Initiation Review: A Bloody Good Party Slasher

Release date: May 7, 2021
Running time: 97 minutes
Directed By: John Berardo
Written By: John Berardo, Brian Frager, and Lindsay LaVanchy
Starring: Lindsay LaVanchy, Jon Huertas (“This Is Us”), Isabella Gomez (“Head of the Class,” “One Day at a Time”), Froy Gutierrez (“Teen Wolf”), Gattlin Griffith (Green Lantern), Patrick Walker (“The Resident”), Bart Johnson (“High School Musical 3: Senior Year”), Shireen Lai, Kent Faulcon (Selma) with Yancy Butler (Kick-Ass 2) and Lochlyn Munro (“Riverdale”)

During a university’s pledge week, the carefree partying turns deadly serious when a star athlete is found impaled in his dorm. The murder ignites a spree of sinister social-media messages, sweeping the students and police into a race against time to uncover the truth behind the school’s dark secrets…and the horrifying meaning of a recurring symbol: a single exclamation mark.

Initiation takes the college environment and cranks it up to eleven with a crazy party that leads a strange and disturbing situation.  The party and fraternity scenes are well done, with good lighting, over the top bro characters, and plenty of college craziness.  And once the murders start to happen, you get a different kind of craziness.  It wouldn't be a good slasher film without some deaths, and Initiation has some brutal ones.  You can tell that the killer enjoys this aspect as the kills take some time and are turned into brutal messages.  The film uses good practical effects for these deaths, which makes them all the more brutal.  Some of the blood looks fake but overall this slasher does a great job with the essential part of a slasher film.

Initiation tries to tell a story influenced by social media, and the movie does a good job with this aspect.  It has an interesting use of social media throughout, with events happening on people's phones projected on the film so you know what is going on.  It is a nice touch that lets you see what social media is talking about whiteout having the film cut away from the action.  It has been done before in films but it is still a good use of the screen.  The story has a good arc but overall I felt like it didn't develop enough.  The movie had a really long build up before the first kill, which was a nice touch as it let you get to know these characters and their situation.  But once the murders happened the movie seemed to have a bloodbath of deaths, only to then conclude.  It feels like this film could have had a few more story elements and maybe a reprieve form the murders, and it makes this story seem to be over shortly after it gets exciting.  But Initiation does a lot right; it's a good indie horror film with strong female characters and important social media messages.  

Initiation's college slasher party is amplified with great practical effects, brutal deaths, a good amount of tension, and a social media message.

Watch it.

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Initiation is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on May 7, 2021. For showtimes, click here.

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Screening: Wrath of Man DC-Area Run of Engagement Passes

Do you want to see Wrath of Man, Guy Ritchie's latest crime caper starring Jason Statham in theaters?  If so, enter below to win a pair of Run of Engagement (ROE) passes to see the film in any DC-Area AMC Theater, Monday through Thursday.  The pass is only good for Wrath of Man, and is only valid at DC-Area AMC Theaters so please keep that in mind.  But if you are comfortable going to the cinemas, here's your chance!  Enter below, winners will be notified on Monday, May 10, 2021 (the first day that the pass is valid).  

Please ensure that you are comfortable going to the theater before entering.

WRATH OF MAN

In theaters May 7, 2021

Running time: 119 minutes
Director: Guy Ritchie
Screenplay by: Guy Ritchie and Ivan Atkinson & Marn Davies
Cast: Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Hartnett, Laz Alonzo, Raúl Castillo, Deobia Oparei with Eddie Marsan and Scott Eastwood

A mysterious and wild-eyed new cash truck security guard (Jason Statham) surprises his coworkers during a heist in which he unexpectedly unleashes precision skills. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman’s ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score. 

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Here Today Review: Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish Headline A Heartfelt Drama

Release date: May 7, 2021
Running time: 117 minutes        
Directed by: Billy Crystal
Screenplay by: Billy Crystal, Alan Zweibel
Starring: Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Penn Badgley, Laura Benanti, Louisa Krause, Anna Deavere Smith, Nyambi Nyambi

When veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Billy Crystal) meets New York singer Emma Payge (Tiffany Haddish), they form an unlikely yet hilarious and touching friendship that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of love and trust.

Here Today has some star power behind it, but the main star is Tiffany Haddish.  Although Crystal will receive top billing--and his performance is not bad--Haddish adds something extra to this movie.  She has the energy and relatability to make this film a much more enjoyable experience.  And the dynamic between these two is really fun to see.  It skirts the line but thankfully never delves into something more than it should be; the relationship between Crystal and Haddish feels beautiful and genuine.  

Here Today feels like a swan song for Crystal, and I think it definitely is.  Playing a character that is starting to feel the effects of age seems like an appropriate goodbye act for the man.  And Here Today has a lot to like, but it definitely has some rough edges.  For one, for a comedy the film is just not that funny.  There are some genuinely funny scenes, but there are also a lot of forced scenes.  The movie is set in a comedy show, and for those instances the jokes just fell flat.  The audience would laugh and the cast would laugh, but these always felt manufactured, like a studio audience with a laughter sign.  And it often felt like the actors were doing the same, humoring Billy Crystal because of who he is and not the jokes that he was telling.

Thankfully, Haddish makes up for this and adds some much needed levity to the film.  However, don't expect to go into this movie for its comedic gold.  But thankfully, the film does have a lot of heart.  As I mentioned, the relationship between Crystal and Haddish is a beautiful thing to see.  And the way that their friendship develops while the rest of Charlie's life is falling on tough times is a great setting for a film.  The movie touches on issues of mental health and aging that are poignant and timely.  Overall, I think Here Today would have been a better film had it emphasized the dramatic side of it.   

Here Today has more heart than humor; this beautiful friendship drama about unlikely but needed circumstances will have you smiling.

Rent it.

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Here Today is available in theaters on May 7, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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Reefa Review: A Dramatic Look At An Artistic Life

Release date: April 16, 2021
Running time: 96 minutes
Written By: Jessica Kavana Dornbusch
Starring: Tyler Dean Flores, George Sear, Clara McGregor, Cinthya Carmona, Ricardo Chavira

REEFA is based on the true story of Israel "Reefa" Hernandez Jr., an 18-year-old Colombian immigrant and art prodigy, who is spending his last summer in Miami with friends, family and his new girl Frankie before moving to New York City on an art scholarship. While Israel and his friends skateboard the city streets and spray-paint the walls of Wynwood, Miami’s graffiti Mecca, anxieties emerge twofold: Israel and his family nervously await their Green Cards while he desperately seeks recognition for his art. When Israel decides to spray paint one last wall, a piece which would command immediate respect from his peers, a sudden encounter with a vengeful Miami police officer leaves his family and friends devastated, the Miami community outraged, and the country reeling from another case of police brutality.

Reefa is a touching story to tell and it is made all the more impactful by the performance of Tyler Dean Flores.  I really liked his portrayal as Reefa, with an ease and charisma that I imagine the real life counterpart had.  The film portrays his artistic side, showing his skill in various mediums but most noticeably in his graffiti.  It portrays the world he was in, time with his friends, and the overall art scene in Miami at the time.  And it also does a good job of melding his art in with immigration and the fear that many Miami residents lived in at the time.  It shows the constant concern with stepping out of line and how the police abused their power because of this fear. 

But although Reefa has good moments of drama, the film can feel overdramatic at times.  Some of the scenes seem to try and sell the tragic overall nature of the film too hard.  Reefa has some over the top emotions portrayed, and this can hurt the overall impact of the film.  It was clearly a labor of love for the life of Israel Hernandez, but I don't think it had the same emotional impact as say Fruitvale Station.  And although this film is based around the life of Hernandez, it is tough to tell how much is real and how much is for Hollywood.  It feels like some aspects were added to make the movie a more dramatic telling of his story.  

But what is so impactful about this movie is just how senseless his killing was.  I didn't understand his need to paint that final mural, which made it odd to see why he would risk his family for that.  But the reasoning isn't relevant when the response from the police was to tase this young man to death.  It was a senseless killing, like so many senseless killings that are happening in America every day.  It shows how an uncaring officer can snuff out a young, beautiful, and artistic life far too soon.  And it also shows that behind the number, there was a life full of hope and potential that was snuffed out.

Reefa tells the story of a beautiful, artistic soul with a great performance by Flores and a clear love of graffiti, Miami, and artistic endeavors.

Rent it.

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Reefa is available digitally and on demand on April 16, 2021. 

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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The Human Factor Review: A Fascinating Look At The Middle East Peace Process

Release date: May 7, 2021
Running time: 106 minutes        
Directed by: Dror Moreh
Script by: Dror Moreh, Oron Adar
Featured negotiators: Dennis Ross, Martin Indyk, Gamal Helal, Aaron David Miller, Daniel Kurtzer, Robert Malley

There was a time when peace in the Middle East appeared to be just within reach. What went so horribly wrong? The Human Factor revisits three decades of an Israeli-Arab peace process from a unique perspective: that of the American mediators – the peacemakers who shuttled between Middle East capitals, spending hours with the region’s political heavyweights – prime ministers, generals, ex-terrorists, diplomats, dictators, and presidents. These mediators gained intimate knowledge of the individuals and stories which dominated daily news around the world.

For someone like me who lived through this period but never had a great understanding of the issues, the Human Factor is a fantastic way to get insight into this.  The negotiators who narrate the documentary are easy to follow and candid for what went on during this peace process.  It seems like they pull no punches in their assessment and recognize their own failures and hubris when appropriate.  And they give amazing insight into a number of world leaders; allowing us to see some of the very personal decisions that these men had to make and balance their desire for peace with the will of their people.

The Human Factor tells these stories through narration by the original negotiators, but also uses pictures and clips from the time to give you the background you need to understand these stories.  The film has a really interesting use of 3D pictures to tell the story.  Using some technical wizardry, it takes old pictures, cleans them up, and gives them a little depth to allow you to feel like you are also in the room.  It really helps to make the viewer feel like a participant in this process and turns what could have been dry effects into something engaging.  And seeing these in conjunction with the news clips and other images of the time really gives the viewer a sense of place.

But what really comes through in this documentary is just how close peace was and what small points kept the peace from happening.  The whole negotiations were a complicated dance to ensure that everyone was engaged and happy, and it is amazing to see the small points that ultimately derailed the process.  And it is also fascinating to follow these leaders throughout the process and to see their interactions with successive heads of state.  But ultimately what this shows is just how complicated the issue of peace in the middle east is and the small but vast chasm between the sides after these negotiations failed.

The Human Factor is a fascinating look at peace in the middle east, with great narration, clever effects to keep the viewer engaged, and a humbling look at just how complicated this issue really is.

Watch it.

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following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. Limbo is available in theaters on April 30, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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Tu Me Manques Interview: Rodrigo Bellott, Jose Duran, Benjamin Lukovski, and Quim del Rio

Writer and director Rodrigo Bellott and stars Jose Duran, Benjamin Lukovski , and Quim de Rio discuss Tu Me Manques, how they filmed this interesting film, and differences between the play and the movie! We also discuss some of the friends who inspired characters and hear their thoughts on Shakira! So give it a watch and make sure to check out Tu Me Manques in select theaters on April 22, 2021 and digitally and on demand on May 4, 2021! Written and Directed By: Rodrigo Bellott Starring: Oscar Martinez, Rossy de Palma, Fernando Barbosa, Quim del Rio, Jose Durán, Benjamin Lukovski, Dominic Colón, Rick Cosnett Synopsis: Following the death of his son, Jorge travels from conservative Bolivia to NYC to confront Sebastian - his son’s boyfriend. While Jorge struggles to accept the life of his son, Sebastian channels his grief into a bold play honoring his lost love.

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Interview: Joshua Zemen, director of The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness, True Crime Netflix Documentary

Joshua Zemen, the director of the new Netflix true crime documentary series The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness discusses the amazing story behind this series, the main theories, and how Paul Giamatti became involved. We also discuss his other true crime projects and even a non true crime documentary about a whale. So give it a watch and make sure to check out The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness streaming exclusively on Netflix on May 5, 2021! Directed by: Joshua Zemen Synopsis: The hunt for the “Son of Sam” captivated the world in the late 1970s, but the story behind one of America’s most notorious serial murderers is all but forgotten -- until now. While the arrest and conviction of David Berkowitz brought the nightmare to an end for many New Yorkers, for journalist and Ultimate Evil author Maury Terry, the real mystery was just beginning. Terry, convinced Berkowitz had not acted alone, would go on to spend decades attempting to prove that the web of darkness behind the murders went deeper than anyone imagined – and his pursuit of that elusive truth would eventually cost him everything. Filmmaker Joshua Zeman (CROPSEY, MURDER MOUNTAIN) draws on archival news footage, conversations with the people closest to the investigation, and Terry’s own words and case files to tell a cautionary tale of a man who went down a rabbit hole and never came out. But was Maury Terry just chasing ghosts – or are the true Sons of Sam still out there...

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