Tag: featured

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Wake Up Dead Man

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. If you build it, he will come. In Rian Johnson’s third outing in what is called the Knives Out series (for no other reason than it being the title of the first Benoit Blanc outing), we are asked to have a little faith. or, perhaps it is better to have a lack thereof. Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man may center in a church, but this is no Murder In the Cathedral. If you dress it up with simplicity, it could be seen as a modern day version of that, but woven in Johnson’s narrative … Continue reading Wake Up Dead Man

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The Choral

John Stark

I’ve already gone to the “they don’t make them like they used to” well this year with Nuremberg, a courtroom drama that seems pulled from somewhere between 1995 and 2005. Here, The Choral reminds me of the kind of uplifting war-adjacent stories we got like Mrs Henderson Presents, or other “movies for grown ups” like Calendar Girls or Waking Ned Devine. Somehow a film like this now comes around and festival audiences react like they’ve just seen some schmaltzy drivel. the reality is, we’re living in an everything Everywhere Saw The TV Glow kind of world, and the kinds of … Continue reading The Choral

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Hamnet

John Stark

Was Shakespeare ever really in love? Considering how fractured our knowledge of William Shakespeare is, we certainly seem enamored with his romantic life. This year, I’d be shocked if Jessie Buckley didn’t become yet another actress to win an Oscar for their fictional romance with Shakespeare. The difference between this and the Best picture winning Shakespeare In love is that this film is not a comedy. Not in the slightest. Releasing at thanksgiving is a bold move for a film that is not really a warm and inviting experience. this is a film where tissues will clog cupholders, and people … Continue reading Hamnet

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Christy

John Stark

I’ve been watching and reviewing a few things recently based on people I had no idea existed. I’m really starting to question my pop culture knowledge, but is knowing a roster of female boxers really pop culture? Should I have known who Christy Martin was? If Stop The Insanity is a cautionary tale on contract law, Christy is a cautionary tale for homophobic parents who just keep hoping their lesbian daughters will marry a man. Bee careful what you wish for. Christy is a biopic about one of the most successful female boxers, who also struggled with her sexuality, and … Continue reading Christy

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Frankenstein (2025)

John Stark

Sometimes the interesting thing about film is watching the growth of an auteur. Depending on when you were born, you might have gotten to see the rise of certain artists honing their craft, but the exciting part is that first film, and feeling like you just witnessed the birth of something. I’d consider myself a big fan of Del toro, who even when he doesn’t top himself as a director, certainly is never boring. he has such a love for film, and for the celebration of monsters, that it really does carry through all the themes. Even his stop-motion animated … Continue reading Frankenstein (2025)

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Die My Love

John Stark

Film truly has the opportunity to reach just you. Depending on where you are in your life at any given moment, watching the right film is like feeling seen and heard by some unknown force. Something put this film in my path at this exact moment in time. You could be going through a break up, and be far more affected by a film about two people falling in love, or two people also breaking up. you could be experiencing a loss, and at the same time watch a film about a similar situation. When this happens, it alters your … Continue reading Die My Love

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In Your Dreams

John Stark

2025 has not really been a banner year for animation, which perhaps has worked in favor for Netflix, who went to the bank with a certain group of singing demon hunters earlier this year. The largest opening weekend for an animated feature went to CrunchyRoll, for their continuation of Demon Slayer. I’ve been waiting for a film to really pull some emotion from me. I like my animation to have a bit of heart with it. Not that it can’t make me laugh myself silly, but my favorite animated movies have a punch to them. An emotional gut punch. We … Continue reading In Your Dreams

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Hedda

John Stark

Cast: Tessa Thompson, Nina Haas, Tom Bateman, Imogene Poots, Nicholas Pinnock, Katherine Hunter Written and Directed by: Nia DaCosta Release Year: 2025 Studio/Streamer: Prime video Runtime: 107 minutes Audio Description Produced by: the Media Access group Written By: Narrated By: what is it?: An update to Henry Gibson’s classic work, director Nia DaCosta has decided to take the work from 1890 and move it to the 1950’s, combining the complex character with new undercurrents of racial identity and queerness, in a movie that has characters race swapped as well as gender bent. Hedda seems supportive of her husband, and throws … Continue reading Hedda

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Ballad Of A Small Player

John Stark

Cast: Colin Farrell, Tilda Swinton, Fala Chen Written By: Rowan Joffy directed By: Edward Berger Original Score By: Volker Bertamin Release Year: 2025 Studio/Streamer: Netflix Runtime: 101 minutes Audio Description Produced By: VSI London Written by: Narrated By: What Is it?: based on a book, Ballad of A Small Player follows a seemingly upstanding British citizen in Macao who is struggling with debt, and keeping up the appearance that they are not in quite as deep, and if they can just get a line of credit now, everything will be cleared up after the weekend. dodging those he owes, and … Continue reading Ballad Of A Small Player

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The Lost Bus

John Stark

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera Directed By: Paul Greengrass Studio/Streamer: Apple Films Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 129 minutes Audio Description Produced By: Pixel Logic Written By: Narrated By: Yuki What Is it?: Based on the wildfires that ripped through Paradise, CA, and one bus driver’s attempt to get a bus full of kids out safely. What Doesn’t Work: Paul Greengrass thrives in these ripped from the headlines films, and also has a strong sense of mounting tension and holding it. I wish he had an ability to look at the Final Cut of his film and see what isn’t working, … Continue reading The Lost Bus

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Superman

John Stark

Cast: David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luther, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Maria Gabriela De Faria as The Engineer, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Isabella Merced as Hawkgril, Edi Gathegi as Mr Terrific, Alan Tudyk as Gary, Bradley Cooper as Jor-El, Pruitt Taylor Vince as pa Kent, Neva Howell as Ma Kent, Mikaela Hoover as Kat, Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe, Frank Grillo as Rick Flagg Sr, Beck Bennett as Steve, with Michael Ian Black, Anthony Carrigan, Michael Rooker, Pom Klementieff, Trevor Newlin Written and Directed … Continue reading Superman

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Twinless

John Stark

Cast: James Sweeney, Dylan O’Brien, Lauren Graham, Aisling Franciosi, Chris Perfetti Written and Directed By: james Sweeney Release Year: 2025 Studio: roadside Attractions Runtime: 100 minutes *Audio Description is available for this title. It was not available at the time of screening, but I intend on watching again, and will update* What Is it?: It’s a film you should watch with as little information going in as possible. The film centers around Roman (Dylan O’Brien), who is a twin that is grieving the loss of his twin, and attends a support group for twins who are now without their twin. … Continue reading Twinless

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Elio

John Stark

Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon, Brad Garrett, Jamila Jamil, Written By: (too many people, three credited with screenplay, three credited with story by, and two who made additional contributions to the screenplay) Directed By: Adriane Molina, Madeline Scharafain, Domee Shi Original Score By: Rob Simonson Release Year: 2025 Studio: Disney/Pixar Audio Description Produced By: No credits Were Listed Written By: Need Credit Narrated By: Need Credit What Is It?: In the latest Pixar offering, Elio is a young boy recently orphaned through the loss of his parents, who is now being raised by his aunt. Elio … Continue reading Elio

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F1: the Movie

John Stark

Cast: Brad Pitt,Damson Idris,Javier Bardem, Carrie Condon, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Nyles Written By: Ehren Krueger and Joseph Kosinski Directed By: Joseph Kosinski Notable Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Louis Hamilton, Joseph Kosinski, Brad Pitt Original Score By: Hans Zimmer Release Year: 2025 Studio/Streamer: Apple Runtime: 155 minutes Audio Description Produced By: Pixel Logic studios Written By: (credit Needed) Narrated By: Laura post What Is It?: A professional race car driver (Pitt) near the end of his days of thunder, is offered a long shot chance at redemption, driving in Formula One racing for a team owner (Bardem) he used to race against, … Continue reading F1: the Movie

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The Thursday Murder Club

John Stark

Cast: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie, Daniel mays, Henry Lloyd Hughes, Tom Ellis, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Richard E Grant Written By:Katie Brant Directed By: Chris Columbus Studio/Streamer: Netflix Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 121 minutes Audio Description Produced By: VSI Written By: Narrated By: What is it?: When a property owner plans to demolish a retirement community and redevelop it, he didn’t count on the residents being so feisty, and when someone turns up dead, he certainly wasn’t prepared for the Thursday Murder club, a little group of seniors obsessed with true crime and mysteries, … Continue reading The Thursday Murder Club