|
Review by Sean Boelman
When it comes to holiday movies, Christmas is all the rage, but there are comparatively few set on Thanksgiving. And while Casey Tebo’s definitively unfestive horror-comedy Black Friday is unlikely to join the very small pantheon of classic Turkey Day flicks, it’s a good time thanks to how much fun the cast is having.
The film follows a group of toy store employees on the busiest shopping day of the year as their customers become a ravenous horde infected by an unknown parasite. In terms of story, it’s a pretty by-the-book zombie movie, but the dark sense of humor in Andy Greskoviak’s script allows it to be a good time, even if it isn’t anything original. Like so many horror flicks that clock in at under ninety minutes, this movie feels quite rushed. But at least the film has the frenetic energy to keep up the momentum, resulting in a genuinely fun watch. However, the action-packed nature of the movie prevents many of the emotional beats from resonating as they probably should. As one could expect, there is a strong anti-capitalist edge to the film. This is clearly making fun of the consumerist tradition of this so-called “shopping holiday”, something which ties in extremely well to the absurdity of the premise. Ultimately, there’s not a ton of emphasis on this, but it’s definitely there. 
One of the issues with the movie is that the character development is so thin. All of the employees of the store are archetypes to an almost cartoonish level. Ultimately, no one is going to really care who gets killed because there’s really not much done to make the audience become invested in their stories.
That said, the entire cast does an extremely good job of playing it over-the-top in a way that makes these caricatures fun to watch. Bruce Campbell is definitely the highlight as the arrogant store manager, hamming it up as usual. And the rest of the cast, including Devon Sawa, Ivana Baquero, and Micahel Jai White are all fun. It’s clear that this is a B-movie from its technical qualities, but there are still some really fun things going on here. The gore effects aren’t super convincing or anything, but given that the film itself is very cheesy, it fits. And as for the creature design, it’s nothing especially creative, but it’s just barely nostalgic enough to work. Black Friday isn’t anything exceptional within the realm of horror-comedies, but it’s a good time. For those looking for a mindless watch, with a fun Bruce Campbell performance to boot, this is definitely worth checking out. Black Friday is now in theaters and hits VOD on November 23. Rating: 3/5
0 Comments
Review by Sean Boelman
(L-R) Vinette Robinson as Carly and Stephen Graham as Andy Jones in the drama/thriller, BOILING POINT, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
Although the single-take film is undeniably a gimmick, when executed well, it can result in a genuinely suspenseful thriller. Philip Barantini’s Boiling Point certainly isn’t without its flaws, but it has plenty enough strong elements to make it a worthy movie even beyond its storytelling device.
The film follows the head chef and staff of a gourmet restaurant as they prepare for an especially grueling dinner service. Ultimately, one of the issues of the movie is that it has too many moving parts in the story. And while this does contribute to a feeling of realism, it also makes it feel like the film is too busy. As is the case with any movie that is shot in a single take, the film is limited by the constraints of playing out in real time. But unlike a lot of those movies, this never drags thanks to the fact that it keeps pushing. There is a constantly mounting feeling of tension, and while it doesn’t pay off as one would hope, it mostly works quite well. Because of the fact that there are so many moving parts, there are also a lot of themes in play. Some of these, like the film’s exploration of accountability, are really insightful. But on the other hand, there are a lot of subplots that feel entirely underdeveloped. And the ending of the movie is about as unsubtle as they come. 
(L-R) Vinette Robinson as Carly, Ray Panthaki as Freeman and Stephen Graham as Andy Jones in the drama/thriller, BOILING POINT, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
The character development in the film is also a problem. It is in this regard that it becomes abundantly obvious that the movie has bitten off more than it can chew. The film does a good enough job of developing the protagonist, but he is the only character in the movie with a substantial amount of depth. The film tries to make the audience care about some of the other restaurant employees but there is not enough screen time for it to work.
This is an extraordinary showcase for lead actor Stephen Graham, who gives what is undeniably the best performance of his career. He does an exceptional job of capturing this rapid descent into madness. In the supporting cast, Jason Flemyng is also a stand-out, being very effectively hateable. Any movie that is shot in a single take is obviously quite an impressive feat, but the thing that stands out about this is the way in which it really immerses the viewer in the restaurant setting. The production design and cinematography are very effective at ratcheting up the anxiety that the viewer will inevitably feel. The writing of Boiling Point definitely isn’t its strongest suit, but there are a lot of really good things happening here. It’s a tense, effective thriller boosted by strong performances and strong execution. Boiling Point is now in theaters and hits VOD on November 23. Rating: 3.5/5
Review by Sean Boelman
Katia Pascariu in BAD LUCK BANGING OR LOONY PORN, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude is nothing if not unique, and his newest film Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn is definitely one of the more unorthodox movies to come out this year. However, despite having a compelling premise, a messy (almost scattershot) structure keeps this from being more than a zany and pretentious art house film.
The movie follows a teacher who comes under fire from the local community when her personal sex tape is leaked online, causing a great deal of outrage. It’s a premise that seems opportune for some great situational comedy, but Jude almost gets too caught up in his political message for his film to be especially funny. One of the biggest issues with the movie is that it bites off more than it can chew in a thematic sense. The main message about freedom of speech and invasion of privacy is compelling and discussed in a thought-provoking way, but there is too much else going on in the film. Jude does not let the audience lose track of the fact that this is a COVID-19 movie, but it doesn’t say that much about it that is interesting. And then there is the pacing of the film. After getting off to an extremely (and hilariously) graphic running start, the movie devolves into a bunch of wandering for the first chapter. And the third chapter is exactly what viewers likely expected from the premise. But the second chapter is very difficult to get through, a visual essay that has little audio and tells its story only through captions. 
A scene from BAD LUCK BANGING OR LOONY PORN, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
The character development in the film shows a lot of potential, but any momentum the protagonist’s arc has is lost when the movie shifts into its less narrative format for the middle third. Had Jude focused exclusively on the central plot of the film, the result undoubtedly would have been much more intriguing.
In the final third of the movie, Katia Pascariu does an excellent job in her role, but it is frustrating to see how underutilized she is for the rest of the runtime. And the actors who play the angry mob of townspeople fighting back against the supposed obscenity are all gleefully over-the-top, fitting the satirical nature of the film. For a movie made during the COVID-19 pandemic, the first and final third of the film are quite well-made. Although the mask wearing and social distance limit blocking and the camera, Jude still does a good job of creating isolation in the first act and entrapment in the third act. The middle portion is a whole different beast, but is technically accomplished. Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn is not an agreeable film by any means, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t value in it. It’s easy to admire Jude’s movie for what he was trying to do, even if one isn’t on the same wavelength as him. Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn is now in theaters. Rating: 2.5/5
Review by Sean Boelman
Ethan Hawke as J.J. in the thriller film, ZEROS AND ONES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Abel Ferrara has a very eclectic filmography, with an almost auteur-like output blending the intelligence of art house fare with the trashiness of genre flicks. His newest movie, Zeros and Ones, is just as angry and confusing as one would expect, but there are enough interesting things going on here to make it worthwhile.
The film follows an American soldier who fights an unknown terrorist threat after the Vatican is blown up. And while this may sound like a relatively straightforward espionage thriller on paper, it is anything but. Like so much of Ferrara’s work, trying to follow what is happening in the story in a literal sense is futile, and the audience is better off going along for the emotional ride. Ferrara builds an excellent atmosphere for the movie, taking advantage of the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic (although within the world of the film, the lockdown is caused by the fictional war of the plot) to allow these characters to wander through the streets of Rome, and more metaphorically, the consciousness of society. And if audiences are looking for a clear answer as to what the movie is about, they clearly shouldn’t be watching the new Abel Ferrara film. There are messages about capitalism, the government, and of course Ferrara’s favorite: religion. As always, most of the exploration of the themes in the movie is through not-so-subtle dialogue packed with symbolism and metaphors. 
Ethan Hawke as Justin in the thriller film, ZEROS AND ONES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Ferrara should definitely be praised for doing something unique and different with the war film. This is by no means jingoistic, which should not be surprising given the movie’s politics, nor is it the standard costs of war ethical study. Ferrara isn’t afraid to absolutely rip apart these well-established institutions.
Ethan Hawke has to play a double role in the film, and he is such a talented actor that he mostly manages to pull it off. It’s pretty clear at times that Hawke doesn’t completely understand what he’s saying — but to be fair, it’s entirely possible that Ferrara didn’t completely understand what he was writing. Ferrara’s style is definitely fit for the COVID-19 pandemic, as the trance-like state in which so many of his narratives exist is only compounded by empty streets and forcibly awkward blocking. That said, some of the more technically-savvy portions of the narrative aren’t executed as well and have some issues with cheapness. Zeros and Ones is closer to the type of movie that should play in art-houses, not be released straight-to-VOD like a B-movie actioner. It’s weird and not always satisfying, but very much the work of Abel Ferrara. Zeros and Ones hits theaters and VOD on November 19. Rating: 3/5 Reviewed by Adam Donato  Sophia Ali “Alia” (middle) has the attention of both Rish Shah “Varun” (left) and Ved Sapru “Rahul” (right) at a party in her suburban New Jersey home in a scene from INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES. Photo courtesy of SK Global Entertainment. India Sweets and Spices is about an ambitious young woman, Ali Kapur (played by Sophia Ali), who comes home for the summer from college. When she comes back, she has to deal with tons of family drama at their seemingly endless amount of dinner parties. The film is written and directed by Geeta Malik, whose only other feature is Troublemaker, which came out a decade ago. With an official selection at the 2021 Tribeca Festival, is this movie going to lead to more opportunities for Malik and Ali? This movie is delightful. Big credit goes to Ali for showing that she can lead a movie. Her most notable credits are from television shows and a side character in Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare. She’s got personality and can handle even the heaviest of scenes in this movie and it will be exciting to see her going forward, even if her next movie is Uncharted. All of the family friends at the dinner party are completely pretentious and full of gossip. Her character is so admirable in this movie as she is constantly surrounded by such toxic energy and she persists throughout.  (L-R) Rish Shah “Varun” and Sophia Ali “Alia” meet in India Sweets and Spices store in suburban New Jersey in a scene from INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES. Photo credit: Eliza Morse. Courtesy of SK Global Entertainment. The core of the story is a very standard one, but how it explores Indian culture makes it feel fresh. The role of women, classism and arranged marriages are all some pretty interesting topics that are explored in this movie. All of these things are tackled head-on in the finale in the most satisfying way possible. Speaking of the culture, most of the characters in the movie are rich so it makes sense, but the wardrobe was beautiful in this movie. There are about a dozen family dinners, which provides ample opportunities to show off.
The movie is listed as a comedy on IMDb, but plays more like a drama. There are funny moments in the movie sure, especially when all of the tea comes to a head around the climax. Besides that, what really keeps this movie afloat is the drama. The script is where most of the responsibility lies as everything feels wrapped up all good at the end. The movie has plenty to say and plays as a wholesome good time. India Sweets and Spices is definitely a movie worth recommending. This would play really well as a streaming movie as it doesn’t sport any of the name or brand recognition that theatrical releases seemingly require these days. It’s also not heavy enough to expect any major awards appeal in a couple months. That being said, it’s a pleasant surprise and it will be exciting to see what Malik does next. India Sweets and Spices hits theaters on November 19. Rating: 4/5 |