Out in Theaters: RICKI AND THE FLASH

August 5, 2015 by Drew Powell Posted in Out in Theaters, Reviews Tagged Diablo Cody, Jonathan Demme, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep, Rick Springfield, Ricki and The Flash Leave a comment

To be honest, Jonathan Demme’s Ricki and The Flash sounds supremely bland on paper and it looked even worse in the trailers. Meryl Streep plays Linda Brummel aka Ricki, who years ago abandoned her family to pursue being a rock musician in L.A. Now she’s a Total Foods cashier by day and lead singer of amateur rock band The Flash by night. When ex-husband Pete (Kevin Kline) tells her that their daughter Julie (a feisty Mamie Gummer) has been left by her husband, Ricki hops a plane to Indiana to reconnect with her estranged family. It all sounds cliché (and it is) but the movie excels in its execution— primarily through its tonal execution as well as a solid script and top-notch acting. Read More

Out in Theaters: TESTAMENT OF YOUTH

July 9, 2015 by Drew Powell Posted in Out in Theaters, Reviews Tagged Alicia Vikander, James Kent, Kit Harrington, Out in Theaters, Reviews, Taron Egerton, Testament of Youth Leave a comment

At the beginning of James Kent’s Testament of Youth the Armistice has been signed and World War I is ending. Though our protagonist, Vera Brittain (Alicia Vikander) isn’t celebrating. As she makes her way through crowded London streets, she looks beaten down and dazed. By this point, the war has taken everything from her. In real life, Brittain became a Pacifist after experiencing the horrors of The Great War first-hand. Based on her memoir of the same name, Testament of Youth carries a strong anti-war message that Kent handles with subtlety and compassion. He slowly easing into Brittain’s tale, instead of starting with suffering right away. Keeping the focus squarely on Vera and her evolution as a character, he crafts a delicate and understanding biopic worthy of mild celebration. Read More

Out in Theaters: THE GALLOWS

July 8, 2015 by Drew Powell Posted in Grades, Out in Theaters, Reviews Tagged Cassidy Spilker, Chris Lofing, Found Footage, Out in Theaters, Pfeifer Brown, Reese Mishler, Reviews, The Gallows, Travis Cluff Leave a comment

The horror film genre is so full of dumb teenagers making bad decisions one could all but populate a second planet (or country) with their low-grade stock. However The Gallows — yet another entry into the extensive found footage feature collection– may contain the dumbest teens of any horror movie. They’re massively dumb, completely unlikable and thin as tracing paper. They may as well be wearing big, bright neon signs that read: “Here I am! Kill me now!” Although, the movie itself—written and directed by Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing—isn’t much smarter. Read More

Netfix: 7 Freedomlicious Action Movies to Watch on July 4th

July 3, 2015 by Drew Powell Posted in Lists, Netfix Tagged Black Hawk Down, Inglorious Basterds, Netfix, Netflix, Rocky 4, Shane, The Interview, The Terminator, World War Z Leave a comment

The great thing about Netflix is that it gives you a lot of TV and movie watching options. The bad thing about Netflix is that it gives you…a lot of TV and movie watching options. So many that it can be overwhelming. I’d guess around ninety percent of our time spent on Netflix is scrolling through thousands of movies and TV shows, before finally deciding on something three hours after you’ve first logged on. The aim of this column is to provide easily accessible Netflix suggestions based on a different focal point each week. Read More

Out in Theaters: A LITTLE CHAOS

June 25, 2015 by Drew Powell Posted in Out in Theaters Tagged Alan Rickman, Hope Hancock, Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Out in Theaters, Paula Paul, Reviews, Stanley Tucci 1 Comment

True to its title, not much in the way of chaos occurs in Alan Rickman’s sophomore directorial effort. In fact, most of the time affairs are the exact opposite of chaotic. Instead it’s a modest well-mannered period piece, taking part in the action of Versailles, France, 1628. It’s technically proficient – as most period pieces are – and the performances are solid across the board, though nothing outstanding. Rickman directs with competence but on the whole A Little Chaos is instantly forgettable—marked by a feeling of slightness and opting to pursue the safest routes for predictable romantic dramas. Read More