There's something about character-driven dramas that get to the heart of the human experience, turning a simple, but effective, movie into a more emotional ride for audiences. Directed by Ben Snyder from a screenplay by Elizabeth Rodriguez (who also stars), Alswell in New York (formerly titled Allswell) Captures the beauty of a heartfelt, and generally well-told character-driven drama. The film brings the drama, but it is never overdone and the cast's performances elevate the material, adding dimensions to the characters' lives. Alswell in New York Director Ben Snyder Writers Liza Colón-Zayas, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Ben Snyder Figure Elizabeth Rodriguez,…
Author: Mae Abdulbaki
Never let go Is the kind of film you have to go into knowing almost nothing about. Directed by Alexandra Aja from a screenplay by Kevin Coughlin and Ryan Grassby, the Halle Berry-led horror film is a lesson in patience. The film, which is mostly set in and around a home in the woods, successfully separates us and its characters from the outside world. This forces us to think about its themes and setting, as well as the evil that lurks - real or perceived - just outside its door. This horror film has an engrossing premise that remains engaging…
Warning: This post contains spoilers for MegalopolisFrancis Ford Coppola S Megalopolis Ends with hope. The film, which has been in the works for decades, has an all-star cast with Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Voight, and more. MegalopolisReviews have been mixed, but the film has been a talking point. The film ends with Crassus killing his wife Vau Platinum and shooting Claudio with an arrow after they tried to stage a coup for his company. Cross vowed to be remembered as a good man, to give as money to his nephew Cesar. Meanwhile, Claudio is shocked when the people of…
I typically love scenarios where one character, or multiple, has a bad day or week. This setup makes the rest of the story exciting since we know things can only look up from there. Message to quit It's very much a film like Andy Singer's (Michael Zegen) day going from bad to worse to only slightly better. Writer-director Simon Hecker has a good grasp on his characters and story, but while Message to quit has a spark, it lacks genuine heartwarming moments, which are buried under a surface-level premise that refuses to engage with vulnerability. Director Simon Hacker Release date…
I typically love scenarios where one character, or multiple, has a bad day or week. This setup makes the rest of the story exciting since we know things can only look up from there. Message to quit It's very much a film like Andy Singer's (Michael Zegen) day going from bad to worse to only slightly better. Writer-director Simon Hecker has a good grasp on his characters and story, but while Message to quit has a spark, it lacks genuine heartwarming moments, which are buried under a surface-level premise that refuses to engage with vulnerability. Director Simon Hacker Release date…
There are several culinary series - about making food, about chefs, about traveling and being introduced to a variety of foods from different cultures - and movies about the restaurant industry (the dark comedy The menu immediately comes to mind). A lot of the time the focus is so much on the stress of working in the food industry and the experience of a high-end meal, but not on the soil from which it comes. House of Spoils is an investigation of witchcraft, land, and the respect it should be given, and a study of the perversion and pressure of…
Transformers one Rejuvenates excitement for the franchise. It's not just a great Transformers movie but a great movie in general. There's a lot to love—from the character dynamic between Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) to the exciting action and gorgeous animation. Transformers one is an origin story for Optimus Prime and Megatron, so it's not a requirement to have seen everything that came before to understand the story. As a film meant to start a trilogy of movies centered on the aforementioned two, Transformers one is a strong first entry. Director Josh Cooley Release date September…
Screen Rant was on earth for this year Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and with ten days of films, premieres, special screenings and connecting with fellow film buffs, we've compiled some awards to highlight the best of the fest. of course, TIFF handed out its own awards At the end of the festival, one of which was the people's choice, and the others were jury-participated prizes for the various filmmakers. The awards and recognition are well-deserved, but what's the fun in awards if they're only one time? There were many films that caught our attention. Whether offering tour de force…
His three daughters Killed me with its intimate investigation of three sisters as they await the death of their father. Many films have explored family dynamics—and their dysfunction—but writer-director Azazel Jacobs gets personal by making his characters uncomfortable in almost every situation. There's awkwardness, anger and annoyance as the titular daughters tiptoe around each other, but there's also love, too. His three daughters is a talkie film that is often staged as a play. There is nowhere to go as the characters are forced to face each other, but that is also what makes it so poignant and lovely. Director…
Eden (2024) Give us an unhinged Ana de Armas, and for that I am forever grateful. The actress is deliciously vicious and simultaneously alluring. It's easy to hate her, and boy does it Eden Make us hate you. Directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay by Noah Pink, the film is based on a true story of European survivalists living secluded on an uninhabited Galapagos island called Floreana. The film is wild, but it's so much fun when it lies in the minutiae of human nature, especially as it lies the reason why Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) is there.…