Tag: Independent Films

Outlaw Johnny Black Pontificates As Much as It Entertains

Black Dynamite has grown to become a cult classic in film circles with the blaxploitation parody spinning off into a cartoon show amidst its success. The team behind the film is back with Outlaw Johnny Black, a play…

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Earth Mama Has an Important Story but Can Be a Tedious Watch (Sundance Film Festival)

Earth Mama tells the tale of Gia (Tia Nomore), a single mother who has lost her two children Trey (Ca’Ron Coleman) and Shaynah (Alexis Rivas) to foster care amidst her drug addiction and struggle with poverty. Gia seeks…

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Past Lives Powerfully Brings Love to the Big Screen, in All Its Glory and Pain

“If you leave something behind, you gain something too.” Past Lives follows the connection between Na Young (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two children who befriend each other in South Korea but lose contact with each…

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L’Immensita’s Story Fails to Match the Strength of Its Themes (Sundance Film Festival)

Set in 1970s Rome, L’Immensita tells the tale of Adriana (Luana Giuliani), the oldest daughter of Felice (Vincenzo Amaro) and Clara (Penélope Cruz) who are a couple in an unhappy and abusive marriage. As her parents struggle Adriana…

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You Hurt My Feelings Review (Sundance Film Festival)

You Hurt My Feelings follows novelist Beth (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who is in the process of writing a new novel after her previous effort failed to make a big splash. Beth’s psychiatrist husband, Don (Tobias Menzies) supports his wife’s…

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When You Finish Saving The World Shows Jesse Eisenberg’s Potential, and Flaws, Behind The Camera (Sundance Film Festival)

After spending years as a talented actor, Jesse Eisenberg makes his debut as a director after also penning the script for his entry behind the camera. Assisting him in telling the story of this family drama is the…

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Infinity Pool is an Insane, Psychedelic Portrait of a Man Trying to Regain Control of His Life (Sundance Film Festival)

The world in which we currently live has left meaning of us feeling empty, alone, and unsure of ourselves. People are more anxious than ever as we deal with rising inflation, expensive housing, increasing layoffs, and general uncertainty…

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Saint Omer is an Intimate Examination of How the Challenges of Immigration and Women Intersect

Saint Omer is told from the perspective of Rama (Kayije Kagame), the daughter of African immigrants and a novelist by trade, who attends the trial of Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanga), a young woman accused of killing her 15-month-old daughter…

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Broker Uses Comedy, Drama to Examine Family and Forgiveness in the One of 2022’s Best

The latest film from director Hirokazu Kore-eda, Broker begins with two men Ha Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won) who volunteer at a local church but are, in secret, baby brokers who sell infants that have anonymously been…

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Holy Spider is a Thought Provoking, Topical, and Multifaceted Critique of Iran’s Theocracy

The fall of 2022 saw civil unrest and protest erupt in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was accused of violating the country’s law regarding the proper wearing of hijabs. The nationwide uprising of…

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