In Jason Eisener’s Kids vs. Aliens, Samantha (Sam) is a regular teen. She spends her time hanging out with her little brother Gary and his friends making sci-fi/action movies in and around their home.The PremiseA couple of trouble-making kids crash…
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Many people think that pinball is a game of chance versus skill. Nowadays, it’s difficult to believe that it was actually outlawed as gambling in large cities such as New York as late as 1975. Enter co-writers and co-directors Austin…
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Stephen Curry: Underrated is a captivating and in-depth documentary that takes audiences on an exhilarating journey through the illustrious career of basketball icon Stephen Curry. This 1000-word review delves into the film’s narrative, visual storytelling, character portrayal, and overall impact,…
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PORTLAND FESTIVAL OF CINEMA, ANIMATION & TECHNOLOGY 2023 REVIEW! Joël Gibbs’ animated short, The Moon Followed Me to Falmouth, is the story of a young adventurer sets to Kurt Rosenberg’s song of the same name. Because of economic hardship, our young…
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At the risk of diving into the annoying and frankly nonsensical discourse surrounding nepotism in the film industry, Amy Redford’s sophomore feature “What Comes Around” represents a curious object. Directed by Robert Redford’s daughter, starring Joaquin Phoenix’s sister Summer Phoenix…
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At its best, art can illuminate the culture in which it is made. In this time of worldwide upheaval, political polarization, and frequent violence, society is forging a difficult road. These are not revelations in and of themselves. When these…
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PORTLAND FESTIVAL OF CINEMA, ANIMATION & TECHNOLOGY 2023 REVIEW! Puppet mice get squeaky about being freaky in Diomysus, the comedic documentary short by director and puppeteer Emily Morus-Jones. The filmmaker uses mouse puppets to voice dialogue from interviews with real members…
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“I meddled with things Man must leave alone.” This famous quote is from James Whale’s 1935 The Invisible Man. That musing by the dying Claude Rains poses a warning that people do the unthinkable in genre films. No sane person would…
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Art is a reflection of life, and that’s true for Shaily Sanghvi’s short film, Pirouette: The Circle of Life. Pirouette is a poem…a reflection on the theme of finding one’s purpose in life. The short opens with a ballet dancer…
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NOW IN THEATERS! In the wake of Nolan’s sweeping 3-hour political epic Oppenheimer, writer-director Steve James has produced a modest documentary that will serve as an unofficial companion piece. In 1953, J. Robert Oppenheimer was dragged before the Atomic Commission, overseen…
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Director Elijah Broughton and screenwriter Sean Furey bring some sci-fi fun with their alien invasion short film, Attack of the Swole People. A government Agent (Rachel Noble) and her Rookie partner (Ian Kramer) are called to investigate the mysterious death of…
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The stripped-down retro slasher Late Checkout, from director Josh Graves, peels off the needless fat and gets straight to the bloody core. The screenplay, written by Graves and Molly Souza, wears its minimalist strategy on its cut-off sleeve. Every move is…
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