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…
Author: Mae Abdulbaki
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.…
The life of Chuck is a departure for Mike Flanagan, who brought us memorable horror projects like The Haunting of Hill House Over the years. We’ve gotten used to certain things thanks to the Netflix slate of writer-directors, however The life of ChuckAdapted from the novel by Stephen King, it defies expectations. With this delightful and moving fantasy drama, Flanagan pulls us into a world anchored by the life of the titular character. The film is poignant and meaningful, with an appreciation for life that reminds us why we live it and how to enjoy it too. Release date September…
Went up the hill is a different kind of ghost story. It haunts its characters physically and psychologically, forcing them to face their trauma. The film, directed by Samuel van Grinsven, who co-wrote it with Jory Anast, takes a nuanced look at generational trauma and asks if it can really be stopped. The letters in its center – Jack (Stranger things’ Dacre Montgomery) and Jill (Vicky Cripps) – deal with the death of a loved one, but the story is just as much about grief as it is about abuse. Director Samuel van Grinsven Release date September 6, 2024 Writers…
Not since Great Little Lies I am so intrigued by a murder mystery. Netflix The perfect coupleCreator Jenna Lamia’s adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s novel has plenty of memorable characters, and while it’s dark, it’s also funny. When it comes to peeling back the layers of a wealthy family that is just the opposite of their facade, The perfect couple Excels and leans into the typical murder mystery trappings while building an intriguing web of character connections. I enjoy meeting anyone all the time without losing sight of the bigger picture. Figure Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning, Leo Schreiber, Eve Hewson, Meghan…