**_Olivia Thirlby as a detective on the coast of central California_**
This is considered neo-noir in the manner of De Palma, just not spiffed up in the blockbuster sense. It was inspired by the Elizabeth Smart murder case of 1947 (aka “The Black Dahlia”) but not based on it at all with the events taking place in 2014.
The first 65 minutes work as a slow burn detective story with good mystery and a little sensuality, highlighted by Olivia’s unique beauty and the scenic locations of Morro Bay, which is located midway between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, the Humphrey Bogart Estat…
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A darkly comic and disturbing look at childhood gone wrong in 1960s Ireland. Between Francie Brady’s wild imagination, religious satire, and Sinead O’Connor as a vision of the Virgin Mary, it’s one of the most unique coming-of-age films I’ve ever seen. Funny, tragic, and haunting all at once! The film is a strange one, centering on a sweet and lovely kid who becomes a victim of ostracism.…
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I watched this move now, over 10 years after it was released, and I was very excited about it after reading the main premise of the movie and seeing a few cuts form the internet. It turned out to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen.
While the main premise of the movie is awesome - a serial killer living in the middle of nowhere that obsesses over turning people into a walrus - the movie falls short of being a new "human centipede" due to the poor execution. Cheap pitiful "humor" to try to mask the terrible acting, pathetic soundtrack that annoys more than aclimate the viewer, a…
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We really needed another "Robin Hood" remake didn't we?
If your answer is a resounding "no", well, you are in good company. This is yet another symptom of the creative bankruptcy of Western entertainment. A dearth of inspiration, leading to leaden, desperate repetition, of stale ideas and shows, long past their "expiration date".
The new, not so new, series of Robin Hood does nothing that has not been done before and frankly, done better, at that. As per usual too, we get historical revisionism in the name of the DEI agenda, which adds absurdity, to the cobweb ridden, decrepit, must…
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**_When a peaceable family man is backed against a wall_**
Shot in the late summer/early fall of 2004, this was described by director Cronenberg as “a meditation on the human body and its relationship to violence.” It comes in the tradition of “Straw Dogs,” addressing the same issues as “Billy Jack”; namely, absolute pacifism vs limited pacifism. The former never resorts to violence, even in the face of great evil, whereas the latter strives for peace, but turns to violence when justified. The New Testament supports limited pacifism not absolute pacifism, as some mistakenly think (see L…
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I caught up with "Predator: Killer of Killers" with extremely high expectations, driven by my deep appreciation for Dan Trachtenberg, who delivered one of my favorite films in the saga, the exceptional "Prey", and the best installment in another franchise, "10 Cloverfield Lane". I was surprised by the movie's structure as a triptych of interconnected stories, immediately promising the kind of creative freedom live-action often lacks.
Against those high expectations, "Predator: Killer of Killers" delivers a fantastic experience. While its distinct storylines are simple and admittedly for…
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The desire for vengeance is indisputably a toxic force, one that can lead us to engage in unspeakable acts whose despicable nature is often on par with the wrongs committed against us. Consequently, we can’t help but ask ourselves if this is an acceptable, justifiable course. What’s more, no matter how much we may wish to seek retribution, are we truly capable of following through on such acts, especially if we can genuinely appreciate the harm those heinous deeds may have had on us? Those are the thorny questions raised in this latest offering from acclaimed Iranian writer-director Jafar Pana…
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Ghost Busters meets Dukes of Hazard in a "Boys Own" style, fun romp. That's how I'd describe the enormously successful series, Supernatural.
This is not one to test the synapses but more a lightweight but entertaining monster mash up. The hero's of the piece Sam and Dean Winchester are kick ass hunters who track down and kill monsters and various other supernatural nasties.
This series sounds formulaic and indeed it is but it manages to be creative enough with its stories, introducing new plot lines and characters to keep things reasonably fresh. No small feat after 14 seasons.
One…
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So Beautiful, poetic, and tragic at the same time.…
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## **The Name of the Rose (1986) Review: A Perfect, Pitch-Black Gothic Masterpiece**
Jean-Jacques Annaud's *The Name of the Rose* is not merely a film; it is an atmosphere, a puzzle box, a philosophical war waged in the shadowy corridors of a decaying abbey. It is a perfect alchemy of intellectual thriller and gothic horror, and decades after its release, it remains an untouchable classic—a film that earns every minute of its runtime and deserves nothing less than a perfect score.
### A Labyrinth of Stone and Sin
The premise is deceptively simple: the year is 1327. Franciscan monk Wil…
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