Two Paragraph Review: Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)

Many have wondered, not without reason, why did the Denis Villeneuve�s original film need a sequel. In truth, it didn�t, but it would be hard to argue that the first film is some kind of once-in-a-lifetime release, even though it is really good. Sicario: Day of the Soldado is in many ways a rehashing of the same story, which now adds a bigger global angle that came along with the introduction of a strong political overtone. From a certain vantage point, it could be said that the Stefano Sollima story is more critical towards the real-world War on Drugs, but in either case, it makes little difference.

This film is primarily an action thriller, based on tense scenes and short but violent gun battles. It is geopolitical to the core, so there is plenty of headline-like elements that connect Mexican cartels, Somalia ship hijacking, ISIS and the CIA. But, like the plot itself that revolves around the kidnapping of a cartel boss for the purpose of starting a war in the Mexican underground, Sicario: Day of the Soldado feels like a cross-section of all these geopolitical issues. Furthermore, the plot as well seems to be a cross-section of a broader story that is never fully shown to the viewers. If the movie was not good in its primary genres, all of this would end up being frustrating. Because Sollima, the film is well-made - it is just hazy in its narrative but still engaging just as much as the one Villeneuve made three years ago.

Crowdfunding Push: The Great Heartbeat

The realm of human emotion and experience is one of the huge uncharted frontiers we�re, as a species, are only starting to discover. A new documentary movie is looking for support to make one such exploration -  The Great Heartbeat aims to look into the realm of love and its impact on the way we function both a society and individuals. Here is how the campaign for the same film defines itself:

The Movie is Called The GREAT HEARTBEAT is about spreading LOVE throughout the world In Unity. A Human Journey to Remember Who we Really Are and in every step of the journey we find that the Connection that everyone has in common in the world is LOVE and through that HEART Space that Sacred Place finds that people are the Greatest Gift to this world and in Love & Unity with the Creator is the Bridge to Peace on Earth. A Quest to bring that Vision to Reality ONE Connection at a time.  

Some might agree with the statements about love and its role in the human experience, while others might disagree. But, no matter what opinion a person might have about this emotion, no one can deny the power it has on anyone who is influenced by it in their own way.

The Great Heartbeat, just like any other film with a similar topic is important because it dares to explore the same space, even though it is often hard to explain both by words or images something as basic as love. Whatever the result of the exploration might be, the journey to the same destination is the thing that is most important and the creators of this film seem to fully understand that.

The film is looking for $25,000 and its crowdfunding campaign just began on Kickstarter. The backers of the film will also be able to receive a T-Shirt featuring the movie's signature image. Check out how you can help right here and use your money or online voice to help The Great Heartbeat get made!

Indie Showcase: Paraplegics List (2015)

This independent action horror is a good example of the long tradition of experimental films in these genres. Instead of going for a tried and tested formula of making a low-budget but a standard movie (like Last Shift, for example), the director of Paraplegics List Shafeeq Muhammad decided to take a different approach with this release. Here is how the film defines itself:

Three urban detectives in conflict with each other must hunt down a mythological clown killer who preys on the unsuspecting disabled all while balancing their personal lives. In the meantime, recent savage tortures/killings go on unresolved in the Chicago Hood crime scene. Time is running out as more victims become more frequent and they try to avoid being a part of the paraplegics list.

The plot reads as a strong homage to the entire movement of exploitation flicks of the 1970s and 1980s, especially because of the horrendous idea of a serial killer hunting the disabled. 

At the same time, the brand of horror the film uses and shows off in the trailer is something more in the line with the modern Saw series. In many ways, both cinematographic approaches could blend well together and Paraplegics List was clearly looking to do the same.

Also, the film is a feature-length work (almost 90 minute runtime) but its style and execution seem very similar to the low-fi cinematographic approach. From the visual effects al the way to the camera angles and use of varied material to present its story, it is a work that will appeal to all those who are not fans of the overly produced, overly ironed-out Hollywood films.

Muhammad�s style, like the entire film, will probably not sit well with everyone, but anyone who is interested in watching releases that are different will likely find this movie worthwhile in some shape or form. Paraplegic List is available on Amazon Prime so check out its official page and give it a look!

Forbidden Power is out on Vimeo on Demand!

Movies, Films and Movies already covered the Forbidden Power film a few months back. This science fiction mystery thriller by Paul Kyriazi is definitely a release that has easily set itself apart from the rest of the global independent scene thanks to both its topic and the ambitious delivery. On the festival scene, it already got a range of nomination and won Best Special Effect and Best Young Performer on the AOF MegaFest.

Now, the same film has appeared on a new online streaming platfrom. The entire Forbidden Power is now available on Vimeo on Demand, where it can be watched or streamed to a smart device. Overall, I'm genuinely impressed with this Vimeo service so if you did not try it out so far, checking out Forbidden Power is the perfect moment.

Additional, Forbidden Power is now also available with Japanese subtitles. Thanks to its topic and the overall feel of the movie, there is little doubt that it will find a substantial audience in Japan. The same version of the film can also be viewed on Vimeo using this link.

If you like exciting sci-fi, wrapped in an exciting and unique film, Forbidden Power is definitely something you will enjoy. Apart from Vimeo, you can still find the film on Amazon.

Film Review: Dark Fortune (2016)

Copyright: Corinth Films

There�s a strong and hard-to-pinpoint sense of terror that runs deep in Dark Fortune. At moments, this hard-hitting family drama could be even confused for a toned-down horror film, all thanks to that existential fright that reverberates through not just the plot, but the characters themselves. In the film, the feeling of being scared of something is almost visceral for the viewer. The same emotion does not come from monsters, but something much worse - buried memories that have so much hidden power over the lives of those who suffer from them.

The film, directed by Stefan Haupt, is set in Switzerland where a psychologist Eliane gets an emergency call. Her hospital just received Yves, a young boy who is the only survivor of a car crash that took the lives of four other people - his parents and siblings. Now, he is alone, left with only his aunt and grandmother, who are actively feuding about his future.

They also bring conflicting reports about the family and the relationship between the parents, while the hospital gradually puts more and more pressure on Elaine to figure out what to recommend for the boy. Affected by Yves, she decided to take him to her home for an observation period, knowing that her own family life with a separated husband and two daughters is anything but ideal. Together, they start to seek what is never found outside, but only inside - the answers that could allow each one of them to overcome the noose of their private history.

Tragedy is sawn high and wide in Dark Fortune and Haupt manages to deal with it very well, staying clear of sappiness or banality. The emotional pain and distress of Yves is rarely clear or obvious. Instead, it resonates through Elaine, who is masterfully played by Eleni Haupt, the sensitive but troubled child psychologist. Her plight is the main story of the film and the complex web of relationships she harbors with other characters. In the serene and peaceful streets, apartments and public buildings of Zurich, the anguish could not seem to be any further away.

Yet, the eyes and terrified expressions of Elaine make this family drama more than real. Here, the previously mentioned vascular element comes to play - without the need to underline it verbally all of the time, the film shows Elaine having her insights. Often, the things she figures out or only suspects are plainly seen in her face, which is sometimes locked in a state of tension, while in other reveals an endlessly patient and loving parent who can save Yves if she only knew how.

However, the true terror comes from the other alternative - that the boy, through a set of dark (mis) fortunes is beyond help. Instead, what the audience through Elaine fears is the fact that he could stay like this and grow up only to be a shell or a shadow of something that once was a person, but was smothered but a single tragedy. In this sense, in spite of the slow pacing and long shots that the Dark Fortune generally uses, the film works with a unique sense of dynamic storytelling. It is condensed in the idea that the time is running out for Yves and Elaine�s opportunity is constantly shrinking.

Engaging and biting deep, Dark Fortune is a strong family drama that comes even with a tangible level of mystery that somehow, manages to fall into place. It is an example of storytelling that asks for no shiny parts and which does not capture the imagination of the viewers with any cinematographic tricks. Instead, it showcases only a well-told tragic tale that carries a thin possible silver lining - wanting or not, the viewer will be left, along with Elaine, to wholeheartedly look and root for the same small thread of hope.

Learn more about Dark Fortune here. The film will be released on December 12th, 2018 in US & Canada on Amazon Prime, retail DVD (Amazon), IndieFlix and Vimeo on Demand.

Film Review: Dede (2017)

Copyright: Corinth Films

There is a deep-rooted and ancient strength locked in the sight of mountains. These distant and seemingly eternal elements of our world seem to have seen it all - they have been a silent witness to humanity in all of its struggles, glory, and despair. Through all of it, the mountains and their frozen peaks remained unmoved by the stories of mankind. They simply witnessed them. In the Dede movie as well, the entire tragic story plays out framed by the mountain peaks of Georgia. Located in the heart of Eurasia, this country and its isolated province of Svaneti is the setting in which a simple yet heartbreaking story of the movie takes place. It starts with an event that is never mentioned or shown in the film - the breakdown of the Soviet Union and the onset of the Georgian Civil War. In Svaneti, two fighters arrive in a small village, looking for the women that promised to David, one of the pair. His comrade, Gegi, follows him, but knows that a difficult time is ahead - the girl in question, Dina, does not want to become a part of the marriage arranged by her grandfather.

Instead, she loves Gegi, but both feel that the world around them, just like the mountains, cares little about their feelings. After all, that is how things have always been in the patriarchal community that seemingly changed very little over the centuries. Yet, even in the isolated snowy valley, the love individuals feel towards one another is the harbinger of change.

Directed by Mariam Khatchvani, the movie clearly showcases the young filmmaker's vast experience both about her homeland and her storytelling craft. In many moments, Dede feels like a documentary. From the rituals following death, the start of the New Year or a village justice tribunal, the movie appears as something deeply rooted in the land on which it was shot. The same goes for the actors and the pacing at which the film develops. In Svaneti, time passes on a different scale - there are no clocks in any of the shots and the seasons of the year tell more about that than any mechanical device.

However, in spite of its minimalistic environment of bare hills and barely furnished village homes, Khatchvani shows the rich and intricate inner workings of her characters. All of them face a clash of loyalty and their true feelings. Loyalties are many in Svaneti - to one�s family, tradition, comrades at arms and even St. George, the protector saint of the country. That is why their efforts to love run deep, but so do vengeance and the inability to forgive even their closest family members.

It would be easy to label Dede as a never-ending fight of a single woman for her freedom - there is no doubt that the plot includes this element. But, the film is much more than that. It is an exploration of a world locked away, far beyond the rest of the civilization, hidden among the clouds and snowy mountaintops. It is a tale of beauty and suffering, about a people whose way of life is slipping through their hands and how this maybe should happen for many to become liberated from the realities that are not of their own choosing.

Mariam Khatchvani provides a look inside of that world with an eye for beauty and a gentle narrative style that makes the entire film feel completely organic, something that is one with the place where it was made. Dede too, like the mountains, is a witness to its character and it plays its role perfectly.

Learn more about Dede here. The film will be released on December 12th, 2018 in US & Canada on Amazon Prime, retail DVD (Amazon), IndieFlix and Vimeo on Demand.

Two Paragraph Review: Sorry to Bother You (2018)

You can�t deny that this movie is different and it does not take too long for it to drive this point home. In the alternative world of ultra-capitalism, Cash, the main character, played by ever-more relevant and popular Lakeith Stanfield, just tries to get by. However, this soon brings him to a company working on the process that would eventually change entire humanity and not for the better. With this plot, Sorry to Bother You moves between a grotesque social drama and a weird dark comedy.

The cast and the acting continue to be uneven throughout the film, making it hard to gauge who is what type of person and what do they actually want. I�m not sure if this is intentional or a strange by-product of so many things being odd, but for me, it made the film something that failed to engage. The grotesque nature of the world reverberates with the characters, including Cash, so why empathize with anyone - maybe all that is strange to me as a viewer is normal to the inhabitants of the alternate world - it�s all make-believe inside of a bigger make-believe. The critique of the real-life greed as a driver is plain and called for, but the space in which it was delivered simply did not manage to impress me on any level.

Short Film Review: Them! (2018)

The great thing about the indie short movies is the fact that they are able to explore spaces that most feature-length films, especially those made in the studio system seemly cannot do. Them! is a short sci-fi comedy that definitely goes to weird places and does the same pretty fast. Here's how the film describes itself:

Them! is a sci-fi movie. A lady hears her dog yelp and it wakes her up. When she goes downstairs to see what is the matter, she is horrified to see the dog being eaten by a Roomba and they have multiplied.

The film, directed by DeNoise Studios and starring Susie Butler, cannot be easily described beyond the word �strange� at first viewing. The plot is condensed and so is the runtime of the film, which is short even for a short feature. However, aside from its overall strangeness, there are multiple threads to the piece. 

Once you get past the oddness of the acting delivery and the plot, you can see snippets of homages - from the horror and sci-fi films of the Hollywood Golden Age to the over reacting and almost parodic absurdity of the fear of technology (the dog scene is priceless in its campness). In many ways, the film works as a short and modern rendering of an Ed Wood picture and this is something we can�t see often.

Finally, there is a big sense of freedom in the film - this short movie came out just as its creators intended it to be and that�s commendable every time. After watching Them! and just how unburdened the film is, you can see why the modern cinematography would gain a lot by once more daring to be weird and goofy.

Watch the entire Them! short film right there:

5729 Them! v5 - HIGH RES 4K from Susie Butler on Vimeo.

Two Paragraph Review: Hold the Dark (2018)

The worlds of Jeremy Saulnier are dark and deadly, but ultimately, like any vampire�s castle, too alluring to miss out on. Even as the protagonist enters into the creaking halls of that place of horror, we know they�re as good as dead (or most of them, at least). In Blue Ruin, a lost man embarks on a doomed quest. In Green Room, a punk-rock band goes to a gig they should have turned down. In Hold the Dark, an expert on wolf behavior sets off to an isolated village in Alaska to find the remains of a boy taken by the same creatures.

There is nothing to find in the film, like in the previous ones, expect pitch black desperation, cruelty and an unmissable sense of nothingness. Yet, the ride itself is still what allows us to usher them on, into the twilight. Here too, the experience of the movie and the twist and turns its plot embarks upon so elegantly and completely unexpectedly, make it a worthwhile experience. It is reassuring to see that the creative universe of Saulnier is completely inoculated from the spellbound power of bigger and bigger budgets. Hold the Dark has a lot to offer even though what that thing exactly is remains lost to me.

Web Series Showcase: Fruit Bat (2018)

The famous though goes: an author has a writer's block and she/he ends it by writing something about - vampires. No one can deny that the world did not have its share of vampire fiction in almost any and every imaginable form. From crunchy kid snacks to video games, count Dracula and other like him have marked the pop culture landscape ever since Bram Stoker got us hooked on these creatures of the night.

However, few would deny that there has been somewhat of a saturation in the bloodsucking market. When this happens, the airwaves are ripe for one of the most important genres - parody. This is exactly the thing that Alex J. Murphy and Javahead Productions decided to do with his work. Here is the description of an upcoming web series of short films called Fruit Bat:

The horror comedy is an award-winning web series about a vampire with an unusual appetite. David J. Marzano stars as Eugene, a vegetarian vampire and outspoken advocate for �human-vampire relations�. His carnivorous brother Lenny, played by Peter Coleman, constantly tries to keep Eugene�s taboo diet under wraps, often causing some �bat blood� between the two. It doesn�t take long before tempers rise, guts spill, and craziness ensues.

The premise seems simple and fresh, doing a route similar to indie films like Summer of Blood. The first episode of this series was shot back in 2014, but now, the directors decided to dig it up (pun intended) and make it into a new and prolonged work. As the trailer shows, there is plenty to be hopeful about, especially because of what looks like a great script which is well-acted by everyone shown in this short teaser.

Both factors are a pleasant (and sorely lacking) appearance in any indie cinematic work, but they are especially interesting when they appear together. Finally, in spite of the vampire topic, the work seems anything but dull or unoriginal, which is already a big success for its creators.

The web series should appear online later in October 2018, but until then, check out more about Fruit Bat web series on its official Facebook page and of course, don�t forget to check out its trailer.

Short Film Review: Happened in the Present (2018)

The internet proved that entertaining and extremely low-budget movies, featuring a medium-length runtime can be made today. Just a decade or two earlier, films of this type, lasting between 20 and 40 minutes were considered an impossible venture outside of student exercises. Movies like The Defector are a perfect example that this is no longer true. Now, a new film called Happened in the Present show that this formula can be applied to a YouTube work of art and end up as something regular viewers can easily enjoy.

This film is the work of Mark Sarko, a director and hip-hop artist based in Germany that has clearly been around the entertainment industry. The plot presents a process of unorthodox investigation that begins with a body turning up in the bathtub of an apartment. From these, a duo of oddly mixed individuals starts their search for the truth behind this event, mostly using music and weird analytical capabilities.

The film is based on a multitude of characters that continuously communicate with each other, but also a music-infused tempo that is fast and snappy. This makes the film into a one-two combo of funny and quirky dialogues, followed by musical segments and editing/VFX that are sometimes a bit over the top, yet still works for the movie�s overall tone and feel.

This makes Happened in the Present a really engaging low-budget movie. Of course, it is not perfect on a few fronts - the acting is uneven and the locations look like they had been chosen mainly because they were available to the production crew.

However, in spite of its flaws, the film feels more than genuine, clearly fueled by the passion for filmmaking. This is why I have no doubt that Mark Sarko only at the beginning of his creative journey in the domain of cinema. Watch the full Happened in the Present movie right here!

Documentary: Imagine Nation (2018)

Electronic Dance Music or EDM is one of the unsung heroes of the ongoing digital revolution. From its modest beginnings decades ago when first audio engineering pioneers started experimenting with modifying guitar processors to the birth of DJ and computer music production, the EDM has been growing constantly and consistently all over the world.

Imagine Nation is an impressive new documentary taking a look in this domain and doing it at a festival that holds a very special place for the EDM culture. Here how the film describes itself:

What started as a small city festival in Atlanta has blossomed into one of the largest EDM festivals in North America. Viewers are immersed into the event's eye-popping stage production, insane pyrotechnics, diversified line-up of headliners from around the world, a wide array of stage performers, Avant Garde art installations, stunt riders, and carnival rides.

The trailer perfectly represents the sheer explosion of color, movement, music, and emotion that grips the crowd who are clearly experiencing a unique event, especially considering its sheer scale. Over a three-day period, more than 50,000 people come together on the festival to enjoy not just the music performances, but also many other types of art, including some things that simply have to be experienced to be fully comprehended.

The Imagine Nation documentary follows the same event using the incredible Red Epic W 8k cameras that shot everything in 4k resolution at stunning 60 FPS, aiming to do justice to the incredible happenings taking place in front of the lenses. Watching only a few moments of the trailer shows how smart this decision was - the festival action simply wants to jump out from the screen.

This documentary is something that is clearly brimming with that special energy which allowed EDM to become such a powerful force in the modern show business. If this sounds cool to you, check out Imagine Nation documentary on Amazon right here!

Two Paragraph Review: Upgrade (2018)

First, let's talk about the weakest part of this film - in the beginning, the movie stumbles with its exposure and buildup. The main character Gray, an anti-technology car mechanic living in a futuristic near future, seems like a fish out of the water, but not in any intended way. Sure, the plot is clearly going to an ominous place but it appears to be taking its sweet time to get there in the first 20 minutes. The screen time for this part of the story feels somehow wasted and there is no meaningful connection neither between Gray and his wife Asha, nor between him and the life he�s living.

But, with the intro into the story ending and the actual plot beginning, the movie switches gears. The biggest improvement at that point is the introduction of STEM, a self-conscious chip that bridges Gray�s damaged spinal cord and turns him into a flesh-based robot. STEM is a combination of KITT from Knight Rider and HAL 9000 and it quickly transforms the film into a brilliant action movie. With some exceptional cinematography from the director Leigh Whannell and smart and funny script (which is miles away from the awkward and sloppy opening), Upgrade is sure among the top action films of the year so far.

Two Paragraph Review: I, Tonya (2017)

It would be a complete waste of time to watch this movie and figure out it is only a complex showreel for Margot Robbie where she demonstrates her acting talents. Fortunately, the film is not this but a dark comedy that happens to be rooted in reality. For those in the US, the story of Tonya Harding is probably well-known and the film uses this fact. It quickly rewinds her life up and down as it builds towards the key element � the entire scandal with the wounding of Nancy Kerrigan.

Here, the film for me falters. I, Tonya am neither a film about this haunted yet brilliant person nor is it about a wacky crime in the sports world of the 1990s. It is something in-between and that is why it works as something in-between bad and good. No one is to blame for this and it does not hamper the film too much, but it does end up making the movie feel like a really expensive afternoon TV release. 

Indie Showcase: Sinking Sand (2018)

The plot that is based on crime and punishment is as old as time itself, even before a particular Russian novelist used it for one of his famous books. After all, it is something we're all instantly interested in, no matter what the actual story or the setting might be.

The appeal of the concept is clear and also the reason why centuries pass and it remains as fresh as ever. Sinking Sand is a new indie thriller-drama that is utilizing the very same idea. Here is how the movie explains its plot:

After a loving wife murders a blackmailer to protect her husband�s flourishing law career, she must watch as he prosecutes another for her crime.

Through this simple premise, the trailer for Sinking Sand reveals an impacting film, one which is first and foremost a psychological drama about our decision and their wide-branching consequences. Through the plot, the film�s cinematography approach clearly puts a lot of emphasis on its characters. The slow shots of the faces of the actors reveal deep and terrible dilemmas in which most of them are placed.

Sinking Sand Official Trailer from Nandar Pictures on Vimeo.

Should the guilty step forward?

What is the price of staying quiet?

Will the transgression of the past die out or only come back as hideous monsters?

The director, Brian Yarbrough, clearly managed to explore all of these using modest means of an indie production. Yet, the result seems very polished and thought-out so I have no doubt that the movie will be a worthwhile experience, especially for those who are interested in deep-impacting cinema.

Sinking Sands is out on  DVD & VOD September 18, 2018. Until then, check out the movie�s official Amazon page right here.

Two Paragraph Review: Hostiles (2018)

There�s something about this film that I can�t quite put my finger upon. It is something elusive, barely visible and still impacting the entire experience of watching it. But, while I cannot pinpoint it, what I am certain is that it stops the film from being really impressive. Instead, it makes it linger between the average and the good categories, as something that belongs in neither one. Its story is about a late 19th century US army captain who escorts a family of native prisoners to their new home. He does this after many years of bitter US-Native fighting and crooked peace deals, now apparently nothing more than a jaded and violent officer, masterfully played by Christian Bale.

Now, why is the film lacking in such distinctive, slight and yet undeniable manner? It is not that the film features or forces some particular type of political message that would make it feel fake, even though it does tend to pile blame more towards the white settlers (no argument here from the historical perspective). The problem lies, for me, in those little cracks and fissures that appear from time to time, mostly in the script. A sappy moment here, an injection of banality there. At the same time, unlike small masterpieces of new-western like Bone Tomahawk, the film takes itself excruciatingly seriously. Thanks to this, it ends up missing the mark for me - not completely, but evidently. 

Indie Showcase: Forbidden Power (2018)

Forbidden Power seems like an ambitious movie that is mixing an interesting blend of genres. Here is how the film described its plot:

After a one night affair with a mysterious woman, a young man wakes up alone, empowered and with a cryptic message. He uses his power in business and then searches for the women to find out where her power came from.

The movie is written and directed by Paul Kyriazi, an industry veteran with more than four decades of movie business experience. This is probably the reason why he decided to combine things like science fiction, thriller, action, and mystery, each of which is a big challenge for independent production.

Yet, it seems that Kyriazi managed to hold his own.

As the trailer shows, the premise seems similar to the movie Limitless, in a sense that both films explore the idea of a man who suddenly attains incredible and almost supernatural powers. But, while Limitless uses a somewhat weak and passing underlying story, Forbidden Power takes its own into science fiction territory. Clearly, the same sci-fi concept only grows in relevance as the movie progresses, aiding the overall sense of mystery.

Thanks to its bold approach to a complex combination of genres, Forbidden Power seems like a film worth the time of anyone who is into an indie mystery and science fiction releases. If that sounds interesting to you, go ahead and watch it right now on Amazon.

Two Paragraph Review: A Quiet Place (2018)

The thing that makes A Quiet Place such an original experience is the fact that it takes away a single element of regular cinematic work - speech. It keeps many of the other sounds, like ambiance noise and even music. Yet, when it comes to human speech, the thing we hear so much in almost any movie genre - there is almost none. At the same time, the plot is full of an intensity of character interaction, especially those coming from Emily Blunt, all of whom are members of a US family stuck in a post-apocalyptic setting where making a loud sound means a certain death.

With this reduced process of storytelling, the movie managed to be a small marvel of cinematic greatness. Devoid of speeches and dialogues, it creates an engaging thriller/horror story while building a family drama in the background. Mixing all of this in some gorgeous cinematography, A Quiet Place is really a great example of successful innovation coming from mainstream Hollywood production.

Film Review: Brokedown (2018)

There is one word that perfectly describes the new indie thriller-horror Brokedown by Pole Star Studios - this word is �rough�. At first, this might sound like an overly simplistic description of a film that clearly has a lot of time and effort invested into it. Its runtime of about 90 minutes is packed full with a complex script and a storyline of multiple threads that weave into a single cohesive mesh at its very end. There is a clear sense that the film�s director and writer, John Reign, just like the cast, placed a lot of time and effort into the film. Yet, in spite of this, the roughness of the movie is the thing that left the biggest impression on me.

The movie premise is simple and will be familiar to most of the fans of the US cinematography. In it, a punk-rock couple of Stormy and Jason head off from a concert Jason just had. Immediately after it, in the midst of a heated argument, he proposed to his girlfriend and they decided to speed home to share the news. However, in their return journey, they come across a gas station deep in a place that can be only described as mountain hillbilly central. An altercation with a group of local men sets the stage for a bloody and tension-riddled film.

Sure, Brokedown has some of the practical roughness that regularly comes with any ambitious indie films. In some shots, the camera shakes or loses a bit of its focus. Some of them are framed ad-hoc. Some shots look stylish and beautiful, featuring a long exposition, which others seem almost documentary in their setup and execution. However, as the movie begins to unravel and reveal its truly disturbed nature, the same approach to cinematography begins to make sense. In the story and its supporting characters lie the true roughness of the film.

The hillbilly criminals, the corrupt local sheriff and his cronies, all of them are as if they just stepped out of a modernized version of Hills have Eyes or Deliverance (there is an especially gruesome homage to the latter film in Brokedown). Characters like Sheriff Elwood are immediately set up as the classic archetypes that lurk deep in places like the Ozark mountains. From the first moment, Jason and Stormy make the mistake of stopping at that pump, the film builds up its tension a notch at a time.

In it, the rough dialogues the character have are full of hate, spite, and threats, while their body language shows that the threats are real. The sheer nauseating moments of the threat of danger to the main characters or someone else are enthralling in their roughness. The actors, deliver the same tense dialogues in great style, never missing a bit and improvising when need be, all to great effect that enforces, again, their roughness. Finally, among all of this, the film features even a horror element that manages to weave itself into the story in an unexpected manner.

Rough as all of this might seem, Brokedown is a working and functioning indie film that might be rough, but is highly enjoyable. Anyone who appreciates the previously mentioned backwater classic movies should check this film out as soon as it appears on Amazon and Amazon Prime.

Two Paragraph Review: Mute (2018)

It's hard to tell for sure where Mute was trying to go and what was its director, the brilliant Duncan Jones, trying to do. As a cyberpunk tale set in the undefined period in, I guess, the future, it has all the hallmarks of a noir story. The movie showcases a mute main character that gets his love taking from him, a group of odd persons from the margins of society as supporting characters and some weird new pieces of tech everyone is using.

The result is something that is an unholy mix of Strange Days and Southland Tales, but which features all of the failed quirkiness of the later film. It might sound strange, but Mute is a movie that is somehow completely devoid of charm and it kind of needs it. In fact, it needs it bad, like many science fiction films that are high concept pieces. This one is a film like that, but it has a lot of charm. Jones maybe did not intend this, but the movie is still a high concept (at least parts of it try to be one). This is why watching the film, at least for me, seems like a waster experience from start to end.

Indie Showcase: AnyBodies Game (2018)

A new indie feature-length film is on its way in less than two months and it promises to bring a mixture of drama, action and suspense thrills. The name of the movie is AnyBodies Game and here is how it describes itself:

While a group of friends are enjoying life they mysteriously began to receive bloody letters and prank phone calls. They all began to take the threats serious after the death of one of their own friends. Who could do such a thing when the finger is pointing at all of them? This could be AnyBodies Game.

The trailer shows an ambitions piece written and produced by Ann P Productions. It holds plenty of characters and a plot that seems to be constantly going through twist and turns.

With a strong element of mystery, AnyBodies Game appears to tackle the horror thorpe of a group of friends being hunted by an unknown assailant. The first thing that comes to mind with this setup in the series Scream, but with a setup that is taken into the modern time and complemented with a natural approach to acting.

The movie is set to have its theatre premier on July 5th, 2018. For more information about this event and the movie, check out the AnyBodies Game official website.

Actionflix.com � An Upcoming Streaming Service Specializing in Action Movies!

For me, action movies are the bread and butter of filmmaking. They, along with thriller and drama, are the essential genres and a perfect place where up-and-coming filmmakers learn the trade and get a foothold in the big-time movie business. However, unlike the other two genres, action often ends up being a butt of the joke and many people tend to see it, in general, as mindless fun which rarely comes with any deeper meaning. I disagree with all of them and that�s why I�m happy to see initiatives like the recent Actionflix.com. Here is how the upcoming streaming service describes itself:

Actionflix.com will be a Global Streaming Broadcaster specializing in independent Action Movies and Subgenres made by creative filmmakers around the globe. Global Streaming means that ACTIONFLIX movies can be watched in all territories around the world, on any platform (iPhone, laptops, tablets, Apple TV, Xbox, etc.). The filmmakers will not only share movies but most importantly, also share stories about the making of these productions. We�re creating a community where audiences and filmmakers come together around their common love for this genre.

The idea is a brilliant one because it provides a service that seems like something that should already exist. For me, two key things prop up this concept - firstly, as I mentioned, this is a way how many filmmakers got their big breaks. Roel Rein�, the director behind this initiative, entered the business this way and now he wants to help others do the same. At the same time, I�m appreciating the fact that this is a business venture for its creators as well.

Throughout the distribution of these films, everyone will get a piece of the viewers� payments, so it is a sound concept from an economic standpoint. I have no doubt that there is a big and growing market for low-budget action films, especially if they are provided through an organized and curated service like Actionflix.com.

Currently, the project is just starting and several phases are still to come. But, you can get on board by finding more at the official website (which is currently under construction) or send an email to office@actionflix.com to find out more!

Film Review: Cold November (2017)

Growing up is never easy and sometimes, it can take us on unique journeys, both outside and inside. Cold November is a movie that explores this notion and does it remarkably well through a seemingly simple setup. The film follows Florence, a 12-year-old living and growing up in a rural part of the US. Interestingly, her family has followed a tradition of the women going to a deer hunt as a sort of rite of passage for entering into adulthood.

Florence is near that point, so she and her mother, grandmother and cousins decide to follow the same tradition. Yet, this process will not come easy for Florence or her loved ones in a tale of nostalgia, change and our ever-inadequate abilities to deal with it, no matter if we are kids, adults or something in-between.

Cold November is directed by Karl Jacob in a unique manner. With the use of plenty of eerie and atmospheric music, he uses gentle shots and naturalistic cinematography to create a movie where landscapes, plants, animals, humans and even houses and guns sort of blend together. In many ways, the movie is like a coloring book coming to life, but one which deals with serious issues like mourning and crucial life changes.

Through the hunting topic, the film explores the notion of life and death, but does it in a roundabout manner: it allows and provides no easy answers. For example, at one point, the grandma character recounts how her family resolved to hunting when she was a child and the region was in a middle of a harsh economic crisis. Her tale is both nostalgic and cautionary, but more than everything else, it is a tale, where the audience listens to it very much like Florence does. Like this tale, the movie aims to provide experiences and an emotional journey instead of a purely cognitive one.

Yet, what impressed me the most is the way the Cold November deals with its characters. There is a family drama being played out inside of it, but it is always on the sidelines, just out of the view of the audience. At the same time, all of this is followed by a sense of tension and a feel that many things are not being said in the dialogues, only hinted by the family members.

Bijou Abas, who plays the main character, does a really impressive job, similar to the rest of the crew, allowing for that family immersion to take place. Thanks to this and all that it has going for it, Cold November provides an intimate experience where it is easy to empathize with Florence and her ongoing change, as well as embrace it in this great indie drama film.

Find out more about the film and where you can watch it right here!

Two Paragraph Review: Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

The original Blade Runner movie is one of my favourite cinematic works of art. Ever since I was a teenager I really enjoyed Ridley Scott vision over distance and cold future. At the same time, Denis Villeneuve is one of my favorites new directors, especially when it comes o science fiction. Two years ago I was completely blown away with The Arrival, so naturally my expectations were high for Blade Runner 2049. Now, after seeing it, I have a hard time putting my finger on it.

The movie is visually stunning and it provides an engaging experience in that sense. However at the same time narratively, it's slightly all over the place. While it's easy to connect with Joe, who is basically trying to figure out what�s happening (like the audience) the rest of the characters fall flat. These include Decker who is who is played by an ever older and less interesting Harrison Ford. All of them are distant but what is worse, they end up feeling irrelevant. The same is true for the plot, which simply does not hold up to the immense visual grandeur of the movie. Maybe Blade Runner 2049 will age better just like the original, but for now, the two are not on the same playing field.

Indie Showcase: My Tiny Universe (2004)

As a rule of thumb, movies are not that good of a way to predict the future. If they were, we would be at least having one or two flying car companies instead of another social media app that just came out. However, sometimes, away from the spotlight of the big prediction and blockbuster visions of the future, some movies do nail the future in an eerie fashion. My Tiny Universe, which was made almost 15 years ago, seems to be one of those films. Here is it�s plot:

Dickie Bates is a washed-up actor. Bobby Devillin is a sleazy A-list producer. Luring Devillin to his home, Dickie pushes the big-shot's weak-points by toying with the one thing that matters to him - his cell phone. The actor's small home is soon filled with an irrepressible crowd of characters in this fast-paced satire of life in Tinseltown.

 

At the time of its release, the film worked as a dark comedy that takes a look behind the glitz and the glamour of Hollywood. Today, in the light of the #MeToo movement, it transforms itself into a whole new work, this time shining a light on the idea of the all-powerful Hollywood movie producer. In the film, the fictional Bobby Devillin has a wife, a range of mistresses and even a kid on the way with one of them.

Still, his trainwreck of a life continues unabated until it all comes tumbling down. Now, the topic can be seen not just as one man�s road to ruin, but also an avalanche of misery that took so many other individuals, mainly women, with him - even though Bobby is used to riding everything out. Sounds like anyone you know?

Thanks to this, My Tiny Universe is an interesting film with many overlapping themes with the #MeToo movement, which makes it a relevant cinematographic piece, especially in today�s world. Learn more about the film or watch it on its Amazon page.

Two Paragraph Review: Annihilation (2018)

Annihilation is the movie about change, more precisely the horror that lies in the same change when it's unknown. The brilliant book on which the movie is based showcases a type of horror which is hard to explain but very easy to experience. In this new rendering of the story Alex Garland, the film�s director and writer tried his best to capture the same essence even though I bet he fully understood that he will at least partially fail. However, the full result of his effort is not a fail by any means.

Instead, it's one of the best sci-fi movies based on a horror premise that was made recently. This is seen in the fact that the movie gains steam as it progresses. For me, that's almost always a really good cinematographic sign and Annihilation is no different. While the initial character exposition scenes are shaky, once the main plot of the movie gets underway the film quickly finds its focus. Naturally, the great cast of the expedition further underlines this idea with their great performances. Natalie Portman, in particular, does an excellent job as the Biologist, which isn't a big surprise, but the rest of the women are not far behind. Thanks to them and Garland�s vision of the novel, Annihilation is a movie that is a must-watch for every sci-fi fan out there.

Indie Showcase: Ring of Silence (2018)

Human trafficking is a horrific process that oddly enough, is seemingly getting more prevalent in the modern world. The same is true for any country on the planet, no matter how developed it might be.

A new feature-length movie called the Ring of Silence explores this very idea and does so right in the hearth of the United States. Here is how the film describes itself:

When a young girl falls in love with a sweet and charming stranger, she soon finds out that her fairy tale doesn't lead to wonderland, but to a far more seedy underbelly of society.

The film features a high-end production aesthetics, opening with gentle shots of a normal life that any young girl would lead anywhere in the US. But then, inside of vibrant colors and soft, almost dream-like environment, the movie then takes a turn for the worst, mimicking the experience many other individuals have with human trafficking.

At one point, everything is fine and life's a huge adventure. At the next one, the same life becomes a living nightmare from where there seems to be no escape. What is even worse is the fact that real life is just around the corner, almost in hand�s reach.

Ring of Silence delves deep into the same issue, showing both the price of human trafficking and its prevalence in a world that would that never seem like a place where this happens regularly. All of this sounds like a very grueling story, but also one that needs to be told but also seen by those who believe human trafficking happens far, far away.

For more information about the film, check out its official Facebook fan page.