Maestra marks the feature directorial debut of Maggie Contreras, who previously produced Gilbert with Maestra producer Neil Berkeley. Music takes center stage in this documentary–conducting an orchestra, that is. It’s a particularly timely doc given the recent success of Todd Field’s TÁR, starring Cate Blanchett. Anyway, this film focuses on five women who make their way to Paris for the four-day La Maestra competition. The competition is for women who are going against the grain…
"Maestra – Tribeca 2023"Category: Movie Reviews
Chasing Chasing Amy is a beautifully made documentary about a filmmaker’s journey while making a documentary about Chasing Amy. It’s one thing for a making-of documentary but this is something else. Filmmaker Sav Rodgers discovered Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy when he was 12 years old and it changed his very life. There are many other films starring Ben Affleck but Rodgers would repeatedly watch this film. It’s enough that he would do a TED Talk…
"Chasing Chasing Amy – Tribeca 2023"
Against All Enemies is the most terrifying documentary to be playing a film festival since Alt-Right: Age of Rage premiered in 2018. Thematically, the film is on par with Alt-Right: Age of Rage with way too many jaw-dropping moments to count. I mean, how is it that they got this much footage on camera with the Proud Boys, 3 Percenters, and Oath Keepers. These militias think they’re doing the right thing but much like the…
"Against All Enemies – Tribeca 2023"
Breaking the News follows a group of women and LGBTQ journalists as they launch The 19th* in order to change the status quo in news. Do you ever wonder why something makes the news and another thing doesn’t? It always comes down to a publisher or editor believing one to be more important than the other. That’s how I see it anyway. I think back to watching the news cycle over the years. Look at…
"Breaking the News – Tribeca 2023"
Taking new evidence at the Hell Creek Formation into account, Dinosaur Apocalypse revisits the last day of the dinosaurs. Okay, the last day of the non-avian dinosaurs as the avian dinosaurs would evolve into birds. I found watching this two-part documentary is the perfect antidote to 65. It’s very fascinating and insightful in both what happened then and what we’re learning now. The other thing is that it wasn’t until watching the film in which…
"Dinosaur Apocalypse: The Last Day of the Dinosaurs"
Much like the Arrowverse, The Flash goes back into the past, which leads to both Flashpoint and the resetting of the DCU. First things first: the press screenings consisted of an end credit scene. It is entirely possible that there is a mid-credit scene but these were not in the press screenings. From talking to friends that saw earlier screenings, there were things at the end of the film that were not in those earlier…
"The Flash: Dude, Where’s My Batman?"
You Don’t Mess with the Zohan puts its own twist on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as an IDF counter-terrorist becomes a hairdresser. Zohan Dvir (Adam Sandler) is one of the best counter-terrorists serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. However, the fighting is starting to become too much. Zohan’s dream is to be a Paul Mitchell’s hairstylist. He confides in his parents (Shelley Berman and Dina Dorrone) that he wants to cut hair but they laugh him…
"You Don’t Mess with the Zohan Marks 15th Anniversary"
65 might sound like a good idea for a high-concept sci-fi thriller but the end result is laughable and gets so much of it wrong. The film is now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital. It’ll make its way to Netflix when the film’s Pay 1 window begins this year. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend it–watch something else instead. No, seriously. Maybe if you have absolutely zero movies or TV series to watch.…
"65: Adam Driver Fights Dinosaurs In Laughable Sci-Fi Thriller"
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse not only manages to improve on its predecessor but it is one of the best pictures of the year. Unlike many Marvel films that came before, there is not a scene during the credits. However, there is a lot of animation to appreciate as the credits run their course. It’s the ONLY disappointment about an otherwise amazing film. What I can say with 100% certainty is that Spider-Man: Across the Universe…
"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is Awesome Fun"
The Wild Bunch is another game-changing Western and among the most violent and gritty films for the late 1960s in cinema. “We’ve got to start thinking beyond our guns. Those days are closing fast.” – Pike Bishop (William Holden) This is what I call one of those better-late-than-never viewings. Because of its AFI honors, the film had been on my to-watch list for many years. It’s not particularly a title that’s evaded me especially with…
"The Wild Bunch: A Gritty and Violent Western"