Stay Tuned for my coverage on my 48 hour trip to Saxony and Dresden. A destination still unspoiled by over tourism with so much to offer.
Categories
Captivating Saxony
Author: Editor
Categories
Is This Indie Flick Worth The Trip?
Pooling to Paradise
Indie Road Flick Pooling to Paradise is an engaging and often fun critique on contemporary living. Married mum and step-mother Jenny (Lynn Chen) plans to travel to Las Vegas for a professional Blogger conference. Involuntarily she chooses the Car Pool option on her app. This means she will subsequently miss her flight. Joining her in the car are Kara (Dreama Walker), Sean (Jonathan Lipnicki), and driver Marc (Jordan Carlos).
Such an inclined space demands our attention. It’s also interesting to see how characters play off one another. Here are four strangers at different stages in their lives. We have already learned that Jenny is a highly-strung mother. The younger Kara is a struggling and deluded actor. The even younger Sean wants to kill himself after breaking up with his girlfriend, Dawn (Taryn Manning). Meanwhile, driver Marc is a casualty of activist parents. He now drifts through life with the help of numerous narcotics.
During the trip they inevitably get to know each other better. At one point Sean pulls out a gun. However, he reassures everyone it’s to kill himself, despite not being loaded. Kara tries to convince everyone she’s on her way to stardom. Jenny constantly talks domesticity like everyone would somehow be interested. Marc, having undoubtedly been in this situation before, goes with the flow.
An increasingly distraught Sean offers to pay Marc to drive him to Dawn’s home in Paradise, Nevada. With Paradise being near Vegas, and that she’s already missed her flight, Jenny agrees to Sean’s plan. Kara, with nothing better to do, also agrees to this to help Sean.
Pooling to Paradise is worthwhile but does not contain an abundance of laughs. It is more of a light drama with funny moments that continually raises the bar. The fun is in getting to know these characters better. There are also regular respites as they leave the car at different points in the journey.
The denouement has Jenny speaking at a conference. This somewhat feel-good sentimental ending is out of synch with the tone of the film. However, this minor flaw aside, it’s worth staying along for the ride. Writer Caytha Jentis shows good pacing and sympathetic characterization, while the dialogue rarely feels scripted.
~ By Steven Yates
Categories
Bentonville 2021 Picks
I have been covering the Bentonville Film Festival this year, virtual of course. Not being familiar with the event, perspective or type of works to expect, my expectations were toned down Celebrating Diversity, underrepresented storytellers is the Arkansas based fests theme. 75% of the films selected were made by women.
The 2021Winners:
Narrative Film Award: 7 Bigs, Director: Roshan Sethi
Documentary Film Award: Kili Big, Director: Ida Joglar
Short Film Narrative Award: Americanised, Director: Erica Eng
Episodic Award: Now With Norma Director: Fiona Dawson
The films I liked:
Wakiki,Special Mention, by director: Christopher Kahunahana, The first time I saw a film exploring the darker side of paradise. When we think of Hawaii images of beaches and surfing comes to mind, not violence and cultural repression. Mr. Kahunahan takes chances in the story telling department.
The Daphne Project,by Zora Iman Crews and Alec Tibaldi. How to endure social justice, cancel culture, entitlement and ambition with complete self awareness with unlikeable characters? A rockumentary on some not so pleasant people producing a play.
The Zeitgeist Movement in the wrong hands.
I’ll Be Fine, by Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina tells the story of trying to faking normal while being homeless in LA. Timely and poignant portrayal of life in avacuumof uncertainty.
Stairs, a short film from Mongolia, deserves attention. I ended up feeling good at the end of the piece.
Categories
Crossing Genres With Mixed Results
At the Tribeca Film Festival this year there were the obligatory premieres. Despite the natural anticipation some program choices were questionable. Take for example the Wyatt Rockefeller directed Settlers. For its world premiere at Tribeca, expectations were good. After all, it is a Sci-Fi Western film from a debut director with an interesting cast.
“Johnny Lee-Miller was seemingly performing a Masterclass in non-acting.”
The Storyline in a Nutshell
As the narrative limps forward, a group of bandits fail in their attack on the family outpost. However, one bandit called Jerry survives and kills Reza. Showing no remorse, he attempts to integrate into the family, attempting to prove himself. Although Ilsa somewhat warms to him, after thirty days she tries to shoot him. Jerry will then kill her in the ensuing struggle.
After losing her parents, the film becomes the survival story of Remy. We watch her do this in the face of predatory men. She learns this was the dark secret her parents kept from her. Remmy resents Jerry’s presence and grows up sullen and rebellious. Her only true friend is the loyal but mute robot, called Steve, found in a storage unit.
Settlers is a seemingly ambitious film. Setting it on Mars is high concept. The problem is that this Mars looks exactly like a studio. Perhaps that’s the point: A seemingly fascinating distant world does disappoint. It is a wasteland, a primitive but bland year zero.
The only commendable points of Settlers is that it does have its own unique atmosphere. Brooklynn Prince then later Nell Tiger Free (as the older Remmy) also give stand-out performances. It’s also interesting to see her grow from child to young woman. These positive aspects could have made Settlers a quietly impressive piece of work. However, the other actor’s hammy performances let the film down.
Settlers premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on 18th June. It was released on 30th July on digital platforms.
~ By Steven Yates
Categories
Bentonville Fest
Our first Bentonville Film Festival. The Arkansas event started in 2015 continues it’s tradition of championing diversity and inclusion in the cinema field.
Keep checking back here for news and reviews.
Categories
Like Mon Calamari
Looking at this tank, thee fish reminded me of Mon Calamari from Star Wars spaceships floating in one space.
Categories
Jabra gives Sound
I started using my Jabra 75T ear buds at the gym. My initial verdict. YES!
Stay Tuned for the full review.
Categories
Missing Out, WHY?
I haven’t forgotten Men Reloaded Podcast. New episodes are in the making. After a conversation about heterosexual hook up app with a female friend. Talk about a ritual to meet a member of the opposite sex. I got inspired. Are straight guys missing out? From one view point, “yes”. If only they knew.
Stay tuned for more.
Categories
Elena talks to Chat Cinema
Lithuania actress Zygimante Elena Jakstaite talks about being a part of the EFP Shooting Stars program.
″Elena proves a force of nature, full of passion and raw energy that virtually leaps off the screen”, a quote from the casting panel.
Click Below to see the interview.
Categories
CSD Berlin 2021
A strange Christopher Street Day Berlin for 2021. How do you celebrate a festival during Covid?
