Tag: A24

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Undertone

John Stark

We need to have a conversation about elevated horror and what that term even means anymore. Especially now, at a point where horror isn’t just getting critical acclaim, it’s actually becoming part of the Academy Awards conversation. Last year alone we saw horror films earning major nominations, Amy Madigan winning an Oscar for a horror performance, Jacob Elordi landing a nomination for playing Frankenstein’s monster, and even Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, an unapologetically grotesque body horror film, breaking through for Best Picture. This year, there’s already a serious conversation around Obsession and Backrooms, with Obsession looking like a legitimate Best … Continue reading Undertone

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Movies With Pride: Pillion

John Stark

I first watched this back in December as part of A24’s awards consideration package. While I did get a few screeners from A24 last year, Pillion sadly wasn’t one of them,and there was clearly a lot happening. I really wanted to wait to review it until I got the audio description, and now in time for Pride month, Pillion: Unrated is on HBO MAX with audio description! If any of this made it into the R rated cut, we’ve come a long way from This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Kirby Dick’s exploration of the MPAA and its bizarre ratings … Continue reading Movies With Pride: Pillion

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Opus

John Stark

Cast: Ayo edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Melissa Chambers, Tony Hale, Amber Midthunder Written and Directed By: Mark Anthony Green Studio: A24 Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 104 Minutes Audio Description produced By: Deluxe Written By: Narrated by: Laura Post What Is It?: A young writer (Edebiri) has the opportunity to join other music journalists at the cult-like retreat of an aged rock star (Malkovich), who has reportedly recorded his first new music in years. Although, the opportunity may seem too good to pass up, the little oddities keep popping up, and quickly she begins to wonder if the … Continue reading Opus

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Warfare

John Stark

Cast: D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai as Ray, Will Poulter as Eric, Cosmo Jarvis as Elliot, Joseph Quinn as Sam, Aaron Mackenzie as Kelly, Alex Brockdorf as Mikey, Finn Bennett as john, Michael Gandolfini as Lt. Macdonald, Kit Connor as Tommy, Noah Centineo as Brian, Charles Melton as Jake Written By:Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland Directed By: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Civil War, Ex Machina) Studio: A24 Release Year: 2025 Runtime:95 minutes Rated R for intense war violence, bloody/grisly images, and strong language throughout Audio Description By: Written By: Narrated By: What Is it: Co-Director ray Mendoza is an Iraqi combat veteran, … Continue reading Warfare

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Look Into My Eyes

John Stark

Look Into My Eyes- A24 Does Documentaries As Well Quick Take: I watched this as part of my screener packet from A24. They did not include audio description. My only viewing, which the video reflects, is that of no audio description. You can catch the film on MAX now with audio description. I’m not looking forward to watching it again anytime soon, so this original review stands. I wasn’t a huge fan of the psychic/medium documentary, and there are other movies I’d rather watch a second time first. This may not do much for you, as you can now access … Continue reading Look Into My Eyes

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Heretic

John Stark

Heretic- Could Hugh Grant Get An Oscar Nomination For This? Quick Take: this is the year of horror. Normally, horror movies don’t get their day in the awards sun, but several films have popped up various places, from a surprising Best Actress nomination for Smile 2 at the Astro awards, to the strong showing for horror-adjacent films like Love Lies bleeding and I Saw The tV Glow, to even recognition for performances in movies like Cuckoo. The International Oscar race even had a few titles that were being submitted by IFC/Shudder, including The Devil’s Bath. The film with the most … Continue reading Heretic

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Sing Sing

John Stark

Sing Sing- Is This One Of The Very Best Of The Year? Quick Take: Last year, when critics were bouncing around festivals looking for 2023 Oscar contenders, the Toronto International Film Festival landed a buzzy indie that had everyone saying “just wait for 2024”. Coleman Domingo was already firmly in the race with Rustin, and the hope was this little gem would be given room to breathe by entering 2024 an early frontrunner. Then, A24 bought the film, and scheduled it for a summer release. last year, this helped the little indie Past Lives get noticed, but that ultimately led … Continue reading Sing Sing

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Janet Planet

John Stark

Janet Planet- A24’s Spin On Coming Of Age Movies Quick Take: A24 gravitates toward movies that that take often typical concepts and present them in atypical fashion. Case in point, Annie Baker’s feature directorial debut Janet Planet, which evokes a similar style of last year’s Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret?, which was well received already. Toss that into a blender, with a dash of and a dash of a more complicated mother/daughter dynamic like in something like Anywhere But Here or 13, and you have the groundwork for this three act story. What looks like a coming of … Continue reading Janet Planet

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Maxxxine

John Stark

Maxxxine- A Spooky Season Review Ti West has finished the trilogy we never knew we needed. Honestly, I’m not even sure need is the right word, though I’m aware people love Pearl and X a lot more than i do, with those same fans having been hopeful Mia Goth would get an Oscar nomination for Pearl. The Oscars almost never nominate horror films, and even some of the films that might loosely qualify are pretty tame. Sure, there were nominations for The Sixth Sense, including Toni Collette, but when the Oscars were faced with watching her saw her own head … Continue reading Maxxxine

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Tuesday

John Stark

If you have a fear of parrots, this movie might not be for you. This one has a talking parrot right at the center, and the parrot is death. Literal death. Of course, this is exactly the kind of film A24 would release, and while I’ve already sent his, it is coming to MAX in October, very likely with audio description. And I think you should watch it. Not just because it feels like it has a fresh voice, and I’m so interested in a latinx director producing a film that stars white Americans, but was funded through an independent … Continue reading Tuesday

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Civil War

John Stark

When I learned Alex garland was taking this bold topic on as a high profile A24 release, my interest was super high. I was initially worried how the film would be received. Politically, we are a mess right now, and heading into the films release, I was hesitant to sit in a theatre for this. But, reviews were mixed, and then I became even less likely. Now, at home, I can enjoy civil War, or I could, if it was good. Alex Garland managed to take on a hot button topic that has nothing to say. On one hand, there … Continue reading Civil War

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Movies With Pride: Love Lies Bleeding

John Stark

I’m always amazed by the cult of A24. They’re just a distribution company, yet there are some out there that think this studio is carefully curating the best cinema of the year. If not the best, certainly the most challenging. I don’t disagree with the latter, as A24 films always seem like we’d never see them released by anyone other than A24 or Neon. Rose Glass’s Love Lies Bleeding is very much one of those films. I struggle to see where a film where the two leads are lesbians would fit in, especially in a way where the studio would … Continue reading Movies With Pride: Love Lies Bleeding

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Problemista

John Stark

If I had known this thing was so close to dropping on MAX, i wouldn’t have renewed it. I will say, that with almost 100 titles so far this year, this is currently at the top of my list. I am probably the only person who can say that, since I think everyone is likely to have seen something at one of the festivals by now. But for me, I thought this quirky A24 comedy hit the mark, a rare feat for what has been a fairly mediocre year thus far. The audio description is produced by Deluxe, with primary … Continue reading Problemista

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The Zone Of Interest

John Stark

This years Oscar winner for best international Feature is brought to you by Jonathan Glazer, who previously directed films like Sexy Beast and Under The Skin. While there is some flair here, this couldn’t be more different. A24 distributed this, and it is tough to look away from. 30 years since Schindler’s List, and we are just getting another truly masterful but frightening look at one of the worst periods in our history. Glazer captures this through his determination to show the life of a Commandate’s family that lives just outside the death camp of Auschwitz, and how their mundane … Continue reading The Zone Of Interest

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Dream Scenario

John Stark

A24 has to manage their portfolio better. It is a little like how WB dropped Wonka, Aquaman and the lost Kingdom, and the Color Purple on the same weekend. A24 needs to figure out their awards contenders, so films like Dream Scenario, The iron Claw, and other late entries aren’t forgotten. I’m happy Nicolas Cage got a Golden Globe nomination, but with the work he’s been putting in recently in films like this, Pig, Massive Talent, and a few other choices, I feel like we are pulling him away from exceptionally awful straight to streaming titles. he had at least … Continue reading Dream Scenario