SECRET EVERYTHING
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  Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 75 minutes |
You don’t have to like the main characters, necessarily, to enjoy a film, and for reasons I’m still trying to figure out, I found the film pretty intriguing. I must admit I was nonplussed with much of the opening (it seemed like a film that was experimental for no other reason than to pad out the running time), but I couldn’t help but note how invested I was in figuring out how it all wrapped up…
Posted on January 5, 2013 by Mark Bell
LITTLE RED
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  Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 83 minutes |
Oddly enough, the film has a whimsical nature to a story that could be callously dismissed as being about a homeless runaway that is stalked by an increasingly aggressive pedophile. It’s strange, but for as dark as the subject matter can get, the film still maintains that air of innocence and separation…
Posted on January 4, 2013 by Mark Bell
RIPHOUSE 151: COULD’VE BEEN’S & WANNA BE’S
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  Year Released: 2008 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 102 minutes |
From my perspective, not knowing the band, or knowing of them, I continue to marvel at how unfortunately common the tale of near-success is for so many bands. As a fan myself of numerous bands that I thought would breakout, but never did and instead disappeared, I understand the need for closure, as a fan, with the story of those bands. Likewise, I can understand the band’s need to finally get their story on the record…
Posted on January 4, 2013 by Mark Bell
MAYBE TOMORROW
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  Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 93 minutes |
While all the actors in the film hold their own, this film lives and dies by the performance of writer-director Michael Wolfe as Russ. His emotional range is what keeps the film dynamic…
Posted on January 3, 2013 by Mark Bell
HALLOWEEN PARTY
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  Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 86 minutes |
I had trouble finding a connection with any one story, even as Mason’s did find more gravitas, as did Ben, Julie and Megan’s; overall I became lukewarm on all stories, leaving a middle-ground “eh, it’s okay” feeling that, frankly, I’d rather not have…
Posted on January 3, 2013 by Mark Bell
FALLING UPHILL
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Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 83 minutes |
Maybe Robert has found love with Jenny, maybe she is the one he’ll always pine for in life; the film properly captures and conveys that romantic, wounded angst that so many of us carry into even our twenties (and maybe even longer)…
Posted on January 3, 2013 by Mark Bell
UWHARRIE
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  Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 47 minutes |
For a horror flick, it’s far too jokey, nonsensical and lacking of any suspense. If it’s supposed to be a satire of “found footage” horror films, it doesn’t satire the form so much as just make a really awful example. If it’s supposed to be witty, it’s not. Interesting? Not in the least…
Posted on January 2, 2013 by Mark Bell
DONOR
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Year Released: 2011 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 10 minutes |
A film like this is a straight-up acting showpiece, as it captures a moment in a day and lets the camera soak in the performances on display. Alexis Boozer and Trevor Algatt do an incredible job with the short time they’re given to make an impression in this film…
Posted on January 2, 2013 by Mark Bell
OFF SEASON
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Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 83 minutes |
For me, once it becomes apparent the direction the film is heading, I did find it to be a little too straightforward for my own personal liking. Not that I needed some ridiculous cop-out twist, but I guess I wanted even more mystery…
Posted on January 2, 2013 by Mark Bell
FAITH IN DESTINY
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Year Released: 2011 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 82 minutes |
Visually, the film maintains strong composition throughout, though the image appears to have been modified in some way. There’s often a faded look to shots, like the film was tweaked in post for a lower contrast. The result is a vagueness to the film’s depth, with the image flattening, but it works when you consider the moral grey areas the narrative dances in and out are therefore being represented by the image in a more literal sense…
Posted on January 2, 2013 by Mark Bell
CANADA’S BEST KEPT SECRET: THE NATURAL WORLD OF R.D. LAWRENCE
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Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 70 minutes |
A traditional-style documentary with a feel that leans more towards television-friendly (which is no doubt due to its aspect ratio and use of other TV programs’ footage), the film is definitely more informational and educational than sensational…
Posted on January 1, 2013 by Mark Bell
THE DEAD INSIDE
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Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 96 minutes |
The film delivers a visual and aural experience that is enchanting, all while keeping the characters and story rather simple. It’s hard to believe that the film takes place mostly between two people in one location; if you told me that this originated as an off-Broadway musical play, I’d probably believe you…
Posted on January 1, 2013 by Mark Bell
ROMAN’S BRIDE
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  Year Released: 2011 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 88 minutes |
I can forgive a lot of stupidity in horror or thrillers, but certain decisions and actions in this film just didn’t make sense at all…
Posted on December 30, 2012 by Mark Bell
SATAN’S ANGEL: QUEEN OF THE FIRE TASSELS
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Year Released: 2012 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 72 minutes |
What seemed confusing in the opening makes all the sense in the world once the film finishes, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t off-putting at first. Still, as long as it comes together, it’s all good…
Posted on December 30, 2012 by Mark Bell
CLARK: A GONZOMENTARY PART 1
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Year Released: 2010 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 104 minutes |
Have a party, get drunk (or whatever) and just put this thing on loop. It’ll be just as much fun if you don’t know what’s going on as if you watch it and take notes (equally not knowing what’s going on). Again, it’s a fun clusterfuck; the idea of a “gonzomentary” truly realized…
Posted on December 30, 2012 by Mark Bell