The new film “Against the Ice” is based on the remarkable true story of Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen and his 1909 polar expedition across the frozen tundra of Northeastern Greenland. This man-versus-nature survival thriller from director Peter Flinth is inspiring but also quite harrowing, putting just as much emphasis on the psychological toll as it … Continue reading
REVIEW: “The Adam Project” (2022)
(CLICK HERE to read my full review in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) Shawn Levy’s “The Adam Project” is a Ryan Reynolds vehicle in that head-scratching vein of projects that dress themselves up as family movies but then push past the bounds of what’s often considered “family friendly”. For me it’s often hard to tell what audience … Continue reading
REVIEW: “The Girl on the Mountain” (2022)
Burdened souls retreating to the wilderness in an effort to escape their grief or remorse has become fairly familiar in the world of movies. Yet it’s a trope that I always gravitate to. Aside from the obvious symbolism, there’s just something about the way these movies deal with the human condition that has always moved … Continue reading
REVIEW: “Parallel Mothers” (2021)
Even at 72, Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar is still churning out his unique brand of movies at a strong and steady rate. It’s clear the two-time Oscar winner still relishes the opportunity to tell specific stories stamped with his own distinguishing marks. His films often revisit the same handful of repackaged themes, and they often … Continue reading
REVIEW: “The Worst Person in the World” (2021)
(CLICK HERE for my full review in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) “The Worst Person in the World” has earned a lot of praise for Norwegian director Joachim Trier. This slyly romantic drama, laced with some wily dark comedy, is considered the third film in Trier’s unintentional “Oslo Trilogy” (following 2006’s “Reprise” and 2011’s “Oslo, August 31st”). … Continue reading
REVIEW: “Seobok: Project Clone” (2022)
Based on its American title alone, “Seobok: Project Clone” sounds like some low-budget, straight-to-video, B-movie with Bruce Willis as its lead. In reality, South Korean director and screenwriter Lee Yong-ju offers up something considerably different – a movie that will have you anticipating one thing while delivering a dramatically different experience. “Seobok: Project Clone” frames … Continue reading