Author Archive
Film Review – You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
The title says it all, doesn’t it? You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023) is not only an examination of a specific Jewish tradition, it also covers the ups and downs of a kid quickly coming of age. The transition is not an easy…
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Film Review – The Monkey King
If Netflix really wanted to, they could place themselves firmly as one of the top producers of animated films. Not beholden to the kind of narrative restrictions of say, Disney/Pixar, the streaming giant has released some of the most interesting animation of recent memory. Klaus (2019), The Mitchells…
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Film Review – Bad Things
Writer/director Stewart Thorndike makes explicit the influences that pervade Bad Things (2023). A spooky hotel and the violent events that happen inside of it will undoubtably call to mind Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, The Shining (1980). Thorndike makes several visual and thematic callbacks to that film, and keen observers will have a running…
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Film Review – Corner Office
The casting of Jon Hamm might be the most ingenious thing about Corner Office (2022). Because it is set within a workplace environment – with offices, desks, break rooms, cubicles, etc. – the presence of Hamm will undoubtedly call to mind his work in Mad Men. Oh, but this is…
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Film Review – Meg 2: The Trench
Imagine you are at a talent show. One person goes up on stage to play the guitar. However, despite their best efforts, they keep messing up and hitting the wrong notes. But instead of booing them off the stage, the crowd encourages them to keep…
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Film Review – Sympathy for the Devil
If there is one thing Nicolas Cage cannot be accused of, it’s taking a role for granted. Whether it’s a big budget blockbuster or a straight to video indie, Cage cannot operate at any level other than 200%. That’s what makes him so compelling – he takes…
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Film Review – Happiness for Beginners
Here now is a rom-com that is so feathery light that it risks floating away. Happiness for Beginners (2023) is about as breezy and formulaic that it could have very well been a satire. You know all the tropes – a guy and girl have a Meet…
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Film Review – They Cloned Tyrone
They Cloned Tyrone (2023) is a clever, entertaining, and imaginative movie. In his feature length debut, director Juel Taylor (who also cowrites with Tony Rettenmaier) gives respect to a whole plethora of genres. There are references to everything from blaxploitation, sci-fi, and horror films. While watching it, I was…
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