Author Archive
Film Review – Spaceship Earth
In 1991, eight people stepped into a manmade structure that housed a replica of Earth’s ecosystem. They were to live there two full years, without the help of outside resources (including air). The building was named “Biosphere 2.” Why? Because “Biosphere 1” was Earth itself.…
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Film Review – Beastie Boys Story
As the title would suggest, Beastie Boys Story (2020) traces the journey of the New York hip hop group, the Beastie Boys – made up of members Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz. The documentary (directed by longtime collaborator Spike…
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Film Review – Endings, Beginnings
Endings, Beginnings (2020) has the look and feel of one of those indie dramas that explore deep human stories. It has a free floating, spontaneous tone and is backed by a cool soundtrack that operates like a playlist you would give your junior high crush.…
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Film Review – Extraction
Haven’t we seen something like this before? If Extraction (2020) were recast with Gerard Butler, it could have easily fit into the Olympus Has Fallen (2013)/London Has Fallen (2016)/Angel Has Fallen (2019) action series. As it were, we have Chris Hemsworth taking center stage with…
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Film Review – Tigertail
Tigertail (2020) – not to be confused with the docuseries Tiger King – is a Taiwanese film that explores the choice many people have made: leaving their home country and immigrating to the United States in search of a better life. As a child of…
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Film Review – Never Rarely Sometimes Always
I’ve just seen Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020) and am sitting here almost at a loss for words. This is now my third attempt to begin this review, because the film elicits such a wave of different reactions that it’s difficult to organize…
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Film Review – The Platform
The central allegory of the Spanish film, The Platform (201) is about as subtle as a punch to the face. It is a direct reference to the economic and social imbalance between the wealthy upper classes (that enjoy all the excesses of luxury) and the…
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Film Review – Swallow
In Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Swallow (2020), a young housewife and soon to be mother Hunter (Haley Bennett) develops an insatiable urge to consume non-food items. Marbles, batteries, and little pieces of metal all take the journey down her digestive tract. Some of the things Hunter swallows…
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