Category Archives: Drama

Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more

All Movie Reviews, Drama, Horror, Indie Films, Like It, Quickie Reviews (<400 Words), Romance

[Quickie]: Felt (2015) Movie Review

April 12, 2015 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Felt is an independent romance-horror-drama from filmmaker Jason Banker. In it, Amy (Amy Everson), an artist who has experienced an unknown sexual assault trauma, hides her identity in her artistic creations. She is distant and reluctant to connect with people.

I will be brief with this review only because I have not let it sink in to the point where I can elaborate on many of my reactions with adequate conviction. What I can say is that Continue reading [Quickie]: Felt (2015) Movie Review →

Lists — Ranking the Quentin Tarantino Filmography

March 17, 2015 Alex Brannan 2 Comments

Quentin Tarantino is a master of his craft, and my favorite director working in Hollywood today. Tarantino has created some of the most original, well thought out, wonderfully scripted films in recent memory. He pulls me into his films in a way that no other director can, and he is my screenwriting idol. With each new film from him, I am expecting a flop, simply because I am surprised that he has never let me down. He is the only filmmaker that has impressed me with every single film in his filmography.

Below is my list of Tarantino’s films from worst (yet still enjoyable) to best.

Continue reading Lists — Ranking the Quentin Tarantino Filmography →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Drama, Indie Films, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Power/Rangers (2015) Short Film Reaction/Review

March 5, 2015 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

For those who aren’t aware, an unlicensed short film surrounding characters from the Power Rangers universe has been circulating the web recently. The film stars Katee Sackhoff as original Pink Ranger Kimberly Hart and James Van Der Beek as the second incarnation of the Red Ranger Rocky DeSantos.

Note: my Power Rangers mythology knowledge is rather limited, so some of these characters may be mis-labeled.

The film takes the children’s television show to the extreme with Continue reading Power/Rangers (2015) Short Film Reaction/Review →

All Movie Reviews, Drama, F Movies, Leave it, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Romance

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) Movie Review

February 14, 2015 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Fifty Shades of Grey is an erotic romance film adapted from E.L. James’ novel of the same name. In it, nervous lip-biter Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) is subbed in to interview billionaire playboy Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) for a graduate school newspaper. During the interview, sparks fly (I’m using this phrase loosely) and they become romantically involved. But Mr. Grey is oddly distant and afraid of commitment. Ana soon finds out Grey’s secret: a hidden life of playing out a sexual domination fantasy. Virgin innocent Ana doesn’t know how to handle this news at first, but soon becomes wrapped up in the “taboo” world of BDSM, falling for Christian in the process.

From the title sequence, we are immediately flooded with exorbitantly sleek mise-en-scene, namely with shots of Christian’s wardrobe. We are also given beautiful landscape shots of the Seattle skyline. All the while, Annie Lennox singing “I Put a Spell On You” fills the scene with soulful body. This lush opening is enticing and inviting. It is only when characters begin to speak that problems arise.

Continue reading Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Drama, Indie Films, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Hits (2015) Movie Review

February 12, 2015 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

“Get ready to laugh more than three times, but less than 10,” comedian David Cross says in the pay-what-you-want intro to his directorial debut Hits, warning the audience that what they are about to see is a dark comedy and, as such, not a laugh riot. This is a humble opinion of the film. Dark as it is, there are plenty of opportunities for deep belly laughs.

The film, which Cross wrote and directed, follows a hapless dump worker Dave Stuben (Matt Walsh) and his daughter Katelyn (Meredith Hagner), who is determined to Continue reading Hits (2015) Movie Review →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Drama, Indie Films, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Love It

The Guest (2014) Movie Review

February 7, 2015 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

The Guest is a film by director Adam Wingard. In it, a man named David (Dan Stevens) approaches a family claiming to be a close friend of the family’s eldest son, who died in Afghanistan during the war. The stoic, smooth-talking David says that he has just been discharged from the military, and Continue reading The Guest (2014) Movie Review →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Drama, Indie Films, Leave it, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

The Rover (2014) Movie Review

January 29, 2015 Alex Brannan 1 Comment

The Rover is a film from Australian director David Michod (Animal Kingdom, writer: Hesher). Ten years after a worldwide collapse of civilization, the Australian outback is a dystopian landscape dominated by crime and poverty. Following a botched robbery, three thieves (Scoot McNairy, David Field, and Tawanda Manyimo) crash their car Continue reading The Rover (2014) Movie Review →

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