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
Caution: major spoilers for this episode follow, as well as possible spoilers from episodes prior.
Episode four of this political drama opens on a Supreme Court hearing, the same hearing that the President was ignoring earlier in the season in his jumbled attempt to get his America Works project off the ground. The hearing surrounds a drone strike that apparently killed innocent civilians.
While this is going on, Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is attending the funeral of three soldiers. In the Supreme Court hearing, we hear that he has given authorization to the Solicitor General Heather Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel) to effectively put full responsibility on the government for the attack that caused innocent deaths, arguing that the strike killed its criminal target and was legal and justified. The cross-cutting with the funeral tells us that Continue reading House of Cards (2015) S03E04 Recap/Review
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
Caution: major spoilers for season three: episode two (and possibly prior episodes) ahead.
You can find my recap/review of season three: episode one here.
The second episode of House of Cards season three opens on a hearing over Claire Underwood’s (Robin Wright) proposed nomination to the title of Ambassador to the U.N. She is heavily interrogated by Republican Senator Mendosa–who pledged in the previous episode to not fight her nomination openly–which causes a media frenzy. While this is going on, Frank (Kevin Spacey) walks into a meeting where he is informed by other party leaders that the Democratic Party does not want him to run for President in 2016. Things aren’t going well for the Underwoods.
The ramifications of these two events carry on for a few scenes. Probably for a few too many. A cross-cutting and split-screening montage ofcampaign phone calls from Claire and Frank seems a bit much.
The more interesting plot line Continue reading House of Cards (2015) S03E02 Recap/Review
House of Cards: Season 3 Episode 1 Recap/Review
Note: major spoilers ahead.
In the opening scene of the Netflix Original Series’ third season premiere, we see Continue reading House of Cards (2015) S03E01 Recap/Review
The Lazarus Effect is a thriller/horror film from director David Gelb. The film stars Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Evan Peters, and Donald Glover as four grant researchers testing the effects of a special serum on dead animals. During their research, the manage to revive a dead and blind dog. The dog, miraculously healthy (even regaining his eyesight), shows extreme activity in his brain from the serum, which doesn’t seem to be decaying from his body as the scientist’s expected it would. Clay (Peters) points out that the increased neural firing will have an adverse affect on the aggression center of the dog’s brain, causing the animal to become dangerous.
When a pharmaceutical company takes over their research, Continue reading The Lazarus Effect (2015) Movie Review
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.
The Nominees:
Continue reading 2015 Academy Award Predictions — Live Action Short Film
I don’t understand. Carrie (2013) was unnecessary. The Amityville Horror (2005) was unnecessary. Does anybody remember Psycho (1998)? Rebooting classic horror movies simply doesn’t work (95% of the time, at least). Perhaps the only exception to this rule that can be found Continue reading Poltergeist (2015) Trailer Reaction
The Nominees:
Continue reading 2015 Academy Award Predictions — Best Documentary
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