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IR Film Review: ARTEMIS FOWL [Disney+]
"Artemis Fowl" doesn't quite know its audience and its audience doesn't quite line up here either. It plays too young while not playing older much like a more expensive version (sorry) of "Agent Cody Banks" with mythology thrown in.
IR Film Review: WARNING - DO NOT PLAY [Shudder]
Granted this inlay within "Warning: Do Not Play" has a bit of "The Ring" to it. Instead of a TV screen it is an old movie theater where a film was once shot and by extension a play. And there is a film that doesn't want to be found that was pulled from a film festival that the protagonist is searching for.
IR Film Review: TOMMASO [Kino Lorber]
"Tommaso" is an interesting examination of a director in a different world. It is like Godard in reverse but one which is now his home. It is a fascinating if not maddening diatribe at times examining the normality of life and how your brain and lifestyle can adjust.
IR Film Review: BLOOD MACHINES [Shudder]
"Blood Machines", a sort of music video/short hybrid shows that new thinking in terms of that structure can be done, especially in the streaming world. Narrative doesn't have to restrict itself to 22 minutes for commercials. It is based in what the story needs.
IR Film Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: APOKOLIPS WAR [Warner Brothers Animation]
In this progression of "Apokolips" there is a change of focus. In an interesting irony, watching the loss and decimation of the Justice League allows for the stakes to be much higher. While some context structures work, others seems too generic.On the whole the use of the paradoxes as well as the concept of the parademons works quite well.
IR Film Review: BLOOD QUANTUM [Shudder]
"Blood Quantum" is the aspect of being able to gauge genetic heredity in the native population to determine rights within the reservation setting according to exterior government. This is used as the basis within the story to create both the genre and the practical structure of how the zombie wave affect the people and their defense of it.
IR Film Review: ONWARD [Pixar/Disney]
"Onward" works well and bring in textures of mythology but within the context of a modern world. It is intrinsic but, despite the quest motif, almost seems smaller than one would expect.
IR Film Review: THE INVISIBLE MAN [Universal]
"The Invisible Man" is much better than it has any right to be but that is because of the committed nature of Elizabeth Moss and Whannel knowing how to work with cinematic perspective for much of the movie without anything really being there...but also knowing not to pull the punches when need be.
IR Film Review: GUNS AKIMBO [Saban]
The resolution is typical graphic novel style overload but undeniably entertaining with the set up ripe for engagement and continuation. "Guns Akimbo" is good fun with its tongue-in-cheek, a good sense of itself and a flagrant style.