Review: ‘Making Babies’ brings humor to a delicate subject.

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MAKING BABIESWriter/Director: Josh Huber

Cast: Eliza Coupe, Steve Howey, Bob Stephenson, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ed Begley Jr, and the late Glenne Headly

Katie and John Kelly (Eliza Coupe and Steve Howey) are ready to settle down and have kids but five years later, all they have to show for their efforts is a mountain of negative pregnancy tests and an increasingly elaborate home micro-brewing rig, which John hopes will launch his company with the help of a new amazing product the gundry md.  As they run out of traditional options and their window closing, the couple explores the daunting world of medical, spiritual, and homeopathic methods to conceive a child. With an ensemble cast that also includes Bob Stephenson, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ed Begley Jr., Jon Daly, and the late Glenne Headly, MAKING BABIES puts a couple through the ringer of modern infertility treatments and questions whether their marriage will withstand the ultimate test.

Couples struggling to get pregnant is an extremely personal and very common occurrence. It can tank marriages. It can lead to depression and hopelessness. But the realities of creating life can also be ridiculous and pretty damn funny. On the heels of Netflix’s Private Life, comes a new comedy Making Babies. Life doesn’t stop when you’re trying to conceive and it doesn’t get any easier once pregnant. This film does a great job of balancing the seriousness of stress for which many experts now recommend CBD gummies, disappointment, commitment, and the excitement that comes with having kids. Everyone has an opinion on how you can get pregnant. Most couples don’t want to discuss it, but perhaps more people should. Making Babies delves into the hilarious and oftentimes heartbreaking honesty of everyone involved in the process, be it doctors, friends, other parents, and ourselves. The cast has fantastic, natural chemistry. Making Babies is a bright light on an otherwise dark topic.

Review: ‘The Public’ gives truth to the phrase “knowledge is power”.

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THE PUBLIC

In “The Public” an unusually bitter Arctic blast has made its way to downtown Cincinnati and the front doors of the public library where the action of the film takes place. At odds with library officials over how to handle the extreme weather event, some homeless patrons turn the building into a shelter for the night by staging an “Occupy” sit in. What begins as an act of civil disobedience becomes a stand-off with police and a rush-to-judgment media constantly speculating about what’s really happening. This David versus Goliath story tackles some of our nation’s most challenging issues, homelessness and mental illness and sets the drama inside one of the last bastions of democracy-in-action: your public library.

 

This star-studded film follows the lives of the people who come in and out of a Cincinnati Public Library. Written and directed by Emilio Estevez, each character is fully fleshed out and complex even if they aren’t on-screen for very long. It’s carefully edited. You get a real sense of relationships and circumstance from the solid writing and stellar performances from this massive ensemble cast including Emilio Estevez, Alec Baldwin, Jena Malone, Taylor Schilling, Gabrielle Union, Michael K Williams, Christian Slater, Che “Rhymefest” Smith, and Jeffrey Wright. The film is about knowledge and power in the larger sense. It’s a thoughtful commentary on the socioeconomic dynamics of the homeless, the manipulative perceptions created by the media, and the politicians and law enforcement that allow it to happen. It’s filled with humor and heartbreak from beat to beat, and the twists are surprising and impactful. The Public has amazing storytelling and a truly poignant look at class warfare.

THE PUBLIC features veteran actors Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock,” The Departed, It’s Complicated), Emilio Estevez (The Way, Bobby, The Breakfast Club), Jena Malone (The Hunger Games” series, The Neon Demon, Inherent Vice), Taylor Schilling (“Orange is the New Black,” The Lucky One, Argo), Christian Slater (“Mr. Robot,” The Wife, True Romance), Gabrielle Union (“Being Mary Jane”, Bad Boys II, Bring It On), Michael K. Williams (12 Years A Slave, “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Wire”), Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld,” “O.G.,” The Hunger Games” series), and Che “Rhymefest” Smith (co-writer and performer of “Glory” from Selma, “Jesus Walks” from Four Brothers, “Make Noise” and “Weaponized” from The Public, theatrical acting debut).

Universal Pictures Content Group will release THE PUBLIC in Theaters on April 5, 2019.

Review: ‘American Relapse’ -The profitability of addiction.

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Best Feature Documentary, Rhode Island International Film Festival

Best Feature Documentary, Alexandria Film Fest

MINT Spirit Award (Top Festival Prize), Montana International Film Festival

Best Feature Documentary, Laughlin International Film Festival

Best Feature Documentary, Mammoth Film Festival

Best Feature Documentary, Other Venice Film Festival

Social Awareness Award, Orlando Film Festival

Recovering addicts Frankie and Allie spend their lives helping other addicts, but can they stay clean themselves?

The profitability of the addicted. American Relapse is a creatively composed documentary about how it’s better business to keep addicts addicted than to help them. The film follows two former addicts turned advocates over a weekend in their lives and jobs. They fight their own urges while helping others in South Florida. The film explores how the system fails Americans. It’s a lovely balance of hope and despair with interviews from former and current victims. How does rehab help, if at all. Allie and Frankie do their research because they have been there. The editing, and this will sound strange, is super sexy. With infographics intercut with one hell of a soundtrack, it makes the film visually very appealing. The reality of where we are in terms of curing people is bleak. There is a 90% relapse rate in South Florida and that’s how the industry likes it. What is a Junkie Hunter? You’ll find out. The sicker people remain, the more money everyone earns… except the addicted individual. American Relapse is not sugar-coated and that’s the point.

AMERICAN RELAPSE tells the story of two people fighting to make a difference against the devastating heroin epidemic that’s spawning a billion-dollar treatment industry.  Against the odds, in an “Us vs. the World” mentality, two recovering addicts spend their lives pulling needles out of the arms of addicts and assist in placing them in reputable treatment facilities.  The film features Frankie and Allie who live and work in Delray Beach, Florida, the Rehab Capital of America, now referred to by some as the Relapse Capital of America. They allowed the film crew all access for one weekend. What transpires over 72 hours is not only captivating and raw, but a heartbreaking rollercoaster ride.

Frankie is 38 and has relapsed multiple times but continues to operate his F*ck Heroin Foundation with his mother. Allie is 28 and has been clean and sober for 10 years. While they are at different points on the recovery spectrum, they both share a deep belief in the 12th step: helping others. These unlikely and imperfect heroes opened their lives for the world to see, hoping to shine a light anywhere and any way they can. In the process, they show viewers and addicts alike that despite seemingly impossible odds and devastating damage, empathy and hope can restore a little bit of humanity to those who struggle and can sometimes save their lives.

AMERICAN RELAPSE is directed by Pat McGee and Adam Linkenhelt, and is produced by Pat McGee Pictures in association with Sorted Pictures and Next Up Productions.  Executive producers include Pat McGee and Stacy McPeak for Pat McGee Pictures, Ian and Jaime Manheimer of Next Up Productions and producers Terry Hahin and Adam Linkenhelt for sorted Pictures.  The film has a running time of 105 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA.

Pat McGee Pictures will release the film in Los Angeles and New York exclusively for one week beginning March 29.  The film will screen at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Los Angeles and Cinema Village in New York City.

Gravitas Ventures will distribute the film on VOD beginning April 2nd. Among the many platforms include iTunes, Google Play, Vimeo, and Amazon. https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/american-relapse/id1451031005

For more information, go to: www.americanrelapse.com

 

Review: Is ‘Starfish’ a metaphor for grief?

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With reality rapidly fraying at the edges, Aubrey finds herself following a string of clues left after the death of her best friend. Clues leading to a mysterious signal that could save the world.

Starfish is one hell of a trip. This film boasts one of the coolest soundtracks, some sick CG, outstanding acting, an anime sequence, and one weird ass storyline. I’m still not entirely sure what happens in this film but I know I loved it at every turn and have been talking about it nonstop for days. Our leading lady, Virginia Gardner is phenomenal. Every performance challenge you could face as an actress she tackles with complexity that feels grounded and relatable. This film is quite the feat from every angle. The editing makes this pretty delicious to watch. There is never a dull moment and I was absolutely living for the next beat. It deals with isolation, denial, depression, fear, and regret in the most unique ways. The visual playground that is Starfish is reason alone to watch. Below you will find the trailer. This is a small taste of the magic you are in for with Starfish. I’m going to need a sequel at the very least. Even better, can we expand this world into a series? I have so many questions and I crave more. You can check out Starfish now in select theaters. It will be available on VOD in May.

Starfish Trailer from Yellow Veil Pictures on Vimeo.

📼 Coming to select theaters across the US this March, VOD May 28th 📼

For theatrical listing please consult:

Director A.T. White in attendance at special screenings

In Starfish Virginia Gardner (Halloween 2018, Marvel’s The Runaways) stars as Aubrey, a young woman suffering from the death of a close friend. When a mysterious signal from an unknown dimension summons the end of days, it appears as if only Aubrey is left on earth. Trapped in the apartment of her recently deceased best friend, the only clue she has is a single cassette left behind after her friends death, labeled: “THIS MIXTAPE WILL SAVE THE WORLD.”

Thrust into a mystery orchestrated by her friend and stricken with grief, Aubrey begins to piece the clues together, uncovering a series of tapes all with pieces of the mystery signal. Along the way, progress is impeded when monstrous creatures begin to overrun the world and enclose in on her. Aubrey is forced to fight off the encroaching creatures and move beyond her own crippling grief in order to find the remaining tapes. But will completing the signal save the world?

Director A.T. White (part of the popular UK band Ghostlight) composed the captivating score, while the film’s soundtrack features songs from Sigur Rós, Sparklehorse, Why? and more, creating a unique audio landscape that matches Starfish‘s apocalyptic world.

STARFISH is written and directed by A.T. White and produced by We Are Tessellate, Spellbound Entertainment and 3ROUNDBURST Productions. The film stars Virginia Gardner (Blumhouse’s HALLOWEEN, Hulu’s Runaways) and features supporting performances from Christina Masterson (Power Rangers Megaforce), Eric Beecroft, Natalie Mitchell and Tanroh Ishida. Starfish will be released on VOD later this year by 1091 Media’s The Orchard.

Review: ‘Leaving Neverland’ exposes the man in the mirror. The two part doc airs this Sunday and Monday.

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PRESENTS

LEAVING NEVERLAND

Debuts on HBO March 3rd and 4th

This two-part documentary explores the separate but parallel experiences of two young boys, James Safechuck, at age ten, and Wade Robson, at age seven, both of whom were befriended by Michael Jackson. Through gut-wrenching interviews with Safechuck, now 37, and Robson, now 41, as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, the film crafts a portrait of sustained abuse, exploring the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after both had a young son of their own.

I’ve started this review many times in the past seven days. It’s been difficult to put into words how Leaving Neverland has made me feel. For my sixth birthday, I can only recall receiving one particular gift. It was Micheal Jackson’s Thriller on cassette. This was my very first album that was all mine, outside of Sesame Street or Disney songs. I had already been dancing for three years and MJ would influence my musical and performance taste going forward. In 2009, my husband and I were in the car and the radio came on with the breaking news on Michael’s death. We were stunned, devastated, conflicted. We’d lived through the accusations at the same time his accusers and fellow defenders had. Macaulay Culkin was my childhood crush and one of Jackson’s close friends. Culkin has categorically denied anything inappropriate ever happened. He and Wade Robson‘s testimony had a huge effect when Jackson went to trial. I was relieved when Michael was acquitted of all charges in the early 2000s. I wanted to believe that his hands were clean. Now, I think my idolization of this once in a lifetime artist is destroyed.

The personal risks for Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck coming forward now are immense. Hardcore fans are up in arms. Threatening to protest in droves at the film’s premiere at Sundance. But in the doc, we see and hear more evidence than ever before. Family photos, home video, faxes, and to top it off, voicemails, all from Michael. There is new video from inside Neverland. The sheer number of bedrooms hidden onsight should have been alarm enough. The pattern is laid out for us to see. The grooming is there. The gifts, the promises, and all the personal attention. But obviously most upsetting is the sexual abuse itself. Each act described in illicit detail. I want so badly for these stories to be lies. I do not think they are. In a time when victims’ voices are more important than ever, we have to respect Robson and Safechuck for finally feeling healthy enough, physically and emotionally, to share their stories. They are not being paid for the film. They have confronted the abuse that they were groomed to believe was love. Now, as father’s of little boys themselves, they have to come to terms with not only their hurt but the onus of their mothers who failed to protect them. There are no winners here. No amount of money can bring back the childhoods that were stolen. What emotion comes after denial? I think it’s anger. Now, after Leaving Neverland, I’m just really angry.

RT: Part 1: approx. 2 hours
Part 2 approx. 2 hours

Directed and Produced by Dan Reed
Edited by Jules Cornell
Featuring Wade Robson and James Safechuck

Review: ‘SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES’

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Two Jesuit priests perform forensic work to solve the mystery revolving around the murders of young boys in one of Metro Manila’s biggest slum areas. While dealing with the systematic corruption of the government, church and the elite, the two priests delve into criminal profiling, crime scene investigation and forensic analysis to solve the killings, and eventually, find the murderer.

Based on the award-winning novel by Filipino author F.H. Batacan, SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES illustrates the best and worst of human nature: the antiseptic and dirty, the sublime and rotten, the hellish and divine.

With an unusual premise of having priests specialize in forensics, Smaller and Smaller Circles opens with haunting music and a disturbing image. Setting the stage for a mystery no one wants to delve further into. It addresses corruption in every corner of the church. Driven by greed and in the interest of reputation over the safety of the community’s young boys, we are witness to evil in many forms. A moody tone is set, eerily similar to the feeling Season 1 of True Detective gave us. The film could have easily been a mini-series. The final scene leads me to believe that this story isn’t over, in a sense. At the very least, our leading  characters have more work they can do. I, for one, would be invested in another film if not a redeveloped series, altogether. There are more details, I can only assume, the novel addresses. The story feels incomplete, only in the sense that I wanted more. Ultimately, this is a compliment to the intricacy of the storyline. The forensics aspects are intensely graphic but profoundly effective. The acting from ancillary characters is a bit spotty. It feels as if locals without experience were used to fill those roles. Though, I must give credit to each lead. Fully fleshed out backstories were felt even if we didn’t see them. This is yet another reason I would watch an expanded version. Smaller and Smaller Circles is undeniably engrossing.

SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES was directed by Raya Martin and written by Raymond Lee and Ria Limjap.  The film features both English and Filipino language.  It has a running time of 111 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA.

Uncork’d Entertainment will release the film in Los Angeles and additional select markets on March 1.  It will then be released digitally on March 19 (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play, Fandango Now, Xbox and local Cable).

Love is in the air with the announcement of Rom Com Fest! Taking film submissions beginning Valentine’s Day!

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Rom Com Fest announces Call for Entries for 1st edition

of film festival celebrating the romantic comedy

(June 20-23)

Make a date for the first annual Rom Com Fest! You, too, can be a loud and proud romantic comedy lover and be surrounded by like-minded fans and filmmakers come June. To know more checkout how2txther review and learn how to text the right person for you now. This fun-filled and unique festival will not only have the usual moderated Q&As with filmmakers, panel discussions, red carpet, and additional networking events, but it will also include speed dating, craft night, and a pajama party! You had me at, “Hello”, Rom Com Fest! It aims to celebrate womanhood, love and life through visual medium including film, film art, music videos, and screenplays – anything with a romantic comedy theme. The film festival will also have a dedicated focus toward female filmmakers and strong female characters. I was lucky enough to pick the brain of Founder and Executive Director Miraya Berke about the upcoming event. Here is our interview and information about how you can submit your film for the Rom Com Fest‘s debut year. Of course, we’ll be bringing you all the updates and coverage as the details unfold. See you in June, Movie Lovers!

What was your personal inspiration in creating Rom Com Fest? 

I am an experienced designer with a background of planning community events and festivals and always am thinking of new ways to experience events. I personally love romantic comedies and feel they don’t get the recognition they deserve. Recently with the success of CRAZY RICH ASIANS and TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE, I’ve noticed a new excitement around the genre and was inspired to create an experience to celebrate rom coms through programming of films (new + classics) and experiences to connect the community. 2.5 years ago I launched Dessert Goals in NY and since have planned 7 dessert festivals bringing together over 20,000 dessert lovers to celebrate all things sweet – my goal is to create a similarly beautiful and joyful experience for rom coms! 

 The rom com industry usually pulls in a fair bit of the market. Last year, CRAZY RICH ASIANS blew away the competition globally. Why do you think they are often dismissed as fluff and how do you think filmmakers can attract a wider audience?

I think CRAZY RICH ASIANS served as a reminder to studios and production companies of the natural widespread appeal of a great romantic comedy in the marketplace. There are so many iconic rom coms over 20-years-old that have been our longstanding classics. Because romantic comedies are focused (obviously) on the pursuit of love and happiness in relationships, they can be dismissed as frivolous entertainment. And yet, the desire to find one’s true love or make those kinds of connections is something that pretty much unites us all, right? I see an opportunity now for more films in the genre to emerge and in order for them to succeed I think they need to be inclusive, representative and relatable, still with a satisfying ending. 

 What can we expect to see from the fest in terms of classics?

We plan on programming a few classic films but, we are far from solidifying our schedule. I can say, though, that we hope we can showcase anniversaries some of the classics. 

 Will we see any familiar faces on guests’ panels?

We’ll see. Oftentimes, the ability to have appearances by filmmakers and actors are dependent on a lot of things. While, we are thinking about what we can program in terms of panels to talk about the art of romantic comedies, and of course, have filmmakers here to participate in Q&As following our screenings, there is still much that has to be determined yet when it comes to our programming.

 What are your favorite genre films? 

My all-time favorite rom coms are 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU and 500 DAYS OF SUMMER. I’m a big JGL (Joseph Gordan-Levitt) fan!

 To take a page straight out of the WHEN HARRY MET SALLY playbook (and at my husband’s request), do you think men and women can just be friends? That really is the burning question in so many of these films. The “will they, won’t they?” of it all. 

I do think men and women can just be friends and hope to see new films that can show a realistic and relatable storyline with friendships. To be a rom com though there does need to be the romantic element, so the guy friend who would a part of the story but there should still be a happy ending. 

 Music is a huge part of romantic comedies. Some of the most iconic soundtracks come from our favorites. What are three that you still play?

I adore the music of rom coms! Some of the songs on my regular playlists include I Want You To Want Me (10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU), I Say A Little Prayer (MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING), and I’ve Had the Time of My Life (DIRTY DANCING).

 Some perhaps less familiar French titles that (as a film critic) I’ve been exposed to are LET THE SUN SHINE IN, AMÈLIE, ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS, and, A FAITHFUL MAN. Will there be any international selections this year?

We’ll see. The idea of romance has no language boundaries, right? Of course, we are still accepting submissions and scouting at other film festivals so our program isn’t set yet. I do hope we’ll get some international submissions and be able to program an international selection. 

 What do you think is the rom com’s enduring appeal? 

I think we all crave a feel-good ending and an opportunity to escape from the stress of reality, and rom coms provide the perfect treat. 

Los Angeles-based film festival will shine spotlight on the genre as well as those rethinking the form and embracing it on new media platforms. In addition to screenings, highlights will include speed dating, craft night, and a pajama party.

Los Angeles, CA (January 9, 2019) – Rom Com Fest today announced a Call for
Entries for the inaugural edition of a brand new film festival focused on and celebrating
the romantic comedy, which will take place at Downtown Independent in Los Angeles
(251 S. Main Street) on June 20-23.

Led by Founder and Executive Director Miraya Berke, Rom Com Fest will screen a mix
of new and classic romantic comedies, as well as hosting filmmaker panels, parties, and
other events to celebrate the genre and offer a touchstone on the West Coast for film
fans and filmmakers that love and create romantic comedy films and film art. Highlights
will include speed dating, craft night, and a pajama party, as well as the expected
moderated Q&A’s with filmmakers, panel discussions, red carpet, and additional
networking events.

Berke said, “We’re looking for empowered and uplifting stories that have us re-thinking
the romantic comedy genre. We will showcase all types of film (feature film, foreign,
shorts, music videos, web and television series), and even include a screenplay
component. If you’re doing something different, we will take a look. Turn in interesting art about love. Rom Com Fest is designed to both celebrate romance and the romantic
comedy, as well as examine the form, explore its future, and give it the respect and yes
– the love, we feel it deserves. You could say we take our romantic comedies seriously
at Rom Com Fest.”

Berke is a female entrepreneur – founder of Pop Productions event boutique studio and
co-founder of Dessert Goals, the popular dessert festival in New York and Los Angeles.
With a background in events and partnership and a personal love of romantic comedies,
she is passionate about the romantic comedy genre and its legitimization in the eyes of
film fans, filmmakers, and critics, in addition to the pure enjoyment of the films
themselves.

Berke added, “There’s a film festival for everything it seems – even in this city (Los
Angeles), but what about the romantic comedy? Especially nowadays, we all need
something uplifting to escape to. Routinely dismissed by film critics as a lesser genre
artistically, romantic comedies aren’t simply traditionally beloved, but also a true art form
which has produced some of the most classic and enduring films we know today. These
films should receive the recognition they deserve along with an experience to bring
together a community of film fans that flock to them. Thus, we created Rom Com Fest.”

All films submitted must have a romantic comedy theme. Films can vary in length from
two minutes to two hours. Categories will include feature film, foreign, shorts, music
videos, web/TV series, screenplay, etc..

Rom Com Fest will look to showcase female filmmakers and strong female characters.
While open to all genders, the film festival will lean towards stories that are directed
and/or written by women or have female-driven plots with dynamic female leads.

Submission Deadlines
• Early Bird: February 14, 2019
• Regular: March 10, 2016
• Late: March 30, 2019
• Extended: April 20, 2019

For more info and to submit via Film Freeway, please go to: romcomfest.com. For questions related to submissions, please email: m@romcomfest.com.

ABOUT ROM COM FEST

Rom Com Fest celebrates womanhood, love and life through visual medium including film, film art, music videos, and screenplays – anything with a romantic comedy theme. The film festival also has a dedicated focus toward female filmmakers and strong female characters. For more information about Rom Com Fest, visit romcomfest.com.

Review: ‘The Drag Roast of Heklina’ brings the shade.

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Synopsis

Revry presents THE DRAG ROAST OF HEKLINA featuring a talented dais of roasters including noted LGBTQ celebrities, Alaska Thunderfuck, Jackie Beat, Jinkx Monsoon, Bob the Drag Queen, Sister Roma, Julie Brown, and Peaches Christ.  Watch as a panel of iconic drag superstars and comedians grill drag legend Heklina.
These queens bring some serious funny to a legendary roast. With stand out performances from Jinkx Monsoon, weird and wonderful moments from Julie Brown, and the shadiest of ladies, Alaska Thunderfuck, drag legend Heklina gets her ass handed to her. But this show isn’t just beautiful drag queens making fun of each other in the most brutal of ways, it’s also a perfect reminder of how incredible the drag community is. While they do joke, they also care deeply. Drag is a brilliant cultural phenomenon. It allows openminded people to share love, life, fashion, performance and everything in between. Ru Paul’s Drag Race, in particular, has given so many of these ladies the exposure and platform they need to advance their careers and to teach every generation what it means to be sickening. It’s important to honor this art and there’s certainly nothing wrong with laughing along the way. The Roast Of Heklina is now available on Revry.tv .

About Revry

Revry is the first queer global streaming network, available in 35 million homes in over 100 countries, with a uniquely curated selection of LGBTQ+ film, series, and originals along with the world’s largest queer libraries of groundbreaking podcasts, albums and music videos. Revry is available worldwide on seven OTT, mobile, and online platforms, and hosts the exclusive LGBTQ+ channels on Pluto TV and XUMO. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Revry is led by an inclusive team of queer, multi-ethnic and allied partners who bring decades of experience in the fields of tech, digital media, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.  Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @REVRYTV. Go Online to: https://revry.tv.

Review: ‘The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot’

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A legendary American war veteran is recruited to hunt a mythical creature.

Sam Elliot is a legend of the silver screen, and at the age of 74 it’s always wonderful seeing him in new films. So it’s no surprise that he shines in The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot. The story has a tongue-in-cheek fairy tale quality to it. It’s unique and phenomenally engrossing. Elliot’s character, Calvin Barr,  has done more than most men in history, combined. Now he has come to the point in his life where he thinks he’s done all he’d care to. With so much accomplished on paper,  a long lost love is the one thing haunts him most. But the government is not done with him just yet. They have one last mission in mind. He’s essentially the greatest, most badass, action hero you’ve never heard of. His nonchalant nature is the perfect balance to the over the top nature of the storytelling. Elliot is this character, somehow. He embodies a quiet strength even as he hurtles through the bizarre. The parallel between the target and Elliot’s character is almost poetic. This film is weird, wonderful, and pretty unbelievable in every sense of the word. Though I’m positive that is the point entirely.

RLJE Films will release THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT in theaters and on VOD and Digital HD on Feb. 8, 2019.

Written by Robert D. Krzykowski , who is making his directorial debut, the film stars Sam Elliott (A Star is Born, The Hero), Aidan Turner (“Poldark”), Ron Livingston (Office Space, Tully), Caitlin FitzGerald (“Masters of Sex”), Larry Miller (Pretty Woman) and Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood).

Review: ‘The Amityville Murders’ is a haunting take on history.

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On the night of November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. took a high-powered rifle and murdered his entire family as they slept. At his trial, DeFeo claimed that “voices” in the house commanded him to kill. This is their story.

The Amityville Murders offers alternative theories about the infamous killings right off the bat. Whether they a result of parental abuse, drugs, mental illness, or something altogether more sinister actually occurring in the house itself. It also seems to suggest that family and friends were experiencing unexplained phenomenon within the home. There is much controversy surrounding Ronald DeFeo and the deaths of his entire family. The house has been called one of the most haunted in America. Subsequent owners have come and gone throughout the years. DeFeo’s story of what happened that night changed so many times it’s hard to keep track of. We may never know the truth and that what makes this story a great one for film. Writers and directors can take poetic license with all the information that we do have and fill in the blanks. As the film progresses, it unequivocally suggests that the grandparents had something to do with a paranormal aspect. While of the performances in the film are a bit campy, our leading man John Robinson is amazing. He is terrifying all while being vulnerable. He carries this film from start to finish. You are rooting for his sanity and survival. Overall, the film has a classic possession feel to it. The tension is genuine and the scares are visually engrossing. The Amityville Murders is a historical true crime/ paranormal nerd’s fantasy.

THE AMITYVILLE MURDERS releases In Theaters and On Demand / Digital HD Feb. 8th!

Get your tickets early for the FREE Tribeca Drive-In Dinner and a Movie!

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Free and open to the public, the film screening series will take place between February 21-24 within Lower Manhattan’s magnificent Oculus 

For the third consecutive year, Westfield World Trade Center will roll out the red carpet for the Tribeca Drive-In: Dinner and a Movie film screening series, organized in partnership with the team behind the Tribeca Film Festival, and taking place from Thursday, February 21st to Sunday, February 24th – just in time for this year’s major awards season!

During the four-day series, visitors to Westfield World Trade Center’s magnificent Oculus in Lower Manhattan will be able to enjoy free movie screenings of past Oscar®-nominated and Oscar®-winning fan favorite films.

Come early for live music performances presented by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI); relax in custom-designed seating lounges; explore special fashion and accessories vitrines curated by local influencer and personal shopper Samantha Brown;  take advantage of one-of-a-kind, Hollywood-inspired photo ops; and partake of exclusive food and beverage service provided by some of Westfield World Trade Center’s tastiest restaurants and eateries, including: Epicerie Boulud,  Eataly NYC Downtown, Nunu Chocolates, and Sugarfina.

THE LINE UP

Thursday, February 21: As Good as it Gets

Doors open: 5:30pm / Film begins: 7pm

Friday, February 22: Field of Dreams

Doors open: 5:30pm / Film begins: 7pm

Saturday, February 23: Hugo

Doors open: 11am / Film begins 12pm

Saturday, February 23: E.T.

Doors open: 5:30pm / Film begins 7pm

Sunday, February 24: Finding Neverland

Doors open: 11am / Film begins 12pm

Review: Mads Mikkelsen gives warmth to ‘Arctic’

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An official selection of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, Arctic is an agonizing tale, set in the blistering cold, and is beautiful yet terrifying. First time writer and director, Joe Penna, purposely kept dialogue to a minimum to capture his audience and it really works. 

Penna has a popular YouTube Channel, MysteryGuitarMan, where he realized that he could reach a wider audience by focusing on the visuals rather than dialogue. He researched and spoke with practiced Arctic pilots as well as other experts. He co-wrote the script with Ryan Morrison.

Arctic does not give the audience an easy way out, as you really need to pay attention to everything you see on the screen. There is very little context and that makes for an enjoyable viewing experience where you really get into the mind of Overgård (Mads Mikkelsen) who has adapted to his predicament with a resourcefulness that’s quite impressive.

The result is an evenly paced yet riveting drama where the viewer is left with a feeling of hope in humanity.

Check here to see if it’s playing near you: https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/editorial/arctic-movie-theater-showtimes

Review: ‘Then Came You’ rises above the rom-com tropes.

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THEN CAME YOU

In Theaters and On Demand on

February 1, 2019

A hypochondriac working as an airport baggage handler is forced to confront his fears when a British teenager with a terminal illness enlists him to help her carry out her eccentric bucket list.

Then Came You manages to bypass the usual rom-com tropes and fleshes out a story about kids navigating a real emotional journey. Asa Butterfield has a naturally emo kid look about him but has the sincere chops to shine in every role that’s thrown his way. He appears genuinely grounded on screen and that makes him easy to watch. If you’re not crying at the end of this film you may have no soul. There is more than meets the eye Butterfield’s backstory which makes for an honest to goodness tug at the heartstrings in the end. The shining star of the film is undoubtedly Maisie Williams. Her comic timing and natural snark own you from the very first scene. I need her to be cast in all the things from here on out. Our two leads have a wonderful chemistry that builds organically. It reminds me of the dynamic of Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin in My Girl, which is clearly a compliment. Then Came You is simply a lovely film that can be enjoyed by a wide audience.

Asa Butterfield (The Space Between Us,The House of Tomorrow), Maisie Williams(Game of Thrones), Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), Tyler Hoechlin (Fifty Shades Freed), David Koechner (The Goldbergs), Peyton List (The Outcasts), Tituss Burgess(Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Sonya Walger (Lost), Margot Bingham (Boardwalk Empire) and Ken Jeong (Crazy Rich Asians)

Directed by: Peter Hutchings (The Outskirts, Rhymes with Banana)

Written by: Fergal Rock (Fairy City)

RT: 96 minutes
Not Rated

Review: ‘PIERCING’ is a kink roller coaster ride.

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UNIVERSAL PICTURES CONTENT GROUP

presents

SYNOPSIS:In this twisted love story, a man seeks out an unsuspecting stranger to help him purge the dark torments of his past. His plan goes awry when he encounters a woman with plans of her own. A playful psycho-thriller game of cat-and-mouse based on Ryû Murakami’s novel.

A premeditated murder plays out in an elaborate rehearsal, sound effects and all. A brunette escorts in vegas is the target of a clearly unhinged family man looking to complete his meticulous fantasy of violence. Piercing is a highly stylized and totally insane romp into madness.

Chris Abbott and Mia Wasikowska both play two distinct personalities. To go into any more detail would spoil the battle royale of bizarre that rolls out. Both are brilliant. Piercing is visually jarring and unapologetic in the surprises. Nothing goes right and it gets weirder and weirder by the minute. The tension is pretty palpable between a feeling of dread, “what the hell is happening?”, and routing for a potential villain. As the dominoes fall, and you pick your jaw up off the floor, you’ll laugh at the absurdity but go along for the ride, happily. Piercing possesses a grindhouse vibe from the titles to the music, to the very specific, almost Hitchcock-esque, shots into detailed miniatures. The fact that it’s based on a Ryû Murakami novel makes me want to read it immediately to see if the book is as messed up as the film. Because this version is nothing short of a complete mindfuck.

Universal Pictures Content Group will release the horror-suspense mystery film PIERCING in Theaters, On Demand and Digital HD on February 1, 2019.

Slamdance Film Festival Review: ‘A Great Lamp’ shines bright.

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SYNOPSIS

Set in a small riverside town in North Carolina, two sad vandals and an unemployed loner long await for a fabled rocket launch.

A Great Lamp isn’t about what you think it’s about. Although, I’m not sure what I really thought it was about until the final 30 minutes. This film is like no other. Shot in black and white, at intrusive angles, with rudimentary line animation scattered over narratives, it’s whacky and wonderful and slightly reminiscent of MTV’s Liquid Television. Three men, each unique and yet totally suited to be friends await a mysterious rocket launch. But, as I said, that’s not really what the film is about. Underneath the twisty dialogue that may or may not be completely ad-libbed, there is a dark sadness. Each man has lost a parental figure, whether literally or emotionally. Dealing with depression and emptiness among surrounding quirkiness is just another aspect that makes A Great Lamp so intriguing. It is perfect for festival goers and cinephiles alike seeking something off the beaten path.

Showings – select to order tickets:
Fri, Jan 25th, 3:00 PM @ Ballroom
  • Runtime:
    77 minutes
  • Language:
    English
  • Country:
    USA
  • Premiere:
    World Premiere
  • Director:
    Saad Qureshi
  • Screenwriter:
    Saad Qureshi, Donald R. Monroe, Max Wilde, Spencer Bang, Steven Maier
  • Producer:
    Saad Qureshi, Donald R. Monroe, Alison Donohue
  • Cast:
    Max Wilde, Spencer Bang, Steven Maier, Julian Semilian, Laura Ingram Semilian, Netta Green, Connie Stewart, Smokey, Spaz
  • Cinematographer:
    Donald R. Monroe
  • Editor:
    Max Wilde

IMDb launches a Freedive, a FREE ad-supported movie/tv streaming service

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There are a lot of different ways to watch movies for free with ads, and IMDb just jumped into the game with Freedive. Looks like it also has an “Originals” section too.

Free with an IMDb or amazon account (it owns IMDB).

Apparently, you can also take advantage of the X-ray option for trivia like in Prime Video. You can also add movies to your watchlist to add later.

It’s currently only available via your browser or through a Fire TV device.

Sample of titles available

h/t Digital Trends

 

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

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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: ‘EGG’ one of our Top 5 from Tribeca 2018 (hatches) in theaters today.

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In provocateur Marianna Palka’s sharp and unflinching satire, two couples and a surrogate lay bare the complications, contradictions, heartbreak, and absurdities implicit in how we think about motherhood.

Mariana Palka’s follow-up to last year’s Bitch, is just as powerful in delving into “the phases of a woman’s life”, to use a phrase directly from EGG. With an incredibly theatrical feel, as if it could play in an Off-Broadway theater with a unit set, EGG confronts art, politics, and the patriarchal structure that surround the idea of having a baby. The entire ensemble cast is phenomenal, each playing their role in a game of vapid versus broken. The writing is good, honest, and brave. There are no filters on these characters making them completely loathsome and fantastic all at once.

Egg
Feature Narrative
Country: USA
Director: Marianna Palka
Writer: Risa Mickenberg
Starring: Gbenga Akinnagbe, David Alan Basche, Alysia Reiner, Anna Camp, Christina Hendricks

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

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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.

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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.