SHORTCUT
Rated: Not Rated
Release Date: September 25, 2020
Director: Alessio Liguori
Stars: Jack Kane, Zak Sutcliffe, Sophie Jane Oliver, Zander Emlano
Plot: A group of students are trapped on their school bus when they are attacked by an evil creature
Clint Says: Wait for the digital release
When a feature film clocks in at 80 minutes you can be assured of one of two things. It is either going to be jam-packed with action and suspense, or it should have been a short film that got stretched into an 80-minute film with 30 minutes of fluff.
SHORTCUT is jam-packed with fluff.
To put it in perspective, the opening credits, (where nothing happens), are four minutes long. The end credits are 6 1/2 minutes long. Ladies and gentlemen, that makes up nearly 15% of the film’s total running time! Add to that several slow-moving and long montage scenes and half of the film is knocked out.
I will say that the other half of the movie is really suspenseful and “horror flick fun”.
I will say that the other half of the movie is really suspenseful and “horror flick fun”.
This is not a film that you can take seriously at all, but if you are willing to suspend all disbelief you’ll have a good time with it.
The climactic scene is riotously funny. It’s not supposed to be, but it is. I don’t want to give away anything, but let’s just say that the Paul Reuben’s (Pee Wee Herman) death scene in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER may have lost its crown as the funniest on-screen death in cinematic history.
The climactic scene is riotously funny. It’s not supposed to be, but it is. I don’t want to give away anything, but let’s just say that the Paul Reuben’s (Pee Wee Herman) death scene in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER may have lost its crown as the funniest on-screen death in cinematic history.
If you like laughing at horror flicks, this one is a must-see movie. If you are hoping to experience cinematic excellence, this is not the film for you.
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KAJILLIONAIRE
KAJILLIONAIRE
Rated: R
Release Date: September 25, 2020
Director: Miranda July
Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, Debra Winger, Richard Jenkins
Plot: A young woman and her parents are low-level criminals, but their lives change when they bring in an outsider
Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee
While the big studios continue to push their big-budget flicks into 2021, the indie films that typically don’t have the opportunity to get into the large theater chains are finding their way in.
KAJILLIONAIRE is one of those films that, in a normal year, 99% of people would never even know it exists, but this is not a normal year.
If you don’t watch a lot of indie films you need to know that they are an acquired taste. They aren’t polished and edited down to the perfectly focus-grouped scenes. They are typically slower-moving films that tell a slice-of-life story rather than the fast-paced, single-event-driven blockbusters.
This is a quirky, awkward, somewhat funny, somewhat heartbreaking film. It has moments of greatness, and moments that are pretty bland and boring.
The strongest element of this movie is the acting. Evan Rachel Wood’s performance is incredible. She plays an awkward teen so well, that you will want to reach through the screen, give her a comforting hug, and tell her everything will get better soon. The rest of the cast does a wonderful job of either forcing her to be even more awkward or trying to pull her out of her sheltered life.
Overall, it is a good movie. There isn’t anything special that makes this film amazing or groundbreaking, but it is one that is worth seeing if you enjoy indie films.
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OTTOLENGHI AND THE CAKES OF VERSAILLES
Rated: Not Rated
Release Date: September 25, 2020
Director: Laura Gabbert
Stars: Yotam Ottolenghi
Plot: One of the world’s great chefs puts together a team of pastry masters to make edible art inspired by Versailles for the opening of the Versailles exhibit at The Met in New York City
Clint Says: A must-see for any foodie
Back in the time of King Louis XVI and Marie Antionette, Versailles was the epitome of opulence and decadence, especially when it came to food. Most of what we know of the history of food was popularized in the kitchens of Versailles. That is why, when The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York decided to do an exhibit honoring Versailles, they called upon one of the world’s great chefs to put together a team of pastry masters to create cakes inspired by Versailles.
This documentary follows his journey from finding the right people for the task, to learning about the history of food at Versailles, through to the opening of the exhibit.
If you are a foodie, this is a must see film. It is filled with interesting history and innovative techniques. It’s also stuffed with suspense as the chefs deal with last-minute issues that could destroy the whole party.
If you are a foodie, this is a must see film. It is filled with interesting history and innovative techniques. It’s also stuffed with suspense as the chefs deal with last-minute issues that could destroy the whole party.
This is not a documentary that will change your life or make you see the other side of powerful and important issues, but it is one that will entertain you and make you want to eat cake.
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