— by ALEXA MILAN — A lot of movies have been produced about Sept. 11, 2001, and its aftermath. But in the process, some of the stories of those affected by the Taliban pre-9/11 have been lost. In “Kabul 24,” director Ben Pearson examines one of those little-known stories that[...]
Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
Under Review: ‘Cairo Time’
— by JOEL CRARY — While looking into some background information for “Cairo Time,” I discover that writer-director Ruba Nadda was nearly arrested multiple times by Egyptian police during filming. Now there’s a movie. A Canadian filmmaker and her crew head abroad to film a feature[...]
Under Review: ‘Amelia’
— by JOEL CRARY — Much like Amelia Earhart’s attempt at circling the globe in 1937, Mira Nair’s “Amelia” biopic about the pioneering woman pilot can’t quite make it. It lacks solid footing and never grounds itself. It takes an exceptionally dangerous profession and plays its[...]
Under Review: ‘The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — The original “Boondock Saints” was released in an extremely limited theatrical release in 1999. It was later re-released six years later, where it acquired a cult following. The film ultimately received poor reviews, but writer-director Troy[...]
Under Review: ‘Mary and Max’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — The opening scene of “Mary and Max” is one of abandonment. Furniture, grills and shoes are all discarded along the black-and-white streets. This sets a general theme for the film, as we are introduced to Mary Daisy Dinkle, a lonely young girl who grows up in [...]
Under Review: ‘Hell’s Ground’
— by SCOTT SWAN — It’s abundantly clear Omar Ali Khan loves “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” He loves it almost as much as he loves his super extreme wide angle lens. Luckily for horror fans, this fact is in no way a detriment. “Hell’s Ground,” which has the[...]
Under Review: ‘Maskhead’
— by ALEXA MILAN — “Maskhead,” the latest low-budget horror flick from writer/co-director Scott Swan and co-director Fred Vogel, will likely appeal to the same fans of the mind-bending, gore-filled “Saw” franchise. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. The film follows[...]
Under Review: ‘Astro Boy’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — “Astro Boy” is based on the 1950s Japanese comic series which was later adapted for television screens in 1963. Years later, the overseas hit enjoyed success in the American market. It has been remade once again but this time it’s being released in theaters[...]
Under Review: ‘Saw VI’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — Halloween is the time for cheap masks and discounted candy, but it’s also the time for another installment to “Saw.” Just like Jason and Krueger, Jigsaw is living the high life, but on the downside, just like Jason and Krueger, each installment gets[...]
Under Review: ‘Black Dynamite’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — The spoof genre is widely considered dead. It’s “death” marked by the emergence of films such as “Disaster Movie,” “Meet the Spartans” and “Scary Movie,” but Scott Sanders (who was originally an American novelist and essayist) digs up the[...]
Under Review: ‘Where the Wild Things Are’
— by JASON EAKEN — “Where the Wild Things Are” is like a sneak attack on the idea of a Hollywood blockbuster. From behind enemy lines. It is unconventional, unique, messy and decidedly itself. Its director’s two previous films were strange, independent comedies and he hasn’t made[...]
Under Review: ‘Law Abiding Citizen’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — Justice is a touchy subject and thus is prone to discussion, but unlike this summers “District 9,” which was a successful social commentary on the topic of discrimination, F. Gary Gray’s new film “Law Abiding Citizen” fails to deliver the same blend of [...]
Under Review: ‘Lord, Save Us From Your Followers’
— by JASON EAKEN — Dan Merchant’s new documentary, “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers,” is a timely film, both in its use of popular documentary film techniques and its approach to Christians. In a time when the loudest voice usually wins the day, here is a film that is surprisingl[...]
Under Review: ‘An Education’
— by MARIUSZ ZUBROWSKI — The new limited-release film “An Education” is a fresh coming-of-age film that is boosted by a powerhouse performance. That performance comes not from an Academy Award-winning actress, but from Carey Mulligan, a relative newcomer who stars as Jenny[...]