thanksgiving at gunpoint make up the three features films and one short dissected in this weeks edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on Private Life, The Apostle, The Book Of Birdie and Holiday Hostage below!
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October 12th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Back with the skinny on smaller film fare, it’s time once again to round up the indie animals and see if they are up to the cinematic excellence challenge. Tales of 80’s romance, gambling and bookie action on the down-low, being trapped with family dysfunction for the holidays, fighting for life with the help of baseballs, mirror images with nefarious intentions and male and female relationships gone awry make up the slew of five feature films and one short covered in this edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the short opinions on Cruise, All Square, Await Further Instructions, Knuckleball, Look Away and Punching Bag below.
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September 13th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
For those who claim there is a shortage of film releases week to week, the list of flicks below sure puts you to multiple movie shame. There are a whopping twelve releases dissected here and that’s only because I didn’t have time for the rest. (I am only ONE film critic folks!) Docs on imprisonment and hope, the abortion issue and how we got the commander in chief we got, plus tales of gun slinging payback in South Africa, a lone wolf let loose in a locked down stadium, demons coming through the net, love in Nazi occupied Germany, cults and crazed vigilantes, Viking sword stories, the effects of PTSD, taking in kids who may be evil and wrong place wrong time dramas make up the plethora of flicks covered in this massive movie edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on Letter From Masanjia, Five Fingers For Marseilles, Final Score, Reversing Roe, e-DEMON, Where Hands Touch, Mandy, Redbad, Armed, American Chaos, Lost Child and Warning Shot all below.
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September 7th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
This week sees a handful of smaller cinematic fare up for dissection for those looking to expand both the mind and movie palate. Mysteries involving religion, tales of family drama, moms looking to get a little gunplay justice, the damage the death of a loved one can do and surfing mixed with some seriously bad acting all make up the colorful cast of films covered this week. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of The Apparition, Crown And Anchor, Peppermint, Sacred Heart and Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear all below.
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Five New Indie Titles’
August 30th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Under a handful of Indie hopefuls this week (though check out my career interview posted earlier this week with Samantha Mathis – click HERE – in anticipation of the film Boarding School also out this week!), but some cinema is better than no cinema. (Movies big and small are all important to dissect after all!) A doc about canines looking to excel, plus tales of heists gone wrong, what lengths one will go to in clearing their good name and big ass alligators that bite make up the four flicks covered this week ala Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on Pick Of The Litter, Let The Corpses Tan, Reprisal and Lake Placid: Legacy all below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Four New Indie Titles’
August 23rd, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Indies, indies, indies! Banking on the theory that some good movies do indeed come in small packages, it’s time once again to dig into the lesser-known cinema scene in hopes of finding some gems amongst duds. (Or at least a flick that entertains and inspires!) Tales of missing kin, the history behind a classic flick, an angry man seeking a little payback, terror amidst trees, a day in the life of a sassy sports bar, an obsessed fan with dark habits and the violent effects of the falling housing market make up the films covered in this week’s edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. (Plus there’s a savory short film review thrown in for good movie measure!) Check out the critical skinny on Searching, The Coolest Guy Movie Ever, I Am Vengeance, What Keeps You Alive, Support The Girls, Dead Envy, Arizona and the short film Long Way Back Home below.
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Seven New Indie Titles (And One Short!)’
August 16th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
It seems super strange but also super wonderful to me that week to week there’s no shortage of smaller film fare to check out. (Shame to those who say there’s not that many films being released these days!) This week sees a crop of nine new cinematic hopefuls for those with a hankering for flicks off the beaten path. Tales of music fandom gone awry and romantic, a park ranger who takes his job a tad too seriously, the return of the smallest killing machines, an strange school with an ulterior motive, the ups and downs of struggling family life, a brother and sister that attract disaster, a young man having a rough time letting go of a dead friend, a return to the scene of The Cove and a sheltered girl who makes a troubled new friend make up the stories in this edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on Juliet, Naked, The Ranger, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, Down A Dark Hall, We The Animals, Dr. Brinks & Dr. Brinks, Show Yourself, A Whale Of A Tale and Porcupine Lake below. Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Nine New Indie Titles’
August 9th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
For those looking for an abundance of Indie outings your movie ship has come in! This week sees a massive and groundbreaking eleven smaller flicks dissected below – and one studio movie just for fun – to keep fans up to date on smaller film fare. (Told you I was gonna make up for mere trio of flicks covered last week!) Tales of possible killers next door, cloning for all the wrong reasons, an African-American cop messing with the ku klux klan, seven horror shorts squeezed together for a maximum single terror serving, demonic possession that runs in the family, trust in a post apocalyptic world, cops trapped inside a mazed gun-ridden drug den, coming of age in farm country, cybercrimes stopped by cybercops, learning to live life without cancer, being kidnapped alongside ones number one fan and a big budget killer fish flick (whew!) make up the eleven Indies and single big budget outing via this edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on Summer of 84, Elizabeth Harvest, BlacKkKlansman, Blood Clots, Along Came The Devil, What Still Remains, Buybust, The Swan, Ghost Source Zero, Hope Springs Eternal, Pretty Bad Actress and The Meg all below! Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Eleven New Indie Titles (And ‘The Meg’!)’
August 2nd, 2018 by Jason Coleman
A mere trio of Indie outings critically covered this time (rest easy film fans – there are ten in the following week!), but there are some diamonds in the lesser-known movie rough. Docs on difficult musicians, plus flicks about the struggles of criminal families and a guessing game of who is the serial killer cover the three flicks via this edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the short opinions on 40 Years In The Making: The Magic Music Movie, Night Comes On and The Forest Of The Lost Souls all below.
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Three New Indie Titles’
