Skip to main content

Posts

SONG OF SOLOMON Review

Exorcism films do not begin and end with William Friedkin's THE EXORCIST. With entries as varied as BEETLEJUICE, CONSTANTINE, and THE RITE, the exorcism sub-genre of horror films is far more diverse than many immediately recognize.   With THE SONG OF SOLOMON director Stephen Brio has added a unique take on the possession movie. In his film, the Catholic church attempts to save the soul of Mary (Jessica Cameron) who appears to have been possessed after witnessing her father's brutal suicide. Mary is off camera while her father takes his own life. In a scene that could play as a confessional or an accusation, the family's patriarch lists off the reasons why he is being forced to use his knife on Mary and himself. He details how they were a good, loving family and he can't understand why she is accusing him of abuse. Using demonic control as a metaphor for trauma survival is something so natural, I can't believe it's not woven into every film of this kind.

Megan Griffiths Announces Unusual Release Strategy for SADIE That Hopes to De-Mystify Independent Film Distribution

Megan Griffiths (Animal Kingdom, Room 104, Lucky Them) is a writer/director with impressive credits on both the big and small screens who unveiled an unusual but exciting release model for her latest film, SADIE . Like many others, I have been closely watching while directors like Steven Soderbergh, Rob Zombie, and Kevin Smith have shied away from traditional release models to forge their own paths in this new media landscape. Check out the press release below. Filmmaker Megan Griffiths announced today that she and producers Lacey Leavitt and Jennessa West will independently release her acclaimed drama Sadie. Working with creative distribution strategist Mia Bruno, the film will begin its roll-out in New York and Los Angeles on October 12th. Winner of the Gryphon Jury Award at the 2018 Giffoni Film Festival in Italy, SADIE premiered at SXSW in March and features a breakout turn by newcomer Sophia Mitri Schloss in the title role. Melanie Lynskey, John Gallagher Jr., Tony Hale, Dan

LETTER FROM MASANJIA - Examines a Devastating Tale of Human Rights Violations in Current Day China - Release Information

Coming off of a wildly successful festival run and excellent enthusiastic early critical reviews – Leon Lee’s “Letter From Masanjia” has been hailed by audiences and critics alike as one of the best docs of 2018, taking home Audience Award for Documentary Feature at the 2018 Asian American International Film Festival and it was nominated as a top 20 audience favorite at this year’s Hot Docs Film Festival. A devastating tale of human rights violations in current day China with corporate giants across the globe receiving prisoner labor efforts for Halloween decorations, asking no questions in a price for pennies on the dollar. This is the tale of one political prisoner's desperate plea to alert the world to horrors most of society sweeps under the carpet. Parade Deck Films will open “Letter From Masanjia” theatrically in New York and Los Angeles beginning on September 14th, 2018 and will expand into additional markets in the following weeks. Later this year Gravitas Ventures, a

A Message from Rose McGowan on Asia Argento

The following is a statement released by Rose McGowan earlier today on the recent controversy surrounding Asia Argento. No need to add my two cents to this conversation, if the last year has taught us anything, it's to listen. I would first of all like to start off this statement saying thank you for your patience. A lot of people have been demanding answers and a response to the recent events surrounding Asia Argento’s sexual assault case. Many people believe that because we have been close in each other’s lives over the past year that perhaps I am affiliated with this incident or being complicit. I am not. I first met Asia on a red carpet, but it’s only been the past year through our shared experience of the HW case that we have bonded. Asia was a person who understood my trauma in a way that many others didn’t. We were able to talk through them together and champion each other’s voices. We even got matching dot tattoos! Something I had posted on my IG just about a month a

Interview w/ Isaac Himmelman and Ryan Harrington on the 24 Hour Musical and Brooklyn Moving Company

   An evening of magic and theater written in under 24 Hours. The night before the show, one lucky audience member will be selected to have their life story written for the big stage. Meaning this musical could be written about you. Today I had 2018 New York Television Festival Best Actor in a Comedy winners Isaac Himmelman and Ryan Harrington to discuss 24 Hour Musical as well as their award-winning tv pilot for Brooklyn Moving Company. For more information about the 24 Hour Musical at the People's Improv Theatre go to https://thepit-nyc.com/ We had some minor sound issues on this episode, I did my best to clean it up and think the end result is completely listenable but just wanted to give you a heads up in case you notice the sound getting a bit funky from time to time. I did my best. To hear the episode click on the embedded player below.

ARIZONA: A First Time Director w/ 25 years Experience Leads Danny McBride to a Career Best Performance

2018 DIRECTOR: Jonathan Watson WRITER: Luke Del Tredici CAST: Danny McBride, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Wilson, Elizabeth Gillies and Kaitlin Olson The Story Cassie (Rosemarie DeWitt) has seen better days. As a single mom and real estate agent in the midst of the housing crisis of 2009, she struggles to keep her head above water. She shares custody of her 14-year-old daughter with her ex-husband Scott (Luke Wilson) and continually dodges calls from collection agencies. Being 6 months behind on the mortgage and trying to play nice with an ex who left her for a woman half his age is the perfect recipe for desperation. Any problems Cassie thought she had were pleasant distractions in comparison to what happens after she meets Sonny (Danny McBride). He is a violently disgruntled homeowner whose life is falling apart. After an unfortunate encounter with Cassie's Boss (Seth Rogen), he decides to take her along as he spirals out of control. Sonny purchased a home and feels that h

Fantastic Fest 2018 Announces Second Wave of Programming

Blasting off the festival in its 14th year will be the U.S. Premiere of David Gordon Green's razor-sharp new contribution to the HALLOWEEN canon with legendary actor Jamie Lee Curtis-along with HALLOWEEN producers Malek Akkad, Jason Blum and Bill Block in attendance! Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.  Also showing at the festival is the U.S. Premiere of FF alumni Jeremy Saulnier's gripping new psychological thriller HOLD THE DARK starring Westworld's Jeffrey Wright. A brutal, beautiful excursion that pits nature versus man's heart of darkness, the film also boasts electric performances from Alexander SkarsgΓ₯rd and Riley Keoug h THE ANGEL Argentina, Spain, 2018 US Premiere, 120 min Director - Luis Ortega In 1971 Argentina, Carlitos is a baby-fac

TIFF 2018 - What to Watch

We don't have the complete line up yet for this years TIIF, but from what has been announced so far, it looks to be another great year. Below is a list of some of the films that have us the most excited.  EVERYBODY KNOWS TIFF-Gala Presentations Writer/Director Asghar Farhadi  Cast: PΓ©nelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Ricardo Darin The film follows Laura (PΓ©nelope Cruz) on her travels from Argentina to her small hometown in Spain for her sister’s wedding, bringing her two children along for the occasion.  Amid the joyful reunion and festivities, the eldest daughter is abducted.  In the tense days that follow, various family and community tensions surface and deeply hidden secrets are revealed. BOY EARASED Writer/Director: Joel Edgerton Producers: Steve Golin, Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Joel Edgerton Cast: Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton, Cherry Jones, Michael “Flea” Balzary, Xavier Dolan, Troye Sivan, J

STRAIGHT TO HELL, CRADLE WILL ROCK, and THOUSAND ACRES Now Available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber

Straight to Hell (1986) A 2K Restoration! Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: August 28, 2018 Blu-ray SRP: $29.95 DVD SRP: $19.95 Action/Western/Comedy/Cult / 91 min / NR / Color Director: Alex Cox Starring: Joe Strummer, Courtney Love, Sy Richardson, Dick Rude, Jim Jarmusch, Shane MacGowan, Xander Berkeley, Elvis Costello, Grace Jones, Dennis Hopper Synopsis: From Alex Cox, the director of Repo Man, Highway Patrolman and Sid and Nancy. In this director's cut of the 1987 cult classic, four hapless bank robbers bury their loot and attempt to hide out in a deserted desert town, but very soon find out that the town is not really deserted. Norwood (Sy Richardson), Simms (Joe Strummer) and Willy (Dick Rude) are three black-suited killers-for-hire. After missing their intended target and trying to escape the wrath of their employer (Jim Jarmusch), they head for the desert and rob a bank en-route. As their car dies in a ravine, the trio bury their money and head for a lonely

Interview w/ Jenn Wexler Director of THE RANGER

After a run-in with the cops at a punk show goes sideways, Chelsea and her pals flee the city in search of a place to lay low. Running to the security of Chelsea's old, abandoned family cabin in the woods, they fall under the watchful eye of an overzealous park ranger who holds a secret from Chelsea's past. Today my guest is Jenn Wexler, the writer, and director behind THE RANGER.  A film that offers a modern take on survivalist horror that both celebrates and subverts the genre’s tropes—with equal parts humor, glitter and gore. THE RANGER opens in NYC August 17th and L.A. September 7th! To hear my conversation with Jenn click play on the embedded player below.