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3.5/5
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California's Forgotten Children
(2018)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Miller pulls few punches in the first half of the documentary: the testimony from survivors is graphic, the data from sources like the [NCMEC] is chilling, and the reenactments only solidify what your imagination conjures.
Posted May 25, 2023
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3.5/5
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Shazam! Fury of the Gods
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
The truly frustrating thing about "Fury of the Gods" is all the potential it contains, not just its own standalone story, but how unhinged a third film could be now that so much of the setup and emotional baggage has been explored.
Posted May 22, 2023
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3/5
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Buddy Games: Spring Awakening
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... is exactly the film you think it’s going to be: silly, crude, and purely for entertainment purposes and, on that mark, it delivers.
Posted May 18, 2023
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2/5
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Righteous Thieves
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Oddly, the film makes a better pilot for a television program than it does a feature, placing dramatic emphasis on the mission via the Holocaust at the expense of character development, all while setting up further adventures ... .
Posted May 17, 2023
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Yakuza Graveyard
(1976)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... a gripping tale of violence and interpersonal deception whose presentation of pain grows deeper when one is aware of the historical context of the film.
Posted May 16, 2023
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3.5/5
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One Day as a Lion
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... mixes drama and comedy to fascinating effect, crafting a film that evokes the narratives of a classic Elmore Leonard tale with the expected crime tropes, but executes in a way in which it comes off fresh and with plenty of heart.
Posted May 15, 2023
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Branded to Kill
(1967)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
In terms of yakuza pictures, "Branded" is a bit of a wild one, infusing each gunfight or assassination with flair and intelligence that’s in-line with modern action flicks.
Posted May 12, 2023
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3.5/5
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Rally Road Racers
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Complete with needle drops and jokes that’ll tickle audiences of all ages, "Rally Road Racers" is a fun time, offering a lesson about uplifting others and caring for one’s community nestled within a silly packaging for a solid 92-minutes.
Posted May 11, 2023
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4.5/5
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Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie" gives the audience everything Guggenheim intends: a warm tribute to a career beloved by many without losing sight of the person audiences attached onto.
Posted May 10, 2023
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1/5
|
Legend of Gatotkaca
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Unfortunately, between an unnecessarily complex narrative structure and fight sequences that lack clarity or impact, the whole of "Legend of Gatotkaca" barely generates the intensity or urgency it seeks to create.
Posted May 05, 2023
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3/5
|
What's Love Got to Do with It?
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
It approaches the genre with a fresh perspective that allows it to explore areas that fans of the genre may not typically trod, but there are few surprises within to elevate it.
Posted May 04, 2023
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4/5
|
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Since "Vol 1.," Gunn has been trying to teach us this lesson, but we weren’t ready to hear it. Now, with the conclusion to his space odyssey, we’re ready to receive his message and it’s one of warmth, love, and second chances.
Posted Apr 29, 2023
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5/5
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Accused
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... "Accused" enables the audience to see just what false journalism and mob mentality powered by xenophobia can do, daring you to look away even when the lead performance leaves you spellbound and still.
Posted Apr 28, 2023
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Supercop
(1992)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Even with the new ingredients, "Super Cop" possesses all the hallmarks of a Chan film: breathtaking stunts, practical effects, and a great deal of humor to offset the drama.
Posted Apr 24, 2023
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4/5
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Sisu
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... the film delivers from start to finish, never once failing to lose its powerful emotional core so that the audience doesn’t just observe the thunderous vengeance inflicted upon these self-righteous bastards, we cheer for it.
Posted Apr 24, 2023
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The Assassination Bureau
(1969)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... "The Assassination Bureau" is a rousing bit of cheeky fun whose energy still pops off the screen.
Posted Apr 23, 2023
|
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3.5/5
|
Chevalier
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
With "Chevalier," we’re reminded that maybe what we thought we knew about what’s right and wrong in the world is only one opinion shouted by the loudest voices. Perhaps it’s time to listen to someone else for a change.
Posted Apr 21, 2023
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3/5
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Sakra
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
What gets in the way of "Śakra"’s questions is not the complexity of the questions or the knot of a narrative, but its reliance on audience foreknowledge in its race to get to the often-dazzling action.
Posted Apr 20, 2023
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The Sunday Woman
(1975)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
For murder mystery fans or cinephiles looking for some relatively light entertainment, "The Sunday Woman" may just satisfy that need.
Posted Apr 17, 2023
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Rebel Without a Cause
(1955)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
This film is considered a classic, its themes timeless and executed by short-lived talents such as James Dean and Natalie Wood. Now, for the first time, Warner Bros. Pictures is releasing Rebel on 4K UHD with High Dynamic Range ...
Posted Apr 12, 2023
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The Fisher King
(1991)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
"The Fisher King" is an unexpected powerhouse of a film. Given the material the script navigates, one would not expect such a tale of horrible grief to reach such heights of hilarity and still stick the landing.
Posted Apr 11, 2023
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Gorgeous
(1999)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
When a film is billed as a rom-com and features CG dolphins doing repetitious flips in order to signify whether a character should go on a trip, one tends to recognize exactly the kind of adventure they’re about to go on.
Posted Apr 10, 2023
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4.5/5
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Suzume
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Though "Suzume" involves many of the same narrative elements as the prior two, the execution is wholly different and nearly as emotionally gut-wrenching as "Your Name.," leaving the audience in a state of awe by the conclusion.
Posted Apr 10, 2023
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3.5/5
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Give Me an A
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Though the tones don’t always mesh and the ideas of the films in total don’t always coalesce clearly, there’s no denying the prophetic nature of executive producer Natasha Halevi’s project. ... will audiences heed the warning or will it all come true?
Posted Apr 08, 2023
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3.5/5
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The Super Mario Bros. Movie
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... going to wow fans with easter eggs and delight families with the relatively breezy action. This film doesn’t exactly break the mold, but it’s been a minute since the series did, too.
Posted Apr 05, 2023
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Cool Hand Luke
(1967)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Between the thoughtfulness of the narrative and both Newman’s and Kennedy’s performances (for which the latter won an Oscar), one can see why the film is as beloved as it is 56 years later.
Posted Apr 04, 2023
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3.5/5
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Punk Samurai Slash Down (Panku-zamurai, kirarete sôrô)
(2018)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... "Punk Samurai" provides those looking for a weird and wild time at the movies all that and more in an action comedy that’s little more than a series of middle fingers blasted at the establishment.
Posted Apr 04, 2023
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The Maltese Falcon
(1941)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
The film has more conversation than expected from the film’s reputation, yet only a little feels expository with the rest being a battle of wits with too many players jockeying for the prize.
Posted Apr 03, 2023
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3/5
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Trim Season
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Despite strong pacing and well-developed characters, there’s something missing from the recipe that doesn’t quite give you the mellow buzz you seek.
Posted Apr 01, 2023
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4/5
|
Clock
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... Jacknow offers a rumination that expands beyond the internal struggle potential child-birthers face into the external, presenting a horror show that’s elevated enough to disquiet but real enough to generate chills all its own.
Posted Apr 01, 2023
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3.5/5
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The Five Devils
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... a thrilling dramatic tale of familial discord through the lens of parental relationships ...
Posted Mar 30, 2023
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3.5/5
|
Mother Superior
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
While it’s not as riveting as one might hope with so many strong pieces at work, the execution of the concept presents a strong calling-card for a talented creative.
Posted Mar 30, 2023
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2/5
|
DEEMO Memorial Keys
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... stateside fans can partake in the musical majesty without having to pick up a controller. However, those who find they lack any prerequisite love for "DEEMO" may find "Memorial Keys" off-key, over-long, and uninspiring.
Posted Mar 28, 2023
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Head Over Heels
(1979)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... a grossly misadvertised rom-com that’s more dark dramedy than love story.
Posted Mar 27, 2023
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4/5
|
Giovanni's Island
(2014)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Told from the perspective of two young brothers, "Giovanni’s Island" is as much a tale of familial love and growing up, as it is about the way in which war tears us all apart, leaving nothing behind unless we take action to stop it.
Posted Mar 23, 2023
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3.5/5
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Chronicles of a Wandering Saint
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... Bustillo asks the audience to shift how they look at the here and now, taking away the quest for spiritual glory, and just be, to make sure that they’re not so focused on the end game, but to be present with the time we have.
Posted Mar 22, 2023
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3.5/5
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Babylon
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
For all that is great and grand in its use of history, the film is long and you can feel it, a problem when making an epic.
Posted Mar 20, 2023
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3.5/5
|
Furies
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
It’s more raw, unpolished, and brutal than the former, resulting in an exploration of the darkness that consumes those without the strength or support to move toward the light.
Posted Mar 18, 2023
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4/5
|
Inside
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... there’s an opportunity to consider what we give our time to, where we focus our attention, and, perhaps most importantly, why would we surround ourselves with things that separate us from our humanity in order to keep them safe.
Posted Mar 17, 2023
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Air Force One
(1997)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
It’s tense and exciting in direction, the scripting is solid so that everything just flows with natural tension-breakers, and the performances are engaging whether as leads or supporting.
Posted Mar 16, 2023
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The Mask of Zorro
(1998)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... "Mask" [is] a tale of generations, of what myths and legends mean when they are gone, and of the price invaders pay when they underestimate the populace.
Posted Mar 15, 2023
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4/5
|
Peak Season
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
For a sophomore feature outing, "Peak Season" demonstrates that the filmmaking duo have more to say about life and love, taking the things that they’ve learned and utilizing them well.
Posted Mar 12, 2023
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4/5
|
Plan C
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
... in concert with the various facts provided by the interviewees, Halpern’s music, and the occasional visual representation of dates rolling by, "Plan C" generates an aura of concentrated urgency that is, at times, difficult to process and absorb.
Posted Mar 12, 2023
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4.5/5
|
Who I Am Not
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
This is only a small piece of first-time feature director Tünde Skovrán’s moving documentary "Who I Am Not," an exploration of self-perception, self-love, and the battle between who we think society wants us to be versus who we are.
Posted Mar 12, 2023
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3.5/5
|
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
When dialed in, "Angry Black Girl" is meaty, lingering on one’s mind well after it concludes.
Posted Mar 12, 2023
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4/5
|
Molli and Max in the Future
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Don’t mistake the fantastique setting as merely set dressing (practical and imaginative as it is), “Molli and Max” demonstrates that some love stories transcend time and place, everything else is just a foothold for the reality in which they live.
Posted Mar 11, 2023
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4/5
|
Confessions of a Good Samaritan
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Entertaining and cheeky, while also heartfelt and raw, Lane does more than open herself up literally, she welcomes the audience inside metaphorically and, through the process, may find some healing for herself while inspiring others to donate, too.
Posted Mar 11, 2023
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4/5
|
The Magician's Elephant
(2023)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
In a world which seems constantly stripped of its magic through cynicism and fear, "The Magician’s Elephant" reminds that things are only impossible until they’re possible. Or, put another way, it prompts us to consider the power of two words: What if.
Posted Mar 06, 2023
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4/5
|
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Riding the line between the silliness of the "Shrek" Universe from which it came and something far more Grimm, "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" explores the value of appreciating where you are and what you have ...
Posted Mar 05, 2023
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4/5
|
26.2 to Life
(2022)
|
Douglas Davidson
|
Though not specifically political in nature, Yoo’s film may just change a few minds regarding the purpose of prison as a rehabilitative tool rather than a punitive one.
Posted Mar 04, 2023
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