Virginia Gardner – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Scott Mann

Written By: Scott Mann And Jonathan Frank

Cinematography: Mac Gregor

Editor: Robert Hall

Cast: Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, Mason Gooding, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jasper Cole, Darrell Dennis

Fifty-one painful weeks after surviving a life-altering incident, Becky, an emotionally fragile rock climber drowning in a sea of grief, reluctantly picks up where she left off to confront her fears. As a thrill-seeking friend re-enters Becky’s ruined life, the two experienced climbers embark on a high-risk adventure to the top of the abandoned B67 TV tower. Now, two mortals seek to conquer the anxiety-inducing, vertigo-inspiring, 2,000-foot construction of weather-beaten metal and rattling rivets in the middle of the Mojave desert. But out there, even the slightest mistake can spell trouble. When the risky climb doesn’t go as planned, the two women must summon every last ounce of courage and strength to devise a plan for a safe return home–or die trying.

This is a film that seems more designed for theatrical watching in 4D or maybe even IMAX as it feels like almost a theme park ride or attraction more than a film it last 90 minutes and it does have a story but it seems more interested in being immersive almost POV like an adult movie.

As most of the film is watching these two characters stranded and trying to save themselves as well as working through some particular drama. As this one would definitely fail the BECHDEL test. As half of what they speak about is guys relationships, even when stranded though that seems to be the core of their drama and revelations.

The film does have a twist around the end of the second act, which doesn’t feel earned, but is understandable, but also feels a little manipulative to the audience, though fetch in with the unpredictable nature of the film, as it seems to be female versus nature or human versus nature, in wild nature should prevail, humans feel that they must conquer for some reason.

The film tries to presented as catharsis vote. It’s really just ego. The film does manage to keep your interest throughout, though. Don’t know if you would really ever need to watch it again. Was kind of hoping for maybe a moral story or a kind of tales from the crypt type ending or facets of the story becoming that line the film though plays mostly straightforward.

Though it is invented in finding ways to broad the story, so it’s not just the audience stuck with the two characters all the way up at the top of this tower. We do get quite a few scenes and characters away from the tower.

Director and Co-writer Scott Mann makes the film tension filled and is a Good calling card to show what he can do with a high concept idea and enough of a budget. As the film has that little engine that could energy.

Though it just feels like the film drop more high octane what would you do and facing your greatest fears type of film, which is fine and another reason why the Medium of cinema and motion pictures were made just didn’t necessarily when me over completely. I managed to be entertaining enough.

Grade: C

Directed By: Laura Murphy

Written By: Ivan Diaz, Dan Scheinkman and Meghan Brown

Cinematography: Jonathan Hall

Editor: John Carson

Cast: Lucy Hale, Virginia Gardner, Brooke Nevin, Samer Salem, Bethany Brown, Jedidiah Goodacre, Brendan Morgan, Jayr Tinaco

As a serial killer targets women on dating apps, a true-crime junkie must figure out which of her three dates is a f-boy, marriage material, or is trying to kill her.

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This is one of the most annoying films. I have seen in quite some time where this might’ve made a good WB show and could’ve been stretched out into a full season instead of a 90 minute movie that is baffling at how vapid, shallow and annoying, not only the main character is but that the material and film is maybe it’s meant to be camping. Maybe it’s meant to be cute, but it just comes off so condescending And glib that it’s annoying one is amazed that they made it to the end ending.

The lead played by Lucy Hale seems to have the looks and is meant to be a rational person, but nothing is quite believable about her when you see who her ex is you would never believe that this person would date that person and she seems to have a job that she never has to be at which is very convenient and though she and the film wants to show the troubles of dating apps and dating as one gets older, she doesn’t seem to really have a problem attracting any males.

It’s a shame as Lucy Hale you can tell is really trying to make this material work, but it doesn’t seem to want to rise the occasion with her and seems to keep holding her back

You wonder who the exact audience this film is for as even her friend group is diverse including a trans character that the film thankfully doesn’t truly shine a light on or really do that much into an African-American female and two other Caucasian women ones blonde ones brunette for a variety though one is married and one is engaged and all are taken.

Wow, one can enjoy the fact that there seems to be colorblind, casting when it comes to her dates, lovers and leading men in which their ethnicity is never discussed or talked about there seems to be a kind of fetishization of them as only one is seen as truly, a partner or lifemate And the other who happens to be African-American only seems to be used for sex and then she doesn’t find him as attractive when she realizes that he can be vulnerable and not just cool. Don’t know if it’s intentional, but it does come off leaving a bad taste in the mouth of the audience.

I’m not trying to downplay this film or slut shame the film I’m all for a female main character, enjoying sex being open not letting it define her relationship and it adds to the sex comedy elements, but it does feel somewhat unnecessary, especially when this film decides to switched to more of a comedic mystery tale.

What is not surprised that of the three Screenwriter two or male as the film I won’t say, comes off as sexist, but it does come across a little bro bro type of humor to a certain extent or more male oriented in certain scenes.

Which even though it goes that route, of course it’s not that hard to figure out the culprit though the reasoning seems rather far-fetched, but if unfortunately, you’ve seen the poster, it feels like it’s given away. Though I don’t think it really matters as this was never meant to be a brain buster.

It’s easy to call this in a humor, more sitcom like than anything close reality you can’t even label it spoof as it somehow takes itself a little more seriously than that and doesn’t lift From better films so that it never quite takes off the way that it should

It’s a strange film as it wants to be silly, but comes across as stupid and seems like it’s meant to appeal more to teenagers rather than an older adult audience that could really watch it because for all the sex involved in the film it’s never exploited if there’s no nudity no sex scenes if anything just maybe a little bit of Frank talk.

The problem with this film is that it could’ve had promised an opportunity with its promise, but it seems to go the easy route where even the direction seems so scattered as much as the script that it just seems to go so many ways, but never quite can focus or stay centered don’t know if that was the design to match the lead character but it doesn’t make the film a bit more agonizing when he thinks it’s being fun.

The nicest thing I can say is that it has a good looking cast it’s colorful and the filmmaking isn’t totally abysmal

Grade: F

Tag: Virginia Gardner

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