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‘Sanctuary’ Delivers Succession Through an S&M Lens (Review)

21Jul

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Sanctuary’ Delivers Succession Through an S&M Lens (Review)

Zachary Wigon's sophomore feature 'Sanctuary' is a dialogue-driven erotic thriller that harkens back to the best work of Neil LaBute. Set almost entirely inside a hotel room, the film explores the dark and twisted dynamic between a dominatrix named Rebecca (Margaret Qualley) and her soon-to-be ex-client, Hal (Christopher Abbott). Hal is the heir to a hotel empire and on the path to becoming CEO after the death of his father. But he has his fair share of secrets and Rebecca knows them all. How can he move forward professionally when she holds all the cards? We spend one full night with Rebecca and Hal as he hires her for what he intends to be their last session. The Verdict 'Sanctuary' feels like it began as a stage play. We get two characters and a war of words f...

Candid ‘WHAM!’ Doc Celebrates Career in Their Own Words (Review)

30Jun

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

Candid ‘WHAM!’ Doc Celebrates Career in Their Own Words (Review)

British duo Wham! were one of the biggest pop acts on the 1980s, selling over 30 million records worldwide. Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael in Wham! Courtesy of Netflix © 2023 Childhood best friends George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley grew up outside of London and bonded over their love of music. After starting out in a ska band, they began writing and recording the early songs that would turn in to Wham!'s first album, "Fantastic." Those early tracks contained a slice of social commentary that got them noticed in the music press. Despite initially flailing on the UK charts, a last-minute booking on Top Of The Pops in 1982 to perform "Young Guns (Go For It!)" was a game changer. https://youtu.be/6_MhjfgeC44 They had 6 #1 singles in England and 3 in the United States in...

‘Polite Society’ is a Kick-Ass UK Import (Review)

23Jun

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Polite Society’ is a Kick-Ass UK Import (Review)

'Polite Society' is the debut feature film from Nida Manzoor, the British-Pakistani creator of 'We Are Lady Parts.' She has crafted a wildly inventive and kick-ass story of two very different sisters. Ria (Priya Kansara) has one dream in life and that is to be a stuntwoman. At school, her stuffy teacher pushes her to pursue a more traditional career, but that only increases her desire to prove everybody wrong. Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya star in 'Polite Society' (Focus Features) Lena (Ritu Arya) is Ria's older sister. After dropping out of art school, she struggles with her self worth and Ria's constant insistence that she assist with helping her make martial arts videos to post online. Both Ria and Lena are living at home with their very traditional parents who are very lo...

Creation Stories: ‘Air’ and ‘Blackberry’ (Review)

16Jun

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

Creation Stories: ‘Air’ and ‘Blackberry’ (Review)

There are two new dramas this year about the birth of very different products, but they make a perfect double feature. You've probably heard more about Ben Affleck's 'Air.' Matt Damon stars as Sonny Vaccaro, a talent scout at Nike in the early 80s who was tasked with finding basketball players who would boost the company's profile. Despite being told that a promising young guy named Michael Jordan is only interested in Adidas, Vaccaro trusts his gut and fights to win over Jordan and his family to an endorsement deal. The high stakes journey from 'no way' to Air Jordan shoes dominating the marketplace is a surprising crowd pleaser. On the flipside, IFC Films has released Canadian actor/director Matt Johnson's third feature film. It focuses on the origin story of a group of...

9Jun

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

Longing, Loss and ‘Past Lives’ (Review)

Full disclosure: the first time I saw the trailer for 'Past Lives' in the theater, I began sobbing uncontrollably. Soundtracked by Cat Power's gorgeous cover of Rihanna's "Stay," I was instantly transfixed by the song's lyrics combined with the film's sumptuous visuals. Not really sure how to feel about itSomething in the way you moveMakes me feel like I can't live without you While the song does not appear in the actual movie, "Stay" perfectly accompanies 'Past Lives,' the first feature film from Korean-Canadian playwright and director Celine Song. It's a story so intensely personal and lived-in, that it doesn't seem possible that it is her first movie. It tells the story of Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) - two childhood friends from South Korea who fell out of touch ...

‘Love to Love You, Donna Summer’ is Frustratingly Unfocused (Review)

26May

By Matt ShiverdeckerNo Comments

Features, Film, Reviews

‘Love to Love You, Donna Summer’ is Frustratingly Unfocused (Review)

When Donna Summer went into the studio with Giorgio Moroder in 1974 to record "Love to Love You Baby," she could have never known how much her life would change. The song, first released overseas in the summer of 1975, became one of the most successful and notorious of the disco era. Filled with Summer's orgasmic moaning, the full 16-minute version of the song became a dance floor filler in nightclubs around the world. It marked a shift in Summer's career and she went on to become the "Queen of Disco." Oscar and Emmy-winning director Roger Ross Williams and Summer's daughter Brooklyn Sudano collaborate on this new HBO documentary about her life and career. It's inherently watchable, occasionally fascinating, and frustratingly unfocused. The Verdict There has been a r...

‘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 li...

THE HARA Challenge Mental Health Stigma with their Debut Album, ‘SURVIVAL MODE’

16May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music, Reviews

THE HARA Challenge Mental Health Stigma with their Debut Album, ‘SURVIVAL MODE’

"Nobody talks about what it feels like to slowly get out of survival mode.There’s emotional withdrawals, moments of intense confusion, and so much grief that comes with seeing life as it truly is."- Dr. Nicole LePera, PHD Chronic stress takes a toll on us—that’s no secret. Since it’s currently Mental Health Awareness Month here in the United States, and we’ve entered year three of what could be considered mass exposure to a collective, global traumatic stressor, this might be a good time to talk a bit about mental health. As you know, MendoWerks Magazine isn’t run by mental health professionals, so we’re going to do what we do best—we’re going to talk about music. Specifically, we’re going to be digging into SURVIVAL MODE, the highly-anticipated debut album by THE HARA, which was relea...

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 Verdi...

‘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. ...