“‘The Most Precious of Cargoes’ may be illuminating for younger viewers at face value for how it doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war from a survivor’s perspective…”
“I imagine that Mooney most likely pitched ‘Y2K’ as a mash-up of ‘Superbad’ and current trends, and that’s exactly how it goes down — a bunch of derivative gags in a feature film format for nostalgic pop culture consumers.”
“Crane and Shepka’s exploration of the human condition in ‘Dead Before They Wake’ justifies a second watch, though their cinematography could use some work the next time around, in terms of establishing a specific style.”
“‘Blackwater Lane’ suffers mightily from pacing issues, uninspired acting and a flimsy screenplay.”
“Even though ‘Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story’ might leave fans wanting more, Klein’s documentary will presumably be the go-to Minnelli doc for years to come, based on the subject’s participation and an interview cast of high-profile names.”
“The narrative truth in ‘Endless Summer Syndrome’ lies in what goes unsaid and what’s just outside the frame.”
“‘The Damned’ is a cerebral film that should be analyzed in film theory courses.”
“I don’t need ‘Dream Team’ to make sense; it’s an art film with relevant sociopolitical themes and accessible humor. But I do want to see technical filmmaking improvements — better editing, better acting — from one movie to the next…”
“‘Get Away’ takes a significant amount of time to set up a payoff that isn’t given the requisite space to breathe once the big moment arrives.”
“Aside from its off-kilter science fiction elements and generational confusion, ‘Going Viral’ is an amusing and playful romp that will remind viewers of everything wonderful about the 1980s.”