Here After Review: Interesting Characters And Premise Hampered By An Outdated Core Idea

Release date: July 23, 2021
Running time: 90 minutes
Written and Directed By: Harry Greenberger
Cast: Christina Ricci, Andy Karl, Nora Arnezeder, Jackie Cruz, and Michael Rispoli 

A struggling actor, Michael, dies right after a bad breakup, awakening to a singles Purgatory where he must find his soul mate in order to cross over to the other side. With limited time to find true love among other recently deceased single New Yorkers, Michael must navigate the new customs of a ghostly dating life…as if dating in New York wasn’t hard enough already. When he meets the woman of his dreams, who happens to be alive, Michael must figure out how to cheat the system to cross over with her.

Here After is a mixed bag.  It has some star power with the inclusion of Christina Ricci but, as is often the case with indie films, she doesn't get enough screen time to make much of an impact.  The main stars of the movie are Andy Karl and Nora Arnezeder, an odd couple of sorts that do have some fun chemistry on screen.  Especially due to the situation in which they meet, there is some ridiculousness and a lot of difficulty as they get to know each other, but it does make for some fun moments.  And despite the film's rocky start, it does get better over time, especially as Michael and Honey Bee's relationship grows.  It's fun to see them learn to deal with Michael's situation and to see how they adapt.  

But the problem with Here After is that it doesn't really seem to have a greater message and the message it has seems to be an antiquated idea.  I did not love the core reason for Michael's purgatory, that he needed to have someone with him to cross over or else his soul would just cease to be.  I didn't understand why someone would need to be accompanied by someone else, and this pairing concept just didn't sit right.  It wasn't even that single people would go somewhere else, they would just cease to exist.  And the film also has a toxic character that just seems like a strange addition.  He escalates quickly and for seemingly no reason or provocation.  When he had a character turn, it didn't really make sense and just seemed like a convenient plot vehicle.  Here After is not a bad movie, just not one that seems to have a lot going for it.  The main actors are likable and put in fine performances, but are not helped by a script that doesn't give them much to work with.  And in the end you have a film that requires people to be paired to be happy.  Social interaction is important, but you can have meaningful relationships that are long term without being a couple.

Here After has an enjoyable cast and funny moments, but the film's core idea feels outdated and the main antagonist seems to escalate too quickly and for no reason.  

Pass on it.

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Here After is available digitally and on demand on July 23, 2021.  

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CatVideoFest 2021 Review: It's Got A Lot of Cats

Release date: July 23, 2021
Running time: 71 minutes

CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.

CatVideoFest 2021 is basically a late night TikTok compilation of cat videos.  You will know if this film is for you just by that description.  Are you a human being that likes cats?  Then this will be for you.  Are you some sort of soulless individual that gets no enjoyment from watching cat antics?  Then this is likely not the movie for you.  The film features a little over an hour of cats doing what they do best, being curious, destructive, loving, intriguing, and just plain weird.  But it is not just short, TikTok style videos that make up this film; there are also some animated submissions made especially for this festival as well as a few longer videos that add some meat to the film.  But even these longer videos are only a minute or so long, and the entire CatVideoFest experience is one of constant change and enjoyment.  But that's not to say that this is frenzied; the film features cats in all elements.  You have some videos where cats are being curious, hiding, or even sleeping. 

The compilation has loose categories for the various videos, with these broken up by "Gif" sessions, or short sections of cats doing silly or gif-worthy stunts.  The categories help to keep the videos in a certain categorization, but the videos are not exceedingly different between the various sections.  And although CatVideoFest is an enjoyable experience, I can't help but feel like this is essentially what you would get if you search for cat videos on any number of platforms.  Now there is something to be said for a catered experience, one that does the legwork for you, but overall, this just feels like something that one could find on their own in a late night bender.  But that being said, the film does have some very entertaining short cat videos and a good amount of quality feline content.  If you are a cat lover, or just a human being that has seen the internet, then this selection will dig its entertaining claws into your brain and not let go.

CatVideoFest 2021 lives up to its name, with a quality compilation of cats doing what they do best, being curious, destructive, loving, intriguing, and just plain weird.

Rent it.

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CatVideoFest 2021 is available in theaters on July 23, 2021. 

For showtimes, via virtual cinema, click here.  

What to Watch This Weekend: Trollhunters, Old, Last Letter From Your Lover, Sexy Beasts, Sword Art Online, Quiet Place Part II, Spiral, Initiation

For The Timeless Romantic: The Last Letter From Your Lover (Netflix)
The Last Letter From Your Love has two intriguing storylines, some amazing fashion and style, and some wonderful views of the French Riviera to fall in love with.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Ridiculous Reality Show: Sexy Beasts (Netflix)

Sexy Beasts is the most fun and ridiculous reality dating show you can watch, with a silly premise that makes for some interesting dates and lets these individual's personalities shine through!  For more information, check out the review!

For The Trollhunters Fans: Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (Netflix)

Trollhunters: Rise of Titans continues the Tales of Arcadia trilogy with some beautiful animation and larger than life encounters that will determine the fate of the Trollhunters world.  For more information, check out the review! 

For The Disappointed Trollhunters Fans: Sword Art Online (Netflix)

I have heard lots of mixed results with the Trollhunters ending, but for those looking for something else to watch after Trollhunters, check out Sword Art Online, an animated series that features a fantasy setting with some technology.  

For A Twisted Aging Story: Old (Theaters)

Old has a mysterious story, some very nice performances and small touches, and a trademark M. Night Shyamalan twist ending, but the quirks and odd dialogue might cast some shadows on this beach vacation.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Tense, Quiet Evening: A Quiet Place Part II (Paramount+)

A Quiet Place Part II continues the Abbott's story with the same amazing sound effects and trademark muffled horror that made the first movie such an auditory treat.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Next Chapter in the Book of Saw: Spiral (Redbox)
Spiral's star power, brutal challenges and effects, and police procedural story will draw you down into this next chapter from the Book of Saw.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Crazy, Murderous Horror Party: Initiation (Redbox)

Initiation's college slasher party is amplified with great practical effects, brutal deaths, a good amount of tension, and a social media message.  For more information, check out our review!

Screening: See Stillwater Early and Free

We have partnered with Focus Features for an early screening of the phenomenal film, Stillwater.  The film is coming to DC area theaters on Friday, July 30th but you can watch it early and free!  Details and entry form are below.

Stillwater

A dramatic thriller directed by Academy Award® winner Tom McCarthy and starring Matt Damon, STILLWATER follows an American oil-rig roughneck from Oklahoma who travels to Marseille to visit his estranged daughter, in prison for a murder she claims she did not commit.

Director: Tom McCarthy

Writers: Tom McCarthy, Marcus Hinchey, Thomas Bidegain, Noe Debre

Producers: Steve Golin, Tom McCarthy, Jonathan King, Liza Chasin

Cast: Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin, Camille Cottin

Rating: PG-13

Screening Info:

STILLWATER

Wednesday, July 28th

Regal Gallery Place

7:00PM 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Christmas Dance Review: A Holiday Cookie Cutter Movie

Release date: July 23, 2021
Running time: 100 minutes
Written and Directed By: Michael Arcell
Starring: Kristen Vaganos, Carson Nicely, Scott Bailey, Briana White, Katherine Kelly Lang, Master P, and Richard Karn

Traumatized by her past Christmas is not at the top of Sarah’s list this time of year. However, waltzing through life’s unexpected emergencies, she is taught the Christmas dance.

The Christmas Dance is a by the numbers Christmas movie.  If you would list holiday movie tropes, the Christmas Dance would be it.  It actually has a big city girl coming home to her hometown for Christmas and meeting the down to earth childhood friend who is now hot and teaches her the meaning of Christmas.  Like seriously, if you just played Christmas movies mad libs, this would be the movie you got.  The tropes are serious, the Christmas spirit is plentiful, and the mentions of family are enough to make Vin Diesel happy.

But through all of this, you do get an enjoyable Christmas movie for those that are looking for it.  What you also get is a movie that is unabashedly religious, with prominent mentions of the church and of religion, and additional prayer scenes.  But what I loved most about this aspect of it is that it felt genuine, and the messages from the movie actually felt like true Christian messages and not something that was bolted in for the film.  The message of taking care of your community and of helping others was welcome, as was a frank discussion about whether we should be judging people that took those handouts.  It was great to see and I really appreciated this aspect of the film.

But outside of this interesting religious message, The Christmas Dance is a by the numbers Christmas movie.  And on top of that, it has some hallmarks of a budget Hallmark movie. The effects are noticeably absent during some pivotal scenes, with timed cuts to make sure that what happens is implied.  And despite the emphasis on Sarah's past trauma, this really doesn't seem like something that should be affecting her.  Sure it gives her an excuse for why she never came back, but it also feels like something that is completely minor in the grand scheme of things.  And maybe that's the point but I feel like this film could have used a few more retakes on the story.

The Christmas Dance is an unabashedly Christian Christmas movie with a wonderful message about taking care of your community, but it has a holiday cookie cutter story and some inconsistent performances along the way.

Pass on it.

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The Christmas Dance is available digitally and on demand on July 23, 2021.  

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The Last Letter From Your Lover Review: A Stylish Time-Bending Love Story

Release date: July 23, 2021
Running Time: 110 minutes
Directed by: Augustine Frizzell
Written by: Nick Payne and Esta Spalding
Based on the novel by: Jojo Moyes
Cast: Felicity Jones, Callum Turner, Joe Alwyn, Nabhaan Rizwan and Shailene Woodley

A pair of interwoven stories set in the present and past, The Last Letter From Your Lover follows Ellie Haworth (Felicity Jones), an ambitious journalist who discovers a trove of secret love letters from 1965 and becomes determined to solve the mystery of the forbidden affair at their center. As she uncovers the story behind Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley), the wife of a wealthy industrialist, and Anthony O’Hare (Callum Turner) the financial journalist assigned to cover him, a love story of Ellie’s own begins to unfold with the assistance of an earnest and endearing archivist (Nabhaan Rizwan) who helps her track down more letters. 

The Last Letter From Your Lover has an interwoven timeline that is confusing at first, but quickly becomes easier to follow as you get to know these characters.  And you will want to get to know them thanks to this fantastic cast.  The film is headlined by some all stars in each story, and they all add to a wonderful love story experience.  Felicity Jones is fun if a bit guarded as Ellie, who is researching this story while trying to keep her emotions in check.  And the strangely rule following but likeable archivist (played by Nabhaan Rizwan) was also a lot of fun.  Seeing these two work together to solve this mystery provided much of the heart and a lot of humor of the film.  But what provided the fire was Shailene Woodley and Callum Turner, as two unhappy people that find each other for a summer romance.  Turner is great as his standard bad boy-ish character with a heart of gold, and Woodley is enjoyable as an unhappy wife to an industrialist.  And although Alwyn's character isn't likeable, he does a good job playing this unlikeable husband.

But what helps them fall in love is the amazing location.  This romance takes place in the French Riviera, with beautiful scenery to help propel this romance forward.  There are some striking sunsets and water scenes as the two become closer.  But I also loved Woodley's outfits; the crew must have had a lot of fun dressing her because each outfit was out of a magazine.  It had a distinct Jackie O feeling to it with fashionable attire and a perfect accompanying hat.  And throughout this all is some fantastic, time appropriate music that plays to set the stage.  It helps to make these romance scenes feel older and yet gives them an upbeat feel.

However, the story of this film is a little slow.  The film itself has plenty going on but the romance goes through some starts and stops as the story progresses.  Don't worry though, you'll still enjoy your time with these individuals despite the measured pace.  And additionally, Felicity Jones's character is enjoyable at the start, but has a strange character change partway through.  It seemed to come abruptly and just didn't quite fit.  It does then feed into the ending, but I could have gone without it.  And although the love story itself is an enjoyable one, it also feels like the problems explored in it are not that extreme.  The pair had a privileged life and despite the challenges faced in their lives, they still seemed to be capable of finding each other.  The story is a messy life story, but one where the characters seem like they could have ended up in a happier state much earlier. 

The Last Letter From Your Love has two intriguing storylines, some amazing fashion and style, and some wonderful views of the French Riviera to fall in love with. 

Watch it.

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The Last Letter From Your Lover is available on Netflix on July 23, 2021.

Old Review: A Beautiful, Dread-Filled Day At The Beach

Release date: July 23, 2021
Running time: 101 minutes
Written and Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Abbey Lee, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Ken Leung, Eliza Scanlen, Aaron Pierre, Embeth Davidtz, Emun Elliott 

This summer, visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan unveils a chilling, mysterious new thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly … reducing their entire lives into a single day. 

Old is a mixed bag.  It has some really interesting features and some of that trademark M. Night Shyamalan strangeness, and of course the twist ending, but the journey to get to that part is rough and choppy.  First, for the good, the film features several children and their dialogue is strange, but understandably so.  I liked how the kids asked some random questions and how they spoke to each other, which did feel like how kids would talk.  And the great touch is that as the kids age rapidly on the secluded beaches, their bodies change but the dialogue remains simple.  The performances by the adult kids: Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, and Eliza Scanlen helped to suspend your disbelief as it often did sound like children in the bodies of grown ups.  And the idyllic setting of the beach is another nice touch.  The beach is simply beautiful, with a peaceful and otherworldly feel to it.  

But it is the small touches that help to sell this film.  For one, the music has a tribal feel to it, but one that also seems to incorporate the sounds of a ticking clock.  It was a small but noticeable touch that I really appreciated.  And the cinematography is a mixed bag, but often it is stellar.  There are some great long takes of the characters as they process what is going on and try to make sense of this strange situation.  And you have some very artful shots that frame the terrible acts happening with this wonderful view of nature.  And one thing that was a subtle but appreciated touch is that the trees around the beach are all aged and dead.  As you're looking past the beach, the trees are beautiful and lush, but they turn brown closer to the actual area.  These little touches do a great job of selling this world and the overall story.

But Old does have some odd quirks, first and foremost with the dialogue.  The film has some lines that just feel random and questionable delivery.  Sometimes the characters sound flat and sometimes the responses just aren't in the same tone as the conversation that is happening.  And the lines can occasionally sound random, like when people offer up information or say statements that don't really relate to the previous conversation.  It's like the film is forcing ideas or plot points onto the screen in an unnatural manner.  And on top of that, there were some weird glitches, like when one of the character's swimsuits changed with seemingly no explanation.  And some of the dread shots just look strange, like a lower budget movie trying to create a sinister effect.  It, like much of the film, was odd and just felt off.  And with the great cinematography, there were some shots that were distracting.  There was one where it had an unfocused view of a character while something else is happening off screen, and another where the shot is of the beach from the water but the waves obscure a small part of the shot every few seconds.  But the film does have a twist ending, and one that was much more acceptable on the spectrum of Shyamalan endings.  

Old has a mysterious story, some very nice performances and small touches, and a trademark M. Night Shyamalan twist ending, but the quirks and odd dialogue might cast some shadows on this beach vacation..

Rent it.

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Old is in theaters on July 23, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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