‘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 ...
‘Coyote vs. ACME’ teaches its audience the value of perseverance in the face of immense adversity
By Evan Allred
Thomas Edison once said:
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
Edison was most famous for his inventions of the lightbulb and the phonograph, and this quote encapsulates where success is found – perseverance.
Most people are familiar with the Looney Tunes cartoons like “The Road Runner Show,” in which Wile E. Coyote consistently pursues the Road Runner, but always comes up ...
‘The Whisper Man’ shows that a simple plot can carry a lot of meaning
By Danielle Cherry
A child who sees people who aren't there. A father haunted by his mistakes. And a serial killer luring children with his whispers. With top tier acting and precise direction, the Russo Brothers’ new film, “The Whisper Man” is tastefully tense, yet speaks of a deeper longing.
Every great thriller starts with a creepy house, and “The Whisper Man” is no different. After the death of his wife, Tom (Adam Scott) and his son, Jake Kennedy (Acston Luca Porto) ...
‘The Dog Stars’ is visually stunning, but lacking in plot
By Danielle Cherry
A man and man’s best friend wandering through life, seeking the next place for shelter, food and gasoline—what could possibly go wrong. What starts as a hopeful dystopian storyline quickly falls into horror and psychological thriller, leaving viewers wondering if staring at the stars was really a better use of their time.
“The Dog Stars” boasts a star-studded cast with Jacob Elordi, fresh off his success in Frankenstein as the main protagonist: Hig. ...
