The Weight is an ideal version of a “meat-and-potatoes flick” with both strongly developed character depth and absolutely visceral sequences properly spaced out within its runtime. But director Padraic McKinley plays at his clear inspirations of other films with a similar riveting grit and setup while making the most of its historical backdrop. This film is the vehicle for another great lead
Read MoreVirtually everyone knows of the tumultuous hurdles Coyote vs. Acme has jumped across to get to this point. A timeline of being a straight-to-HBO Max release, to a tax write-off to save money by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, to possibly being saved through purchase by another studio thanks to online outcry, to being in limbo again. Then the film
Read MoreIf there’s anything Hollywood has lost in its adaptation to an ever-changing industry, it’s the art and success of the theatrical comedy. It always comes across as a miracle from the heavens when one can get a theatrical release. Even when they do, so many are franchise-based, like this year’s Scary Movie. So when a stoner comedy like The Wrong Girls
Read MoreIt’s been nearly 12 years since Gregg Araki’s last feature film. If anything, what’s most apparent about I Want Your Sex is that the director is letting loose in both poppy stylization and a plea for younger generations to get out and get laid. In the process of providing a silly atmosphere to match its brightly colored zaniness, I Want Your
Read MoreLeviticus resides in a fascinating place when viewing it from its genre roots. It’s able to weave both a compelling queer story and progressively brutal horror while changing enough elements to remain just distinctive enough from its inspirations. You’ll hear many comparisons to genre flicks like It Follows and Smile, but director Adrian Chiarella clearly understands that within his feature debut.
Read MoreCarolina Caroline is a good example of the type of film that knows the influences it’s built on and uses them to full advantage. Crime thrillers, both old and new, in one way or another, have deep roots in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, which revolutionized how we view the intertwining of sharply impactful thrills and biting commentary in American cinema. In
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