1st Reviews

  A young nurse in her early 20’s named Franky ( Vicky Knight) forms a relationship with a suicide survivor named Florence ( Esme Creed- Miles) For a while, it seems they are the Missing piece to help each other cope with their past traumas but Florence’s unpredictable behaviour and Franky’s deep seeded rage never truly mix.  The film focuses on young working class British women who are coping with family trauma, suicide, abandonment issues and pain. Loosely based on Vicky Knights life, the film is its strongest during its high intense sparring matches, allowing us to enter their world and feel the pain and anger that they live with everyday.  Silver Haze premiered in 2023 at the Panorama section of the 73rd Berlinale, where it won the prestigious Teddy Jury Award. Silver Haze is now available to watch on all Video on Demand platforms.  3/5 Review by: Stefano Bove

  Directed by Steve Buscemi,  The Listener  focuses on a helpline volunteer played by Tessa Thompson, and the calls she receives over one night. Casting is the make-or-break of this concept's execution, and Thompson leads this film in a gracious and empathetic manner. The film highlights the selfless efforts of mental health workers and volunteers, and the way Thompson's character approaches these conversations, concealing or revealing things about her character each time, is just as intriguing as the stories of the callers. Though it doesn't pack too many surprises, and you may feel like you've gotten the gist of the film after the first few minutes, it's still engaging throughout its runtime thanks to the writing by Oscar nominee Alessandro Camon ( The Messenger ). It may not have as many thrills as other real-time phone call movies like  Locke  or  The Guilty , but still offers a great leading performance from Tessa Thompson. The Listener is available Ma...

1989’s Road House is cheesy and ridiculously sleazy, but also brimming with personality, which is a big part of why it’s become a beloved cult classic. This remake is a little less fun and a little more dumb, failing to match the nostalgic charm of the original.  Although it follows most of the same story beats, the movie feels messy and overcrowded. The overcrowding is because of way too many characters, most of which don’t get satisfying or even necessary arcs. Even with a runtime of two hours, the movie fails to develop anyone other than Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, and even he feels underbaked. The messiness comes from a plot that can’t stay focused on its own premise. Dalton (Gyllenhaal) is brought in as a bouncer at an unruly roadhouse to fend off violent patrons, and bring order to the business. In the original, the audience gets a real sense of progress, as we see Dalton whip the business into shape during his time there. Here, he doesn’t actually do much of anything for th...

  There are films in the religious horror subgenre that have trouble being unique because of the conventions that are used. A film can never be too “tropey” especially in horror. It’s those very tropes that make us enjoy many others.   Immaculate,  directed by Michael Mohan, does follow similar beats for the subgenre, but the story is what subverts expectations to make it thrilling. First and foremost, it must be addressed that this film takes place in the Italian countryside in a Roman Catholic convent. This is what sets it apart from other religious horror films. There is something incredibly authentic about this location, and the setting is amplified by the stunning cinematography by Elisha Christian. The atmosphere plays a massive part when drawing the audience in for the scares. Whether the “jump scares” are cheap, there’s so much more to this film than a door creaking or a bird hitting the window. The story keeps you engaged because of how twisted each scene becomes...

Ghostbusters Afterlife reinvigorated the beloved franchise with a fresh and exciting new roster of heroes, The Spengler Family and the Grandchildren of Egon. After inheriting their grandfather's tech, This sequel sees the Spengler Family fitting into their new roles as the protectors of New York against the supernatural. The family dynamic of Phoebe, Trevor, Callie and Gary is much more interesting this time around as the group have an entertaining family and work dynamic.  The stakes have never been higher and the threat has never been bigger as the team must face off against an incredibly powerful, ancient ice god. High stakes call for more hands on deck and every Ghostbuster answers the call to this massive case. Luckily they are not too far behind as they are all still based in New York and have expanded the Ghostbusters organization significantly with a full research lab run by Winston.   newcomer to the franchise, Kumail nanjiani, fits right in with the comedic timi...

  After giving us two limited series following WWII ground campaigns across Germany and the Pacific, producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have set their sights on the skies. Masters of the Air takes us 30,000 feet above the battlefield, with a spectacular first hand look at the 100th bomb group, and their integral role in winning the war.  This nine part limited series takes us inside various bombing campaigns throughout the war, focusing on a handful of pilots, navigators and aerial gunners during the brutal battles they fought in the air. The series balances epic flight combat sequences with personal drama, showing us the physical and psychological hell these soldiers went through during their deployment. In many ways, this does feel like a worthy companion to Band of Brothers and The Pacific, but a lack of proper narrative focus and a somewhat repetitive structure hold it back from true greatness.  It feels strangely torn between needing a few more episodes, and ha...

  Netflix aims to flip the damsel in distress trope on its head with their latest YA fantasy film, but fails to escape the genre conventions it’s trying to defy. The most distressing thing about Damsel is how completely run-of-the-mill it is. Not terrible. Not good. Just a ho-hum, albeit nice looking adventure without one original bone in its body.  This film’s intentions are sound, spinning an empowering, female led fantasy tale, that doesn’t depend on a man saving the day or a forced romantic angle. To some degree, it’s successful, but mostly falls flat (there’s actually a lot of falling in this movie, but more on that later). I appreciated how self reliant and strong Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) is, but despite being a formidable heroine, the story around her is unfortunately really dull. I can look past the predictable and played out twists, but the thin writing really hinders everything the movie does right. Minimalism is one thing, but this is underbaked.  A lot of i...

  5lbs of Pressure doesn't add anything new to the crime thriller genre but that's not to be meant as a detriment. By hitting on familiar beats, with the help of top-notch performances, writer/director Phil Allocco taps into what makes these films work. This is a tale of redemption and how being a product of your environment can shape you for better or worse. It's a story told across many films but that doesn't mean that Allocco's lens isn't still profoundly tragic and gripping. It's the sense of familiarity that makes the film work and as it reaches its tension-filled climax, anxiety hits a high hoping that the characters won't end up in an all too familiar outcome. Seeking redemption is Adam (Luke Evans). He's an ex-con, now sober, who is finishing his last month of probation for committing a crime that will continue to have a ripple effect through his life, even though he would like to leave it behind. He's attempting to forge a relationship w...

  Over the course of “Io Capitano” main characters Seydou and Moussa embark on a journey that is arduous, unforgiving, and practically soul-shattering. Conversely, the experience of watching “Io Capitano” is utterly effortless, rewarding, and affirming. It’s an incredible adventure that is unflinching when it comes to showing the harsh realities of what millions of migrants will endure for the chance at a better life. ‘Perilous’ doesn’t even begin to describe the Odyssey these teenagers navigate their way through. Throughout “Io Capitano” you can see the desperation and the fear in their eyes, the knowledge that one wrong move may not only put an end to their dreams but even worse, their lives. The way director Matteo Garrone approaches the movie without any theatricality highlights just how heartbreakingly high the stakes are and how everything the protagonists work for can disappear in the blink of an eye.   “Io Capitano” pulls back the curtain and explores a world most of u...

  Peter and Bobby Farrelly are responsible for a handful of truly iconic comedies of the ‘90s and early 2000s. They weren’t all critically acclaimed, but their cult status is undeniable. If Ricky Stanicky had come out in the height of their careers, I firmly believe it would have joined those ranks.  Now, the reason I say that is because this movie has been in the works for over 15 years. By passing through so many writers, producers and potential stars, it often feels like a product of a different time, but still functions decently as a modern film. Honestly, it’s kind of a miracle that it works as well as it does, given the decade and a half long road to its eventual release. Sure, some jokes are dated and the structure occasionally feels overly familiar, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a fun time with it.  That’s largely to do with Cena’s committed performance as the man himself - Ricky Stanicky. After two comedy duds last year with Vacation Friends 2 and Free...

  Dune: Part One walked so that Part Two could soar. All of the heavy lifting the first film did with extensive world building and narrative groundwork pays off spectacularly in this stunning continuation. Believe the hype. Dune: Part Two is not only one of the greatest sequels ever made, but one of the best science fiction films of all time.  Denis Villeneuve called the first film an appetizer, with this one being the main course. Honestly, that’s the perfect comparison, as this sequel is bigger and better in every way. It picks up directly from the cliffhanger we were left dangling on two and a half years ago, taking all of that momentum and using it to propel the story to new heights. The politics and individual motivations are fascinating, but it’s the religious elements surrounding the Fremen prophecy that provide true thematic richness. I haven’t read the novels, so I had no idea what to expect. I had theories, but nothing I imagined could’ve prepared me for the cinemati...

  This Madame Web review is sponsored by Pepsi. When I need a refreshing beverage to save the day by quenching my thirst, I always reach for a can of ice cold Pepsi. Anyways, let’s dive in, shall we?  If this movie had been half as entertaining as Dakota Johnson’s press tour, we might’ve had something worthwhile. Unfortunately, what we got is an embarrassing, thoughtless, borderline unreleasable mess that closer resembles some sort of tax write-off than it does a feature film. This is the cinematic embodiment of everything wrong with modern big studio productions. Is it one of the worst movies of all time? I wouldn’t go that far, but it is absolutely one of the worst comic book movies ever released.  Somewhere, deep beneath the many glaring issues with the film, was potential to tell an empowering female lead origin story. Madame Web’s abilities are interesting, and could’ve led to some fun sequences where she had to learn to adapt on the fly to each foreseen death. Inste...