Haroula Rose’s feature film, Once Upon A River, features stunning performances and camerawork as the indie plays the festival circuit. Bonnie Joe Campbell’s novel comes to the big screen in this well-made feature. Margo Crane (Kenadi DelaCerna, making her feature debut) is a Native American teenager living in rural Michigan. What drives the teen in this coming-of-age story is the search for her estranged mother (Lindsay Pulsipher). As Margo goes on this journey, she utilizes…
"Chicago Film Fest 2019: Once Upon A River"Category: Movie Reviews
Matthew Rankin’s The Twentieth Century may be one of the strangest historical satires about Canada that one will ever see in theaters. This film is not going to make any sense to people who are unfamiliar with Canada’s political history. Take it from this American. My initial reaction following the film basically comes down to this: I don’t know what to make of what I just saw. This is certainly a satire that plays better…
"The Twentieth Century Is A Strange Satire"
Mel Brooks’ feature directorial debut starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, The Producers, is one of the best comedies of all-time. When producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) learns from accountant Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) that he can turn flops into money-makers, it changes everything. Hysterics ensue for a solid hour and a half. There’s nothing more to say about the plot. Mostly, this is because the film is over 50 years old. You know what…
"The Producers: One Of The Best Comedies Ever"
Ernst Lubitsch’s To Be Or Not to Be, starring Jack Benny and Carole Lombard, is a top-notch World War 2 satire taking place during the Holocaust. The film starts out in prior to the 1939 Nazi Invasion of Warsaw, Poland. We meet a play of theatrical actors led by husband and wife, Josef Tura (Jack Benny) and Maria Tura (Carole Lombard). They’re leading the rehearsals for a satirical play, Gestapo. Bronski (Tom Dugan) passes for…
"To Be Or Not to Be: A Great Holocaust Satire"
Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator moves the iconic actor into the sound era while effectively satirizing German dictator Adolf HItler. With the release of Jojo Rabbit in select theaters this weekend, I’m revisiting a few films: The Great Dictator, To Be Or Not To Be, and The Producers. The reason for doing so is that all three films satirize the Nazis in one way or another. Only two of these films were released in theaters…
"The Great Dictator: Charlie Chaplin’s Hitler Satire"
Liberty: Mother of Exiles shines a light on one of the defining symbols of hope and a bastion of our nation’s freedoms: the Statue of Liberty. What directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato have done is give us a documentary that spreads a new light on the Statue’s historical past. The creation of the historic monument dates back to 1865 when Édouard René de Laboulaye first proposed a monument for U.S. independence. French sculptor Frédéric Auguste…
"Liberty: Mother of Exiles – A Bastion of Freedom"
Zombieland: Double Tap reunites the cast but the fact that the film uses the same formula as its predecessor can only work for so long. The core four brings about a certain nostalgia. While they are safe from zombies and living in the White House, the fun can only last for so long. It isn’t long before Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) escapes this safe zone with Wichita (Emma Stone) and runs off for Graceland. Everything…
"Zombieland: Double Tap Offers Nostalgia"
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot assembles a star-studded cast in a film that isn’t afraid to get emotional while also pointing fun at reboots. Shortly after the film starts, Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) learn that Saban Films owns the rights to their names. A quick stop to Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee)’s comic shop and the two learn more about the Bluntman V Chronic reboot being directed by Kevin Smith. Because an…
"Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Gets Emotional"
Parasite may just be the most entertaining genre-bender of the year but more than this, the film brings a fascinating approach to class. Comedy, drama, suspense, and yes, even horror. Parasite bends a few genres while trying to get its message across. What message exactly is this? That’s a good question. Honestly, I encourage you to just sit down and enjoy the ride. Save the reading for later when you’re in the mood to break…
"Parasite: An Entertaining Genre-Bender About Class"
Tim Heidecker runs for San Bernardino, Calif. District Attorney in Mister America following a mistrial in a murder case against him. Heidecker’s is only running for District Attorney as a way of getting revenge against incumbent DA Vincent Rosetti. The reason? Rosetti was unable to secure a conviction in court. Heidecker is very much an outsider through the lens of today’s political climate. While we get flashbacks to the court case and interviews with the…
"Mister America: Tim Heidecker Runs For DA"