Month: July 2020

Documentaries, Film Festivals, Film Reviews

Greenpoint Film Festival Review: Chuck Berry

You know Chuck Berry. Even if you haven’t consciously sought out and listened to his records, you’ve heard him in films (eg Johnny B. Goode in “Back To The Future” and You Never Can Tell in “Pulp Fiction”), and heard the musicians he’s influenced (basically any guitarist post-1960). To be blunt, Chuck Berry is not only a legend: he may be the most influential musician to ever live, and new documentary “Chuck Berry” goes forth with that 100% in mind, to both its benefit and detriment. Continue reading Greenpoint Film Festival Review: Chuck Berry

James CainLeave a comment
Directors, Female Characters, Film Reviews, Indie Film, Reviews, Streaming

Review: “The Rental”

Dave Franco’s directorial debut “The Rental” revolves around a simple set-up. Two couples, Charlie (Dan Stevens) and Michelle (Alison Brie) and Mina (Sheila Vand) and Josh (Jeremy Allen White), have the idea to rent a beautiful Oceanside rental house where they can do some hiking, relax some, and enjoy each others company, well sort of. Continue reading Review: “The Rental”

Peggy MarieLeave a comment
Film Reviews, Streaming, World Cinema

Review: Impetigore

Fresh off the giddiness of the superhero film “Gundala” (2019), Indonesian writer/director Joko Anwar strikes again with another genre entry “Impetigore” (2020); where he goes back to his horror roots after “Satan’s Slaves” (2017). When it premiered at Sundance earlier this year, it had received a positive reception and this reviewer hopes it will live up to the stellar standards of his filmography. Continue reading Review: Impetigore

Harris DangLeave a comment
Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Film Reviews, Uncategorized, Women in Film

Review: Radioactive

There have been many successful films based on comic books or graphic novels, but “Radioactive” is something completely different. The story of Marie Curie is brilliantly brought to life with stunning visuals and a terrific performance by Rosamund Pike. Many people are familiar with The Curie’s from science class but don’t understand the struggles Marie went through as an immigrant, a woman in the early 19th century, and as a working mother. Continue reading Review: Radioactive

kboyle88Leave a comment
Female Characters, Retrospect Reviews

Retrospective Review: Roman Holiday

Although “Roman Holiday” was not Audrey Hepburn’s first acting role, it was the film that helped to put her on the map. Released in 1953, “Roman Holiday” still delights and charms audiences today. It’s hard not to watch Hepburn and her co-star Gregory Peck careen through Rome on a Vespa scooter and not fall in love with this picture. Fun fact: After the picture had been released sales of Vespa scooters went through the roof! Continue reading Retrospective Review: Roman Holiday

jmamennLeave a comment
Female Filmmaker, Female Writer, Retrospect Reviews, Women in Film

Retrospective Review: “Band Aid”

Anna (Zoe Lister-Jones) and Ben (Adam Pally) are well past the honeymoon phase of their marriage. All they do is fight. So, in a last-ditch effort, the pair create a band – roping in their neighbor Dave (Fred Armisen) – so that they can fight through song. Watching the couple navigate their struggles and hurt through song starts off fun. Their band, The Dirty DIshes, is named after a particular area of contention in their house. Continue reading Retrospective Review: “Band Aid”

msmlrobertsLeave a comment
Film Reviews, Reviews, World Cinema

Review: The Pool

When one chooses to make a film and don it with a simple title, the filmmakers have to make sure that they have to make a stellar film in order for the simple title to work. Titles like “The Banker” (2020), “The Accountant” (2016), “Crawl” (2019), “John Carter” (2012) etc. all sound boring on paper and one would hope that the quality of the film does not reflect the blandness of the titles.  Continue reading Review: The Pool

Harris DangLeave a comment
Female Filmmakers, Women in Film, World Cinema

In the Wake of 50/50: 10 Underseen French Films from Female Directors

Whether you have gotten into the “Blue is the Warmest Color” discourse waving a flag of strong opinion, or fallen head over heels for Céline Sciamma’s sweeping lesbian romance “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”, it’s clear that French cinema is back on the upswing after years out of the spotlight in cinephile circles. With “Mustang” as the nation’s sole Oscar success in nearly a decade, it’s clear that France’s future of filmmaking is not with the old tradition, but with the new wave of younger female filmmakers on the rise, often blowing critics away on debut films. Continue reading In the Wake of 50/50: 10 Underseen French Films from Female Directors

jmamennLeave a comment
Female Filmmaker, Female Writer, Film Reviews

Review: “Yes God Yes”

“Yes, God, Yes” is Karen Maine’s semi-autobiographical debut feature film, Maine is best known for being the co-writer of “Obvious Child”. She certainly likes to tackle taboo subject matters and blend them within the comedy genre. In “Yes, God, Yes” Maine explores the story of Sixteen-year-old Alice (Natalia Dyer) who is a devout Catholic. But when an AOL chat turns racy, she discovers masturbation and becomes guilt-ridden. Seeking redemption, she attends a mysterious religious retreat to try and suppress her urges, easier said than done. Things become heated when she meets the very cute Chris (Wolfgang Novogratz) who starts flirting with her. Over the course of four days all kinds of hijacks arise, which sees Alice discovering new secrets that she must fight to keep. Continue reading Review: “Yes God Yes”

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