‘If I go will they Miss Me’ shouts a critical message
By Josh Ball
A young son makes his father out to be a god. This is a common fact of human existence. He is the biggest and strongest man in the world. So what happens when that illusion is shattered in spectacular fashion? Set in Watts, Los Angeles, that is the question Walter Thompson-Hernandez’s “If I Go Will They Miss Me” seeks to answer.
Starting out as an indie short film in the Sundance Film festival, this movie has come a long way to be a feature length project. Retaining ...
‘The Weight’ has a story that could succeed, but fails
By Max Siegfried
In the midst of the Great Depression, the battle-scarred veteran, Samuel Murphy who goes by Murphy (Ethan Hawke) struggles with family and life. Murphy is down on his luck, first being evicted and then being arrested. Talk about a one-two punch combo!
At first glance at the cast list, the only two names that stand out are Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, and that is all who are well-known. Hawke is a house-hold name because of his performances in the “Before” Trilogy ...
‘Bad Apples’ uses sadistic humor to call into question the moral majority
By Evan Allred
What lengths would you go to in order to get everything you ever wanted? The perfect job, the praise of man, that relationship that you have pictured a million times in your head, or simply peace? What if you go too far and it all really works out? These are questions that will haunt Ms. Spencer (Saorise Ronan) in the twisted comedic film, “Bad Apples.”
Danny (Eddie Waller) is the thorn in Ms. Spencer’s side. Danny is constantly interrupting her teaching with crude ...
‘The Uprising’ turns a sorrowful historical event into cinematic excellence
By Evan Allred
Picture this: it is the year 1381 and the Black Plague has swept across your land. Just as you begin to deal with the fallout that has come about to your family and your city, the king issues a tax that you simply cannot afford. Something must be done.
“The Uprising” follows the story of a farmer by the name of Ploughman (Andrew Garfield). He is a nobody who has lost his entire family to the plague. Upon entering the city, Ploughman learns that the king (Woody Norman) ...
‘Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger’ brings the lyrics from their hit song to life
By Amelia Morris
“Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger” is more than a concert documentary following the famous band Oasis. It’s a story of forgiveness, friendship and family. Life is short, and this movie reminds the audience that it is not well spent holding a grudge.
The film, named after one of their many hit songs, launches straight into the genesis of the band in 1991. The name is extremely fitting considering the sentiments behind the band’s long history. After 15 years of no ...
‘Hope’ is a story of spectacle over substance
By Lucas Dennis
A bold and strange movie, “Hope” does not reinvent the genre, but it combines several interesting ideas of its own. It begins as a Korean mystery, evolves into monster horror, then becomes a science fiction thriller.
Overall, “Hope” is not a bad movie. Although it has some cheesy moments and open-ended plot points, it makes up for them with ambitious direction, striking cinematography, strong performances and a willingness to take creative risks.
The first act ...
‘The Fix’ suffers from Hollywood bloat
By Josh Ball
Does it matter how we live our lives? Since the end of the first World War, the dominant answer is no, and the writers of “The Fix” are no different.
During the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, CIA agent Tucker (Zachary Levi) and his team fail to exfil a key source of intel. Five years later, the crew return to Afghanistan as mercenaries hired by their former leader, Larry (Liam Neeson) to retrieve millions tucked away since the mid-80s. But the interesting premise ...
‘Runner’ brings more heart to action movies
By Carly Shaner
Not to be confused with Gal Gadot’s “The Runner,” “Runner” is also a chase movie, but with much less physical running. Hank Malone (played by Alan Ritchson) is an ex-military man who transports various items. What starts as just another job—running a liver from Brisbane to Gold Coast—turns into an unlikely team-up with Ben Bishop (played by Owen Wilson) and being chased across Australia by a cartel. “Runner” follows the duo as they transport the liver and ...
“By Any Means” is an amazing story but incredibly hard watch
By Max Siegfried
In the 1960s, racism and bigotry remained deeply embedded in American life. A Black FBI agent named Wayne Strider desperately wants to get in on the action in his department, but he doesn't have much luck because of his race until Wayne gets on a case that hits a little too close to home for him.
In this movie, Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II play the main characters. Mark Wahlberg is a household-name, but Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is not so much; he has been in ...
‘The Runner’ marks a renaissance for action-thrillers
By Josh Ball
Is there anything you would not do to save your child’s life? That is the question Maia Marten (Gal Gadot) is forced to answer in “The Runner.” Early on her morning run, the London prosecuting attorney receives a call from her son’s phone. The caller presents an ultimatum: one hour to run across the city and kill your star witness or I kill your son.
Everything about the film is amazing. The score is nearly perfect, the stakes are high, the viewer is challenged to ...
