Right before Comic-Con begins, the Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition hits Blu-ray. Don’t worry, all the die hard comic book fans already watched it on digital last month. We’ve also got some tough guy action films, psychological horror and an inspirational faith-based drama to round out our collections this month. With both Batman V Superman Ultimate Edition and Criminal I can … [Read more...]
REVIEW: CRIMINAL Is Memorable Romp
Swapping minds and lives: the fantasy concept sounds like something straight out of THE TWILIGHT ZONE and it very well might be. Body swap/ mind swap genre pictures have long dotted the landscape, showing up in comedies (ALL OF ME, SWITCH, THE HOT CHICK, FREAKY FRIDAY) and dramas (SELF/ LESS, SECONDS). Director Ariel Vromen’s CRIMINAL spins a new yarn with that thread [nice], combining sci-fi high … [Read more...]
REVIEW: FASTBALL Rides Strong But Without Much Impact
What I personally love about documentaries is the ability a filmmaker has to show us a world which we might know nothing about – yet we come out of it with a greater appreciation. Whether it be social justice, fashion, the movie making craft, or sports, the immersion into the subject and the unfurling of the tale leads to a greater understanding of the world around us. I’m not a sports person by … [Read more...]
McFarland, USA Goes The Distance In This Heartwarming Film
The representation of Latino culture on film has always been tricky. For one, with so many variations, traditions and cultures, it's hard to pick one that represents all. Another, is for as far as I could think back, Latino roles have been limited to criminals, maids and many other unsavory characters. In "McFarland USA", Disney takes a real story, from a farming community in Central California, … [Read more...]
5 Things To Know About “McFarland USA”
Sports themed films and Disney always seem to have a winning formula. Each film from Miracle to Million Dollar Arm, has a meaning that steps beyond the sport and brings it to what lies within each team: heart. In McFarland USA, it's the same formula but with a major addition: Latino culture. McFarland USA is the true story of Coach Jim White taking a group of Latino kids from the low income, … [Read more...]
REVIEW: DRAFT DAY Doesn’t Move The Chains
For a sports film to call itself successful, it must be able to transcend the sport itself. Can it make sports interesting and entertaining to someone who doesn’t know about it? Can it teach you to care about something you don’t normally care about? This is my cinematic philosophy true of any industry or occupation. Which brings me to director Ivan Reitman’s DRAFT DAY, a football drama that does … [Read more...]