Reviews of films
Joe Bell, a blue-collar man, hikes across America to lecture on the dangers of bullying. His gay son, Jadin, tags along and asks him to look at his own prejudice. Joe Bell touches on issues of mental health and systemic … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Joe Bell (2020)
In Which Nothing is Learned The Coen Brothers are arguably the most critically lauded filmmakers of the last forty years. Their decades spanning career includes films of all genre and tones, features a wide variety of movie stars, and have … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 23: Burn After Reading
As the United States prepares to pull its military out of one country, how about a movie set in a time when the American military was in another country? Available in Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 170: Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005)
I had asked for this movie on DVD last year for my birthday and I finally got around to watching it last weekend. Stephen Lang stars as Fred, the operator of a local VFW, who celebrates his birthday with some … Continue reading Movie Review – VFW (2019)
Once upon a time in occupied Hong Kong… Available in Australia, Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 131 minutes. It is 1942 and Hong Kong is under Japanese control. At some hideout in nearby Dongguan, captain … Continue reading WTF ASIA 169: Our Time Will Come (2017)
A lieutenant falls in love with an officer on the eve of the American Civil War. The realization of his homosexuality drives him to despair. South aired on November 24, 1959 as part of ITV’s Play of the Week series. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: South (1959)
Before he became The Last Samurai, Hiroyuki Sanada was…uh…in Twilight. Available on…Facebook. Approximately 129 minutes. Iguchi Seibei is a Samurai living in mid-19th century Japan. After suffering from tuberculosis for years, his wife finally dies, leaving him … Continue reading WTF ASIA 168: The Twilight Samurai (2002)
In Which Something is Rotten in New York Spike Lee is one of the hardest directors to talk about. One reason is that he has such an expansive body of work, a filmography rapidly approaching four decades and multiple dozens … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 22: Inside Man
If Woodstock was the heart of the 60s, the Harlem Cultural Festival was its soul. Michael Wadleigh’s 1970 documentary concert film Woodstock is widely considered the definitive cultural document of the 1960s. Yet the audience and performers in attendance during … Continue reading Review: Summer of Soul Celebrates the Sound of a Revolution
Entering the conversation of art verses artist: a movie that was directed by a man who played a part in at least two international abductions and written by the first dictator of GODDAMNED NORTH KOREA! Available…on Youtube. Approximately 121-127 minutes. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 167: The Flower Girl (1972)
San Francisco’s Frameline streamed their 45th festival from June 17 through June 27, 2021. It was heavy this year with recurring themes of heartbreak and loss. Here were some highlights. Artists No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics (2021, … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Frameline 2021
In Which the Future May Pass Us By When I wrote about Southland Tales I made note that that movie got a whole lot of mileage out of surprising prescience. What seemed to be absurd nonsense in 2006 turned out to be … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 21: Children of Men
Family…what can you do? Available in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 120 minutes. Amir Neshan waits on a bridge until someone in a car hands him a backpack. Amir goes under the … Continue reading WTF ASIA 166: Beyond the Clouds (2017)
For the Want of a Nail Of the Three Amigos of Cinema Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu is the most divisive. He lacks both the enveloping compassion and commercial instincts of del Toro, and the whizz bang fireworks wonder of Cuaron. He’s … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 20: Babel
So, I have already featured movie about city women going to a fishing village on a faraway island. But…this movie asks the question…what if that community was really really terrible? Available in Canada the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 165: Bedevilled (2010)
Once Upon a Time Here’s a fun fact. In the 2010’s five of the ten Best Director Oscars went to three people: Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Guillermo del Toro. Now this in and of itself isn’t that crazy … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 19: Pan’s Labyrinth
The long-awaited Summer gateway movie is inventive and charming, if a bit hollow. Here it is, just shy of one year since its original June 2020 premiere date, the musical movie event to launch you into Hot Girl Summer 2021. … Continue reading Review: In the Heights is a slightly watery Summer treat
First comes law, then comes martial. Available in Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 115 minutes. It is the late 1980s and Catholic high school student Chang Jia-han is meeting with his school … Continue reading WTF ASIA 164: Your Name Engraved Herein (2020)
Based on the manga…no, not that one. Available in Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 113 minutes. Okano Yuichi lives with his elderly mother Mitsue and 20-something son Masaki in Nagasaki. His day job is…selling…advertisement space or … Continue reading WTF ASIA 163: Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days (2013)
In Which There’s a Lesson to be Learned One of the truisms of film watching is as follows: the greatest sin a movie can commit is not to be bad, but to be boring. While truisms tend to be overly … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 18: Lions for Lambs
So, if “bought the farm” means died, then what does “is about to have the farm confiscated” mean? Available in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Also Einthusan. Approximately 109-110 minutes. Natha Das Manekpuri … Continue reading WTF ASIA 162: Peepli Live (2010)
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