Thursday, October 22, 2009

This Could Be Heaven: A Review of The Devil's Advocate


"The Devil’s Advocate isn’t as evenly paced as the classic horror titles mentioned above but it does strive to be more than a special effects extravaganza. While the film occasionally succumbs to overwrought melodrama and the sheer lunacy of its proposition (like in Angel Heart, the Devil sure seems to do a lot of micro-managing), it’s hard to begrudge the film’s questionable moments given the strong production value and talented crew."

Click here to read my review, part of Not Coming to a Theater Near You's 6th Annual 31 Days of Horror

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Polygamy in Africa: A Review of Min Ye


"Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé’s reputation precedes him, and for a director that can be both a blessing and a curse. It may help open doors and smooth over the pre-production process but it can also set unrealistic expectation upon the finished product. Cissé returns to the cinema after 14 years with Min Ye (Tell Me Who You Are), his third film to play the New York Film Festival. Best known for 1987’s Brightness (Yeelen) (which a colleague describes as Star Wars in Africa), Cissé has been praised for his social realism and is a pivotal figure in African cinema. Min Ye is the first film of his that I’ve seen, but I don’t need to have seen his others to recognize it as an underwhelming offer, high expectations or not."

Click here to read my review of Min Ye at Not Coming To a Theater Near You's NYFF Coverage

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

The Trigger Effect: A Review of Lebanon


"Lebanon isn’t quite the pivotal war document or riveting suspense narrative it could have been, but it is confidently made with piercing sound design and arresting visuals that aid in the effective illustration of the range of people directly affected by war."

Click here to read my review at Not Coming to a Theater Near You as part of their New York Film Festival coverage