How could I get through this review without you? If I had to write without you, what kind of review would that be? It would probably be a review of the Awards bait from Diane warren that, despite its lack of an audio description track, or even a substantial release, is likely to earn Warren yet another Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. This early in the year, and this is the most sure fire Oscar contender I’ve seen, and despite being a documentary, it won’t be for best Documentary Feature. This is a celebration of everything Diane, from her … Continue reading Going In Blind: Diane Warren Relentless

Nick Nolte and Darren Jones star in this inspirational story of a singer/songwriter who has left home to pursue his dreams, but without a plan, he is now unhoused. he is taken in by an older unhoused gentleman (Nolte), a former veteran who doesn’t quite fit in with society, who teaches him the ropes, and keeps him safe enough so he can realize his path. This felt like it was inspired by the true story of someone who I should know from a reality show, but it’s not. It isn just a simple heartwarming drama, where two people divided by … Continue reading Going In Blind: The Golden Voice

Ever since Taken, I have joked about the sub genre that seems to be “man with a particular set of skills”. Liam Neeson has basically lived in this genre, though plenty of other actors, form Aaron Eckhart to Jason Statham are making movies as seemingly normal people with a dark past that comes out. the sub genre got a twist with John Wick, and then we started building universes, and clandestine organizations for these men to supposedly work for, or have retired from. Novocaine boldly looks this genre in the face, and says No. Yet, i can’t help feel it … Continue reading Novocaine

Billed as a daisy Ridley and Clive Owen film, we’re already kicking off on a lie. Clive Owen is here so they can use his name, as I guess they figure Daisy Ridley can’t carry a film on her own. It is one of those frustrating surprise early exits, like Steven Seagal in Executive decision. Then he leaves Ridley in a film for which she’s horribly miscast. This is basically Die Hard, with Ridley playing a window cleaner who just so happens to also be a veteran with weapons training. She is given an autistic brother to care for, who … Continue reading Going In Blind: Cleaner

I grew up playing Mortal Kombat and to some extent Street Fighter. You learned the combinations of punching and kicking. If you memorized the right button combinations, your fighter might do something extra special. These games became about memorizing, and being able to master your fighter so they can win any battle. My pitch, since Mortal Kombat keeps utilizing fighters from outside the franchise to help spice things up, is to just add Jason Statham. His whole film career is basically punch, kick, shoot, repeat. that’s all this is. Punch, kick, shoot, repeat. You can button mash, and maybe he’ll … Continue reading A Working Man

the world is on fire. Climate change is affecting so many aspects, and proving to also be fuel for dystopian science fiction films about how the human race evolves to survive. There’s certainly a catalyst here that has roots in the idea that mankind ruined the world, and we now reap what we sew. This is an interesting world created just for the purpose of the Assignment, a very strange, certainly not boring look at what the future could hold for couples looking to become parents. Elisabeth Olsen and Hamish Patel play a married couple looking to have a baby. … Continue reading The Assessment

Just because you are a “Scream King” that keeps getting cast in the horror genre doesn’t necessarily make you an expert on the genre itself, especially when you are still so young and have grown up under the inscrutable lens of fandom. This is a lesson certainly Finn Wolfhard needs to learn, as he’s a graduate of three major franchises (Stranger Things, it, and ghostbusters), as he uses his youth and inexperience to champion a somewhat debut effort in Hell of A Summer, which he co-stars, co-wrote, and co-produced. His partner in crime, Billy Bryk, is a lesser known actor … Continue reading Hell Of A Summer

Again, the things I watch simply because they have an audio description track. this travesty does have accessibility, and much like Mob Cops that I reviewed yesterday, it also is a movie i can’t in good conscience actually recommend. it is a cheaply made western that paid for Nicolas Cage to take on a supporting role where he’s second fiddle to Stepehn Dorff of all people. And while I enjoyed him a few years ago in Deputy, he’s doing something with his voice here that makes me concerned about his health. No actor would naturally make this choice. And, because … Continue reading Gunslingers

Often documentaries open me up to things I know very little or nothing about. It feels great to learn these other perspectives, or to see someone shine a light on an underserved community or a special interest topic that doesn’t get enough attention. Then there are the documentaries shaped around famous people, so you have a passing knowledge, or maybe even some super fan level of obsessed knowledge of your subject. while I absolutely know Led Zepplin is a band, I never could have told you a song they did, or who was in the group. So, an offer to … Continue reading Becoming Led Zepplin

Indiana Jones inspired many kids to crack a whip, take up archeology, and for a few, they were inspired to make movies. Some even made a low budget shot for shot remake of Raiders Of The Lost Ark. We love our adventurers, who set out to follow a trail of clues to lead to treasure we know ultimately won’t be worth the price. Romancing The Stone, National Treasure, Tomb Raider, Uncharted, and The Mummy all celebrate this in obvious ways, but even more broadly, this extends to the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, personality traits for Star Lord, kids offerings … Continue reading Fountain Of Youth

Yes. this has audio description. I watched a movie just because it had audio description. I figured, someone out there might want to watch this, and maybe I can give them my thoughts. there are two sides to this coin. I believe in audio description for all. I may not like the same things as you, but you deserve accessibility. An easy case would be that I’m not a parent, nor am I a toddler, but parents with blind kids deserve access to age appropriate programming. So, regardless of how I feel about this, it does have existing audio description. … Continue reading Mob Cops

Tubi is often like playing Russian roulette, but there’s more than one bullet in the chamber. The chances are not in your favor. It has offered filmmakers a huge opportunity to get their films onto a platform, but also it becomes like hunting for the Ark of the Covenant. So, when Tubi goes out of their way to brand something a Tubi original, i expect them to roll out the red carpet. break from your normal fast channel strategy, and perhaps seek a sponsor who is comfortable with running an ad at the beginning. Ad supported versions of the services … Continue reading Going in Blind: Worth The Wait

There are some critics who are broadly resistant to the streaming originals produced, with no real intent of a meaningful theatrical release. That’s basically how Netflix handles any film not seeking awards consideration,and therefore havoc, the new tom hardy action film, has to play well on your phone, tablet, TV, or if you are super fancy, home digital projector. It’s a reductive way of looking at film, as if anything not produced explicitly for theatrical release is somehow initially deficient at the start. Of course, anyone who sat through several of HBO’s original movies, or the Hallmark Hall of Fame … Continue reading Havoc

Originally listed for a 2020 debut, this comedy just released this year rather unceremoniously onto video on demand, and later Paramount Plus. I’m sure when you hear that, along with the realization this film has no available audio description, you’d assume it was just another critically underfunded film that just didn’t have it in the budget. My counter to that would be, if the stars of this film, who likely all hand nice paychecks, contributed a little portion they wouldn’t even notice, no matter the budget, they could have collectively made their film accessible. Starring Oscar winners Robert DeNiro, Tommy … Continue reading Going In blind: The comeback Trail