Written and directed by Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse, Amateur Night is a wild ride, loosely based on real events. “Guy Carter” (Jason Biggs) and his wife “Anne” (Jenny Mollen) are expecting their first child. With no job, no health insurance, and riddled with the fear that he won’t be up to the task of… Continue reading AMATEUR NIGHT
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FIVE NIGHTS IN MAINE
When a man loses his wife in a tragic car accident, he finds a grieving partner – and adversary – his mother-in-law. Although Five Nights in Maine leaves questions unanswered, Diane Wiest and David Oyelowo showcase their abilities in writer/director Maris Curran’s feature film debut. (BKP: 3.5/5) Review by Managing Editor Brigid K. Presecky “Sherwin”… Continue reading FIVE NIGHTS IN MAINE
THE LITTLE PRINCE
In a tender reimagining of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, director Mark Osborne and writers Irena Brignull and Bob Persichetti bring us an entirely new protagonist, a “Little Girl” (voiced by Mackenzie Foy), who is captivated by the Little Prince’s classic tale. As the Little Girl figures the story out for herself, Saint-Exupéry’s poignant… Continue reading THE LITTLE PRINCE
NINE LIVES
From Gwyn Lurie and a team of four other co-writers, Nine Lives is a forgettable talking-animal comedy with sporadic laughs that will likely only amuse the most avid of cat-lovers. Kevin Spacey stars as a neglectful father and husband who is magically transported into a cat’s body, embarking on a furry journey he must take… Continue reading NINE LIVES
RICHARD LINKLATER DID
Full Title = Richard Linklater: Dream is Destiny Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny, a bio-doc created by Louis Black and Karen Bernstein, is an infomercial on the legendary director’s long lasting career. If you are a fan of the widely adored maverick filmmaker, good! You will get to see a lot of his works. And… Continue reading RICHARD LINKLATER DID
SHELLEY
The horror genre has produced countless demon-filled stories that prey on viewers through spooky effects and big bads. But SHELLEY is different. Directed by Ali Abbasi (first feature), and penned by Maren Louise Kaehne (with Abbasi), SHELLEY is the non-horror horror movie, a demon-baby story that creates fear in the heart of the viewers not… Continue reading SHELLEY
EQUITY
Director Meera Menon’s slow moving financial drama Equity, brings us back to the familiar world of high-powered suits dominating Wall Street, but this time around, the suits in charge are the powerful women of investment banking. With commanding performances from Anna Gunn, Sarah Megan Thomas, and Alysia Reiner, Equity takes charge, delving into the perils… Continue reading EQUITY
INTO THE FOREST
From writer-director Patricia Rozema, Into the Forest is a story of sisters struggling to survive in – pause for suspense – the forest. Set in the near future, sisters “Nell” (Ellen Page) and “Eva” (Evan Rachel Wood) live in a society that has become increasingly reliant on electricity for basic survival. When an unidentified force… Continue reading INTO THE FOREST
NERVE
Hitting theaters in the height of the Pokémon Go craze, Nerve perfectly captures the thrill, danger and obsession with modern technology. Emma Roberts and Dave Franco star in the film adaptation of the 2012 novel, following a group of friends as they truth-or-dare their way through a high-stakes online video game. (BKP: 4.5/5) Review by… Continue reading NERVE
TALLULAH
Lu and her boyfriend Nico are living out of their van enjoying the thrills of life without attachments. But Lu’s life takes a drastic turn when Nico disappears, and she kidnaps a wealthy housewife’s toddler. Loosely based on writer/director Sîan Heder’s own experiences, Tallulah is the quirky tale of an independent vagabond who learns the… Continue reading TALLULAH
VIRAL
Directed by Henry Just and Ariel Schulman and written by Christopher Landon and Barbara Marshall, Viral’s horror plays on the very real paranoia that sets in when discussion of new infectious diseases take over the news. When a parasitic infection takes over the United States, causing apocalyptic chaos, “Emma” (Sofia Black-D’Elia) and her sister “Stacey”… Continue reading VIRAL
Brava, Rachel Feldman!
‘‘It’s kind of like the church,’’ actress/filmmaker Anjelica Huston told Maureen Dowd. ‘‘They don’t want us to be priests. They want us to be obedient nuns.’’ So much for that! FF2 Media is honored to post this OpEd by filmmaker Rachel Feldman–a heartfelt & personal response to the terrific article Maureen Dowd published in the… Continue reading Brava, Rachel Feldman!
MOMENTUM
Olga Kurylenko stars as a high-tech bank robber whose identity is accidentally revealed during a heist-gone-wrong. In its entirety, Momentum is made up of action sequences – with little character development or entertainment. (BKP: 2.5/5) Review by Associate Editor Brigid K. Presecky In the opening sequence, four thieves in Cape Town, South Africa disguise themselves… Continue reading MOMENTUM
SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
Written and directed by Leslye Headland, Sleeping With Other People is a fresh take on the rom come genre, following two self-admitted “sex addicts” who were each other’s first times. When they reconnect twelve years later, what starts as a rekindled friendship threatens to become something more when feelings can no longer be ignored. (JEP:… Continue reading SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
RICKI & THE FLASH
Written by Diablo Cody, Ricki and the Flash is a feel good film about an absentee rock star mother, who returns home to provide support for her daughter in her time of need. Upon returning home, Ricki must come to terms with the effects her absence has had on her children and make amends for… Continue reading RICKI & THE FLASH
ALL OF ME
Indira Cato and Arturo González Villaseñor document the heartwarming story of a group of Mexican women who, without fail, throw hot food and cold water to hungry, desperate train passengers. The personal interviews are raw and emotional, tying together stories of pain and prosperity throughout the film’s 90 minutes. (BKP: 4/5) Review by Associate Editor… Continue reading ALL OF ME
TRAINWRECK (JEP)
As a young girl, Amy’s father insists that monogamy is not realistic. From that moment on, she takes his words to heart until sports doctor “Aaron Conners” changes everything. Written by comedian Amy Schumer, Trainwreck is 2 hours of non-stop laughs, with family and relationship situations drawn from Schumer’s real life experiences. (JEP: 4/5) Review… Continue reading TRAINWRECK (JEP)
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
Two of the big winners at this year’s Sundance Film Festival addressed the devastating effects of prolonged incarceration on African-American family life. Is this a mere coincidence? I don’t think so. Middle of Nowhere is the story of a woman left behind. When we first meet Ruby (Emayatzy Corinealdi), her husband Derek (Omari Hardwick) is… Continue reading MIDDLE OF NOWHERE