Have a library card? You can now stream these Oscar-nominated films exclusively on Kanopy

Kanopy (as well as Hoopla) team up with libraries to offer movies to stream FOR FREE if you have a library card. Pretty cool, right?

Find your library here

Right now, Kanopy is offering 2 exclusively on their platform.

“Of Fathers and Sons” (nominated for Best Documentary Feature) and “Weekends” (nominate for Best Animated Short)

 

Review: ‘OUT On Stage’ is first LGBTQ stand-up comedy series.

OUT on Stage: The Series
Hosted by Zach Noe Towers
Premieres – Jan 17, 2018

OUT on Stage: The Series is full of laughs and genuinely funny comics. You will laugh out loud at every episode. The comics are eclectic and wonderful. You’ll recognize a few faces right off the bat. If you are a part of the LGBTQ community or an ally, this is a show for you just as much as this blog post about all pride flags and names. But let’s be real for a second, if you are a prude, hate funny people, or generally have a stick up your butt, well we don’t need your sass or your judgypants. It can be incredibley raunchy and unexpectedly poignant. We need more of this brand of comedy (and storytelling) in the limelight. This should the new norm.  OUT on Stage: The Series is a brilliant show about opportunity and inclusion and we should all be here for that.

HOST: Zach Noe Towers
Zach Noe Towers is an LA-based comedian, actor, and writer who was recently named one of Time Out Magazine’s “2018 Comedians to Watch.” Zach was recently the host of the “The Elite Daily Show” on Verizon’s Go90 network for Seasons 1-4, and will be hosting and starring “Out on Stage”. Zach’s recent short film “Killer Friends” (which he directed, wrote, and starred in) was screened at many film festivals both domestically and internationally, and won the overall audience award at Dances With Films.
FEATURING: Jonathan Rowell, Brendan Scannell, Casey Ley, Julian Michael, Irene Tu, Jared
Goldstein, Raneir Pollard, Kyle Shire, Jordan Pease, Chris Bryant, Eric Hahn, Daniel
Webb, Joe Dosch, Gloria Bigelow, Anthony Desamito, Janine Brito, A.B. Cassidy and
Zach Noe Towers
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Comedy Dynamics & Dekkoo
EPISODES PER SEASON: 6
TRT: 30 min. (per episode)

ABOUT COMEDY DYNAMICS

Comedy Dynamics, a Nacelle company, is one of the largest independent comedy production and distribution companies, producing Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History, Animal Planet’s Animal Nation with Anthony Anderson, the new scripted comedy on Hulu, There’s… Johnny!, History’s Join Or Die with Craig Ferguson, MTV2’s Wild ’N On Tour, and Hulu’s Coming To The Stage. In 2018, Comedy Dynamics began releasing original films in theaters starting with the acclaimed documentary, Poop Talk. The company has worked with a wide range of established and emerging comedic talent including Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Jim Gaffigan, Katt Williams and many more. In total, 12 of Comedy Dynamics’ releases have been Grammy-nominated, with 2 wins

ABOUT DEKKOO

Dekkoo (pronounced “DECK-koo”) is the premiere subscription-based streaming service dedicated to gay men, providing the largest streaming collection of gay-centric entertainment available, boasting a larger selection than Here TV, Netflix or Amazon.  Dekkoo is available internationally via iTunes, Google Play, AppleTV and Roku.  In the U.S. and U.K., Dekkoo is also available via the Amazon Dekkoo Channel.  Dekkoo original series include “Feral,” “Love is Blind” and “I’m Fine.”  www.dekkoo.com

Review: ‘All These Small Moments’ is what life is made of.

SYNOPSIS: A teenage boy’s infatuation with a woman he sees on the bus further complicates his already tumultuous adolescence.

There is something about this film that stuck with me. While it might appear to be about a young man’s infatuation with an older woman he sees on the bus every day, it’s really about everything else going on around him. All These Small Moments is a film about a family breaking down. It’s about first love, and adolescence, and loss, and discovery. There is not one single loose thread in this honestly written script. It’s a true ensemble piece. I didn’t know I was missing Molly Ringwald in my life on a regular basis until I saw her in this role of Carla, a mother at the end of her emotional rope. Harley Quinn Smith does such a perfect job I thought I was watching myself in a flashback of high school… or in college. Somewhere between bold and shy, she takes the reigns of Lindsay and rides this opportunity further than one might expect from her actual time on screen. Brendan Meyer’s Howie is the driving force of this story. Giving a quirkier but completely believable performance rounds out a film that really does take the small moments and show us that each of them adds up to a much larger meaning. There are no massive explosions, no crazy otherworldly occurrences, just regular down-to-earth scenarios that happen as they would in any other family’s life in America, statistically speaking. That’s entirely the point. Although, there is a cool animated opening sequence with some pretty sweet music. You can see All These Small Moments in theaters and On Demand and Digital HD today. 

ALL THESE SMALL MOMENTS features emotionally raw performances by veteran actors Molly Ringwald (“Riverdale,” Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club) and Brian d’Arcy James (“13 Reasons Why,” First Man, Spotlight) with breakthrough performances from up-and-comers Brendan Meyer (“The OA,” Fear The Walking Dead: Flight 462, The Guest), Sam McCarthy  (“Condor,” “The Blacklist,” The Jim Gaffigan Show”), Harley Quinn Smith (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Yoga Hosers, Holidays) and Jemima Kirke (“Maniac,” “Girls,” The Little Hours). The film is the theatrical film debut for writer and director Melissa B. Miller Costanzo who previously worked in the art department on such films as IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, THE FIGHTER and PRECIOUS.

Review: ‘ADULT LIFE SKILLS’ finds humor in overwhelming darkness.

ADULT LIFE SKILLS 

**Winner of 2016 Tribeca Film Festival’s Nora Ephron Prize**

Anna (Jodie Whittaker) is comfortable living in her mom’s garden shed making funny videos all day, but as she approaches 30, she starts feeling the pressure to move on and “grow up” without compromising her youthful spirit.

There is something whimsical about Adult Life Skills that takes hold of your heart. Jodie Whittaker plays Anna, a woman on the brink of turning thirty living in the backyard shed of her family’s home. Attempting to hold on tight to her childhood, she pushes back on growth as she is still reeling from the death of her twin brother. Reliving her relationship through the wonderfully absurd movies they created together for their website, Anna reluctantly takes a lonely neighbor boy (whose mother is dying of what we presume to be cancer) under her wing. Through his growing attachment, she learns to assess her emotional journey and come to terms with her reality. Whittaker is charming and honest. Each beat has depth and humor under the very real sadness. The surrounding ensemble of female family and friends pushes Adult Life Skills to the next level of indie darling. It’s a creative film version of depression. It delves into the mind of sadness with a visually interesting and fully uniquely fleshed out storyline The soundtrack is catchy and haunting as hell. On the whole, Adult Life Skills is simply lovely.

In Theaters and On Demand January 18, 2019 

Starring: Jodie Whittaker (“Doctor Who”) and Edward Hogg (“Harlots,” “Misfits”)

Written & Directed by: Rachel Tunnard

Review: ‘WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?’ is poignant and timely and terrifying.

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? could not be coming at a more tumultuous time in history. How did we get here? Director Astra Taylor poses the question to people from every corner of the globe in this poignant documentary. The film explores the past, present, and theorizes what will become of our future if we do not pause to learn from our previous mistakes. The world is in what feels like total upheaval but it is not the first time we as a civilization have been on the precipice of either disaster or triumph. We march, we vote, we are inundated with fake news, and yet the people continue to strive for peace and equality against all odds. But democracy goes both ways. That’s the very essence of the word itself. Can good prevail without its counterpart? What we gather, on the whole, is that the naive promise of democracy is beginning to feel like an unfulfilled promise. That no matter the world’s location, race, socio-economics, and money rule. Let us not become numb to the negative but continue to seek compromise and understanding. Truly, WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? should be required viewing in every high school civics class. Hell, it should be required viewing by every human being.

Acclaimed director Astra Taylor‘s WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? (TIFF 2018) opens Jan. 16, 2019 at IFC Center in New York via Zeitgeist Films in association with Kino Lorber, followed by theatrical engagements nationwide.

Synopsis: Coming at a moment of profound political and social crisis, What Is Democracy? reflects on a word we too often take for granted. Director Astra Taylor’s (Zizek! and Examined Life) idiosyncratic, philosophical journey spans millennia and continents: from ancient Athens’ groundbreaking experiment in self-government to capitalism’s roots in medieval Italy; from modern-day Greece grappling with financial collapse and a mounting refugee crisis to the United States reckoning with its racist past and the growing gap between rich and poor. The film features Cornel West, Angela Davis, theorists, activists, asylum seekers and a diverse cast of people from around the world.

Where to Watch Obama’s 2018 Movie List – Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, EPIX, Rent/Buy

Artist: Joe Burdick

All the movies on Obama’s list are the best of the best. From the Best Foreign Film Entry from South Korea, Burning to the female badasses of Annliation, there’s guaranteed you’ll find one of these movies worth your time. As I looked at Obama’s favorite movies of 2018, I’ve only seen 7, and I wondered where I could see the rest of them. As of this posting, I discovered that 12 of the 15 can be seen online right now! Two of them are on Netflix: Black Panther & Roma (also in select theaters). Minding the Gap can be seen on Hulu, The Death of Stalin on Showtime and The Rider. Three are only available in theaters: Burning, Shoplifters and If Beale Street Could Talk.

Here’s a quick recap of where you can watch each.

  • Annihilation – EPIX, Rent, Buy 4K – SCI-FI  DRAMA
  • Black Panther – Netflix, Rent, Buy 4K ACTION SCI-FI
  • BlacKkKlansman – Buy 4K, Rent 4K DRAMA  ACTION
  • Blindspotting – Select Theaters, Buy 4K, Rent 4K DRAMA  COMEDY
  • Burning – Select Theaters DRAMA
  • The Death of Stalin – Showtime, Rent, Buy COMEDY
  • Eighth Grade – Buy 4K, Rent 4K DRAMA
  • If Beale Street Could Talk – Select Theaters DRAMA
  • Leave No Trace – Rent, Buy DRAMA
  • Minding the Gap – Hulu DOCUMENTARY
  • The Rider – Starz, Rent, Buy DRAMA
  • Roma – Select Theaters, Netflix 4K DRAMA
  • Shoplifters – Select Theaters DRAMA
  • Support the Girls – Rent, Buy COMEDY DRAMA
  • Won’t You Be My Neighbor – Rent, Buy DOCUMENTARY

Four of these movies are on AFI’s Top Ten list of 2018: Black PantherBlacKkKlansmanEighth Grade, If Beale Street Could Talk.

Burning is the Best Foreign Film Entry for South Korea.

Ten of the movies have been nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award. BlacKkKlansman, Blindspotting, Eighth Grade, Leave No Trace, Minding the Gap, The Rider, Roma, Shoplifters, Support the Girls, Won’t You Be My Neighbor

As for festivals, 11 of the 15 we either in Cannes, Sundance, New York Film Festival or Toronto International Film Festival.

Check out the table below to discover more about Obama’s list of movies.

Review: ‘THE QUAKE’ will rock you to your core.

Skjelvet (2018)With PTSD and survivors guilt, hero Kristian is back in the town of Geiranger (Norway) attempting to come to terms with the disaster that was The Wave. He knows Mother Nature has no plans to be kind and that it is only a matter of time before all hell breaks loose again. The signs are all there, you cannot ignore history or hard data. Now he must do everything in his power to save his family and the people of Oslo from the biggest earthquake in its history.
The Wave had some of the most impressive effects I’ve seen outside of a Hollywood produced blockbuster. Far better than many. The Quake surpasses its predecessor. The slow burn of geology science and an emotional stronghold created for the characters sets up the craziness that will inevitably ensue. The tension of knowing the proverbial shit is going to hit the fan at any moment makes the real-time panic all the more intense. Of course, a character is stuck on the 34th floor of a glass covered hotel. Of course, family members are scattered across Oslo. The sprawling shots, blackouts, silence, alarms that arrive too late, combined with a foreboding score make for one perfectly monstrous natural disaster film. The stunts are incredibly timed and impeccably executed. What makes this film and The Wave so scary is that they are based on facts and completely plausible and unpredictable scenarios. The visuals are disturbing, again, for the reasons previously stated. As we watch the news and the growing frequency or power of storms and fires and quakes, we see the death toll rise and we are mostly helpless. That is our biggest fear. The idea that there is zero we can do about it. The Quake plays upon that reality and gives us one hell of a dress rehearsal.
In Theaters and On Demand on December 14
Directed by John Andres Andersen
Written by John Kåre Raake, Harald Rosenløw-EegStarring:
Kristoffer Joner
Ane Dahl Torp
Jonas Hoff Oftebro
Edith Haagenrud-Sande
Kathrine Thorborg Johansen

In 1904 an earthquake of magnitude 5.4 on the Richter scale shook Oslo. The earthquake had its epicenter in the “Oslo Graben” which runs under the Norwegian capital. There are still smaller earthquakes happening in this area today. Geologists cannot be sure, but there are signs that indicate that we can expect a major future earthquake in Oslo. When it comes – nobody can say with certainty. Maybe in 100 years, maybe in 10 years, maybe tomorrow.

Review: HBO’s documentary ‘BLEED OUT’- The medical blame game might literally kill you.

Medical error is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

I have an innate fear of the doctors and hospitals. There are valid reasons for that. The first surgery I had to remove my appendix only happened after I refused to leave the emergency room until the doctors found out what was wrong with me. Had I left, my appendix would have burst the next morning. Then, I was able to learn more about the dr roxy reviews and while going to the plastic surgeon for a simple mole removal, the nurse asked me who would be driving me home. When I told her I’d be transporting myself, she told me that I’d be under a massive amount of anesthesia because I was getting a breast augmentation. “Wow! Wrong file!” I screamed. There were only two patients at the clinic that morning. And don’t even get me started on my two C-sections.

Death insurance, or Burial Insurance as it is more commonly known, is a way of making sure that your funeral costs are taken care of before the event comes. It is a way of preparing yourself for the inevitable whilst making sure that loved ones are not left with the responsibility. You will find many options when it comes to insurance relating to life and death and it certainly pays to find out more about them, what do you think about death insurance. Basic death insurance means that you can make sure that at the very least your funeral is all paid for before you leave this earth. A policy known as Pre-Need Insurance is available which is specifically designed for this purpose. They are available through funeral homes and it is these homes that are the beneficiary of the policy. This ensures that the funds are paying the funeral costs and nothing else. Other types of death insurance include the option of getting a lump sum paid to any named beneficiary in the event of your death. The difference between these types of policies and the Pre-Need Insurance is that the funds are not specifically allocated to the costs of a funeral. If you still have money owing to others after you pass on, the funds from these policies can be used to pay these debts off. Items associated with death including medical bills and nursing home fees could be paid off in full. Commonly these policies are called simply Burial Insurance or Final Expense Insurance. The advantage of these types of policies is that you pick the person who receives the death benefit. It could be a spouse, colleague, your children or a friend. It is recommended that after taking out a policy, you discuss with the beneficiary where you would like the funds to be allocated. You may have specific requests about who should be given a payment from the monies received. It is worth noting that the beneficiary will be given the money to use as they see fit unless you do this. Also, any cash that is left over belongs to the named person themselves.

The new HBO doc airing tonight, BLEED OUT, hit home and it’s a brutal and frustrating watch. That’s the point. Steve Burrows was a comedy director in L.A. until his mother broke her hip in Wisconsin. She went from free spirit retiree to permanent neurocognitive impairment in a matter of days. Now he’s on a mission to take the hospital, doctors, insurance companies to task in a lawsuit no one wanted to touch. Visit us at https://cliffsideskinandlaser.com/general-dermatology/ for more details regarding to medical dermatology. The entire system is stacked against the people and most of them don’t even know it… Until something happens to them. Politicians love to use healthcare as a talking point but no one can seem to protect the patient, they’re only protecting the business of corporate medicine. You will be pissed off and rightly so. This is a story about one family’s fight but there are literally thousands of stories like this happening daily. Daily. People are drowning in bills they should not have to pay. It’s quite frankly disgusting.But if you have allergy or food intolerance problem then I suggest you to visit this website. Bleed Out is a phenomenal companion to the podcast Dr. Death. This, too, illustrates the lack of care for patients. In Bleed Out, you will watch mistake after mistake, finger pointing, and zero accountability. This single ordeal is one that covers a decade of chaos. Now imagine the cases that go undocumented. Burrows put his heart, soul, and career on the line to fight the proverbial man. He is my hero. This film is one every single American needs to watch, if not for themselves most definitely for their loved ones. For dedicated and passionate about the health of your skin. It’s our commitment to you that has helped us achieve dermatologist rancho santa margarita help us.

After a routine partial hip replacement operation leaves the mother of filmmaker and comedian Steve Burrows in a coma with permanent brain damage, what starts as a personal video diary becomes a citizen’s investigation into the state of American health care. Shot over the course of ten years, using archival footage, vérité scenes and interviews with family members and experts, the thought-provoking documentary BLEED OUT debuts MONDAY, DEC. 17 (8:00–9:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

The film will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners’ streaming platforms.

Review: ‘Astral’ is out of the normal realm.

Coming to terms with the explanation of his mother’s untimely death, Alex turns to spiritual contact after the relationship with his father breaks down. As a student of metaphysics, Alex learns of the “scientific” premise of astral projection—the ability to project your spirit into an unseen spatial dimension. Attempting to astral project, Alex becomes plagued by shadow spirits—malevolent entities vying to enter his body to access our world. Alex soon learns that he is not the only member of his family to have been besieged by such beings, as his mother’s dark past is brought to his attention.

The pace of the film is a mystery. By that I mean, it has the feel of a slow and steady burn but in reality, the time passes really quickly. Which is sort of ironic when you consider the editing of a few scenes. You’ll have to watch to see what I mean by that. I was fully engrossed the entire run. Admittedly, the plot went in an entirely different direction than I was expecting which is always refreshing. At first, I thought it was going to be a typical setup of students and professor engaging in some private and shady experiments outside of the classroom but it has none of that. Then you think, well maybe it will a bit Flatliners inspired. Wrong again. Bravo for not falling into any of those traps. With Astral, there is very specific CG and used rather sparingly throughout the majority of the film. The effectiveness of the CG is impactful and it’s all that’s needed to build up the suspense. The film’s believability rests solely with our leading man, Frank Dillane. He happens to be my favorite actor from Fear The Walking Dead and he does not disappoint here. His natural ability to make you feel comfortable is pretty astounding. You genuinely root for him. Astral does an amazing job at making you feel on edge. The ending is worth the wait and the familiar occult historical references give it nicely grounded feel. Is astral projection the new Ouija board? Maybe.

ASTRAL was co-written by Chris and Michael Mul and is Chris Mul’s directorial debut.  The film has a running time of 83 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA.

Vertical Entertainment will release ASTRAL in a multi-city theatrical release with markets including LA and NY among others on November 23. The film will also be made available on digital platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Xbox, Fandango Now, Direct TV, Dish Network and through local cable providers

DOC NYC review: ‘FAMILY IN TRANSITION’ is more complicated than it appears.

This doc explores the boundaries we push for love and acceptance. Amit is a husband, a father, and business owner. She is also transgender. This story is about her transition and how it affects the family and friends that surround her. It’s a timely film here in the US as the government is attempting to legally discredit transgender identity by legally defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth. Amit has four children with her wife Galit. Daughter Agam is beyond wise for her years and the most vocal about their unique family dynamics. She understands that people’s ignorance is not her problem. She chooses to surround herself with open-minded peers. The emotional toll of transitioning seems endless. It has the highest highs and lowest lows. How does a marriage survive when circumstance completely changes? What happens after she goes to Thailand for gender reassignment surgery for a month? It’s not a glamorous film. It’s real, it’s honest. It’s exactly what people need to see. Family in Transition is a story of unconditional love and the ultimate sacrifices we make to become whole from the inside out.

DOC NYC International Premiere on November 11 / Opening Nov 16 in LA and Nov 23 in NY

Amit, a husband, and father of four, living in Nahariya, Israel, reveals to his family that he’s a transgender woman. Amit’s wife, Galit, decides to stick with Amit through this journey. Despite personal difficulties and social stigmas, the family insists on staying together, believing that love will overcome all difficulties.

DOC NYC review: ‘We Are Not Done Yet’ shines a spotlight on PTSD

HBO’s powerful new documentary short WE ARE NOT DONE YET, airing November 8thand produced by actor Jeffrey Wright (HBO’s Westworld), follows the stories of ten U.S. veterans striving to combat their traumatic military histories through art, poetry and performance. At a workshop led by poet Seema Reza and Community Building Art Works, they share their fears, vulnerabilities and victories, using the written word to heal, bond, encourage and empower. Their work culminates in a live performance at Washington D.C.’s Lansburgh Theater under the direction of Wright. As much of an activist as he is an actor, Wright produced the short and has been heavily involved with veteran organizations for years. He was so inspired by the group’s process and motivation during the workshop that he knew he had to get a camera crew inside and help share their stories.

There is something so cathartic about standing onstage and bearing one’s soul. When it’s your own written word it’s on another level. When the words are true, it’s the most powerful of all. WE ARE NOT DONE YET gives a literal voice to a group of veterans living with PTSD. They have used performance art to share their stories, lives, and emotions with an audience now far beyond the Lansburgh Theater. HBO has given us a gift in this short. It has opened the door for others to speak,  hope, and feel connected in a new way. Watching these fine people is nothing short of breathtaking. I’m not sure you can sit back and hold back the tears as a human being as you experience their trauma through their writing. Not of a moment of this film feels exploitative from an observer with zero military background. I’m hoping it reads the same for those who might believe they are alone. WE ARE NOT DONE YET aired this evening and will be available on HBO Now and HBO Go. This is important filmmaking. The message is clear. We cannot ignore the trauma, we must embrace it and do better for all our veterans.

Review: ‘The Dark’ brings new light to the zombie genre.

Dark Sky Films Proudly Announces
‘THE DARK’ 
 IN THEATERS AND ON VOD 
OCTOBER 26, 2018   
 
Debut from Justin P. Lange stars Nadia Alexander of TV’s The Sinner and Netflix’s Seven Seconds 
Film Synopsis
On the outskirts of a small town lies Devil’s Den, a mysterious tract of woods where many have entered but no one has ever left. The local rumor is that the spirit of a young girl who was horrifically murdered there haunts and hunts in this dense forest, brutally slaying anyone who dares to step into her terrain. When a man with a dark past crosses her path, a series of events are set in motion that may lead to a peculiar kind of redemption for two tragically tortured souls.
This new take on a zombie film is actually about protection. Mina is a girl who haunts the woods. She longs for the taste of flesh and is extremely efficient at murder. But the murders serve a higher purpose other than sustenance. She is safeguarding her secret and looking after a kidnapped boy named Alex. She struggles with anger, self loathing, and caring for someone other than herself. Alex suffers from ongoing PTSD, in reality, they are not so different. The payoff of Mina’s backstory is disturbing but meaningful. The trust she builds with Alex is clearly something she never felt while she was alive. She has become a “living” urban legend. The film is driven solely by our two leads. They feel grounded in their backstories and the chemistry is the perfect amount of touch and go, at arm’s length. The film is certainly explores redemption and dabbles further into fantasy with a pretty ambiguous ending. The lack of score, with exception of “Mina’s Theme” that we hear perhaps three times in the film’s duration, adds to the heightened sense of eventual doom and sadness. The Dark is not your typical zombie fare and deserves your full attention

THE DARK
Written and Directed by Justin P. Lange
Cast: Nadia Alexander (USA’s The Sinner, Netflix’s Seven Seconds)Toby Nichols (Netflix’s Iron FistTrumbo), Karl Markovics (The Counterfeiters)    
TRT: 95 min
Country: Austria
Rating: Not Rated
Language: English
Genre: Horror

Review: ‘Don’t Go’ is mysterious and visually delicious.


PRESENTS

OPENS IN THEATERS TODAY!

Synopsis:
Somewhere between dreams and reality lies a terrifying hidden truth… Reeling from the shock of their young daughter’s death, Ben (Stephen Dorff) and Hazel (Melissa George) attempt to restart their lives in a picturesque seaside village. But when the girl begins appearing to Ben in a haunting recurring dream, he becomes convinced that she is attempting to make contact from beyond the grave—and that his nightmare may hold the key to bringing her back to life. As Hazel begins to fear for her husband’s sanity, they are each drawn into a mystery far beyond their understanding. This tantalizing psychological puzzle plumbs the depths of grief and guilt as it unravels the dark secret at its center.

Don’t Go boasts so visually striking sequences. Using overly saturated light and tones to express memory or dream states, makes it a feast for the eyes. The reoccurring imagery is clever and precise. The story is one of a lost marriage exacerbated by the sudden death of this couple’s young daughter. When Dorff’s character convinces himself that he can bring her back from the beyond, his buried guilt drives him, and everyone around him to their breaking point. With great performances from stars Stephen Dorff, Melissa George, and Aoibhinn McGinnity Don’t Go still remained a mystery to me after watching and rewatching the final 20 minutes. I’m not quite sure what was real but if that was the intent, then plot well laid out. The simple fact that I’m still attempting to untangle it says a lot about Ronan Blaney‘s writing. You can catch Don’t Go In theaters today. Check out the trailer below!

A FILM BY DAVID GLEESON

WRITTEN BY:
Ronan Blaney (The Back of Beyond, Love Bites)

STARRING:
Stephen Dorff (“True Detective”, Blade, Somewhere, Public Enemies)
Melissa George (“Grey’s Anatomy”, “The Good Wife,” “In Treatment”)
Aoibhinn McGinnity (“Quarry”, Love/Hate)
Simon Delaney (The Conjuring 2, Delivery Man)
Charlotte Bradley (The Boys and Girl from County Clare, The Gift)
Luke Griffin (Band of Brothers, Pure Mule)

New York Film Festival Review: ‘Private Life’ – Now on Netflix!

There is an age-old dilemma in Manhattan in respect to career and family. When I was a preschool teacher 10 years ago, the average age of the parents in my class when they gave birth was 40. My own mother had me at 22. This was the “normal” I understood. But, after I got married at 31 and moved back to Manhattan after years of traveling the world, I realized that I was faced with the same dilemma. My husband had not just hinted but boldly stated that he was ready for kids. I had just gotten deep into film criticism and similar projects, there was no way I was about to slow down now. Then, once I was ready it took a grueling 8 months to get pregnant. I know, some people will say that’s not a very long time, it takes years for some women to get pregnant. But that feeling of disappointment and fear month after month is palpable still. Those visceral memories are what made Tamara Jenkins new film Private Life so engrossing for me.

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Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti play a couple that put arts careers first and family second. Then the reality of the situation slams into them head-on. With adoption, fertility treatments, and surrogacy all on the table, this couple cannot seem to catch a break. The brilliance of this film is the fact that it’s rooted in reality. The emotional rollercoaster that is trying to be parents is all emotions at once. The comedy is as pure as the heartbreak. Giamatti is always fantastic. There is a beautiful juxtaposition in a performance from Molly Shannon. On the surface, it may appear to be an uncomplicated foil for Katherine’s character, but it is anything but. Private Life‘s essence lies in Hahn’s performance. Her soul-baring work will most certainly catch you off guard. It’s the quietest moments that crush you. Her specificity is award-worthy stuff, no doubt. Private Life is not just about having a kid, it’s about marriage. It’s about the delicate balance of love and hate and resentment between two people who promise to be together forever. Hands down, in my top three films from the festival this year. You can catch Private Life right now on Netflix. I highly recommend you do.

Review: ‘GALVESTON’ impresses with its story and star, Ben Foster.

SYNOPSIS: Roy (Foster) is a heavy-drinking criminal enforcer and mob hit man whose boss set him up in a double-cross scheme. After killing his would-be assassins before they could kill him, Roy discovers Rocky (Fanning), a young woman being held captive, and reluctantly takes her with him on his escape. Determined to find safety and sanctuary in Galveston, Roy must find a way to stop his boss from pursuing them while trying to outrun the demons from his and Rocky’s pasts.

Just when I think Ben Foster can’t get better, well, I should know better by now. His fearless choices in roles continue in the new film Galveston. A man double-crossed and doing a good deed for a captive young girl (played spectacularly by Elle Tanning), Foster once again transforms voice, physicality, and persona to become a hero. His powerful on-screen presence is undeniable and one day, sooner rather than later, we will see him with a much deserved Oscar in his hands. His chemistry with Fanning is delicate and honest as the reality of their dilemma unfolds. The film is a tour de force of intensity from the get-go. It only becomes darker as the story rolls on. Galveston is as heartbreaking as it is triumphant.

RLJE Films will release the thriller / drama GALVESTON in theaters and On Demand / Digital HD on October 19, 2018.

Based on the novel by the creator of “True Detective,” GALVESTON stars Ben Foster (Hell or High Water), Elle Fanning (The Beguiled), Beau Bridges (The Mountain Between Us), Lili Reinhart (“Riverdale”), and Robert Aramayo (Nocturnal Animals). The film made its world premiere at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival and was directed by Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) from a script by Jim Hammett.

 

Review: ‘All About Nina’ is comedy with darkness and brilliance.

We’re living in a world where we have an admitted sexual predator in the White House. We’re living in a moment in time where women are sick and tired of being trampled on, blamed, persecuted, broken, and made to relive their trauma over and over. In dark times we seek escapism. Movies and theater and art keep us grounded. They let us forget the shit and live in a world that can be, at times, as perfect as the fairytale presented. The new film starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, All About Nina, is not that film.A comic, trying to wade her way through shitty relationships and her budding career, invited us to ride an emotionally explosive rollercoaster right alongside her. As the plot rolls along, it takes a complete 180. Nina’s battle with her past finally comes to light in a very public way. Once this occurs, the script’s small, delicately placed moments have their full weight realized. The comedy is raunchy and appreciated. The cast is filled with comic greats, new and old, but it is Common and Winstead that make this story breathe. It took me a full 45 mins to buy into what Common was selling but maybe that’s just the cynic in me. One particular scene breaks that defense for me and it’s worth the wait. As for Winstead, if I thought she’d even be looked at for this role come Oscar season I would send a blimp with her name on it. She is brilliant in the way women often are but don’t have to balls to shows you, for lack of a better description. Although, once you see her in this film you will just realize it couldn’t be more perfect. All About Nina currently has a 100% fresh certification on Rotten Tomatoes. That’s genuinely difficult to achieve and I am thrilled about it.

Women have a lot to say these days. You should probably just shut up and listen for once. I guarantee, with stories and leads like Nina, we will surprise the hell out of you.

The Orchard will release the film in select theaters on September 28th.

Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Common, first-time feature filmmaker Eva Vives directed and wrote the screenplay based partly on her own life experiences. Like Nina, Eva makes ample use of dark humor to deflect the pain. The film has an amazing supporting cast with Jay MohrChace Crawford, Clea DuVall, Kate del Castillo, Beau Bridges.

‘Miss Sherlock’ from HBO ASIA® streams for US subscribers today

MISS SHERLOCK pays homage to the classic by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, with bold interpretations of the iconic characters, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. MISS SHERLOCK is set in modern day Tokyo and both lead characters are Japanese women – Dr. Wato Tachibana, a surgeon recently returned from a volunteer doctors’ mission in Syria and Sara Shelly Futaba, an investigation consultant to the police department who solves bizarre and difficult cases. Throughout the series, the pair solves mystery after mystery with Miss Sherlock’s extraordinary observation and reasoning skills.

The HBO Asia series MISS SHERLOCK will be available to HBO’s U.S. subscribers across all of the channel’s platforms, including HBO GO®, HBO NOW®, HBO On Demand and partners’ streaming portals, starting SATURDAY, SEPT. 1. MISS SHERLOCK is the latest programming from HBO’s international partners to be made available to U.S. subscribers, joining critical hits such as HBO Europe’s “Wasteland” and “Aranyélet”; HBO Asia’s “Halfworlds” and “The Teenage Psychic”; and more.

Review: ‘BLOOD FEST’ is a fun homage to genre filmmakers and fans alike.

presents

BLOOD FEST

Fans flock to a festival celebrating the most iconic horror movies, only to discover that the charismatic showman behind the event has a diabolical agenda. As attendees start dying off, three teenagers with more horror-film wits than real-world knowledge must band together and battle through every madman, monstrosity and terrifying scenario if they have any hope of surviving.

Blood Fest takes a page out of the Scream franchise playbook by breaking down the scary movie rules and tropes. It’s a horror fan’s playground, literally. “Bloodfest” is horror’s Comic-Con or Disneyland. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, the dialogue is snappy as hell, and the sets are incredible. I know people, myself included, that would pay good money to enter such a gore-infused playland. Blood Fest is unapologetically silly and wonderful. Once on location at Bloodfest, we get right into the slashing, enhanced by a nice practical FX and some CG shots. It’s like being trapped in a horror video game you’re watching someone else play for you. Every nightmare someone might have is explored even if only for a moment.Think Cabin In The Woods level humor and (frankly, plot, as well) but with some new twists. To top it off, the entire cast is phenomenally talented. Also, ladies and gentlemen, Zachery Levi cameo. Blood Fest is wildly entertaining and undeniably fun. If you love the horror genre you’ll be thoroughly amused by the tongue-in-cheek way the plot rolls out, despite a few corny moments. Simply sit back and enjoy the bloody ride. Oh, and back to the franchise mention, there is no reason why this couldn’t turn into one itself. A sequel, at the very least, is completely plausible and welcome.

In Theaters & On Demand on August 31, 2018
Written and Directed by: Owen Egerton

Starring: Tate Donovan (The Untouchables, The Only Boy Living in New York,”The O.C.”), Robbie Kay (“Once Upon a Time”), Seychelle Gabriel (The Last Airbender, “Falling Skies”, “Sleepy Hollow”), Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War, Every Day, and The True Don Quixote), and Barbara Dunkelman (RWBY), Nick Rutherford, Chris Doubek, Rebecca Wagner and Zachary Levi

Executive Producers: Matt Hullum, Burnie Burns, and Ryan P. Hall

Producers: Seth Caplan, Will Hyde, and Ezra Venetos

Trailer for ‘BLOODFEST’, in Theaters and On Demand August 31st!

presents

BLOODFESTSynopsis:

Fans flock to a festival celebrating the most iconic horror movies, only to discover that the charismatic showman behind the event has a diabolical agenda. As attendees start dying off, three teenagers with more horror-film wits than real-world knowledge must band together and battle through every madman, monstrosity, and terrifying scenario if they have any hope of surviving.

In Theaters & On Demand on August 31, 2018

 Written and Directed by: Owen Egerton

Starring: Tate Donovan (The Untouchables, The Only Boy Living in New York,”The O.C.”), Robbie Kay (“Once Upon a Time”), Seychelle Gabriel (The Last Airbender, “Falling Skies”, “Sleepy Hollow”), Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War, Every Day, and The True Don Quixote), and Barbara Dunkelman (RWBY), Nick Rutherford, Chris Doubek, Rebecca Wagner and Zachary Levi

Executive Producers: Matt Hullum, Burnie Burns, and Ryan P. Hall

Producers: Seth Caplan, Will Hyde, and Ezra Venetos

 

Review: ‘SONGWRITER’ gives birth to Ed Sheeran’s best album yet.

I feel like if you don’t like Ed Sheeran‘s music you may be a bit of a sociopath. His songs are the ones you here over and over on the radio and either find yourself singing or waxing philosophically about. In the new doc by Murray Cummings, Songwriter, we get to go behind the magical creativity that becomes an Ed Sheeran album. Specifically, his third (and latest) album, “Divide”. One gorgeous hit after another is created by Ed, producer Benny Blanco, and a slew of family, friends, and fellow songwriters. The songs come in waves and sometimes tsunamis. Cummings, who just so happens to also be Sheeran’s cousin, has real-time studio, tour, and vacation footage mixed with childhood films of Ed. We’re even treated to his very first recording session, something altogether different from the songs we’ve fallen in love with. I often wonder how many babies exist in the world because of his melodies. Sheeran’s passion and talent permeate the screen. He is as charming and genuine offstage as he is on. Songwriter deserves to be watched on a device with superior speakers. Sheeran and his cohorts let us peek behind the curtain of their process. It is honest, funny, emotionally indulgent, and damn near perfect. Sheeran is something akin to a modern-day Shakespeare, in a word of 140 characters of all too often vitriol. So, if music be the food of love, play on Ed Sheeran, play on.

In Theaters on August 17th in NY and August 24th in LA and exclusively on Apple Music August 28th

Songwriter is an intimate and personal look into the writing process of one of the world’s leading artists – Ed Sheeran. Songwriter details the creation of Ed’s third studio album “Divide” and gives an authentic insight into Ed’s life through never before seen home videos. Witness firsthand the creativity, from the very first chord to the finishing touch – as the sounds become the songs.