In the late 18th century, Dangerous Liaisons picked apart the moral superiority of the aristocracy. Less than a decade before French society would revolve, the portrait of debauchery and cruelty tied sex to the ruling class. In the decades since Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ tale, each generation “discovers” their own tale of sex and excess. … Continue reading Review: ‘Saltburn’ – Emerald Fennell’s Lurid & Lascivious Fantasy
Review: ‘The Killer’ – David Fincher’s Most Straightforward & Funny Action Thriller
Jokes and frustrations circulate throughout Hollywood about David Fincher. The famed director became known for his “many tales” approach decades ago. His exacting nature pushed his Zodiac cast to the brink of insanity. For other actors, it proved too intense. Yet Fincher, a master filmmaker in every sense of the phrase, flirts with true greatness … Continue reading Review: ‘The Killer’ – David Fincher’s Most Straightforward & Funny Action Thriller
Review: ‘The Killer’ – Fincher’s ‘Assassin’s Creed’ is Highly Entertaining
It’s been five days. Nothing. Patience wears thin but is necessary for this type of work. Most days are spent looking out a window, surveying the world outside. Careful planning is paramount. Calculations must be precise. Resolve must be steely. Heartbeat under 60. “Stick to your plan. Anticipate, don’t improvise”. Downtime is spent in the … Continue reading Review: ‘The Killer’ – Fincher’s ‘Assassin’s Creed’ is Highly Entertaining
Fantastic Fest 2023: ‘Your Lucky Day’ – Money and Fight for Survival Collide
The darkest stories of the human experience often revolve around money. Wealth often forces people to compromise their values and morals. Yet, sometimes, our fight for survival coincides with our financial worries. In the case of Your Lucky Day, the feature film debut of Daniel Brown, one Christmas Eve turns into a bloodbath. With some … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: ‘Your Lucky Day’ – Money and Fight for Survival Collide
Review: ‘Fair Play’ – Sex, Power, and Mayhem
For her directorial debut, Chloe Dumont dissects the intricacies at play of one couple’s power struggle. Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) are the recently engaged pair at the center of Fair Play. The two are employed at the same hedge fund management firm, where their relationship is kept secret, since it is at … Continue reading Review: ‘Fair Play’ – Sex, Power, and Mayhem
Fantastic Fest 2023: ‘The Last Stop in Yuma County’ – An Old Fashioned Shoot ‘Em Up
The iconic Alfred Hitchcock once noted the difference between surprise and suspense through the metaphor of a bomb. When the audience knows about a bomb, you can build entire sequences around its dangerous consequences. While an instant explosion can still shock the audience, it does not have the staying power of drawn-out tension. Director Francis … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: ‘The Last Stop in Yuma County’ – An Old Fashioned Shoot ‘Em Up
Review: ‘Smile’ – Trauma Exploration Falls Short of its Marketing Campaign Promise
Rejoice! For spooky season is upon us once again. Last year’s annual cinematic celebration of the macabre was kicked off by a new offering in the horror canon, Smile. A creepy trailer accompanied by a clever viral marketing campaign that saw random people eerily smiling in public venues such as sporting events helped catapult Smile … Continue reading Review: ‘Smile’ – Trauma Exploration Falls Short of its Marketing Campaign Promise
Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ – It’s No Mystery, This is Branagh’s Best Poirot Yet
It seemed that after the critically and commercially lukewarm Death on the Nile, the case closed on Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot franchise. However, the famed star and director has reinvigorated the series with the fresh and smart A Haunting in Venice. Boasting a new cast, new locale, and a looser adaptation of Agatha Christie’s source … Continue reading Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’ – It’s No Mystery, This is Branagh’s Best Poirot Yet
Review: ‘A Haunting In Venice’ – Branagh’s Poirot Goes Dark In A Supernatural Crime
The third of his series featuring Agatha Christie's legendary detective is off-the-bat a tone changer compared to Orient Express and Death On The Nile. Immediately, it had me intrigued because Kenneth Branagh's choice to adapt Christie's Hallowe'en Party instead of another previously adapted book (Evil Under The Sun was the original sequel to Nile under … Continue reading Review: ‘A Haunting In Venice’ – Branagh’s Poirot Goes Dark In A Supernatural Crime
Venice Film Festival 2023: ‘Through the Night’ – An All-Too-Common Tragedy
"He said, she said" narratives stem from a patriarchal lens, yet filmmakers continue to shift that truth. After all, in a post-Me Too era for American filmmakers, there's genuine hope that the lines have been redrawn. However, the mindset of "deserving" sex and power continues to corrupt. Director Delphine Girard reminds the audience in Through … Continue reading Venice Film Festival 2023: ‘Through the Night’ – An All-Too-Common Tragedy