Challengers is mostly fun. It's not a bad movie, it's just a deeply flawed one. Zendaya, Faist, & O'Connor take care of business. As someone who goes to bat for Guadagnino, Challengers is his most anonymous. It's too safe and it's too predictable.
Review: CHALLENGERS – Zendaya is a Force
Whether it be the driving power of a blossoming romance, ambitious dancers, or lonely drifters finding their place in the world, obsession is a common thread in Luca Guadagnino’s most recent movies. With his latest film, Challengers, the director focuses on the obsessive nature that, for better or for worse, influences the nature of competition. … Continue reading Review: CHALLENGERS – Zendaya is a Force
Sarasota 2024: INTO THE SPOTLIGHT: THE JAKE ILARDI STORY – A Young Skater Gives Back
When we're kids, we often hear how after-school activities help us become better people. However, that's usually through specific lenses, as many adults are uncomfortable with youth-based subcultures. In the case of Jake Ilardi, he found his way into the Skate scene at a young age. With his grandmother's support, he chased the dream of … Continue reading Sarasota 2024: INTO THE SPOTLIGHT: THE JAKE ILARDI STORY – A Young Skater Gives Back
SXSW 2024: CLEMENTE – A Feature Documentary Shines Light on “The Great One”
Few athletes transcend their sport beyond the playing field. Among them is baseball hall-of-famer Roberto Clemente. The Puerto Rico native is the owner of one of the most accomplished resumes in professional baseball. However, when remembering his legacy, baseball comes in second to his remarkable humanitarian efforts. It’s September 30th, 1972. Batting next for the … Continue reading SXSW 2024: CLEMENTE – A Feature Documentary Shines Light on “The Great One”
SXSW 2024: BACKSPOT – A Thrilling Tale of Athletics and Monomania
Reaching for greatness in athletics demands people commit themselves to a goal they may never attain. For every Lionel Messi or LeBron James, tens of thousands never come close. Part of this devotion requires a person to commit their being to a sport and goal before they fully know who they are as a person. … Continue reading SXSW 2024: BACKSPOT – A Thrilling Tale of Athletics and Monomania
SXSW 2024: 7 BEATS PER MINUTE – The Scary World of Freediving Gets Personal
Many people already fear swimming into the depths of the ocean. Going straight down without an air tank is even scarier. Yet many athletes, like Jessea Lu, push the boundaries of the sport. Documentarian Yuqi Kang uses 7 Beats Per Minute to follow Lu as she prepares for another dive. However, after an accident, Kang … Continue reading SXSW 2024: 7 BEATS PER MINUTE – The Scary World of Freediving Gets Personal
Review: ‘The Iron Claw’ – Zac Efron’s Emotional Brilliance Carries the Von Erich Story
Few sports demand slavish devotion like wrestling. The athletes must put their lives on the line for simple entertainment. The audience must follow complex storylines across the decades. Stars rise and fall in a matter of time. Yet this system benefits the fans in ways few other sports can dream of. The toll on those … Continue reading Review: ‘The Iron Claw’ – Zac Efron’s Emotional Brilliance Carries the Von Erich Story
Review: ‘Nyad’ – Bening and Foster Barely Keep Biopic Afloat
The biopic formula is tried and true. Inspired by “mostly” true stories, a protagonist faces incredible odds as they look to accomplish some inspirational feat. Along the way, a portrait is painted too often with colors and layers that have been glossed over to exalt the more stirring portions of the story. In the process … Continue reading Review: ‘Nyad’ – Bening and Foster Barely Keep Biopic Afloat
Streaming: ‘Big George Foreman’ – A Paint By the Numbers Biopic
Boxers like George Foreman become widely recognized as generational talents. However, what they do after competing at the highest levels of sports often shifts how we view their legacy. Yet Big George Foreman, a new film from director George Tillman Jr., tries to intertwine the two aspects of the famed boxer's life. Unfortunately, Big George … Continue reading Streaming: ‘Big George Foreman’ – A Paint By the Numbers Biopic
Review: ‘BS High’ – A Stunning Vision of Greed In Youth Athletics
After a series of scam documentaries took the world by storm, the "Scam Culture" genre was born. With successful shows like The Dropout, Super Pumped, and WeCrashed, many tried to find the next big story. Oscar-winning directors Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe circled the sad tale of Bishop Sycamore. The fake high school, whose … Continue reading Review: ‘BS High’ – A Stunning Vision of Greed In Youth Athletics