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‘Sisu’ is a Brilliantly Blood-soaked Tale of Revenge (Review)

19May

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Sisu’ is a Brilliantly Blood-soaked Tale of Revenge (Review)

With his bombastic Nazi-slaying action film 'Sisu,' Finnish director Jalmari Helander keeps things all in the family. After all, lead actor Jorma Tommila is his brother-in-law and his nephew Onni Tommila is also in the film. Both of them also starred in Helander's 2010 feature debut, 'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.' It hasn't been an extensive career. Since then, there was only one other film ('Big Game') that pretty much went straight to video here in America. How did 'Sisu' become a surprise hit at the box office this Spring? For starters, it was shot in English. Aside from a smattering of subtitled dialogue, the Finnish production was made with an international audience in mind. Following other hyperviolent films like 'John Wick' and prior World War II revenge tales lik...

Eco-Thriller ‘How To Blow Up A Pipeline’ Explodes Onto VOD (Review)

12May

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

Eco-Thriller ‘How To Blow Up A Pipeline’ Explodes Onto VOD (Review)

The anxiety-riddled eco-thriller, 'How To Blow Up A Pipeline,' feels frighteningly authentic. Daniel Goldhaber's second feature film tells the story of a group of young people who strongly believe that their titular mission will make the world a better place. Based on a 2021 book from Swedish activist Andreas Malm, it introduces us to eight main characters who have come together for different reasons in pursuit of environmental justice. You may be familiar with the term 'social justice warrior,' but have you ever contemplated its implications in reality? This film acquaints us with characters who believe that eco-terrorism represents the sole means to alter the system, immersing us in their methodologies. Ariela Barer stars in 'How To Blow Up A Pipeline' (NEON) The Verdic...

What to Watch: May 2023 Streaming Preview

5May

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film

What to Watch: May 2023 Streaming Preview

If you’re looking for something new on streaming in May we’ve got you covered. Check out some of our picks for what you should add to your April streaming watchlist! What are you most excited to see? Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult star in 'Renfield' (Universal Pictures) Newly Available on VOD this May How To Blow Up A Pipeline (available now) The Magic Flute (available now) Mafia Mamma (PVOD, available now) Renfield (PVOD, available now) Evil Dead Rise (PVOD, May 9) R.M.N. (May 16) The Super Mario Bros. Movie (PVOD, May 16) Sisu (PVOD, May 16) Robots (May 19) John Wick: Chapter 4 (PVOD, May 23) https://youtu.be/d2k4QAItiSA *PVOD titles are fresh from theatrical release and generally rent or sell digitally for $19.99 (or higher). ...

‘Little Richard: I Am Everything’ Traces the Roots of a Rock & Roll Innovator (Review)

28Apr

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Little Richard: I Am Everything’ Traces the Roots of a Rock & Roll Innovator (Review)

You can say a lot of things about Little Richard, but you can't ever say that he was shy. He spent decades telling anyone who would listen that he was the architect of rock and roll. And, of course, he truly was a pioneer but the extreme racism of the American South meant that his singles became even bigger hits when watered down by white artists like Pat Boone and Elvis. Little Richard (Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures) In her fantastic documentary, filmmaker Lisa Cortés attempts to correct the record. An opening night selection at this year's Sundance, 'Little Richard: I Am Everything' is an origin story with extreme admiration. It also illustrates just how far ahead of his time that Little Richard was. He broke stereotypes, gender norms, and the lines of segregation. ...

‘Cocaine Bear’ is Exactly As Advertised (Review)

21Apr

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Cocaine Bear’ is Exactly As Advertised (Review)

Let's get one thing clear: 'Cocaine Bear' is genuinely a fun concept and exactly the movie you think it is. Is it any good? Let's just say, your mileage may vary on that aspect. Director Elizabeth Banks is in on the joke. She takes a "what did they just say" concept and turns it into an inherently watchable movie. It's just an incredibly silly one. Hannah Hoekstra as Elsa in 'Cocaine Bear' (Universal Pictures) Pitched as an "inspired by a true story" tale, 'Cocaine Bear' is as loosely rooted in the truth as a certain bloated and very orange ex-President. Which is to say, virtually nothing that happens in this film actually occurred in real life except for the fact that a dead bear was found in Georgia in 1985. Officials believe it ate an entire duffel bag of cocaine that had been...

Mia Hansen-Løve Returns With Understated ‘One Fine Morning’ (Review)

14Apr

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

Mia Hansen-Løve Returns With Understated ‘One Fine Morning’ (Review)

With an incredible run of films going back to her 2007 debut 'All is Forgiven,' Mia Hansen-Løve has become one of my favorite filmmakers. She's been met with acclaim and accolades from the start, with that first film earning nominations at the Cannes Film Festival and the César awards. As the years have rolled on, she has continued to consistently tell intensely personal stories with warmth. We covered her last film, 2021's 'Bergman Island,' here and it recently was released through the Criterion Collection. For her eighth feature film, she cast Léa Seydoux ('Blue is the Warmest Color') as Sandra. She is a young single mother who works as a translator. Her father Georg (Pascal Greggory) was a brilliant man who taught philosophy, but a neurodegenerative disease has wrecked havoc...

What to Watch: April 2023 Streaming Preview

7Apr

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film

What to Watch: April 2023 Streaming Preview

If you’re looking for something new on streaming in April we’ve got you covered. Check out some of our picks for what you should add to your April streaming watchlist! What are you most excited to see? Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman star in 'A Good Person' (MGM) Newly Available on VOD this April Inside (PVOD, available now) 65 (PVOD, available now) The Quiet Girl (available now) Shazam! Fury of the Gods (PVOD, available now) Emily (PVOD, April 11) A Good Person (PVOD, April 11) One Fine Morning (April 11) Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (PVOD, April 18) A Thousand and One (PVOD, April 18) Enys Men (April 18) Rodeo (April 18) Return To Seoul (April 25) Scream VI (PVOD, April 25) https://youtu.be/SH5c4FZd6qs *PVOD titles are fres...

‘Tetris’ Delivers a Surprisingly Fun Origin Story (Review)

31Mar

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Tetris’ Delivers a Surprisingly Fun Origin Story (Review)

With 'Tetris,' Scottish director Jon S. Baird ('Filth') takes on the origin story of one of the most addictive video games ever created. Is it the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Of course not. But it is a surprisingly fun film with a standout performance from Taron Egerton who plays Henk Rogers, the man who helped spread a small Russian-created game around the world. The movie begins with a flat-footed batch of exposition to lay out the story, but it finds its way as we go along. The game Henk designed and is exhibiting at the Consumer Electronics Show is a dud, but after playing Tetris at another CES booth, he sees his ticket to success. His plan slowly begins to take hold from there. All he has to do is buy the global distribution rights from the game's creator, Alexey...

As ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Hits Theaters, Catch Up On The Series

24Mar

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film

As ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Hits Theaters, Catch Up On The Series

If there is one thing that 'John Wick: Chapter 4' proves, it's that you can't keep a good assassin down. As Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski head back to the theaters this weekend, you may be looking to catch up on the series. Or, if you're like me, you are trying to figure out how to watch most of the films for the first time so you can go enjoy the new movie on the big screen. Confession: I saw the first film back in 2015 when it hit home video. I enjoyed it, but for whatever reason never bothered to watch the rest of the movies. Until, that is, this week! I figured it was time for a crash course and it is honestly pretty fun to get watch these in quick succession. How to Watch the John Wick series In advance of the new film hitting theaters, Peacock ponied up ...

HBO Max Premieres Oscar-nominated ‘All The Beauty And The Bloodshed’ (Review)

17Mar

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

HBO Max Premieres Oscar-nominated ‘All The Beauty And The Bloodshed’ (Review)

The latest and greatest from filmmaker Laura Poitras ('Citizenfour') is a captivating look at the life and career of artist Nan Goldin. In 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed,' Poitras takes us far beyond the artistic achievements of a remarkable woman. The film was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, only the second time in the fest's history that a documentary won the honor. Sadly, it lost out to the timely 'Navalny' at the Oscars this year in the Best Documentary Feature category, It should find a much bigger audience on HBO Max than it did during a brief theatrical release last fall. Nan Goldin in 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed' (NEON/HBO Documentary Films) The Verdict 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed' was in my Top 10 for 2022, so you can safely presum...