Tag: Cinematography

First Reformed Echoes a Film Classic While Critiquing Modern Megachurch Culture

“Courage is the solution to despair; reason brings no answers.” First Reformed follows Pastor Toller (Ethan Hawke) of First Reformed Church, a former Army chaplain taken in by megachurch Pastor Joel Jeffers (Cedric The Entertainer credited by his…

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The Rider is a Quiet Portrait of a Dying Dream’s Final Moments

“Sometimes we gotta play the hand we’re dealt. Sometimes your dreams aren’t meant to be.” The Rider is the second feature from rising director Chloé Zhao and marks the cinematic debut of newcomer Brady Jandreau in a semi-autobiographical role as Brady…

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Avengers: Infinity War is Marvel’s Biggest Spectacle Yet. But Does Bigger Mean Better?

Avengers:  Infinity War finds the mighty Avengers facing their toughest test yet, the madman from the planet Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). Motivated by a desire to bring balance to a universe he finds to be overpopulated and stretched thin,…

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Quinn Shephard Boldly Bursts onto the Scene with a Dazzling Debut in Blame

**********************This review contains spoilers************************* “You just think that you matter, you know? For the first time you think, that even if it makes you sick, that at least you mattered to somebody.” Blame is a film that encompasses…

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Heat: A Treatise on Time and Attachment

” I do what I do best; I take scores. You do what you do best; try to stop guys like me.” Heat is a dissection of opposite sides of the same coin. The film has two protagonists,…

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The Transfiguration Studies Trauma and Abandonment Through Horror

“But I mean, if you can only exist to hurt people, and you know better, then maybe it’s better to decide not to exist at all.” The Transfiguration follows a troubled, impoverished orphan teen from the projects of…

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Bright is an Average, but Promising, First Step Toward Something Bigger

Bright is a look in a fictional world that’s similar to our own except for the fact the human history has included the existence of fantastical creatures like elves, orcs, fairies, and dragons. With the presence of these…

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The Shape of Water Brings the Fairy Tale into Adulthood

“Unable to perceive the shape of you, I find you all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with your love. It humbles my heart, for you are everywhere.” The Shape of Water follows Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins),…

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Darkest Hour Dazzles Visually Amidst Gary Oldman’s Virtuoso Performance

“Those who never change their minds never change anything.” After finally achieving his lifelong dream of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) is immediately thrust into facing the country’s most turbulent situation in its…

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Blade Runner 2049 Remains Faithful to the Original While Making Its Own Mark

“We’re all just looking out for something real.” While conducting his duties of hunting and “retiring” the genetically engineered humanoid workforce known as replicants, Blade Runner K (Ryan Gosling) stumbles upon an old secret that his bosses desperately…

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