B- Documentary Directed by Alexander Nanau My press release calls this Romanian film a "docu-thriller." It's certainly a documentary, but it's not very thrilling. You won't be sitting at the edge of your seat. It's difficult to care about the protagonists because we never really know anything about them except for their work. Catalin Tolontan, … Continue reading Collective – interesting story/boring movie
Category: Reviews
The Climb: Biographical Fiction
B Drama Written by Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin Directed by Michael Angelo Covino Consider these credits: Directed by Michael Angelo Covino. Written by Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin. Michael Angelo Covino stars as Mike. Kyle Marvin stars as Kyle. Do you get the feeling that the picture just might be a bit autobiographical? … Continue reading The Climb: Biographical Fiction
Once Upon a River a girl found a family
B+ Road picture/Coming of age drama Written by Haroula Rose, from the novel by Bonnie Jo Campbell Directed by Haroula Rose You can't help worrying for Margo (Kenadi DelaCerna). And yet you can't help admiring her as well. A teenage girl living with her father in a small house by the river, she's also an … Continue reading Once Upon a River a girl found a family
The Artist’s Wife: As the mind slowly recedes
A Family drama Written by Tom Dolby, Nicole Brending and Abdi Nazemian; from a story by Tom Dolby Directed by Tom Dolby Alzheimer's hurts not only the initial victim, but perhaps even more so those close to the person with the disease. It's the friends and family members who must watch a loved one's mind … Continue reading The Artist’s Wife: As the mind slowly recedes
It’s as cool, & as hot, as Jazz on a Summer’s Day
A Music Documentary Directed by Bert Stern The concert documentary didn't start with Woodstock, Gimme Shelter, or even Monterey Pop. In fact, it didn't even start with rock 'n' roll. But it just may have started with Jazz on a Summer's Day. Shot in and around the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, and released a year … Continue reading It’s as cool, & as hot, as Jazz on a Summer’s Day
What a good music teacher can do: River City Drumbeat
B+ Documentary Directed by Marlon Johnson Yes, this is another inspiring music documentary, but that's not a bad thing. River City Drumbeat is about African American children getting a leg up in life thanks to a youth drum team. And no, they're not all expected to have great careers as percussionists. But by working in … Continue reading What a good music teacher can do: River City Drumbeat
After the flames: Rebuilding Paradise
B+ documentaryDirected by Ron Howard When my father retired around 1990, he built a house in Paradise, California and lived there for at least a decade. He did not live long enough to know that the house he built was almost certainly destroyed. From my point of view, watching Ron Howard's documentary about the people … Continue reading After the flames: Rebuilding Paradise
Carmilla: Sexy vampires of Olde England
B+ Gothic horror Written by Emily Harris, from a story by Sheridan Le Fanu Directed by Emily Harris I find vampires much more interesting than other supernatural creatures of horror fantasy. Unlike that other popular form of the living dead - zombies - vampires seem downright housebroken. They can treat you like an honored guest…until … Continue reading Carmilla: Sexy vampires of Olde England
Activists vs gangs in Days of the Whale
B- Urban youth drama Written and directed by Catalina Arroyave Doing the right thing can be dangerous in Medellín, Colombia's second-largest city, even if the war is initially battled with paint. Days of the Whale (original title: Los días de la ballena) isn't quite exciting enough to be called a thriller - even though it … Continue reading Activists vs gangs in Days of the Whale
The Truth isn’t always what you want
B- Family drama Written by Hirokazu Koreeda from a story by Ken Liu Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda Let's face it. We all know what families are about. Even the best of them involve fights, misunderstandings, secrets that occasionally bubble up, and are all held together with genuine love. That makes family dramas tricky. If one … Continue reading The Truth isn’t always what you want
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