Month: October 2019

A Loving Ode to Film Noir, Motherless Brooklyn is the Surprise of the Year

The stylish, classic, smoky backdrops amidst a city illuminated by streetlamps, inhabited by mysterious people donning fedoras and ruby red lipstick, film noir is a beloved genre within the world of film boasting numerous classics that are still…

Read More »

Dolemite is My Name Captures the Entrepreneurial Spirit

They say that persistence is key; that in order to achieve one’s dream you must be relentless in the face of odds that are constantly urging you to quit. Such is the moxie displayed by Rudy Ray Moore…

Read More »

Middleburg Film Festival: Jojo Rabbit Successfully Mixes Humor and Frankness to Promote Compassion

What is the best way to combat hatred? Do you meet force with force or can evil only be defeated by its opposite? Satire has been used to great effect in the past to highlight the danger of…

Read More »

Middleburg Film Festival: Stunningly Intense and Emotional, Waves Examines Family and the Complexity of Black Parenting

Family structure is one of the most important influences on a child’s development. The environment children are reared under has long-lasting effects on how they process things and who they become later in life. Familial relationships are full…

Read More »

Middleburg Film Festival: A Hidden Life – On Having the Courage of Conviction, Groupthink, and Faith

“If God gives us free will we’re responsible for what we do, what we don’t do; aren’t we?” How far are you willing to go in defense of your principles? What would you be willing to sacrifice? The…

Read More »

Pain and Glory is a Portrait of How the Past Can Impede Our Present and Future

Unresolved trauma can construct roadblocks for one’s mental health and impediments toward progress within any part of our lives. Often times, people struggle to move forward and embark on new, productive paths due to the inability to reconcile…

Read More »

Parasite Takes an Intense, Explosive Look at Class Conflict in One of the Year’s Best Films

************************This review contains spoilers**************************** Times are tough as the gap between the haves and the have-nots continues to grow at rates unseen in almost 90 years. Working class people are often left scrambling to make ends meet and…

Read More »

Judy Explores the Isolation and Loneliness of Celebrity

They say all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players in its show. The famous line from Shakespeare sounds great, but what if you were so famous that life began to truly feel…

Read More »

Everything Old is New in Joker

“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” – African proverb “Call me crazy, sh– at least you’re calling.” – Drake A corrupt government seemingly more beholden to monied…

Read More »