Cast: Courtney Eaton, Thomas Mann, Francesca Reale, Kid Cudi, Dave Bautista, Joel McHale, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Westfeldt, Kathryn Gallagher, Lukas Gage
Follows Riley, who has recently been released from rehab after struggling with addictions to food and body image. She meets Ethan and finds herself navigating the line between love and a new addiction.
This film is the directorial debut of actress Brittany Snow and it’s a very accomplished debut as you think it’s going to be a typical twenty-something romance, It reveals itself to be much more.
As there is a romance, it’s also a character piece. That deals with damaged characters throughout and the person who chooses to be with this character and it helps, but it’s not the healthiest relationship for either.
As the film goes along, we see what might have helped to cause Riley the female lead character problems, and issues, and throughout we see her getting better, but also how she kind of sabotages herself and how the man who is in love with her might actually be hurting her and himself by enabling her
It seems like they might be good for each other, but at the wrong time and in helping each other, they’re only digging themselves deeper into their own problems as their romance is never defined though obvious to all.
We also see how her problems affect those around her friends, family, and even associates.
As what starts off as typical slowly reveals its depths and though it might only offer sketches of certain side characters, it does offer a reality and a look at all of their lives and how they affect one another
The film is more nourishing than one might expect as you come for something lighthearted, and you get something quite heavy, and the performances of the leads are just so devastating Eaton. This is the first time that I remember her in a leading role and quite strong and affecting and Thomas Mann , who I remember from many teenage or of age films really steps into his own as an actor and his lead in the leading role of the suitor who buries his own misery, trying to help others, but only sinks himself, and the others even lower by not truly allowing himself to be happy. Teaching the power of letting go.
This is definitely a film to check out and really live with as it’s not typical even the ending isn’t typical, but it feels true and Its Own Way, Earnest with ambiguity and hope.
Cast: William Jackson Harper, Aya Cash, Sarah Bolger, Tony Cavalero, Peri Gilpin, Azita Ghanizada, Kobi Libii, Larisa Oleynik, Eduardo Franco
Longtime couple Lori and Doug break up just days before Lori’s little sister Bea’s wedding to Jayson. In order to not disrupt the fun, they decide to pretend they’re still together until the weekend is over.
This is The second movie I have watched with William Jackson Harper about an African-American breaking up with a white woman, but also played by a good underrated actress here played by Aya Cash. both of them can pull off this material in their sleep.
We’ve seen this type of story and film before a comedy-drama with romance where a couple is forced to attend a wedding and act like nothing happened to say face in front of family and friends and for the special occasion
Like most relationships, the same in many ways, but are significantly special in the details, locations, and structures of their own
Going through the break up with one another, and so close to the time was all already sudden we are watching them deal with the ramifications and emotions while being forced to be around one another
The film is artistically, directed, and pasted while going for comedy or humor, but not too outlandish at times
It’s a joy to either of the actors and anything as they have shown their versatility and can be quite charming.
As it’s actually more enjoyable than expected, and it gets deeper as it goes along and offers a mature look at relationship relationships they will admit it is filled with sitcom situations and humor at times.
It’s a satisfying watch that will ring true for some viewers as it is the cast that pulls it across the finish line and makes it somewhat memorable.
Written By: Adam Sherman, Dave Reeves and Rachel Hardisty
Cinematography: Sharone Meir
Editor: Sam Bauer
Cast: Lukas Haas, Madeline Zima, Jake Busey, Tania Raymonde, Ray Wise, Valerie Mahaffey, Moran Atias, Ned Bellamy, Laura Piro, Regine Nehy
Zach is guy for whom the party never ends. But when he meets the girl he nicknames “Crazy Eyes,” the inability to have her, combined with family matters, are signs that his idle life might be due for a change.
This seems like it’s supposed to be a romantic tale. While it has a good cast, by the end you dislike most of the characters.
It can be seen as one man’s journey to find the truth. He’s so unlikeable that it’s hard to truly feel sympathy or feelings for him.
The main character is a trust fund kid. Who is also a player and an alcoholic. Who knows and believes that all around him are only after him to support or pay for them. Which the movie shows to be true for the most part.
The film mainly revolves around his fascination with a woman who goes on dates, makes out with him, and constantly sleeps with him. Though there is no sex involved.
Which he seems to be determined to do. Though not above sleeping with other women while he tries to get her. She is a major drinker herself and seems to have mental problems. Though never clearly defined. They seem to support one another from their bad decisions to the next impulse.
They each have friends that revolve around them. Who are there only to bounce thoughts off of and show they know others who might be worse off than they are. A bartender and lingerie designer. Who seems more interested in the lead to find her dreams and lifestyle.
There is even a character who just seems to be here as eye candy and temptation but doesn’t come too much. As she is just another unlikeable character in the mix. We do get to meet his parents which offers some depth and a bit of an explanation.
there is a kind of twist by the end that somehow makes all the characters seem worse and justifies the lead somewhat. Though leaves it open-ended as to what has changed if anything in his life. It offers one of the most unfortunately downtrodden and realistic endings.
If it weren’t for the cast I don’t know if I would have bothered finishing the film. As it seems so far teaching and kind of like a tangent against Los Angeles and its bar culture to a degree. As well as relationships. The film is very misogynistic and angry. Even though it tries to seem laid back.
The directing is all over the place and dark. The lead always wants to go to the bar or for a drink as his come-ons seem a bit much and overbearing. Though while not against drugs his character mainly indulges in alcohol. This film feels like a lighter version of BARFLY. Without any of the charm.
Luckily for a film that seems focused on sex, there is very little of it or any nudity. Though that might be disappointing to some. At least it would serve as a distraction from what we have to sit through. It would also offer a release which this film seems dedicated to not delivering on any of its points.
What is truly disappointing is the movie has the goods and talent to be a better film but seems like it’s so indulgent that it seems doomed to fail.
One wishes the movie was more about Madeline Zima’s character.
Cast: Isabela Merced, Cree, Judy Reyes, Felix Mollard, Maliq Johnson, J. Smith-Cameron, Poorna Jagannathan, Tim Gooch, Hannah Marks, Debby Ryan
Aza Holmes. It’s not easy being Aza, but she’s trying… trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, and a good student, all while navigating an endless barrage of invasive, obsessive thoughts that she cannot control. When she reconnects with Davis, her childhood crush, Aza is confronted with fundamental questions about her potential for love, happiness, friendship, and hope in the face of her mental illness.
A nice coming-of-age story that deals with mental health primarily OCD.
Though at times the film does feel a little wish fulfillment It does feel a bit more real emotionally than some of its peers.
What I really enjoyed is that the film starts off introducing the characters and giving us what looks to be a mystery and investigation and uses it as an introduction to take us on a different journey and a different type of film and story and then kind of bring it back to our initial adventure that closure but also further the other story that was in the middle.
It’s refreshing that all of these issues and drama are tackled with a cast. That is the verse, but the main characters are mostly of Hispanic origin so there are more people of color within this film.
One thing I have to credit is that this film is based on the book by John Green and I have not read this book. I have seen most of the film adaptations of his books and each one while summer better than the others. They have all been heart-wrenching and heartbreaking and well done and I feel it because his books are a wealth of material that is easily identifiable and have an everlasting ring of truth in tragedy is still uplifting and romantic.
One has to give Director Hannah Marks great as she is an actress and Director, and for someone so young has knocked it out of the park with the films that she has directed usually our stories are always so well acted quirky, and memorable that she is a great talent that deserves to recognize more.
No, it does show that maybe I’m getting older as the lead character’s best friend I found it continuously annoying and was glad half the time when she wasn’t in scenes, but by the end, her character is so so endearing that I couldn’t imagine the film without her character without her.
As these films used to be catnip for me, and I used to be one of the first people, crying and being emotional over these films and while it still gets to a part of me, I don’t find myself as emotionally invested as I used to. I still these types of films.
What I appreciate is that there was no big cure at the end there’s an ending that works, but there’s also the truth about the condition and the characters in that it may never be solved. Simply, you have to keep living your life and deal with it as it comes.
It’s also the first time that maybe I’ve noticed where a romantic comedy kind of looks at the male love interest through a female gaze as they’re not the center of the story, but more towards the side and are unbelievably helpful and good-looking and are there to provide moral support and the film goes out of its way to make them just the perfect love interest for the character where they’re tall their good looking they’re rich they give them what any woman would want.
The only thing in the way is the female character and confidence. So the male here is more in the role of the dream partner in the flesh and willing and waiting. While only having eyes for them.
Cast: Peter Weller, Christopher Collet, Teri Garr, Corey Haim, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Gartin, James Harper, Josh Hamilton, J.D. Roth
Because he’s the oldest, Jake has been the man of the house, since his parents divorce. When Mom starts seeing Sam, who always seems to be trying some new way to get rich quick, and declares he’s the man of the house now, Jake puts up with it. Until he discovers Sam’s illegal activities.
Though I’m sure it was gripping when it came out watching this film now it isn’t bad, but it does come across more as an after-school special. That is a little bit more adult than the ones that played at the time.
Times have changed as in the past films like these could be big dramatic films to make it to the big screen rather than being relegated more to television, movies, fair, or overly melodramatic lifetime movies now.
The film has plenty of great dramatic moments and slowly shows how the dysfunctional situation of this young man whose home is invaded by her mom’s drug-dealing boyfriend and who slowly destroys each member of his mom becoming more and more junkie his striking out in anger and becoming much more reclusive as he never wants to be at home. The young man himself slowly starting to lose his composure and his laid-back mentality.
it’s fun to see Peter Weller in this role as you can understand his allure and how at first he seems kindhearted, youthful, and A big talker. Slowly, we see him deflate, and how full of it he is he spends most of his days asleep watching television on their couch while their mother goes out and works.
We also see her attention when it comes to common responsibilities. Like Cooking and cleaning paying bills on time, and being around. It’s ending is too tidy, but at least it shows or handset what went into all of the character’s decisions where the mother was dating a perfectly nice guy, but met this bad boy who is a little bit more exciting and has all these plans he has and is much better and I believe a bit younger Especially coming on the heels of her ex-husband getting remarried.
That is the only hard part of the film that it takes to believe and completely shows how out of the loop the ex-husband is that he’s always traveling and he calls his sons and cares about them to check up on them. It’s still distant by only phone he never physically comes to check up on them or hears of them and their problems at school.
For the most part, the film does keep your interest as you want to see where it goes and how bad is it gonna go and in the third act you want to see how is it going to relieve itself? It never goes over the top in the violence or the dramatics, it keeps itself at a low simmer most of the time there’s nothing that really boils over until the end and even then it’s not as over the top as you would expect.
It’s nice to see Peter Weller, in an early dramatic role. The handsome troublesome hustler is just the wrong element in all of this.
Is the film debut of future teen idol, Corey Haim, and even in this role he’s got the dramatic goods and comes across his believable even if it’s a troubled child it’s a troubled child role. Even Robert Downey Jr. has a small role in this film as more of the flamboyant and punk friend of the lead character group.
Christopher Collet stayed in the lead and had a pretty good acting career, though this was one of his rare leading roles, he carried the film quite believably for the time. For a film that took place in a suburban area could call it a team with adult themes, but I guess you could also call it a troubled family film.
Not Too many surprises it’s worth a look looking for a more dramatic, overture, and film that is more hidden film than it is popular as I constantly got this film, confused with the more exploitative film SCREAM FOR HELP. This is more respectable and better made. Of course, for most audiences, there might be a feeling of having been there and done that while watching
It doesn’t come across as anything special about the film though it’s a solid watch
Cast: Keke Palmer, Sza, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Maude Apatow, Katt Williams, Patrick Cage, Lil Rel Howery, Gabrielle Dennis, Janelle James, Amin Joseph
When best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact.
At first, this film Feels like it’s Going to be the female version of FRIDAY. It’s not so much a hang-out movie as the characters keep running around the city. Though like that film there are plenty of colorful characters.
The humor is also a little More Lightweight and goofy. as at times it feels like it could go further but it keeps holding itself back to be less wacky and a bit more Realistic.
The film is entertaining and likable enough. Though the comedy there is. Nothing exceptional except Again it’s nice to see two female Characters in a comedy. They get into all sorts of adventures and shenanigans and aren’t necessarily Portrayed as angels, but as good at heart.
Especially one staring at two African American females that are as smart as it is silly and doesn’t feel like it’s Talking down nor above the audience.
The Film Stays fun throughout. Though both the leads are way better than the material they make it work with their chemistry and energy. Keke Palmer deserves better scripts and roles. She clearly is having the time of her life.
One admires her for her natural charisma On Screen and has usually been solid in her roles. As she is a former child Star has kept working over the years and only recently started getting recognized for her talent and getting bigger and better roles. As here she is the more responsible of the duo.
Sza plays the second lead the more free-spirited of the duo. Also the more comedic one and she makes a memorable acting debit
As always in comedies some Of the best things about the film And script are the supporting characters those who are predictable and unpredictable.
The only part that could have been worked on or tighter could have been the third-act villain out of nowhere.
It’s a film that moves fast and isn’t too deep keeps Up the momentum, and never slows down
Cast: Ava Cantrell, Tren Reed-Brown, Gene Farber, Hermione Lynch, Karina Westbrook, Yanni Walker, Trace Talbot, Patrick Hilgart, Meredith Vivian
In 1976 a troubled teen befriends her bullied neighbor, seeking revenge on his tormentors, but her obsession turns deadly.
The Film starts off as a coming-of-age film that seems like it will be about revenge before it takes several turns and becomes something totally different not outrageous but a little bit harder to label. At first, it seems like it could be more of a backwoods BECKY type of film. Only with less action and more horror.
This is an odd little film. It starts off as a revenge tale of Justice, and then there are several twists and turns by the end you were wondering, if the title character is truly an antihero or truly just a sociopath and psychopath, even though the film tries to hint at her maybe just being misjudged.
As throughout the victims in the film, I’m not going to say they’re the greatest people, but it does feel a little excessive for what is doubt to them by logic. Maybe that’s justified though there is truly only one innocent victim. It seems and the film seems to have no sympathy for them.
luckily, the movie gets to the point very fast and maybe it’s just my nature but there just seems to be some kind of element missing as the story is a bit more original than you would expect and there’s nothing wrong with the follow-through but there’s like little things that mess with the mixture like there’s really no reason why this film is set in the 1970s except maybe they wanted an absence of technology, but considering it takes place in a small southern town, it could’ve been modern and the characters didn’t have certain amenities
And in its own way you could call this a slasher film that takes its time where we get to know the slasher not necessarily their origins, but we see their kind of upbringing or a little bit after their start.
The film isn’t necessarily gory, nor does it involve any nudity or sex, so you can’t exactly call it exploitative even though when it’s DNA, it has the makings of one. There are several times where it does feel a bit campy sometimes on purpose other times not necessarily and the acting isn’t always the best but it’s good enough to keep your interest while it plays.
Cast: Shannon Presby, Lori Loughlin, James Spader, Eric Stoltz, Eddie Jones, John Philbin, Tom Atkins, Brad Sullivan
Newly orphaned siblings Abby and Loren McWilliams arrive in a small Florida town to help their Aunt Fay and Uncle Charlie run a family-owned amusement park, and they find that the town is terrorized by a local street gang.
This is definitely a film of its time. A film that is mostly a thriller towards the end turns into an action film in a small town.
It has James Spader as a southern redneck, a gang leader in Florida, who is a Sharp dresser and has died beach, blonde, hair and eyebrows that almost make him look like an albino. You wonder why his character would hang out with them whom his gang seems to be made up of as they come off more southern redneck stereotypes than he does.
The title gives it away that this story is about a brother and sister, whose parents passed away and who move in with an uncle who may or may not be using them for labor and money to open up his own amusement park. They try to fit in the school, but the local gang takes a liking to the sister and begins to harass her, and when her brother tries to defend her, he becomes their other.
Throughout the film, each of them gets back at one another and ups the ante until the inevitable finale when the gang takes it too far and the brother and sister have to defend themselves against them and any hope of the police getting involved seems absent as there is a sheriff, but he seems to be the only cop we see throughout the film And the teachers seem to turn a blind eye to everything.
The film isn’t bad it it sometimes feels a little ridiculous, but it stays entertaining and seems perfect for its teen audience as long as no one asks too many questions. The film could be easily forgettable and typical of its time, though it has some ridiculous curveballs that keep the audience interested. It is not truly a time capsule of time and genre.
It stays away from being exploited though at times it seems like it’s going that way, and part of the fun is seeing well-known actors playing supporting roles in this film.
It’s definitely a film that has a certain audience, though you can enjoy some more absurd elements that make it a perfect popcorn movie to look back upon.
Through it all this is more a film to watch for James Spader‘s strange performance amongst the other absurdities. as it is so random yet so captivating a hint of things to come in a showcase a bit of his range. Though also for a villain, he seems to be filmed like a heartthrob more than even the heroic character of the film
Cast: Desiree Nosbusch, Bodo Staiger, Simone Brahmann, Jonas Vischer, Helga Tolle, Klaus Munster, Ian Moorse, Wilfried Blasberg
The hero-worship that Simone has for a pop singer is built to a crescendo until she passes out when she finally sees him up-close in a crowd of fans pushing him for autographs. She is later shocked when he lets her know that he does not love her. In an instant, she is caught “in a trance” and feels a murderous urge that is bigger than the both of them.
This review is spoiler-heavy. it’s advisable to watch the film first as this is more a discussion than a review.
This is a film one has waited quite some time to find and finally watch. It’s a film that it heard about over the years and looked forward to then saw a very, simply not as some cinematic lost Grail.
It’s a nice switch from the usual fan films where it’s usually a male stalking a female or stalking another male making it more homoerotic for the ladder, but in the former and obsession that they try to turn erotic or romantic.
A story that works like a mixtape has a different cut or see as time goes by. It’s also set at a time place and culture around a music scene that was modern at the time and very specific.
This film deals with the same only from a female fan stalking a male rockstar. The girl is a teenager, and by far is the more gruesome of any star obsession film, as this is more a psychological drama rather than an action thriller.
It can also be seen at first as a coming of age story that Can be seen as a rite of passage a crush on a superstar that gets to be an obsession as a fan for a teenage girl.
It also dives more into the psychology of the obsession as since it’s an underage girl it is mostly thought that it’s puberty and emotions taking over but soon realizes that it’s nothing more than a crush and that it should be rather harmless this film and the character takes it more to an extreme.
The film shows the depth of fandom, but also obsession. Believing that she is the only one who knows and understands him and that all the others are just there more for the money and Fame.
The film is more psychological than physical love it or hate it. It’s a conversation starter.
The main character doesn’t speak much, except in her letters to the star and in monologues. Desiree Nosbusch Gives an unforgettable performance as Simone.
The audience witnesses how unstable she is to a degree in her day-to-day life as her obsession takes over all of her thoughts and actions and she cares little about anything else.
The audience suspects where it will mostly go or what will happen as the film takes its time with the situation, especially once she finally gets to meet him.
We watch as she runs away into Wonderland and finds a monster of sorts and sheep’s clothing that she believes to be her prince.
We watch as she somehow Wills her fantasy to come true with interest, and then practically the unraveling of what she sees as a romance, and what he sees as a hook-up.
Which is like an artistic love scene presenting themselves to one another before it seems to take a turn, and after he gets what he wants and is ready to throw her away or dispose of her. It is in close-up as we are now in her fantasy or viewing it through that lens once the camera pulls back after we are brought into reality just as she is.
We know something will happen, but can’t predict how severe, especially without the innocent and clean or at least non-exploit of the movie has been up to this point. It’s had its rough edges, but it’s practically been more passive, which makes it all the more upsetting.
This is not the type of film where you are waiting for a demise or where the film gets you excited or expecting any sort of violence. The film seems a bit off at first, then gets disturbing and gruesome.
The film even early on makes a point of presenting Hand-holding as a sign of who cares and who doesn’t.
Nothing that happens seems to be premeditated. Some could argue. The actions are to happen in the heat of the moment or being so young and emotionally out of control.
It seems to go way too far though we might understand her initial act, becomes a mix of saving herself, but also still having a sick obsession and sickness with this rockstar.
The film is not as violent or as expected, though it might be the cut I viewed.
There is only one part that is not that believable as it is too clean and too fast, which is devouring him a bit cannibalizing him or at least pieces of him or at least the essence of him as a goodbye or farewell. That’s where it goes overboard but smart and getting away with fashion. Even though that is probably one of the more memorable parts of the film.
She doesn’t seem to learn her lesson as she is still delusional by the end and blocking out her act and now might be delivering his child who she believes will be reborn.
The film also has long drawn shots, but little dialogue, a synth-pop score that gets into your head. that goes well with the action and ending as once you step away from this film it is certainly one that you won’t forget easily.
Cast: Joanna Arnow, Scott Cohen, Babak Tafti, Michael Cyril Creighton, Alysia Reiner, Peter Vack, Parish Bradley, Rushi Birudala
A mosaic-style comedy following the life of a woman as time passes in her long-term casual BDSM relationship, low-level corporate job, and quarrelsome Jewish family.
This film feels like a collection of mundane experiences suffered by the main character well, also letting the film is autobiographical as it is written and directed by its lead, and her parents play her parents, and friends fill out the cast.
The film would seem to most like a sad, sad comedy that would feel like it follows in the footsteps of such filmmakers as Woody Allen and Todd Solondz where there might be a kind of sadness about the characters who either seem to be taken advantage of or bring on the bad things that happened to them somewhat punished by society.
Only what’s different is The main character isn’t so much a victim as she seems to welcome it and seems content with her life, relationships, and situations. The film is just trying to show her reactions to the situation, she finds herself in and she comes across as one of the more normal characters as all the other characters come off as rather quirky or disturbed.
The film also tries to present BDSM relationships in a droll way. As a tries to show modern dating with a dry sense of humor. That at times comes across as brutally honest, but with humor.
There’s a film that’s not gonna be for everybody. it might take a while for you to get on its wavelength but once you do, it’s smooth sailing as long as you are digging what you have seen so far.
Watching the film, it almost comes across as a visual journal of our lead character. Where she doesn’t try to sugarcoat or make anyone including herself look good it’s presented matter-of-factly, even allowing herself to be for half of the film.
For some the film or the situations as depressing and almost like a form of degradation. Which, for most, it might be, but here it actually shows the characters enjoying themselves for the most part.
Think Lena Dunham and her early films and even girls only with no real group of friends so that the main focus is on her and some odd supporting characters. As the tone goes from absurd to reality.
The film might throw some people off at first you just have to get into it sensibilities as it does showcase as sensitive charm many times and it’s style and tone.
It definitely shows a singular vision where the first half of the film is more random and the second half seems to get more into a plot, whereas the first half of the film is more showing her day-to-day life and seeing various people other than a recurring boyfriend like character, the second half focuses More on her, trying to maintain a relationship with a new guy who’s not used to her form where it feels like the film has shown enough of her background at that point so that we see the character and trust her alone and not reacting off of a series of familiar characters so the second half is kind of like seeing a normal character interact with her and how they react
This film really shocked me at how enjoyable it was and how much one could get into the film with just the nitty-gritty and didn’t need so much dressing or packaging around it is definitely to try and watch. In the end won’t say it’s necessarily rewarding but as a film fan her artistry while semi-autobiographical it’s also admirable.
Cut To The Chase 