Year: 2020 Runtime: 95 minutes Director: Alan Ball Writer: Alan Ball Actors: Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Stephen Root, Steve Zahn, Judy Greer, Jane McNeill By Joan Amenn All families have secrets. Some stay hidden for generations, and some come to light with the death of a loved one who made it imperative to hide the truth. “Uncle Frank” (2020) may start some discussions … Continue reading Review: Uncle Frank
Year: 2020 Runtime: 95 Minutes Director: Glen Keane and John Kahrs Writers: Audrey Wells Stars: Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, Sandra Oh, Ken Jeong, Jon Cho, and Ruthie Ann Miles By Rosa Parra With memorable songs, gorgeous animation, and an emotional story, “Over the Moon” follows Fei Fei (Cathy Ang), an intelligent girl who loves science, into space to prove the truth of her parents’ mythical … Continue reading Movie review: Over the Moon
Year: 2020 Runtime: 90 Minutes Director: Blaise Singh By Tom Moore Creating a film that lets multiple voices and stories be heard loud and clear within the LGBTQ+ community, director Blaise Singh guides viewers through a search for pride and understanding with his first feature documentary, “Pride & Protest,” now screening at the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF). In the wake of Birmingham protests … Continue reading SQIFF Review: Pride & Protest
Year: 2020 Runtime: 107 Minutes Director: Alexandra Dean Stars: Paris Hilton By Mique Watson “That’s hot.” Need I say anything else? This is a phrase that belongs to Paris Hilton, a woman whose name alone has sold oceans of perfume, mountains of skin care products, and a lifestyle of obscene materialism. Paris is the first woman — perhaps ever — to be famous for merely … Continue reading Review: “This Is Paris”
Year: 2019Runtime: 89 minutesDirector: Han Meng By Joan Amenn The documentary “Smog Town” is yet another timely reminder that public health and politics often work at cross purposes. The film concerns itself not with COVID-19 but with widespread air pollution and how it impacts the lives of the people surrounding the capitol of China, Beijing. Climate change and the ravages of pollution have been described … Continue reading Take One Action Film Festival: “Smog Town”
Year: 2019Runtime: 84 minutesDirector: Elegance Bratton By Joan Amenn To fully appreciate “Pier Kids,” it helps to know some of the history of lower Manhattan in New York City. Chelsea Pier is walking distance from Christopher Street, where the Gay Rights Movement of the 1970’s took place. Also located there is the Stonewall Inn, the site of the June 1969 riots, hence why Gay Pride … Continue reading Take One Action Film Festival: “Pier Kids”
With wall to wall plot twists and intrigue, this Agatha Christie-esque ‘anyone-coulda-dunnit’ is an absolute delight. Continue reading Taiwan Film Festival: “Six Suspects”
Tell me if this sounds familiar: a group of four lowlifes want to make some easy money. A mansion owned by an elderly couple; a doctor and his wife is the only thing that stands in the way of the promise of mountains of cash and a secure future. So, the band of wankers break into the house while gram and gramps are out, only to discover that their nonexistent plan has backfired–one thing leads to another, and the tables have turned. Continue reading Review: The Owners
I was not familiar with Muses before starting this film. Heck, I know nothing about the adult film industry. While the film is about her work and specific artistry, much of it is about her past. Muses grew up in a religious household, one which adhered to gender roles and expectations. Muses attempted to fit in the mold, but she was never really happy. Married with children, food her only companion, she had nowhere to turn. When her marriage fell apart, Muses’ mental health began to spiral. Continue reading Fantasia Festival Review: Morgana
Taking viewers to the grim Canadian backwoods for some tense bar talk, director Cody Calahan and writer Peter Genoway come together to create a killer thriller with “The Oak Room”.
Set against the backdrop of a frigid blizzard, the film follows an even colder relationship as Stevie (RJ Mitte) returns home after being a drifter for some time in order to collect the remains of his father (Nicolas Campbell) from an angry bartender named Paul (Peter Outerbridge). Paul was best friends with Stevie’s father, Gordon, and was forced to take care of his funeral arrangements and cremation since Stevie was out “drifting” and never came back for the funeral. Even worse is that Stevie can only repay the major debt that he owes to Paul with a story. So, as he starts to tell his story about two men at a bar called “The Oak Room”, the details and meaning of the story start to resonate with Paul in a way that turns the night into a dark tale of mistrust that leads to shocking and violent conclusions. Continue reading Fantasia Festival Review: The Oak Room
In Their Own League 