Archive for the 'Movie Reviews' Category
August 25th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
A little less film fare dissection for me this week, but if you count the previous article on the works of four Steve Balderson flicks I’m way ahead of the movie review race this week. In any case we’re going into more somber territory dealing with everything from revenge seeking fathers to loveless marriages all in the name of finding great film. So check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of In Order of Disappearance, The Intervention and Blood In The Water below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Three New Indie Titles’
August 25th, 2016 by Brian White
Don’t Breathe is one of those titles that lives up to its name. Let me tell you why. I can kid about this now because I’m out of the screening. We had the luxury of seeing a private screening of Don’t Breathe at the Alamo Drafthouse. What do you do when you’re at an Alamo Drafthouse? Well, you watch a movie, but you also eat and drink. Therein lies the problem with Don’t Breathe. It’s suspenseful, it’s edge of your seat sometimes, but mainly it’s quiet for tension and shock. Who wants some num nuts chowing down next to them and ruining the movie with each and every crunch? Not I! You see my conundrum here? Not only did I watch Don’t Breathe, but I felt like I couldn’t “breathe” either. Ha! Continue reading ‘Don’t Breathe Redefines Suspense With Silence (Movie Review)’
August 24th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
Even though some in the cinematic scene may not have heard of filmmaker Steve Balderson (yes, that includes yours truly and I’m appropriately ashamed!), they’re certainly about to. As a multi-genre award winning writer/director from Wamego, Kansas with over sixteen feature films under his belt, Balderson is literally a driven one-man movie-making machine and shows no signs of stopping. Not only does he have three diversely different films opening at the end of August/September on TV, VOD and even theatrically, but the indie auteur has also made the move to Hollywood and if his past work is any indication it’s gonna be an interesting ride. We were recently contacted about his new film hitting theaters Sept. 9 titled El Ganzo, but we decided to go big or go home and immerse ourselves in all things Balderson. So in a single review article we’re checking out four of his features to give both ourselves (meaning me!) and the uninitiated out there, a crash course in the savvy of Steve. From stories fit for a king to soap operas with a killer cast, check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews (listed from ratings high to low) of El Ganzo, Firecracker, Hell Town and Elvis Lives below. Continue reading ‘Four Features By Filmmaker Steve Balderson (Movie Reviews)’
August 24th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Stripped down to the basics, Don’t Breathe is a mean and lean thriller, focused entirely on things literally going bump in the night. Director Fede Alvarez follows up his solid Evil Dead remake with a frightful home invasion tale where the home owner quickly turns the tables on the robbers. The results allow for edge-of-your-seat entertainment, begging the audience to be just as quiet as the potential victims, lest they be discovered and beaten down.
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August 19th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
This week in our continued Friday dissection of past De Palma ditties I’m heading down a controversial road with a film that even the man himself has distanced himself from – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Destined to be one of the most discussed and disagreed with selections to date (it was after all nominated for five prestigious Razzie Awards!), my choice this week is a film I (and my movie loving father!) consider to be one of the most notable in the areas of black comedy. Though short on signature style, there’s a distinctively devious and delicious over-the-top humor that cannot be ignored. And for those who claim “it’s not like the book” remember this is a movie – a movie called…The Bonfire of the Vanities.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “The Bonfire Of The Vanities”’
August 18th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
While big movies seem to be scraping the bottom of the low expectations barrel this week, there’s no shortage of surprising smaller film fare. (How about that?!) In any case we’re braving lawmen after SS officers, bodyguards with mental issues, disenchanted Jewish moms and even Harry Potter as an undercover skinhead to bring you the skinny on all things indie. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of The People vs. Fritz Bauer, Imperium, Disorder and A Tale of Love and Darkness below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Four New Indie Titles’
August 18th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
The neo-western has been an interesting genre to keep an eye on. Many of these films take the staples of classic westerns, but are heavily informed by so much that has come before. Brilliant films such as No Country For Old Men or (a personal favorite) The Way of the Gun even get away with cleverly-staged gunplay, but these scenes come at a cost not forgotten. Hell or High Water is one such film. It plays up its contemporary setting and sets us up with well-rounded characters more interested in dialogue dynamics than shootouts. The film is also an effective heist drama with tangible stakes.
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August 18th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Director Todd Phillips (The Hangover, Old School) has been angling for a film like War Dogs the same way Oscar winner Adam McKay (Anchorman, Step Brothers) angled for The Big Short. Both have not been above making goofy bro comedies, but they obviously have other ideas. McKay was met with plenty of acclaim for tackling the financial crisis, which was an undercurrent in his film The Other Guys. Phillips has shown a liking for much darker comedy/drama and getting great cinematography in films you wouldn’t necessarily expect that from. This story of two young guys that became successful arms dealers fulfills those needs.
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August 17th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Laika is currently the studio I have the utmost respect for. Just knowing this stop-animation studio has more films coming down the line to be distributed by Focus Features makes their next project one of my most anticipated films of that year. There latest film, Kubo and the Two Strings, is another amazing accomplishment. It combines breathtakingly beautiful (and ridiculously complicated) animation with a well-thought out adventure tale. True to form, Laika has also layered the story with some complex themes and elements that make the film rewarding for younger and older audiences.
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August 15th, 2016 by Brandon Peters
THE STRAY, the debut feature from director Cam Clark and the 2nd feature from Open Sign Productions, is a Post-Apocalyptic tale of survival set in an alternate version of 1966 where nuclear war has destroyed civilization and has transformed the world into a mutant infested wasteland. Starring Joe Leatherman, the story follows Tracy Arnold who struggles to survive all the while being forced to face his tortured past and the stray that refuses to let him forget. Open Sign Productions is following up their successful feature film Phantom of the Woods (Winner of the ‘Best Director’ award at the 2014 Indie Horror Film Festival) with another jaunt into the horror genre which they are seemingly so eager to conquer. You can order the DVD or stream the film by clicking HERE.
Continue reading ‘THE STRAY Leaves No Zombie Behind (Movie Review)’
August 12th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
Keeping the love of past picture pleasure alive and well it’s the continuation of all De Palma all the time – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we’re heading back to an early De Palma stab (pun intended!) at the psychological game that also includes some sensational storytelling style that would go on to become signature. Voyeurism, murder, mystery and the dark connection between conjoined twins – its Sisters!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Sisters”’
August 11th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
In recent years I have found myself at odds with viewing numerous period dramas about famous white people overcoming adversity and Meryl Streep performances where she plays the role very ‘big’. This is why it is nice to say that Florence Foster Jenkins is pretty darn delightful. Stephen Frears must have had real philomania for this story of a New York heiress known for her poor singing skills, as he has crafted a film that really finds heart in such a goofy story.
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August 11th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
So many indies, so little time! I’m opting out of the crowded Sausage Party this week to attend a smaller, more intimate gathering featuring some new film friends. My fellow WhySoBlu cohort Aaron Neuwirth already covered all things Anthropoid (via my favorite Cashback director Sean Ellis!), so I’m adding a little determined dad, paranormal ghost hunting and fashion dangers (amongst other things!) to the mix for maximum movie mayhem. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of the new feature films Blood Father, Abortion: Stories Women Tell, Ghost Team, The Model and the short Nanoblood below! Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Five New Indie Titles’
August 10th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Following the success of The Jungle Book and Cinderella, Pete’s Dragon may not be the film people expected Disney to remake next. Mistakenly seen by some as a classic, that 1977 film came and went with little regard, but co-writer/director David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) has swooped in with a low-key character drama that happens to feature a big, green dragon. Fortunately, the film has plenty to offer for anyone in need of a film that is both sweet and soulful.
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August 8th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
The story behind operation Anthropoid has become synonymous with the history of WWII-based Czechoslovakia to the point of having several films made about it. There is even another one on the way later this year. For this take on the story, Anthropoid places a heavy emphasis on varying aspects that could play better for one film if the focus was stronger. As it stands, this story of the soldiers behind an assassination mission misses various marks in its first half to make it stronger, but delivers in its second half.
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a Continue reading ‘Anthropoid: The Czech Pearl Harbor (Movie Review)’
August 5th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
With the recent unforgettable five-star doc De Palma that wonderfully examines the work of the iconic film director hitting DVD and Blu-ray soon it felt like the right time for a little past master class in Brian’s bevy of cinematic classics – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! First up we’re heading into the early realms of De Palma’s Hitchcock homage pictures with a film that’s a hypnotic look at one man’s desire to preserve the past. Passion, guilt, hope and raw human need – in other words…Obsession!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Obsession”’
August 4th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
A weekend filled with DC bad guys gone good dominates the big screen this week, but there are also a gaggle of indie films to counterbalance all things big budget. In fact, there are a massive six flicks covered this week and the subjects and themes are delightfully diverse. From psychic head explosions to call girl protecting services, from art films to documentaries (plus a little wild abandon mid-life crisis thrown in for good measure!) it’s a rapid review look at flicks on a small scale. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews for Sun Choke, Hotline, The Mind’s Eye, Amateur Night, The Tenth Man and There Is A New World Somewhere below! (Plus go to the bottom for a ‘cinematic sure thing’ recommendation to boot!)
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – 6 New Indie Titles’
August 4th, 2016 by Brian White
Suicide Squad needs no further word of mouth to market this one. Warner Bros. made plenty sure of that with all the various trailers and TV spots. Heck, Margot Robbie is practically the poster child of this one. Who needs the Joker and Batman? She sells the film herself as Harley Quinn, but seriously. The concept of taking a bunch of criminals, some of which of which are meta-humans, and making them superheroes. Well, that’s just plain genius when you think about it. I mean really. Really think about how brilliant that idea is. Go on! Let it sink in real good. I believe good or bad Warner Bros. may break some box office records for the month of August. This is all despite people’s disappointment too with the brooding Batman v Superman (BvS) entry. Continue reading ‘Suicide Squad Saves The World With Disappointment (Movie Review)’
