Reviews Archives - Page 3 of 13

13 Mar

Deadstream Review | SXSW2022

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsSXSW2022Deadstream, Joseph Winter, SXSW, Vanessa Winter

The horror/social media crossovers in recent years haven’t been up to par. The most acclaimed horror film in recent years must be Rob Savage’s Host, which surprised many of us with its practical effects and genuine scares. Many other directors have tried to replicate what he did in the 2020 pandemic-adjacent horror flick to no avail. Even Savage wanted to outdo himself with a feature of a similar degree with DASHCAM, but it ended up being the most insufferable movie that screened at TIFF that year. Nevertheless, there is still potential to be found in these types of pictures. That’s…

13 Mar

32 Sounds Review | SXSW2022

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsSXSW202232 Sounds, Sam Green, SXSW, SXSW2022

Academy Award-nominated documentarian Sam Green has always been curious about the role that sound plays in his life and the little details that come with it so he decided to make a documentary capturing the phenomenon of sound and its ability to cross borders and shape the perception of how we see (and hear) the world via thirty-two different sounds. It is an interesting concept that displays how sound affects, not only our daily lives, but our memories, as well. Sam Green also prompts the questions “Do sounds die?” and “How do recordings trigger the various emotions one experiences?”. The…

17 Feb

Am I Ok? | Review

Raul Navedo0 Comments2022, Film Festivals, Reviews, Sundance 2022Am I Ok?, Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Stephanie Allynne, Sundance 2022, Tig Notaro

Am I OK? is a fun & elegant portrait of love. Romantic, platonic, same… unrequited. Tig Notaro & Stephanie Allynne capture this deeply personal & undeniably authentic narrative with care & finesse. A story that could easily be mishandled by inexperienced storytellers, which is funny considering this is their directorial debut but they manage to deliver a piece that is incredibly special. The cast shows up big with powerfully endearing performances all around but Sonoya Mizuno and Dakota Johnson steal the show with their charm and undeniable chemistry. Dakota Johnson starts out 2022 with two fantastic performances in one Sundance,…

16 Feb

A Hero | Review

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsReviewsA Hero, Asghar Farhadi

Asghar Farhadi’s latest work, A Hero, uses his usual whip-smart yet tough-as-nails approach to deliver a tale of secrets and lies via the entanglement of a simple act of “kindness”. Asghar Farhadi, one of the best international filmmakers working today, never ceases to amaze me. Not only are his films poignant discerning tales about the effects that truths, lies, and misbeliefs have on human behavior, but they also show us the different phases of how a person’s genuine desire, either good or bad, develops throughout hard-hearted or compassionate situations. From A Separation to The Past, Farhadi examines the various junctures…

25 Jan

The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future | Review

Raul Navedo0 Comments2022, English Reviews, Film Festivals, Reviews, Sundance 2022Film Festivals, Film Review, Mia Maestro, Sundance 2022, Sundance Film Festival, The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future

Do you remember the last film you saw where, from the first frame, you thought “I don’t know where this is going but I am here for it”. Well, allow me to introduce you to the next one to hit on that level. The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future is a fascinating portrait of second chances that keeps you thoroughly engaged from start to finish. A beautiful mystery that reveals itself slowly: small doses cleverly designed to keep you hooked, rewarding you for your patience all along the way. This is one that could go a million…

23 Jan

Cha Cha Real Smooth | Review

Raul Navedo0 Comments2022, English Reviews, Film Festivals, Reviews, Sundance 2022Cha Cha Real Smooth, Cooper Raiff, Dakota Johnson, Sundance 2022, Sundance Film Festival

Cha Cha Real Smooth is a delightful film about finding yourself through love & family. A brilliantly written and directed modern rom-com from Cooper Raiff that accurately depicts and challenges the idea of soul-mates & commitment. It isn’t often that I watch a film and find myself as thrilled, entertained, and inspired as I found myself here. This one is an absolute wonder-- every element working in harmony to deliver a perfect film. That’s a claim I do not make lightly. Is it possible that I am simply a prisoner of the moment? Absolutely, but as of today Cha Cha…

20 Jan

Italian Studies | Review

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsEnglish ReviewsAdam Leon, Italian Studies, Nicholas Brittel, Simon Brickner, Vanessa Kirby

Italian Studies might have the incredible Vanessa Kirby in the lead role and the talented Nicholas Britell as a composer, but that doesn’t make this “search for identity” narrative any more compelling–it’s a film that’s experimental just for the sake of it. While visiting New York City on a trip from her native London town, writer Alina Reynolds (Vanessa Kirby) inexplicably (a hard emphasis on this word) loses her memory. She doesn’t know where she is, what time it is, or even her own name; Alina is just wandering adrift the rowdy streets of Manhattan alone. Her awareness wanders left…

08 Jan

The 355 | Review

Kolby Mac0 CommentsReviewsJessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong'o, Penelope Cruz, Sebastian Stan, The 355

Think of The 355 like a math equation. Not just any math equation, but a MOVIE MATH EQUATION. One where you can upload a formula into a movie 3-D printer and PLOP, you get a movie. Sounds messy, however this movie isn’t that messy as it’s quite intentional at being what it wants to be. Does it work? Let’s just say this movie turns out to be a rough start to 2022. Questionably Elite Female Super Spies from different agencies across the globe set their differences aside to band together and thwart a group of mercenaries who look to secure…

28 Dec

The Tragedy of Macbeth | Cinematic & Beautiful

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsReviewsA24, Apple TV+, Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Joel Coen, Kathryn Hunter, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Joel Coen’s first directorial effort without his brother Ethan, The Tragedy of Macbeth, is unlike anything in their filmography. It contains the theatricality of the Shakespearean play while still being thoroughly cinematic and beautiful, making it an outstanding solo debut. Frances McDormand in “The Tragedy of Macbeth” Everybody has heard about the tale of Macbeth, either from your high school curriculum or elsewhere. There have been many adaptations of the Shakespearean tragedy, yet most of them haven’t clicked with me, including Justin Kurzel’s 2015 rendition. However, Joel Coen’s adaptation grabbed my attention not only because of the star talent attached…

22 Dec

The Novice | Cutthroat & Tension-Filled

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsReviewsThe Novice, Tribeca

Eve though the Tribeca Film Festival hit, The Novice, has some problems regarding its narrative and pacing, Lauren Hadaway’s stylish directing and Isabelle Furhman’s great performance elevate it to create a cutthroat and tension-filled film about “ax to grind” compulsion. Alex Dall (Isabelle Furhman) is a queer college freshman who wants to join her university’s rowing team. When she hears about the chance of getting onto the varsity boat, Dall takes on an obsessive endurance test to make sure she gets what she wants no matter the cost. She pushes herself to the limit just to outperform her teammates and…