Tag: Independent Films
Through Deliberate Storytelling and Tense Scares, Hereditary Firmly Sticks in Audiences’ Heads
Hereditary follows the Graham family, father Steve (Gabriel Byrne), mother Annie (Toni Collette), son Peter (Alex Wolff), and daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro) in the wake of the death of the family’s matriarch, their grandmother Ellen. As the family…
Read More »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…
Read More »Disobedience Explores the Effects of Cultural Rigidity. Again.
************************This review contains spoilers**************************** “HaShem gave us choice, which is both a privilege and a burden.” Disobedience follows the story of New York photographer Ronit Krushka (Rachel Weisz) who has returned to the conservative Jewish community in which she…
Read More »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…
Read More »Becks Touchingly Delves into the Complicated Side of Love
************************This review contains spoilers**************************** Becks follows a young woman of the same name (Lena Hall) forced to move back to St. Louis with her staunchly Catholic mother Ann (Christine Lahti) after driving from New York to L.A. to…
Read More »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…
Read More »Bomb City Puts Ostracization and Conformity in America Under the Microscope
“Judging by the looks of this place, I’m sure all of y’all are guilty of plenty.” Bomb City is based on the true story of the death of Brian Deneke (Dave Davis), a 19-year-old punk rock enthusiast at…
Read More »Logan Lucky Brings Fun and Heart to Heist Films
After Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) loses his job and is presented with the news that his ex Bobbie Jo (Katie Holmes) plans on moving his daughter Sadie (Farrah MacKenzie) across state lines to Virginia, Logan Lucky takes us…
Read More »I, Tonya Challenges What You Think You Know In Its Portrayal of the Cycle of Abuse
“I was loved. I can’t describe how that felt.” I, Tonya is a biopic that delves into the life of infamous former figure skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) from her upbringing in Portland, Oregon under the heavy-hand of…
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Upgrade Entertains as a Sci-Fi Action Film While Calling into Question Modern Tech Obsession
“A fake world is a lot more comfortable than the real one.” Set in a not too distant future, Upgrade is the story of Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), an old fashioned, blue collar guy in a world of…
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