The Big Picture Bye Bye Tiberias utilizes original and archival footage to depict the importance of unearthing the past. The documentary portrays ordinary Palestinian existence amidst constant threats of extermination. The film's unorthodox structure reflects the complexity of reckoning with…
Read moreNight Swim offers an immersive dive into the deep end of suburban horror, drawing its dread from the supposedly serene family pool turned terror trough. Director Bryce McGuire makes his feature film debut with this creepy concoction, expanding his 2014…
Read moreWriter-director Jesse Edwards makes his feature-length debut with the western actioner The Stolen Valley (formerly titled Alta Valley). Lupe (Briza Covarrubias), a Mexican-Navajo mechanic, is in dire need of some fast cash. The money is for an operation that’ll save her dying…
Read moreIn Godzilla Minus One, director Takashi Yamazaki takes us on an epic journey to postwar Japan. Not only is what we see impressive but it is also astonishingly immersive. In the 37th film of the globally celebrated Godzilla series, Yamazaki…
Read moreThe Big Picture Hilary Swank brings spunk and charisma to her role, but the script falls into clichés and lacks depth. The emotionally manipulative storytelling and unclear character motivations detract from the film. The climax is drawn out and loses…
Read moreSANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! Our numbers are dwindling. Those of us who survived life without the aid of a cell phone, much less a smartphone. Man, that was a long time ago. In his documentary Disconnect Me,…
Read moreFew experiences in life induce the sort of bewildering bewilderment akin to viewing Gods of the Deep, the latest science fiction venture by Charlie Steeds. Despite its potential for engaging visuals and compelling lore, this underwater misadventure regrettably fails to…
Read moreEvolution moves at a glacial pace, but in the pilot episode of RZR, David Bianchi plays a man who has discovered the key to humanity’s next step. Grimm (David Bianchi) is a scientist working out of a clandestine laboratory in…
Read moreMidnight Peepshow marks an ambitious and mesmerizing venture into the macabre, interweaving a labyrinth of desire, fear, and the grotesque that delves deep into the psyche of its audience. Helmed by an eclectic mix of directors—Jake West, Andy Edwards, Airell…
Read moreThe Big Picture Starship Troopers is a satirical masterpiece criticizing militarism and propaganda. The film uses over-the-top military propaganda and Nazi-like symbolism to highlight the dangers of extremism. While action-packed, the film's real strength lies in its social commentary and…
Read moreThe Big Picture The dramatized sequences in Four Daughters enhance the story rather than cheapen it. The conversations between the film's subjects and actors are fascinating and authentic. While Olfa's life is fully explored, more time could have been given…
Read moreSLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! Directed and written by Omar S. Kamara, African Giants follows two African American brothers who spend the weekend together in LA. Meet Sheku (Omete Anassi) and Alhaji (Dillon Daniel Mutyaba). Sheku is the younger of…
Read more