Movie Review

Movie Review: NOT THIS AGAIN, USA, Drama/Romance

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An eight-minute film coming out of the USA, NOT THIS AGAIN, directed by David Nichols Jr, is about what happens to relationships that function in the face of illness. After a difficult night dealing with chronic illness, a man and his partner have a fight about his inability to move forward in life. Of course, wasn’t this always how it was supposed to end? Wasn’t she leaving the inevitable conclusion to this sad story? But this story is not about illness. It is about what it means to give and take in relationships- the selflessness and selfishness we are all guilty of when we take people for granted.

 

NOT THIS AGAIN, is not about illness- it is about what illness can do to people and what those people in turn, do to each other. A compelling and emotionally deep film, it does not overburden us with exposition. We hear the couples pain through their subtext, and we read their feeling without needing to understand what their world was built on up to this point. We are left with the knowledge that illness does not end love. Yet love can not always end illness. Ultimately, both people have to stand up and fight for each other and for themselves. If they don’t- neither can stay. NOT THIS AGAIN is a deep and thought-provoking look at human relationships- a strong and vibrant work, indeed.

 

Review by Kierston Drier

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NOT THIS AGAIN, 8min, USA, Drama/Romance
Directed by David Nichols Jr.

After three years of being together, STEPHANIE and JOSH are having a difficult time connecting. Stephanie is doing her best to help take care of Josh after his most recent surgery but he isn’t making it easy for her.

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Movie Review: A STATIC WIND, Australia, Drama

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This fifteen minute coming of age story follows a pre-teen girl and her widower father spending their vacation with their aunt at the family cottage. Caught in between a girl and a woman, and cramped together in a cottage with a younger cousin and a rebellious teenage cousin, our heroine is outgrowing the cocoon of childhood.

 

At time emotionally uncomfortable but nonetheless strikingly beautiful, A STATIC WIND is a film composed of those tiny moments crack our childhood minds and propel them into adulthood. We watch our character slower tackle the thoughts of what it means to be alive, and what it means to be a person- that safety, that love, is more complicated in reality than they are in fairy tales.

 

A STATIC WIND is beautifully shot, spectacularly cast and wonderfully performed. It is subtle, is it heartbreaking, it is powerful. Do not miss it.

 

Review by Kierston Drier

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A STATIC WIND, 15min., Australia, Drama 
Directed by Isaac ElliotOn an annual trip to her aunties house in a small country town 14 year old Silvy meets this years crop of foster children; an older girl, Mia, worldly and confident and 9yo Grayson.

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Movie Review: CHEATER, USA, Comedy/Drama

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CHEATER a seven-minute film, directed by Michael Boctor and Dylan Hancock, is a spellbinding and intense comic rollercoaster. We start without hero desperate to cheat on the test he hasn’t studied for- a relatable plight to us all. After a series of escalating hijinks and stakes that jump to extremes, all chaos ensues and the cheater must answer for it.

 

The magic in CHEATER, is that you will never see it coming until you are strapped and locked into our hero’s mission, and as things reach a laughably ridiculous crescendo, it almost feels believably absurd. A wonderful film with escalation, stakes and hilarious twists, CHEATER is not to miss!

 

Review by Kierston Drier

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CHEATER, 7min., USA, Comedy/Drama
Directed by Michael Boctor and Dylan HancookAn Anxious student, Trevor, continually tries to cheat on his exam until his neighboring classmate Carl gets fed up and outs him. The teacher instead disciplines Carl which angers him, resulting in a kerfuffle which ends in Carl being tased and removed by security.

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Movie Review: EDGAR’S INVENTION, USA, Comedy/Sci-Fi

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Zany, whimsical and based on a true story, we follow Edgar- a struggling scientist doing everything he can to make an invention that will better the world. Putting all his energy into waterproof socks yields surprising results- he may not invent ever-dry material, but he might invent something that will delight children for generations to come.

 

Comical with it’s slightly over-the-top shtick but all the more enjoyable for it’s fantastical elements  (Lava lamps in the basement laboratory, anyone?) EDGAR’S INVENTION is excellent because it is a great example of how to teach history to any audience- Fantastical and fun like “Drunken History” but for kids, this totally family-friendly piece tells a great invention story that all will love.

 

Review by Kierston Drier

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EDGAR’S INVENTION, 8min., USA, Comedy/Sci-Fi 
Directed by Matt Provenzano

In the year 1950, Edgar Ellington yearns to invent something meaningful and important, but struggles with his own failures.

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TV Review: OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN, USA, TV WEB SERIES/Comedy

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A five-minute gem of a web series, OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN follows a teacher doing her best to do what is right for her primary school students- even when their parents are, well…difficult. A strong comedy concept with exceptional performances OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN will have you in stitches with its relatability, it’s candor and it’s subtle acknowledgment of how soul-crushing it can be to work in the educational institution.  

 

OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN is an absolute delight. A strong, colorful and vibrant web series absolutely worth jump into to see more! Check out this awesome web series that never fails to delight and entertain!

 

Review by Kierston Drier

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OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN, 5min., USA, TV WEB SERIES/Comedy
Directed by Anna Maria Hozian & Brad RiddellMargot Antler is a rookie second-grade teacher about to experience the insanity of parent/teacher conferences for the first time!

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TV Review: LEGAL FOX: A TASTE OF TRUMP, USA Drama/Comedy

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LEGAL FOX is a three-minute reality-style comedy web series where an (absolutely stunning) attorney tackles bite-sized moments of real legal cases and provides snippets of legal explanations behinds their in’s and outs’. In this episode, our heroine tackles Trump- but nothing too heavy. She discusses the gag’s and spoof cases-  The Onion slandering him in their online publication for example.

 

Our heroine has it all- brains, beauty, camera appeal and excellent poise under pressure. Clearly a learned host, she takes on legal issues and explains them to the laymen is a fun and easily digestible format. A delight to watch and a gem to subscribe to.

Review by Kierston Drier

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LEGAL FOX: A TASTE OF TRUMP, 3min., USA Drama/Comedy
Directed by Ken Lin

No matter what your political party affiliation we all can agree Donald Trump has been involved in some bizarre legal battles! Here we highlight a couple of our all-time favorites.

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TV Review: CROW’S PEAK, USA, TV WEB SERIES/Animation/Comedy

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A four-minute USA animation web series, this cute and innocent cartoon follows a young vampire and his Frankenstein’s’ Monster friend, that get invited to a party that goes south. They think they are going to a party that will boost their social standing- but they are actually in danger of being hunted, and mounted on the Host’s wall.

 

Bright, colorful, full of wonderful voice acting and adorable antics what really sets this piece apart is its fantastic structure. In four short minutes we see an episode that has stakes, goals, a setup, themes, motives, and a gun in act one that goes off in act three- all while being humorous, cute and fun for all ages. In four minutes, that is an absolute feat. A wonderful web series that ensure many giggles, CROWS PEAK is a delight to watch.

Review by Kierston Drier

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CROW’S PEAK, 4min., USA, TV WEB SERIES/Animation/Comedy
Directed by John McDonaldDrake and Frank learn a valuable life lesson after being invited to a party.

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TV Review: COOL GIRLS “HOW TO THROW A GIRLS NIGHT OUT”, Canada, TV WEB SERIES/Comedy

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This sweet and comical eight-minute Canadian web series comes follows one Alpha female and her sweet shy friend Terri as they navigate a meet-cute gone awry. After utterly bombing trying to get a cute guy’s attention by “accidentally on purpose” stealing his hat, Amber convinces her friend that she needs to end her long distance relationship and join her for a girls’ Night.

 

What is most enjoyable about this comedy, is the character-chemistry that carries the show. The antics are just slightly over the top for the modern millennial and the result is like looking into a funhouse-mirror version of a 20-somethings Instagram account.

 

Big, bright, loud and awkward this piece is still relatable to all ages. Although this piece is certainly about millennials, every generation can relate to wanting to bust free of the “modern humans” rutt and break the mould of their own life. Join the ride with COOL GIRLS and watch them take on the world- one crazy hurdle at a time.

Review by Kierston Drier

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COOL GIRLS “HOW TO THROW A GIRLS NIGHT OUT”, 8min., Canada, TV WEB SERIES/Comedy
Directed by Laura Commisso, Sarah Campbell

After a tragic “breakup” with her love interest, James, Amber convinces Terri to end her long distance relationship with Tom. In turn, the two decide to throw an emergency girls night. Amber preps Terri for the occasion.

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TV Review: HEINOUS GIRLS, Canada, TV WEB SERIES/Comedy

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This five-minute comic web series hailing out of Canada from director Eugene Smirch tells the stories of two underprepared adults who revile in their inability to handle their lives. After spending their paychecks on drugs and party hats, the girls team up for some quick cash and taking on a gig to kill a man- but they have no idea how to go about it.

 

Part glitter, part puke and part gleeful comic train-wreck, HEINOUS GIRLS boasts hilarious comic performances. Hold on to your hat and keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle, because these women are on a wild. The best part about HEINOUS GIRLS, is that, as a web series, the fun never has to stop.

Review by Kierston Drier

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HEINOUS GIRLS, 5min., Canada, TV WEB SERIES/Comedy
Directed by Eugene SmirchTwo ladies join a gang to excuse their already erratic behaviour.

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TV Review: SOUNDS OF FREEDOM, USA, TV WEB SERIES

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SOUNDS OF FREEDOM is an emotional film about two people, touched by war and violence, who both suffer from PTSD from their experiences. This USA web series is a strong reminder of the human cost of war- beyond the statistics of death and the tragedy of loss of life- SOUNDS OF FREEDOM will remind you that many battle scars cannot be seen. Director Holly Chadwick does an excellent job of utilizing both sound and silence as characters that act upon our heroes- bringing them right back to the horror they’ve experienced.

 

In only five minutes, we are taken on the painful roller coaster of what it means to be psychologically scarred by violence. The medium of film has been effectively used to create the sense of static panic and helplessness felt by sufferers of PTSD. Dramatic, thought-provoking and powerful, SOUNDS OF FREEDOM will rock you.  

Review by Kierston Drier

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SOUNDS OF FREEDOM, 5min, USA, TV WEB SERIES/Drama
Directed by Holly ChadwickSounds of Freedom is a web series about Julia, a service woman who returns from the Iraq war, and Vietnam Veteran Charlie. Both suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. From their jobs at the local newspaper, and through a series of flashbacks and sessions with a common therapist, these two veterans are challenged to the max when a serial killer strikes at home.

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