Author Archives: admin

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: dull WWII spy romp

Posted on April 18, 2024 by admin

Every now and then Guy Ritchie makes a film in a crisp, focused style that can be utterly beguiling. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is not one of them. Filled with snark, bombast, and empty violence, this WWII actioner is … Continue reading →

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Life under a microscope: A Brief History of a Family

Posted on March 27, 2024 by admin

Classmates, one rich, one poor, are thrown together by accident. The poor one worms his way into the wealthy family, winning over the parents through deceit and subterfuge. An event changes the lives of all involved. No, it’s not Saltburn, … Continue reading →

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The plight of test pilots in Born to Run

Posted on March 24, 2024 by admin

Released theatrically last year, Born to Fly follows pilots undergoing rigorous training in order to test mainland China’s experimental stealth fighter jet. Deeply patriotic and extremely silly, it’s propaganda devoid of suspense, humor, and credible characterizations. The screenplay by Gui … Continue reading →

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Cabrini review: a reverent look at an irreverent saint

Posted on March 23, 2024 by admin

An ambitious day of biking will take me up the spine of Manhattan, from 6th Avenue past Central Park and up St. Nicholas to Edgecombe Avenue. At the Highbridge swimming pool I head west to Fort Washington Avenue, climbing that … Continue reading →

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Berlinale Panorama review: Betânia

Posted on March 21, 2024 by admin

Shot largely in Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses park, Betânia follows a widow as she returns after many years to her ancestral home. The debut feature for writer and director Marcelo Botta, it screened in this year’s Panorama section of the Berlin … Continue reading →

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Tak Sakaguchi is the One-Percenter

Posted on March 19, 2024 by admin

For several years Well Go USA has been one of the best distributors of genre films in the country. But the company finds itself in a bind with One-Percent Warrior (aka One-Percenter), a martial arts adventure starring Tak Sakaguchi. Sakaguchi … Continue reading →

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New Mexico Noir: Loves Lies Bleeding

Posted on March 8, 2024 by admin

A solid, nasty film noir set in New Mexico, Love Lies Bleeding is a stylish blend of genre set pieces and director and co-writer Rose Glass’s distinctive vision of erotic bodybuilding. A tough sell to mainstream viewers, it will build … Continue reading →

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New York Noir: 5lbs of Pressure review

Posted on March 7, 2024 by admin

Getting films completed and released is so difficult that finding fault with them is no longer appealing. As long as filmmakers are trying to be constructive, shouldn’t they be given some credit? Putting that theory to the test is 5lbs … Continue reading →

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Float review: Adrift in life

Posted on February 9, 2024 by admin

A low-key romance set in the Pacific Northwest, Float rests almost entirely on the appeal of its two leads, Andrea Bang and Robbie Amell (also a producer). They play mismatched neighbors hiding personal wounds. Before the movie ends they will … Continue reading →

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Owning up to darkness in The Breaking Ice

Posted on January 24, 2024 by admin

Quiet and unassuming, The Breaking Ice follow three dissatisfied twenty-somethings navigating a world that hasn’t turned out the way they expected. Written and directed by Anthony Chen, and featuring excellent lead performances, it is a delicate but beguiling film that … Continue reading →

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