Cranked Up Film Review - This Game's Called Murder

The Wallendorf family patriarch (Ron Perlman) Matriarch (Natasha Henstridge) and layabout social media queen Jennifer (Vanessa Marano) are a brutal trio. All three clearly do not have a moral compass or a drop of empathy in their bodies. Their empire is built on one flashy thing Red Women's pumps. They don't make any other colour or style just red, just pumps plus the all-encompassing data that they collect from customers in order for them to secure the 7-year warranty. Jennifer is also at home playing enfant terrible. She regularly disappears on her parents, hangs with a bad crowd, and dates the wrong guy. Then she is constantly correcting her dad for calling her pumpkin a pretty benign pet name. 

Writer-Director Adam Sherman creates a world lensed by cinematographer David Newbert that is one part fairytale, one part comedy, and four parts horror. At the opening, Mr. and Mrs. are shooting their latest commercial that tends to run on a certain theme. Fit twentysomethings in red underwear, Mr. Wallenberg poised to deliver the finishing touch giving commands putting his talent in severe jeopardy. The finished product seems so real that the company is regularly accused that they are. The narrative is also a black-hearted commentary on consumerism as a whole and the pitfalls of giving personal information to corporations without a thought as you never know what they are actually doing with it. 

Vanessa Marano is given the keys to drive in the lead role Jennifer. She appears to be the typical vapid spoiled right girl at first but instead of talking big she acts usually leading to a permanent bad result for anyone in her crosshairs. Ron Perlman and Natasha Henstridge play it way over the top as Jennifer's conniving psychopathic parents. Look for Annabel Barrett in the meaty role of Cynthia. She is the leader of an all-girl gang clad in black, sporting bows and arrows eager to hijack trucking merchandise and kill off their male drivers as a bonus. 

This Game's Called Murder is at its core a cynical look at today's society. The mega-rich family at the centre takes eccentric into a high body count territory. The theory that corporations abuse the data they collect is shown right on the nose in a tidy sequence of comedic horror. Sherman had a plan for where he wanted this film to go and met his mark. It's a feature that's off the beaten path which is not a bad thing given the current level of conformity in movie making. 

*** Out of 4. 

This Game's Called Murder | Adam Sherman | U.S.A. | 2021| 106 Minutes. 

Tags: Red Pumps, Commercial Shoots, Hijacking, Girl Gang, Bow & Arrow, Gold, Ramen Noodles, Fiji.

MGM Studios Film Review- Flag Day

Jennifer Vogel (Dylan Penn) has had a push and pull relationship with her dad John (Sean Penn) all of her life. Therefore she was not surprised when called into a meeting with the authorities and interviewed by a U.S. Marshall (Regina King) about her father. The authorities were also trying to get a feel on whether she might know where the balance of the high quality counterfeit money he printed might be located.

John Vogel was a big dreamer with big ideas and big plans an entrepreneur always on the go. To facilitate these plans he was constantly borrowing money and keeping one step ahead of the creditors. Unfortunately, he did not always keep his family informed or present in his life so they were often left holding the bag when creditors came calling to collect. This also got John mixed up with the shadier element of society who were looking to break limbs instead of foreclosing when money was owed. 

Sean Penn both directs and stars in the film. He originally only signed on to direct being aware of how involved a director has to be in a production, and that fact that he was guiding both of his kids (Hopper Penn plays John Vogel's son Nick). But after the original choice Casey Affleck dropped out due to scheduling and Matt Damon turned the role down to do Stillwater. It was Damon who pushed Penn to take the role seeing it as a natural family fit. Jez Buttenworth's screenplay based on Jennifer Vogels book lacks depth as many of the characters are not fully fleshed and relies too heavily on the perceived hero repeatedly disappointing parent trope. 

Dylan Penn does as much as she can with the material.She shines as Jennifer truly making the production her film. From the first scene discussing the events of the police chase and standoff with her dad she is even keel and quiet as she takes in all the information. Her main comment after asking to touch one of the counterfeit bills is a remark that her Dad's work was beautiful. She has several confrontations with both her dad and her Mom Patty (Katheryn Winnick) seemingly more disappointed in her Mom for not protecting her in several situations over the actions of her volatile father. Sean Penn despite having stepped in at the last moment to act is credible as the highly unreliable John Vogel. However, given the strength of  the real life story to be told here some good sequences do not add up  enough to engage an audience in the film as a whole.

** Out of Four.

Flag Day | Sean Penn | U.S.A. 2021|  109 Minutes. 

Tags: Entrepreneur, Loans, Debts, Foreclosure, Alcoho.lism, Traveling, Journalism, Bank Robbery, Counterfeiting, Police Chase, Minnesota, 8 Millimetre Camera, June 14th.

Fantasia '21 Film Review - IDA RED

Writer-Director John Swab has crafted a film for his fourth feature that seems to be very personal. It's an area of the U.S that he knows well containing family nuances that appear to be second nature to the writer- director. Ida Wyatt ( Melissa Leo) is the local Tulsa, Oklahoma crime boss operating from prison. Her main conduit to the outside world is her son Wyatt (Josh Hartnett) in a smartly chosen return to screen royal shaking up his poster boy image from his first go-round of acting fame. By Wyatt's side is his reckless, impulsive hardened criminal Uncle Dallas (Frank Grillo). The film opens with the pair heading a crew posing as D.E.A. agents as they rob a tractor-trailer as part of a routine stop and inspection looking for  specific cargo on the manifest that will yield a worthy profit. Wyatt's other side is his strong love and loyalty to his family. He's good to his niece Darla (Sofia Hublitz) who clearly has that Walker bad trouble gene and kind to his sister Jeanie (Deborah Ann Woll) who definitely does not as she is married to local cop Bodie Collier (George Carroll). 

Strong writing separates this film from a crowded crime genre field. Many of the characters have real depth and are conflicted by their choices. Bodie had married into the crime family that is committing acts on his watch that are his sworn duty to stop. Yet in the second scene of the film, Wyatt turns up at a  birthday barbecue where he spends quality time with young Darla. Bodie's alliances are questioned by FBI Special agent Lawrence Twilly played by great character actor William Forsythe wanting to know how Bodie finds himself mixed up with the Walkers. The two main jobs in the film play out with twists and turns with the second in particular having many unexpected twists and turns that will keep the viewer engaged. Plus the back story on Ida and her late husband James offers context to both Ida's  and Wyatt's outlook. 

The intensity ramps up when Wyatt learns that Ida's illness despite a change in medication is terminal. His entire focus changes to stopping his mother from taking her last breath in prison. Plus Ida has the info on the life changing last big score for the family. Sofia Hublitz is a break out performer as Darla. She's experiencing the bad trouble gene at a teenage level and holds her own in several intense scenes with her more seasoned co-stars. As mentioned earlier Josh Harnett resurgence continues with his most meaty role to date in his return to prominence as Wyatt Walker. Frank Grillo continues with his string of familiar physical roles as Dallas Wyatt ,and look for an unrecognizable Billy Blair in dialogue rich scene conversation with Dallas a Blade. 

Ida Red is at first glance another in a string of crime family films. But upon a deeper look, there's a resonating story here from a writer-director that knows the terrain and these types of interpersonal family relationships well. The result is a feature full of more character than leading actors with a chance to come to the fore and deliver on a strong scrip underpinned by a pulsing musical score by David Sardy that is well worth the watch. 

*** 1/2 Out of 4. 

Ida Red | John Swab | U.S.A. | 2021 | 111 Minutes.

Tags: Crime Family, Robbery, Pharmaceuticals, Terminal Illness, Expelled, Shootout, Birthday Barbeque, Prison Visitation.

Fantasia '21 Film Review - Martyrs Lane

Family grief can be a weight hanging over each member of the household manifesting in differing degrees. Thus is the cloud hovering over the Minister and his family living in The Rectory in a small U.K. community. 10-year-old Leah (Kiera Thompson) knows nothing of the family past or the real reason why her mom Sarah ( Denise Gough) is always sad and spends so much time in bed or why her much older sister Bex (Hannah Rex) is always angry and takes particular pleasure in torturing her. Her dad Thomas  (Steven Cree) is going to Confirm her at the outset of the film but Leah failed to wash her hair as requested by her mother to the latter's disappointment. Leah is spiritual and does believe in angles and when one crawls through her window to spark up nightly conversations with the lonely girl  the meat of the story begins to unfold. 

Director Ruth Platt uses all of the elements of country life centred on the community church to her benefit for the story. Everyone knows each other. The details of the tragic event are commonly known to all except Ruth and the audience that sees events through the 10-year-olds eyes. Leah's guardian angel who appears to be about the same age plays the game two truths one lie to gain and give information about herself to Leah in their nightly talks. She has an uncanny knowledge of where to find items on the rectory grounds that Leah sets out to find during the day. Her dad meanwhile has his hands full caring for her seemingly unstable mother and seeing to the needs of the parish especially one member who does not seem to know the definition of boundaries. 

Platt slowly unravels the story behind the family grief through the nighttime chats, clues given to Leah from her guardian angel items she finds under direction from her new friend ,and one particularly chilling scene where Ruth is present at a house call made by her mother on her Dad's behalf. The director also dwells on the hustle and bustle Germain to the household leaving Leah and Dex relatively on their own to fend for themselves. 

Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware is the guiding light of the Rectory and Leah's code as well. The riveting exchanges between Leah and her otherworldly counterpart ae the glue of the film. It's also Leah's openness to spirituality that allows her newfound friend to take hold in the home and push an alternate agenda that is not in the best interest of our protagonist. Platt's steady hand guides events as the play out with increasing urgency and intensity minus the expected tropes of a religious based horror tale. 

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

Martyrs Lane | Ruth Platt | U.K. | 2021 | 96 Minutes. 

Tags: Minister, Rectory, Confirmation, Bracelet, Angles, Loss, Mourning, Depression, Birthday Cake. 

 

Fantasia '21 Film Review - Don't Say Its Name.

A young indigenous woman Kharis Redwater (Sheena Kaine) is run down and killed at the same time as a phone call to her mom drops on a wooded winter road in a small Alberta indigenous community. All members of the community know her well and were aware of the recent improvements she had made in her life before this tragic event. Tensions were already high in the community as a mining company are on their way in to take from the land. A similar story has occurred for hundreds of years dividing the community between supports and detractors. A surveyor for WEC arrives to do some work along with her boyfriend ho is there to handle some equipment as her regular partner had called in sick. She first smells something fowl then spots a blackbird circling overhead then is attacked by a seemingly invisible force cut to shreds and killed right on the spot. Her untouched boyfriend is the key initial suspect as local Sherriff Mary Stonechild (Madison Walsh) arrives on the scene to investigate. 

Director Ruben Martell sets out to tell a story that reaches back to the past but has the modern issues that face indigenous communities right at the forefront. Supernatural forces are afoot right beside multinationals that invade the community, treat the locals as being lesser than but there also residents on either side of the argument. Suspended Ranger Stacey Cole (Sera-Lys McArthur) who suffers from PSTD after a tour of Afghanistan is deputized by The Sherriff after the mysterious deaths continue to occur. The local RCMP officer not being her biggest fan who sees her as a suspect and the community as a whole as possibly suffering from a group psychosis. Sherriff Stonechild and Deputy Cole see the situation different knowing that a vengeful spirit out to protect the land is on the loose. 

The film is lead by two strong female leads. Walsh handles herself well while out in the field balancing formal police training and procedures with her knowledge of band traditions and sacred tales. Ranger Cole is a tough as nails experienced hunter and tracker. She takes no guff as clearly shown early on when a WEC employee attempts to gain an upper hand on her but is violently put back in his place. . Elder Carson (Julian Black Antelope) has lived outside the community and returned with a balanced perspective. The Band members need jobs. WEC can offer good paying ones and opportunities therefore there could be a benefit for both sides. 

Don't Say Its Name is another in a growing number of opportunities for Indigenous stories to have an opportunity to be told by Indigenous voices. If slasher film level body counts is the expectations you may want to look somewhere else. A suspenseful thriller based on the oral histories of a people is the vehicle here. 

*** Out of 4.

 Don't Say Its Name | Ruben Martell | Canada | 2021 |84 Minutes.

Tags: Hit and Run, Indigenous Community, Reservation, Mining Company. Surveyor, Blackbird, Poacher, Folklore, Bear Trap.

Universal Pictures Canada Film Review - Respect

The creative process is always memorable when seen on the big screen. The first words gleaned on a chorus of a future hit, that key guitar riff, a melody taking shape gathered round a studio piano. Director Liesl Tommy gives the viewer two of those moments in Respect. The film opens in Detroit circa 1952 when 10-year-old Re (as she is called by family and close friends) is awakened  by her father Reverend C.L. Franklin (Forest Whitaker) to sing for the guests at the regular Saturday night gatherings at the Franklin home. Among the local luminaries in the crowd is Dinah Washington (Mary J Blige) listening as young Re belts out My Baby like to Bebop before being ushered back to bed by her father. However, her home life is not always a celebrity roll call. She is raped at one of those Saturday night soirees, becomes pregnant at 12, and continues to be forced to sing on command by her father both at home and at his church; the largest in Detroit. Then there's her mother's untimely death that leads to a vow of silence and may have been the final early straw seeding her bipolar disorder or demons as those close to her called it that would haunt her for years to come. 

Writer Tracey Scott Wilson's screenplay captures a narrow swatch of the singer's life over its 145 minutes run time. There are so many highlights and achievements from Franklin's remarkable life that are not displayed but instead either addressed postscript or as part of  clips of the real Franklin herself alongside the end credits. The costume design team lead by Chris Ramos and set design under the watchful eye of Ina Mayhew worked hand in glove to recreate the styles and feel of the fifties all the way through to the Seventies. The set of Franklin's expansive New York apartment with plenty of room for casually placed grand piano makes one think what type of dollar would that place go for today. 

Jennifer Hudson teed up by the impressive performance of Skye Dakota Turner as young Aretha shows the many sides of the singer on screen. She is shy and muted in her first trip to New York to record standards directed by John Hammond at Columbia then collaborative, intuitive ,and creative as she strolls into Fame studios in Muscle Shoals  Alabama. She recognized the talent of the Swampers studio musicians right from the start bringing her first hit  I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) to life. Look for Marc Maron as producer Jerry Wexler as he negotiates his way through the midfield that is Franklin's inner circle keeping an eye out for Franklin herself who could go off like a grenade at any moment herself. Kimberly Scott is also notable as Mama Franklin. Aretha's grandmother the glue that kept the multi generational dysfunctional Franklin family on the rails despite building pressure both inside and out. 

Respect is a biopic that focuses its lens on the early section of the singer's life.  The initial crafting of the title cut at 3:00 A.M. alongside her sisters followed by the contributions of the swampers iconic guitar rift then a transition to a sold out Madison Square Garden concert is the sequence in the film that  announced Franklin as a superstar.  There are flashes of Franklin's activism traveling with and supporting Dr. Martin Luther King. Her fundraising for civil rights and her appreciation of the labeled radical Angela Davis. She seemed destined to struggle against domineering men. Her father Reverend Franklin followed by her first abusive egotistical controlling husband Ted White (Damon Wayans). She also struggled with mental health issues leading to a low point of severe alcoholism in early Seventies L.A. From which she emerged to take a risk and cut a gospel album Amazing Grace alongside a documentary that became the biggest selling album her career. One could have hoped for a highlight or two  from her later years to feature more prominently  but with so much material capturing everything was always destined to be a tall order.  

*** Out of 4

Respect | Liesel Tommy | U.S.A. | 2021 | 145 Minutes.

Tags: Bio Pic, Detroit, Columbia Records, Atlantic Records, Muscle Shoals Alabama, Fame Studio, Madison Square Gardens, European Tour, Mental Illness, Rape, Abuse, Alcoholism, Baptist Church.

 

Fantasia '21 Film Review - Baby Money

The home invasion crime sub-genre is an every growing segment of the film industry. There are many ways to approach the subject from films that occur at a single set location to those that use the home invasion as a jumping-off point to a larger expanded story. Baby Money falls somewhere in between. Minny (Danay Garcia) has unrepentantly become pregnant. the father, low-level criminal Gil (Michael Drayer) joins a robbery scheme enlisting pregnant Minny as the wheelman alongside two other low lifes Tony (Travis Hamner) and  Dom (Joey Kern) to steal a mystery purple box from a home on a quiet street. The quartet doesn't know the contents of the box or their other partners well but the job is lucrative and will give the couple a good nest egg to start parenthood.  The job goes bad multiple people end up dead leaving Gil and Tony trapped in the neighbourhood with Minny as the only option to get them out. 

Another trope of this sub-genre is also front and centre. Heidi (Tania V. Simpson) the technician that gave Minny her ultrasound earlier in the day also lives in the neighbourhood. She returns home to find her neighbourhood surrounded by cops and it's in her garage the pair of fugitives hideout. The pair soon find their way into Heidi's home disrupting her and her seizure riddled son picking the home as the spot where Minny will come to get them out. 

Director Mikhael Bassilli links together a group of characters that all eventually intersect at Heid's home. The only exception being the strip club regular that recognizes Minny at a watering hole she holds up at after the botched job who is highly annoying until he becomes useful. Tony plays the role of the corned criminal that wants to burn everything to the ground as he sees no way out of their predicament. Gil on the other hand with a baby on the way is the thinker considering every possibility that could potentially get his fledgling family out of harm's way. 

Baby Money is straight forward and as formulaic as it gets. The characters are as they appear throughout the film. The audience does develop a rooting interest in Minny, Heidi and her son's fate but the former two make several missteps that test the level of loyalty. There are several good elements here but as a whole, the piece may be limited to audiences that are truly devoted followers of the sub-genre. 

** 1/2 Out of 4.

Baby Money | Makhael Bassilli | 2021 | U.S.A. | 93 Minutes.

Tags: Pregnancy, Ultrasound, Home Invasion, Shotgun, Man Hunt, Police Tape, Door to Door Search, Cerebral Palsy, Seizures, Purple Box. 

Fantasia'21 Film Review- Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes

Shot on an iPhone in a minimal amount of takes director Junta Yamaguchi alongside writer Makoto Ueda may have come up with the most original film of 2021. The film is part Sci-Fi, a good helping of acute time travel, a whole bunch of comedy plus a romance wrapped up in a tight 70 minute run time. Kato (Kazunori Tosa) runs a local cafe with his loyal employee Aya (Riko Fujitani) by his side looking to pump up her boss who has little joy outside of his working hours. Kato has a crush on Megumi (Aki Asakura) who works next door but his shyness prevents him from asking her out. Things get significantly more exciting when he goes up the two flights to his flat after the workday to find himself dressed identically talking back to him through his computer monitor. 

After a quick demonstration and orientation, Kato realizes that his monitor in his flat is two minutes in the past and the one downstairs in the Cafe can see two minutes into the past. Future Kato downstairs tells past Kato to come downstairs where the demonstration is performed again and the loop begins. Soon Aya is in on it as are Kato's two friends Ozawa (Yoshifumi Sakai) Komiya (Gota Ishida), and Tanabe (Masahi Suwa). They all begin to circle from downstairs to upstairs planting items in the future for their past selves to find. The group dubs the process Time T.V. but begins to abuse the purity with Kato first telling his past self that asking out Megumi went well. Then venturing out to return with some found money whose serious owners soon appear looking for the funds.

The concept in Mako Ueda's script is simple on the surface yet complicated if you try and do the math. The factors increase when Ozawa hypothesizes that if you stack monitors in a row 2 minutes become 4 then 8 and so on. But the real purpose of the project is to extract as much comedic moments as possible from the chaotic situation. Megumi is also drawn into the plot right at the point when the bad guys arrive looking for their money. The excitement brings Kato and her together giving them a chance to talk and get to know each other better and see that they have common interests.

Beyond Infinite Two Minutes is a time travel film on a micro-budget level. The events unfold help to  get Kato out of a state of spinning his wheels and grasp the need of moving forward. Megumi is the opposite stuck on a past relationship which is the reason why she turned Kato down in the first place. The ultimate message here is not to get too far ahead or stuck in the past but focus on the present. 

**** Out of 4.

Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes | Junta Yamaguchi | Japan | 2021 | 70 Minutes. 

Tags: Cafe, T.V. Monitor, Time Travel, Lost Money, VCR Player, Guitar Pick, Paiste Cymbal, Time and Space Bureau, Wormhole disturbance, Reversed Causality, Droste Cocoa Powder. Fujiko F. Fujio

Vortex Media Film Review - Lorelei

A small Oregon town where the prospects for success are scarce is the setting for Writer-Director Sabrina Doyle's Lorelei. Wayland (Pablo Schreiber) and Dolores (Jena Malone) have both built up several layers of scar tissue in their relatively young lives. Wayland just released from prison after serving a fifteen-year sentence is living at a halfway house in the local church. Delores has three kids one born just after her high school sweetheart went to jail then two more followed suit. She works as a cleaner at the local motel where the guests are not the family vacation type. The pair soon rekindle their affections with Wayland quickly moving into Dolore's home becoming a de facto father to the kids. 

Doyle's script lingers on the small special moments mixed amongst the grind of daily life for the working poor in a small out of the way rural town. A simple spontaneous gift of flowers. A family dinner out at the local diner funded on saved coupons or fashioning a birthday gift out of an old tire and some rope. The narrative recounts the hopes and dreams the pair had back in high school that never came to pass. A strong recurring dream displays the need to get to the ocean but when it's within reach the dreamer always walks head-on into a glass barrier then awakes. 

Pablo Schreiber is physically imposing yet kind as Wayland. He went to jail on an armed robbery charge. Taking all of the blame on his shoulders when he could have named names to get a better deal. He lands a part-time job at a salvage yard but money is tight so he falls back into bad habits bringing them to the work place. Jena Malone continues her run of solid in performances. Here she's been a mother for half of her young life not getting the chance to build anything for herself. She went a little wild after Wayland went to prison and now finds herself picking through clothes in the motel lost and found to find a birthday gift for her daughter. Trish Egan stands out in a limited role as Pastor Gail. She runs the church halfway house where Wayland lasts after returning home She makes the rules divvies out the chores. A true straight shooter. She also answers the call for Wayland in a time of need doing a major service for the makeshift family. 

Lorelei is very much a character study on the erosion of hopes and dreams into mundane adult life. The two leads both end up not where they expected due to personal choices. The scenery is gritty, money evasive and the chances for a change of fortune shrinking by the moment. However, Doyle takes the story off of its likely trajectory to an unexpected direction. A choice that many a viewer will find satisfying in the end. 

*** Out of 4

Lorelei | Sabrina Doyle |  U.S.A. | 2020 | 111 Minutes. 

Oregon, Ex-Con, Biker, Maid, Swimmer, Video Poker, Armed Robbery, Birthday Party, Waterfall, 

Fantasia '21 Film Review - Agnes

Agnes (Hayley McFarland) is suddenly inhabited by a demonic force in the opening frames of the film. She is speaking in tongues, lashing out, and cursing loudly at her fellow Nuns at a remote strict convent. The order is so adherent to rote that it's a major act to let two men into the building al be it that the men are Father Donahue (Ben Hall) a veteran priest on set away from permanent banishment due to past acts and a neophyte Benjamin (Jake Horowitz) who has not taken his vows who is seen as a particular threat by the Mother superior. The Priest at first going on the description of the events see this as a potential medical issue but upon meeting with and attempting to exorcise the visitor find that the presence is too powerful for them and resort to call in some backup.

Rising Indie director Mickey Reece takes a bit of a mickey out on the religious possession genre in the opening portion of the film. The nuns are shown as following rules that are highly out of step with modern society with a select few straying from the path when out of view and range of Mother. Agnes' closest friend Mary (Molly C. Quinn) is an interesting study having come to the order later in life after the real world tragedy of losing a son. Agnes has also suffered the loss of a loved one which gives the pair a ready made connection. Reece turns up his sarcastic lense as Father Donahue turns to Hollywood cool TV ready Father Black (Chris Browning) to come in for the save. Mother is totally appalled Father Black's meeting with Agnes is catastrophic the as sudden as the film started events take a sharp turn to focus on Mary who has left the Convent after the botched exorcism and is now working retail as a cashier. 

Reece again shows that he is willing to chase after a narrative anywhere it lies be it unconventional or even jarring to his audience who had settled into a particular style of film to have that level of comfort upended for something completely different. Molly C Quinn plays Mary completely understated a kid of outie observer into her own life. An Angus link pops up again as Mary begins to spend time with stand-up comic Paul (Sean Gunn) an ex  of her friend. Quinn is effective in both sections of the film inside and outside of the convent. Ben Hall is equally as compelling in the first section of the film. He is the veteran priest who though an earlier misstep or misunderstanding has taken to his flask more than his bible and is well aware that he is a target for banishment by senior church administrators. Mary Buss is deep into character as Mother Superior. Her number one goal is to protect her charges from evil outside temptations. Her reactions to the ground shifting under her feet as events unfold around Agnes' possession are priceless especially her nonverbal body and facial contortions and movements behind her spectacles. 

Agnes may be the project that brings writer-director Mickey Reece more into the mainstream. His take on the church it's traditions rules,and bureaucracy morphs into a study of loss and isolation and how people deal with both. Anchored by a quiet yet commanding performance by Molly C. Quinn in completely opposite settings it's a film I can recommend and likely one that will be remembered as a launching point for a future top-level storyteller. 

***1/2 Out of 4

Agnes | Mickey Reece | U.S.A. | 2021 | 93 Minutes.

Tags: Convent, Possession, Exorcism, Sexual Misconduct, Neophyte,Temptation, Cashier, Loss, Regret.

Vortex Media Film Review - For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close

Del Close's tentacles reach out to touch three generations of comedians from Mike Nichols and Elaine May in the 1950s to May to Jason Sudeikis star of today's IT show Ted Lasso. Close met Nichols and May while part of the Compass Players in St. Louis of the late '50s. This was the first comedy troupe (relocated from Chicago) that did a new stage show every night with no formal script taking suggestions from the audience for scenes. Elane and Del hit it off coming up together with the initial rules of the format that featured tenants including take the unpopular choice and always knowing where the objects were on stage. This period resulted in Del's first disappointment when Nichols who could only be funny when working with May changed the deal on plans for New York securing a contract for a nightclub act for only May and himself. Del drifted to San Francisco taking all aspects of the drug culture and landing the job as the director of The Committee Sketch troupe where Howard Hesseman and Peter Bonerz of Bob Newhart fame cut their chops. It's also where Close originated his lifelong work of long-form Improv workshops that he called The Harold.

Director Heather Ross roots the often absurdity of Del's stories with the writing of the comic book Wasteland in the late '80s. D.C. has started to run non-traditional content in titles such as The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen. They Hired Close and teamed him with comic book writer John Ostrander and D.C.outside the box editor Mike Gold to pen Wasteland that Del could fill the panels with his stream of consciousness along with some mixed in autobiographical moments. Another effective tool is the use of scrapbook type stop motion animation to display  Del's story and the people that drift in and out of the tale. There are clips mixed in from the hit shows and movies of Del's disciples along with spot on sound drops. The narrative is made up mostly of Del's own voice from tape recorded interviews including one conducted by Bob Odenkirk as a student journalist. The rest is by the calm soothing voice of Michela Watkins who can throw in  a well placed curse word or jolting turn of a phrase as required. 

Close's next big sprout of his comedy tree occurred at Second City in Chicago landing in 1973 as the director. Here he was able to influence the next generation of comics many of whom formed the first cast of Saturday Night Live. He did his long form improv workshops at night but the producer Bernie Sahlins would never let these potential train wrecks hit the main stage. The main stage was reserved for scripted  comedy pieces that started with audience suggestions but were crafted through planning and rehearsals. After butting heads with Bernie one time too many he was exiled to Toronto in 1976. Where the cast there went on to start SCTV and beyond. Here Del suffered a clean break ending up in an asylum back in Chicago still phoning in sketch ideas to Toronto. Here again like with Nichols and May Close saw his pupils exploding into film and on stage while he was left behind to toil in obscurity. 

The third pivot point was a meeting with Chana Helpern who taught him to make the Harold teachable that kept the art form on the rails and limited catastrophic failures. From here came Tina Fey, Director Adam McKay, John  Favreau, Tim Meadows, Chris Farley, and Amy Poehler all graduates of the Improv Olympics.Ross ties four decades of a journey together that finally clicks in the Me generation of the '80s with the counter message of working in a supportive encouraging group. Moss keeps the story moving anchored by a wonderful recreation scenes cast lead by comic James Urbaniak as Close. If you are a fan of comedy on the big or small screen chances ae your favourite comedic actor or creator was directly or indirectly influenced by Mr. Close.

**** Out of 4.

For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close | Heather Ross | U.S.A. | 87 Minutes.

Tags: Improv, Kansas, Suicide, Dr. Dracula, Wasteland, D.C.Comics, The Compass Theatre, St. Louis,Witches,  The Committee, Second City, Harold, Teaching Harold, Chicago, Toronto, Cook County Hospital.  

 

Vortex Media VOD/Digital Film Review- Running Against The Wind

Two childhood friends that embark on different paths is a tried and tested narrative path. Here two young best friends who heard goats by day in their native Ganda Abdi end up branching apart. One Abdi Getachew (Ferhane Beker young then Ashenafi Nigusu older) has dreams of being a long distance runner following in the footsteps of the great Ethiopian runner Haile Gebreselassie (who appears in the film). The other Solomon Terefa (Alamudin Abduselam then Mikias Wolde) is more restless moving inas a youth with Abdi after his father passes away. Solomon discovers he has a knack for photography then disappears off to Addis Ababa without a plan ending up on the streets, begging and stealing developing into a full-blown street boy.

German Director Jan Philipp Weyl has shot in other parts of the world before and is comfortable conversing in multiple languages. With Running Against the Wind he wanted to show multiple facets of Ethiopian society similar to the track of his next project Buena Vista Chicho shooting in Cuba.  The narrative moves deep into the guts of the seediest portions of the capital city spending meaningful time with those that try to survive on the fringes. Solomon his wife Genet (Samrawit Desalegn) alongside crew mates Kiflom (Joseph Reta Belay and Joker (Sintayehu) occupy that segment of the population. Cinematographer Mateusz is particularly effective in training his lens on the goings on in notorious Chichinea where no one ventures to at night. 

Mikias Wolde gives a nuanced performance as Solomon. He is trying to keep his family together by staying a few steps ahead and out of the direct line of fire from local boss Tatek, an intense wild eyed Sintayehu Arega. He collects garbage by day using his industrial sized wheelbarrow stealing at night when  forced to by Tatek. Young Solomon Alamudin Abduselam is the other standout performance in the piece. He's struck by tragedy as a youngster, betrays the friend that takes an interest in him by showing him photography and abandons his village to fight for scraps in the big City. 

Running Against The Wind is a take on Ethiopia that shows both the best and worst elements of the country; side by side. Long distance running is its staple. The training methods are at the top of the field. Sponsorship is strong and recognition for a runner great if successful. But others also struggle, especially in a big city like Addis Ababa. However, Weyl does showcase the capital as a thriving local setting that has the bright lights and a big city feel. It's a story helmed by someone who has  obviously spent plenty of time in the country and has a great affection for its people and culture. It's a visit to a seldomly represented location that is worth a watch

*** Out of 4.

Running Against The Wind | Jan Philipp Weyl | Ethiopia/ Germany | 2019 | 116 Minutes. 

Tags: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Long Distance Running, Photography, Haile Gebrselassie, Street Boys, Stealing Cars. 

Vortex Media Film Review- The Dose

Marcos (Carlos Portaluppi) is an ICU Nurse whose life outside of work consists of isolation and loneliness. He sits at the bus stop on his way two and from work while meals at the hospital are simply a can of cold peas. He is dedicated to his role as a health care provide getting to know each patient's needs and quirks comforting them at every turn. When a patient Marcos saves by continuing CPR after the Doctors have given up is taken off pain med because the unavoidable end is approaching. Marcos takes affairs into his own hands turning into an angel of death or mercy depending on how one sees his actions.

Onto the scene comes Gabriel (Ignacio Rogers). He is positive, upbeat, and sparks an immediate kinship with Marcos. He gives him rides to and from work. Offers to cover less desirable shifts and buys him an electric can opener for his peas. Gabriel claims the posting is his first but Marco is no so sure and begins to investigate as things don't sit well with his gut.

Writer-Director Martin Kraut's story is slow to build, seems at first to be about mundane daily life that's a bit on the depressing side. Then after a few interactions between Marcos and Gabriel plus those of different intensity with Noelia ( Lorena Vega) a full fledged plot has quietly developed with an unlikely hero and a villain who both are in jeopardy.

The Dose is a film that works mainly due to the performance of its understated leading man Carlos Portaluppi. He dives deep into the role delivering in every scene. Rogers' Gabriel is the perfect foil. He is an extrovert, charismatic, and liked immediately by all almost everyone on staff. The production tackles a subject that unfortunately may be more prevalent that one would like to believe. It's a challenging piece that an audience needs to patiently let develop to be rewarded and glad that they did.

*** Out of 4

The Dose | Martin Kraut | Argentina | 2020 | 93 Minutes

Tags: Night Nurse, ICU, CPR, Pain Medication, Syringe, Euthanasia, Internal Investigation, Canned Peas

DreamWorks Animation Film Review - Spirit Untamed

Lucky (voiced by Isabel Merced) is a rambunctious girl who would rather play with the squirrel outside her window than do her math homework. When she unexpectedly ruins the launch of a political campaign for her grandfather she is shipped off to the American Southwest to stay with her estranged father Jim  (Jake Gyllenhaal)  accompanied by her Aunt Cora (Julianne Moore). Once in Miradero Lucky slowly gains her footing. She meets a couple of girls about her age Pru (Marsai Martin) and Abigail (McKenna Grace) that are deep into horses. Lucky also begins to pick up some clues about her mom who was a great performer but died the reason her dad to send her off to her grandparents for safety.

Directors Elaine Bogan and Ennio Torresan Jr. alongside writers Aury Wallington and Kristin Hanh craft a new entry in the Spirit franchise that originated with 2002's Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron  followed by the Netflix series Spirit Riding Free in 2017. The story has its villain, respect for nature and animals alongside a very positive message for young girls and their ability to formulate a plan and get the job done. 

Lucky on the train into town became intrigued by a pack of wild stallions running free beside the track. A group of horse thieves also on the train noticed them as well and stopped in Miradero to round up the herd. Lucky runs into the lead stallion again at Pru's dads' barn. She slowly gains the Mustang's trust as the horse thieves lurk in the shadows waiting to pounce once Lucky is welcomed into the fold. 

The animation is sharp but not fantastical. The action on the screen could easily have been part of a live action production. It's a welcome departure from most animated features that have little to no practical elements. The sound department lead by David Bach who also have dialogue on their plate in an animated feature produced a rich score to support the activity on screen. As a bonus there's Abigail as the singing cowgirl crooning spontaneous ditties that are part comedic and a touch expositional. 

Spirit Untamed is a brisk paced straight ahead tale that touches on important themes such as friendship, trusting in yourself your and standing up when called to action. The production is heavily female lead with three determined young female characters heading the cast. There's also a further subtle message of letting nature be. Lucky never put a saddle on Spirit acknowledging from the start and throughout the piece that the stallion can not and should not be tamed. 

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

Spirit Untamed| Elaine Bogan/Ennio Torresan | U.S.A. | 2021 | 87 Minutes. 

Tags: Animated, 19th Century, Frontier Town, Trick Rider, Apples, Mustang, Horse Thieves, Train, Wanted/Reward, Canyons, Wild Horses. 

Universal Pictures Film Review - Nobody

Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) is buried in the routine. He takes the bus to work everyday toting his mug of homemade coffee to sit in an office and look at numbers on a spreadsheet for a manufacturing firm.  He just misses the garbage truck every week. He does manage to get out for a run but is largely ignored by his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen) and his eldest Blake (Gage Munroe) when he comes home at night. His daughter Abby (Paisley Cadorath) still thinks he's number one but his life at the margins of society appears destined to continue until a break-in at his home one night. 

The creative team of director Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry) paired with Derek Kolstad writer and producer of the John Wick series gives the viewer a pretty good idea that action and violence will be on the menu. During the break-in orchestrated by a young scared couple Hutch attempts to deescalate the situation bringing disappointment to his son, wife co-workers, in-laws, and even the responding officers. Editors Evan Schiff and William Yeh  the former worked on the first two Wick films and the latter with Naishuller on Hardcore Henry do a crisp job conveying the mundane repetitive ennuyant that is Hutches' life.  

Something changes inside Hutch when his daughter announces after the theft that she can't find her prized kitty cat bracelet. Hutches' expression changes his motions become deliberate as he heads with purpose out the front door. Daniel Bernhardt stunt co-fight coordinator alongside Greg Rementer lead the stunt team and coach up Odenkirk to deliver a gritty practical hand-to-hand and up-close high level of violence. Kolstad's script slowly reveals key elements in Mansell's life relationships, resources, knowledge and abilities that were stored away and kept hidden that all flow back with ease. 

Bob Odenkirk who got his start as a comedy writer shines in the role of Hutch Mansel. He battles a duality taking it gladly on the chin from family and friends as he clearly knows the likely outcome should he choose to react and respond. Christopher Lloyd is a casting find as Hutches' Dad David Mansel. Seemingly a feeble old man watching his shows in a nursing home on an antique T.V. he also has some some crafty tricks from his former line of employment close at hand. Look for Aleksey Serebryakov as Yulian a local Russian mob heavy that Hutch inadvertently wrongs ramping up exponentially the opposition threat.

Nobody is a straight-ahead action move well positioned to jump start the moving-going experience. The action comes in waves dotted with comedic moments striking a skillful balance. At one point Hutch explains to the most unlikely audience how he got from where he was to where he is and the misinterpretation of how he felt about his outwardly mundane existence. It's a well written, acted fun watch with a fitting mix of underrated songs that sync with the narrative.

***1/2 Out of 4. 

Nobody | Ilya Naishuller | U.S.A. | 2021 | 92 Minutes. 

Tags: Daily Grind, Break-in, Bracelet, Russian Mob, Obtshak, Hit Squad, Basement, Panic Room, Government Agency, Auditor, Code Name, Wolf, Sheep, Lamb, Short Story Long.