Review by Sean Boelman

Richard Melville Hall, better known as Moby, is perhaps the single most influential electronic musician in history, so it is absolutely shocking that there aren’t more feature-length documentaries about him. Filmmaker Rob Gordon Bralver hopes to remedy this with Moby Doc, a portrait of the musician that is equal parts fun, touching, and timely.

The movie tells the story of electronic musician Moby as he fights various circumstances in his life to become one of the most influential electronic musicians of all time. The film does hit a lot of the beats of the musician biographical documentary, albeit in a way that is fittingly quirky given the personality and work of the subject. 

Obviously, this movie caters primarily to an audience who is already familiar with Moby’s work and has an appreciation for his style. However, even those who are uninitiated will find themselves impressed by the man thanks to a combination of footage showing his great accomplishments and interviews from his peers hailing him for the master he is. 

That said, one of the film’s weaknesses is that Moby is such an interesting person that it is nearly impossible to explore every aspect of his life in ninety minutes. As a result, some portions of the movie feel shallow. Moby has simply done so much great stuff that they couldn’t choose what to focus on.

If there is one thing missing from the film, it is an in-depth evaluation of Moby’s discography. While it’s clear that Bralver was more interested in making a documentary about Moby as a person rather than him as a musician, it would have been nice to hear some more behind-the-scenes stories about what went into some of Moby’s greatest hits.

Still, there is more to this documentary than just the music. Moby has always been very active as an animal rights activist, and that passion extends into this movie. There are multiple segments which follow him supporting various causes, many of which are important things that need to be discussed and can very much use his platform.

It is on a technical level that the film impresses the most. As a musician, Moby is known for his experimentation, so it is only fitting that this documentary about him equally plays around with conventions. There is a level of both beauty and energy to the documentary that goes a long way in making the movie work.

Moby Doc does a great job of representing the eponymous musician for the genius and activist that he is. Fans will be delighted by it as a lovely biography, but it can also serve as a great introduction for those who aren’t already familiar with his work.

Moby Doc hits theaters and VOD on May 28.

​Rating: 4/5

Review by Dan Skip Allen

​There are a lot of stories surrounding WWII that people don't know about until they get made into movies. The story of Mildred Gillars, also known as Axis Sally, is one of those. It is an interesting story but whether or not it deserved a movie is questionable, especially with the way it was filmed by the filmmakers.

Meadow Williams plays Axis Sally/Mildred Gillars, a Broadway singer who is approached to be the voice of the Axis soldiers in WWII. At the end of the war, she gets arrested by American soldiers and brought to the United States to stand trial for war crimes against the USA. An older experienced lawyer, James Laughlin (Al Pacino), decided to defend her because no one else will. He struggles to find an angle to come from where he can get the jury to have sympathy for her.  

Trying to defend war criminals isn't easy even for an experienced lawyer such as Pacino's character. He enlists the help of a new young upstart lawyer, Billy Owen, played by Swen Temmel. He brings new ideas to the defense even though Pacino's character balks at them sometimes. The propaganda Axis Sally spews is pretty outrageous. She is hated and liked by American soldiers at the same time. What would you say though if Joseph Gobbels was watching you at all times and threatening your life? That's the main question of the trial. 

This cast was surprisingly very good from Mitch Pileggi as the lawyer for the people or Geller's husband Carsten Norgaard. Also a couple of newcomers Lala Kent and Jasper Polish as members of each legal team. Also, Sewell Whitney as the judge was very good as well. This cast was surprisingly very good for such a film as this. Everybody served their roles perfectly in the film.

The filmmaking style of this film left something to be desired. Filmed in Puerto Rico, this was a stand-in for Washington D.C. in the 1940s. The color palette of the film seemed a little bit off to me. It didn't have the best cinematography either. The brightness of some scenes threw off the feel of the film. Instead of using lights, they used natural lighting and it didn't work. The scenes on the radio station were black and white but that didn't seem to look good either. This film just didn't have a good look all the way around.

The story by Vance Owen and others based on his book was pretty good. Using the star power of Pacino as the defense lawyer was a great idea. He brings all his gravitas to the role which makes it stand out. He has his moments to shine but gives space for the others to do their thing as well. Thomas Kretschmann as Goebbels was pretty sinister in that role. I think anybody would be afraid of him. The plot had some twists and turns in it as well. That was good to not make it a straightforward story of this woman's trial.

American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally was an enjoyable film for the most part. The plot and story were serviceable as well as the cast. Obviously, Al Pacino was the standout in this film. Otherwise, this film probably would have gone unnoticed by most people. The look of the film was the real problem. Whether in color or black and white, the aesthetic was wrong.

American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally hits theaters and VOD on May 28.

Rating: 3/5

Review by Dan Skip Allen

A Quiet Place was such a breath of fresh air in the horror genre three years ago. It announced John Krasinski as a director that we needed to watch in the future. When the sequel was announced right off the bat after the success of the first one, the anticipation was palpable. We waited with bated breath. Just when it was supposed to come out last year, the pandemic shut everything down including movie theaters. However, the wait was worth it because A Quiet Place Part II might be as good, if not better than the original.

We pick up right after the original film with Emily Blunt and her three children, the baby, the son played by Noah Jupe (The Undoing), and her deaf daughter played by Millicent Simmonds. After seeing the flames in the distance, they decide to venture out from the farm that is burning up and try to see who might be out there that can be of help to them. They run into an old family friend played by Cillian Murphy, but he has his own issues to deal with. He doesn't want anything to do with them.

A Quiet Place Part II doubles down on all of the things that made the first one so good. It uses silence to tell a great story that keeps people engaged throughout. It uses the technology that was created in the first film to great length. It established new characters and builds out the world Krasinski created so perfectly in the first film. It takes what we already know and expounds upon it with great vim and vigor. This film was the perfect follow-up to the original in so many ways. It was a perfect sequel.

Krasinski and the crew do a phenomenal job of crafting so many amazing shots with the camera. Shots come from all over the place. It's an embarrassment of riches how many great shots there are. This film also has some of the best editing in any film I've ever seen. This world has got a great overall visual look to it. It looks real and lived in.

Krasinski got great performances from himself, his wife, Emily Blunt, and the children in the first film, but Cillian Murphy and Millicent Simmonds do awards-worthy work in this film. This might be the work of Murphy's career as this man who has lost everything and has nothing to live for until his friend's family comes strolling along. Simmonds using sign language again can communicate so much while doing so little. She is so expressive in this role once again. And her character has too much to prove after the death of her father in the first film.

As a horror film, A Quiet Place Part II picks up right where the original left off as well. The while knuckle scares the first film left viewers with were hard-pressed to follow, yet Krasinski did just that. There so many scenes that had jump stares that were so effective in getting the vibe and feel of this sequel so right.

A Quiet Place Part II is an all-around great film that does what it set out to do. It will bring people back into theaters and scare the hell out of them. With great visuals, camera work, cinematography, and great performances from everybody involved, especially Cillian Murphy and Millicent Simmonds. The editing might be some of the best yet, creating a unique split scene environment I have never seen before. Horror fans and film aficionados alike are going to love this film as much as I did! I'm sure of it. It's a perfect film and sequel.

A Quiet Place Part II hits theaters on May 28.

Rating: 5/5

Review by Sean Boelman

No matter how nostalgic and fun, a majority of the live-action reimaginings of classic Disney properties have felt more like products than actual films (the notable exception being the 2016 version of Pete’s Dragon). However, in recruiting director Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) along with writers Dana Fox (Isn’t It Romantic) and Tony McNamara (The Favourite) for Cruella, the studio has finally managed to crack the formula, creating something legitimately unique and genuinely entertaining.

The movie tells an origin story for 101 Dalmatians villain Cruella de Vil, following her as a young mover-and-shaker in the London fashion scene. Like a Disney version of The Devil Wears Prada with a bit of a punk edge to it, the film may not exactly be original, but it also feels like it isn’t afraid to do its own thing, unlike so many blockbusters that come out today.

Admittedly, the pacing of the movie is somewhat imperfect. There are a few too many times in which the story pivots and turns back, with each third of the film having a very distinct feel to it. Still, the overall tone of the movie is pretty consistently fun, with a much-welcome emphasis on the camp factor that allows it to tick.

In making Cruella de Vil into an anti-hero, the writers missed an opportunity to turn this into a morally grey tale of good versus evil. Instead, the themes of the film are some of the commonplace Disney ones, like devotion to family. It isn’t shallow, but it also doesn’t take full advantage of the premise.

The most effective part of the script is the character development. Beyond Cruella de Vil being a phenomenally fun character to watch, everyone else in the story is just as cool. The antagonist is ridiculously over-the-top, but in a way that works for a 101 Dalmatians prequel. And the two sidekicks are also very well-done. 

Although the ensemble as a whole is great, this really comes down to a battle between Emma Stone and Emma Thompson. Both of them are giving their best, bringing these characters to life in a gloriously showy way. Paul Walter Hauser, Joel Fry, Mark Strong, and Kayvan Novak are all good in the supporting cast, but rightfully bow down to the immense power of the two lead performers.

The other thing that makes this stand out from other Disney reimaginings is that it has a great sense of style. Of course, for a fashion movie, anything less would be disappointing, but Gillespie and crew bring a visual style to the movie that is exaggerated in all the right ways. The soundtrack is great too, containing some of the best choices in years.

Cruella managed to do something that a lot of Disney live-action films aren’t able to do, and that is to feel like it was driven by a genuine creative vision. Hopefully the studio continues to make more of these projects led by the talent involved rather than the IP.

Cruella hits theaters and Disney+ via Premier Access on May 28.

Rating: 5/5

Review by Camden Ferrell

Films such as 2019’s Booksmart and 2020’s Unpregnant have shown that this is the time for thoughtful women-led teen comedies. The directorial debut of actress Natalie Morales, Plan B, looks to continue this trend. Featuring some star-making performances, this movie is a funny and raunchy road trip film that tells a relevant story.
 
Sunny is a smart and straight-arrow high schooler who decides to throw a party when her mom is away. At the party, she has an awkward first sexual experience that could have potentially left her pregnant. With her best friend, Lupe, she must quickly track down a Plan B pill in a conservative area of Midwest South Dakota. This premise doesn’t do anything too original, but it is a fun and relatable premise with a lot of great opportunities for comedy.
 
Written by Joshua Levy and Prathiksha Srinivasan, the script is fast-paced and quite witty. It does a great job of exaggerating the vulgarity of high school life without turning it into a caricature of itself. There are some lines that don’t fit in, and there are a little too many pop culture references, but it remarkably captures the awkwardness of high school and first sexual experiences.
 
One of the most memorable aspects of this film is its performances. Kuhoo Verma leads the film as Sunny, and she brings a lot of charm and heart to the film. Her performance subverts stereotypes of her character, and she develops into an awkwardly over the top character who we love to root for. Victoria Moroles plays Lupe, and she has great chemistry with Verma while also being unfathomably witty and charismatic on her own. Both of these women give star-making performances and deserve a lot of recognition for bringing these characters to life.

Even though the execution doesn’t feel particularly special, Natalie Morales is confident in her candid portrayal of adolescence in this film. It gets surprisingly raunchy and graphic at times, and Morales fearlessly approaches these scenes, and it does wonders for the movie’s enjoyability. There are still some pacing problems, and the final act of the film does fall flat at times though. Regardless, it’s a promising directorial debut for an already talented actress.
 
I think this is yet another film that is very sex-positive in its approach to its story, and it’s great to see movies strip away the stigma around sex. It is very honest in exploring teenage sexuality without ever coming close to exploiting it, and it’s a delicate balance that allows the movie to be simultaneously funny and relatable.
 
As mentioned before this movie has its problems with pacing and some misfires in dialogue, but it ultimately packs an emotional punch and features some utterly wacky scenarios on the road. It skirts the line between believable and chaotic, and it’s all the better for it.
 
Plan B is a road-trip comedy that teenagers and adults will enjoy and relate to. The two main actresses deliver some great breakout performances, and it’s a fun film that is equal parts raunchy and relevant.
 
Plan B is available on Hulu May 28.
 
Rating: 3.5/5