By: Addison Wylie Sometimes, films directed at children – very, very young children – can be recommended based on how bright the visuals are. If the entertainment isn’t stimulating through its story, the film will at least stimulate the senses through its colour palette. That’s sort of the case with The Hero of Color City, a mediocre kids film with not a whole lot to offer. Frank Gladstone’s kiddie film is possibly the most literal…
By: Addison Wylie With every review, I try to inject some insight as to how I felt while watching the movie. Sometimes, I use humour and metaphors to get my point across. Writing has allowed my voice to travel along some creative routes in order to express an opinion about the medium. There’s no feeling quite like finding a conscious flow to your thoughts. With Gavin Michael Booth’s The Scarehouse, I have nothing interesting to…
By: Addison Wylie For those looking for a seasonal flick, Getting to the Nutcracker may hit the spot. Serene Meshel-Dillman’s documentary about the conception of The Nutcracker at Los Angeles’ Marat Daukayev School of Ballet is a eloquent film. If you’re a theatre enthusiast and are already humming Tchaikovsky, Getting to the Nutcracker will have you grinning throughout its entirety. Dillman documents each phase as best as possible leading up to the big show (which…
By: Addison Wylie Heartbeat is a nice party guest that’s too shy to say anything. After a while, you’re a little annoyed that they haven’t involved themselves more. And when they finally speak up, they fish for compliments in a coy manner but also try and convince you that they have low self esteem. By the end of the night, cleaning up crushed red cups and mopping up spilled brew is more fun than trying…
By: Gesilayefa Azorbo The first question Point and Shoot director Marshall Curry asks his subject off-camera is, “So how did a guy from Baltimore end up fighting in the Libyan revolution?” This is likely the question on the minds of every audience member who sits down to watch this film. And, it’s this question that the film itself repeatedly returns to examine through a mix of personal interviews and exposition via first-person video footage shot over…
By: Addison Wylie Misunderstandings are a common thread in movies directed by the Farrelly Brothers. With Dumb and Dumber To, misunderstandings have exceeded past plot and the dimwitted characters. Since Dumb and Dumber To has the filmmakers returning to the past, let’s take a look at their flawed filmography. The 90’s were very kind towards the brothers with Dumb and Dumber, KIngpin, and There’s Something About Mary scoring mightily with audiences. In 2003, matters started…
By: Addison Wylie Anyone can review The Amazing Spider-Man 2. It’s a popular property that accumulates truckloads of moolah, merchandise, and movie goers. It’s an easy film to seek out and watch, and afterwards, the consensus is measured on whether that audience was thrilled enough. Marc Webb’s sequel is popcorn entertainment that either comes through or doesn’t. There’s no middle ground. Instead of using this space to write about how much I was thrilled during…
By: Addison Wylie Emptying the Skies finds itself in a scenario where the message is greater than the film its wrapped up in. Douglas and Roger Kass have strewn together interviews and clips from conspicuous raids and tense confrontations to make an eye-opening film chronicling the ever-growing problem of bird poaching in southern Europe. The kindheartedness and tenacity of CABS (which stands for: Committee Against Bird Slaughter) is seen throughout, and their hearts remain open…
By: Addison Wylie Terrence Malick is a filmmaker who marches to the beat of his own drum. His unorthodox work has made audiences ponder, and his unique direction and screenwriting has challenged the actors he’s worked with. He’s certainly a one-of-a-kind with a sixth sense for beauty. I imagine collaborating under his mentorship would provide an artful view of how to express yourself using poetic language and imagery. However, the point of being a protege…
By: Addison Wylie I began watching Propganda not knowing of its satirical backbone, and my head nearly exploded. I’m glad I stopped the film to get caught up on Slavko Martinov’s faux-doc for it may have rendered me utterly speechless. My regret after reading the press release was turning the film back on to finish it. It takes a lunatic to make a “movie” as blunt, sarcastic, and grim as this one. That madman is Martinov,…