Boundaries: A Pot-Dealing Family Road Trip

Boundaries isn’t the typical family road trip as this one involves rescue animals and drug deals. “Don’t Pick Up!” This is what Laura (Vera Farmiga) has opted to label the name on her phone for her father, Jack (Christopher Plummer).  It’s the type of relationship that the two of them have.  Or lack thereof if you will.  It’s a relationship that Laura opens up with to her therapist at the beginning of the film.  Laura…

"Boundaries: A Pot-Dealing Family Road Trip"

Cinepocalypse 2018: Bound with Lana Wachowski

There’s something special about watching Bound for the first time with the presence of one of the film’s directors, Lana Wachowshi, in the theater.  Wachowski was present for a Q&A following the retrospective 35mm screening during the 2018 Cinepocalypse Genre Film Festival. Bound, which marked the feature directorial debut for the Wachowski sisters, changes up the game for mob thrillers.  Fronted by two women, Corky (Gina Gershon) and Violet (Jennifer Tilly), the men more or…

"Cinepocalypse 2018: Bound with Lana Wachowski"

Cinepocalypse 2018: Wolfman’s Got Nards

Wolfman’s Got Nards is a documentary that explores the production and following of The Monster Squad. What draws this documentary apartment from other documentaries about 1980s movies is that director Andre Gower was an actor in The Monster Squad.  The director played Sean in the 1987 classic.  While the film is considered to be a cult classic, I must confess that I never heard of the film going into the Cinepocalypse announcement.  Gower’s documentary is…

"Cinepocalypse 2018: Wolfman’s Got Nards"

Blame: Quinn Shephard is A Revelation

In her feature debut, Blame, Quinn Shephard just about does it all and proves to be a revelation.  Whether it’s directing, writing, acting, editing, or producing, Shephard is a versatile talent.  Not many filmmakers would do this much in their feature debut by Shephard rises to the challenge.  It does not hurt that she has a real knack for storytelling. Abigail Grey (Quinn Shephard) isn’t your typical student.  She’d rather have her nose in a…

"Blame: Quinn Shephard is A Revelation"

Ant-Man and The Wasp Goes Quantum

After the darker Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and The Wasp brings some much-needed comedy to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Scott Lang was nowhere to be seen during Avengers: Infinity War because he was on house arrest.  This came as a result of traveling to Germany during Captain America: Civil War.  Both Hawkeye and Lang had taken deals with the government.  Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) have a stronger father-daughter relationship…

"Ant-Man and The Wasp Goes Quantum"

Woman Walks Ahead: Poor In Execution

Woman Walks Ahead sounds like a great idea in theory but the film goes poorly in its execution. Catherine Weldon (Jessica Chastain) has an interesting story.  The Swiss immigrant arrived to the United States in 1852, where both she and her mom settled in Brooklyn.  She would later have a marriage to Bernhard Schlatter end in divorce in 1883.  It’s what happened after her marriage ended in which her life would truly begin to get interesting.…

"Woman Walks Ahead: Poor In Execution"

Uncle Drew: A Fun Basketball Movie

Uncle Drew features some great basketball players having fun while drawing on the old George Bernard Shaw quote, “You don’t stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing.” Once the ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 logo graces the screen, we know we’re in for some fun.  The spoof documentary sets the tone of the film with a number of Basketball Hall of Fame cameos describing their experiences with Uncle Drew…

"Uncle Drew: A Fun Basketball Movie"

Ant-Man: Marvel Gets Small In Heist Comedy

Ant-Man largely succeeds as a Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2 installment because of the ever-delightful Paul Rudd. By opening the film in 1989 with Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) resigning from SHIELD in protest, Ant-Man declares its position within the MCU.  Outraged by SHIELD’s attempt to replicate the Pym Particle, Pym declares they will never get his formula as long as he lives.  The scene features an on-screen union between Howard Stark (John Slattery) and Peggy Carter…

"Ant-Man: Marvel Gets Small In Heist Comedy"

Howard the Duck: The Worst Marvel Film Ever

Howard the Duck is the single-worst film based on a Marvel Comics character to come into existence. A 70mm print screened during the 2018 installment of the Cinepocalypse Genre Film Festival.  Aside from the sound in some places, it’s an otherwise impressive print.  I cannot however say the same about the film.  If you think Daredevil, Elektra, and the recent Fantastic Four movies were the worst Marvel has to offer, think again.  What makes this…

"Howard the Duck: The Worst Marvel Film Ever"

Three Identical Strangers: Crazy, Sad, and True

Three Identical Strangers tells the crazy but true and sad story of Bobby Shafran, Eddy Galland, and David Kellman. The three of them were separated at birth when they were adopted by three different families.  Bobby was sent off to live with the affluent Shafran family.  Eddy went to the middle class Gallands.  As for David, he went to live with the blue-collar Kellmans.  All were adopted by Jewish families who had an older daughter living…

"Three Identical Strangers: Crazy, Sad, and True"