WRITER’S NOTE: This article was written back in 2013.
Filmmaker Joe Swanberg has been a major figure in the Mumblecore movement, a subgenre of American independent film which is characterized by low budget production values and naturalistic dialogue. Among his films is “Hannah Takes the Stairs” which stars Greta Gerwig and was actually shot without a script. The way Swanberg works, he gives his…
Master Gardner Review- Another Good Character Study From Writer/Director Paul Schrader
Paul Schrader, the writer/director of Master Gardener, is a man who has had his career rejuvenated in the past handful of years. Whether it be his own doing or fans who have wanted to see him return to his prominence. His early career in the 70s and 80s was a pretty good start for him. His latest film, similar in tone to his last two films, is a character study. He just knows how to write and…
Joel Edgerton and Quintessa Swindell star as a pair troubled souls with secrets pasts brought together over the shared practice of horticulture on a private estate owned by an icy Sigourney Weaver. There are similar qualities to Schrader’s two previous films, First Reformed and The Card Counter, where professional loners with meticulous habits try to redeem themselves through reluctant acts of violence.
This is a spare film of highly controlled performances highlighting restrained human desperation and focused on atonement in search of salvation. It’s a strange yet intriguing exploration of leaving your demons behind while never forgetting who you were, what you did, and are always capable of at any moment.
It's Volume 2 of review from the 43rd Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival!!
The largest annual celebration of international cinema in the region
MSPIFF43
Volume 2
Writing about film for more than ten years has allowed me to cover movies from blockbusters to indies. It’s also given me the privilege of attending major events like TIFF in Toronto and Sundance in Utah. While traveling around the country is nice, it’s the ultimate thrill to be on my home turf, proudly…
You Are Not My Mother will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on June 21 via Magnet Releasing. The 2021 Irish psychological horror film is currently available on VOD.
Kate Dolan writes and directs, making her feature debut. Hazel Doupe, Carolyn Bracken, Ingrid Craigie, and Paul Reid star.
Special features are not listed. Check out the trailer and synopsis below.
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It’s the week before Halloween. Char’s bedridden mother, Angela, has mysteriously gone missing. All that remains is her abandoned car parked in the middle of a field. When Angela returns home to their North Dublin estate the following evening without explanation, it becomes clear to Char and her grandmother, Rita, that something is amiss. She might look and sound the same, but Angela’s behavior has become increasingly erratic and frightening, as if she has been replaced by a malevolent force. As Halloween approaches, a night steeped in ancient Irish myth and legend, Char must unearth the dark secrets of her family in order to uncover the truth behind her mother's disappearance and save her, even if it means potentially losing her forever.
The Documentary YOSHIKI Under The Sky is Ready to Stream and Make Magic in Early 2024!
The #documentary #Yoshiki Under the Sky is coming soon to #digital platforms via @MagnoliaPics and the look behind the scenes of this #2020 #concert is worth the watch! review at:
Magnolia Pictures
The slow roll-out of YOSHIKI Under The Sky from special screenings to streaming is coming soon, and what’s presented makes me regret not checking the online concert from 2020. What’s presented in documentary form is a terrific showcase on what’s missed. Although some of these performances feel short, I’m hoping an album will get released to keep the message ongoing and…
Immediate Family, from Magnolia Pictures, brings to the screen the rise and collaboration of legendary session musicians, Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and Waddy Wachtel through the 1970s and onward, and features interviews with the hitmakers.
The League Sheds Spotlight on Complicated History of Great American Pastime
We all know the names Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson. But, did you know they are all products of The League? #theleague #documentary
One of my fondest memories growing up in Missouri was looking forward to a program run by Anheuser Busch for young baseball fans. If a student received ‘Straight A’s,” the reward was a season pass to the St. Louis Cardinals season. It was a great incentive to do well in school, but for a die hard baseball fan like myself it meant everything! I got to see Mel Gray, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Bob…
'Master Gardener' - Paul Schrader Does Some Meticulous Gardening
Alright! We are back in Paul Schrader land with his latest film, “Master Gardener.” Just as with “Taxi Driver” and “First Reformed” among other films, it focuses on a loner who keeps a journal and is struggling to deal with a past which was never less than traumatizing. Some directors tend to make the same film over and over again, but I always enjoy seeing Schrader doing so as he always has an…