By: Addison Wylie Gracie Otto’s The Last Impresario was a documentary I wanted to like. But, I simply had a hard time buying it. I like her film’s subject, Michael White, and I’ve grown to like a lot of the projects he’s produced. I admire his eye for originality, and how far he bent his back to make sure provocative artists were heard. He took underdog productions like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cambridge Circus,…
Queen of Blood (DIR. Chris Alexander) By: Addison Wylie Two years ago, Fangoria’s editor-in-chief Chris Alexander rocked the Blood in the Snow Film Festival with his filmmaking debut Blood For Irina. He called it an “experience” and said the best way to view the film is by locking yourself in with it. He was absolutely right. His atmospheric silent film was a masterpiece and a sensory whirlwind; utilizing ominous music and smouldering cinematography to pull the movie goer…
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…
As movie goers prepare for the season’s holiday offerings, horror fans buckle up for a round of Canadian talent at this year’s Blood in the Snow Film Festival. The festival, founded by Kelly Michael Stewart, features the cream of the genre crop. Blood in the Snow’s selections range from unsettling slow burns to the visually grotesque. It’s a competently passionate showcase that gives indie filmmakers a fantastic opportunity to premiere their work, and hands audiences a rare…
By: Addison Wylie Edge of Tomorrow owes some gratitude towards video game culture. Doug Liman’s exciting movie emulates the entire process of playing a challenging level against inhuman hoodlums, failing it, and then having to repeat your steps. It also searches through that option of having to find an alternate route in order to complete your mission. When people compare movies to video games, it’s usually to knock the film down a couple of pegs….
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 “I think I liked that movie…” As soon as Maleficent’s credits rolled, those were the lukewarm words that scrolled across my brain like a news ticker reporting a traffic jam at three in the morning. Robert Stromberg’s reimagining of one of Disney’s villains had me entertained and interested throughout. But, do modern day revisions have to be this heavy? This is more of a question directed towards Disney and screenwriter Linda Woolverton. When…
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 It’s dangerous for a film like Palo Alto to have a character openly confess that movies nowadays are pointless. You expect that character to look straight into the camera and sigh. I was left sighing while I watched Gia Coppola’s feature film debut. I was also skeptically furrowing my eyebrows and skewing expressions in my stupor. Palo Alto could easily be resold as a workout video for voice actors. Coppola has taken…