Change Your Image
Kadushin
Reviews
Introspectum Motel (2021)
Not a Spy Thriller, but Filled with Suspense and Adults doing Adult Things
"Introspectum Motel" isn't about spies or secret agents, but it is about adults with adult relationships in a small community.
Mind games and violence, sex and family feelings.
Who will win?
Lots of twists and turns, because at the end of the day, no one seems to be a serial killer, professional criminal, or a spy (though you can't be too sure).
Topless soft-core sex scenes mixed into the drama.
For fans of thrillers with characters who feel and may or may not realize the consequences of their actions.
Good acting, good cinematography, and good editing in this film.
The movie will leave people talking about what is beyond what we see. Motivations of the characters unfold as the drama and action does.
The Creators (2012)
Nobody is one thing South Africa seen by music and other artists including folk, jazz and hip hop
The Creators tries to bring a semester of college or a year of high school studies of history and culture --
highlighted by live performed music with folk and jazz instruments,
opera singers who are children and young adults;
a mother and son who are both illustrators -
- but the mother does spray paint graffiti and the son does drawn stories with drawn art;
a teacher of hip hop dancing to 11 years old and up and their B-Boy Crews with music, deejays and hip-hop rappers and singers;
a female music star amongst almost entirely male voices and her talented boy child;
one voiceless little girl;
middle aged women speaking;
children in very poor areas; history and a little bit of cultural economy together.
Sounds like a lot?
It is a lot.
It should be at least seven to nine hours of materials, that have been cut down to less than two hours.
So if you're streaming this - be prepared to start and stop and think about it.
This film calls for a one semester college class or a year of high school/secondary school studies, and it does bring hope to a very dark recent past and challenging times.
I dare you to watch it.
Trigger warnings for guns, a brief images of a topless female cartoon character in bondage on one of the subject's shirts. This is a male dominated culture and message movie with some moments for the women. However almost no room for girls.
If you are concerned about young men and male children, this goes far to show the struggles.
The overall feel of this reminds me of America in the 1950s and 1960s, and thanks to the fact that video makes everything seem to be happening now, we can't be quite sure which parts are contemporary.
While capitalism is not called out, colonialism is. Racism in South Africa is called out. Diversity of experience is called out.
The actions of "The Creators" in this film bring hope and meaning, but they do not bring all of the answers.
I wanted to see the names of the musical and graphic artist on the screen or at least a name a picture with each in the credits. This is missing, but perhaps if they do the seven hour version they will be there.
Happy Hour History: Ladies Night Part 2 - Scofflaw Women (2022)
Don't Forget to Eat (and Drink) Your History!
David S. Mayne and crew bring a blender of elements into "Happy Hour History" episode 3.
The opening intro combines a peppy host with both still and moving historical images, actor recreations scenes, and almost Monty Python-like animations (Gilliam-like) lampooning the power-makers of the time.
What this does in only 20 minutes is stuff in a combination of entertainment and mostly American History, including highlights of leaders of both the white and black women's movements in the 20th century, focusing in on women's right to vote - but at the same time in a period of about fifteen minutes of the episode, surveys information about American Presidents and political parties before and up to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
There are also asides to Americans abroad and America in context of the world that are memorable.
I learned about Ida B. Wells and women making protest marches before presidential inaugurations - hmm... does that sound familiar?
The host also tries to stay contemporarily relevant talking about the Spanish Flu epidemic, job losses based on political edicts, and politicians who broke the laws they said they were supporting.
I can see this being watched over and over by people reviewing for their GED's, Social Studies Regents and Achievements Exams in the U. S. (High School tests that help with college placement and are sometimes required to graduate from certain American High Schools) and first and second year college courses on American History.
I can see three to five minute remixes being used for specific courses on women, culture, African American issues, US presidential history and political economy courses on the college level.
To be honest, a lot of the "White Americans" history is a remix of stuff that I've seen before - more spread out - but the inclusion of Black American Women in particular and going into more details about entertainment figure Josphine Baker than I was casually familiar with stood out.
"And all the rest" were touched on briefly mentioning Anna Mae Wong, Native American Rights and Hispanic American Rights.
It's not a be-all and end-all, but it is a great launching point for more research, if you are taking a class or preparing for a test.
There are both funny and factual asides interjected texts on screen, so in addition to the overall great visuals, you want to take a close look as the episode proceeds.
At the same time - the teaser of a drink mix is played out - and I'd actually try "the scofflaw" drink. Sounds yummy. While sponsored by. Knob Creek, the makers of the Rye Whisky in the drink, I could also see a possible "virgin" or non-alcoholic mix based on this recipe
Great teases for the drink and the bartender, the lovely, buff and tattooed Jill Cockson; and there's even a brief historical interjection on women bartenders from American History.
Host starts out in neutral attire and does some surprise costume changes in some of the segments.
For both education and entertainment, I'd give this a 96 percent, or an A grade.
The Barn Theatre: Tomorrow's Stars Today (2017)
Live Theater and Broadway's Next Stars
Live Theater and Broadway's Next Stars
Beyond nostalgia for times past, the documentary about "The Barn Theater" shows us the history of a family and friends making something creative with the after world-war 2 G. I. education bill and a window into the life-style of actors and the talents and crafts that support them.
The first part of the documentary has typical reminiscences of the living, elderly history with a lot of photo and audio examples that you might find in a PBS fundraiser special documentary (without the numerous pledge breaks), and the second part gives examples from both people who became well known television stars that most people have heard of or admire, and specific shows from the 1970s through 2011.
We enter the excitement of young, emerging actors and their support - and sometimes tough mentoring from directors, get insights from the musicians, set and costume designers.
There's education to be had while learning more about some of our favorite stars and those who may become the next generation of stars.
I can also see documentary this becoming a must in actor education and training.
Sold Out (2021)
Future Stars Living in the Present but Knowing the Past
"Sold Out" (2021) asks what is your passion - and how are you going to change the world - and also reminding us that you got to live your life at the same time as you're trying to make your career.
Strong-headed, passionate music scout Kat Revere is as flawed as the next person, but she is good at preparing songwriters performers to have a career.
As she talks early in the movie she reminds me of Michele Mupo aka Fuchsia (from New Jersey and got her start with Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam).
In the story Kat is a bit of a mystery to the audience and the male lead, and she's angry.
John is played by the engaging Sam Bardwell, who sings songs mostly by Jeffrey Foucault. It isn't clear if he wrote the songs based on the story, or if the story was informed by the songs.
The story of "Sold Out" is driven by trying to answer this question. What if you haven't "made it" yet? How do you keep going?
Mixed into the story of strivers in the making, recording and playing of music in the northern parts of the midwest.
The near universal element is about making a living from your creativity - this resonates with the move and tv industry, drawing, comics, all forms of storytelling makers.
Rather than staying in one genre of music, the guitar playing and singing bridge from prog rock, to folk and country, to Jazz and blues with cameos from professional Jazz and Blues musicians.
The overall visuals are strong, the sound and music are strong, and the story is mysterious but also full of the road of discovery. There are some strange decisions with camera angles in the coverage close-ups and medium shots in the first half of the film, but the dramatic composition of scenes and visual composition of scenes are generally strong, with good editing throughout the film.
I think the producers needed to trust the musical performances a little more - maybe 2 to 7 minutes more of that amongst the film.
The montage sequences and the cutting back and forth in time for the story of the characters is done very well.
The actors are generally amazing, and I hope to see more from everyone in front of the camera and behind the camera in the future.
Jovi & Lou (2023)
Mythology of the absurd mixed with the striving of people living their lives
An overall charming comedy-drama that uses moral parody to poke fun equally at the old myths and traditions and the new, taking a look at slice of life efforts for good and for evil... with most people being somewhere in the middle.
Character design and actors' performances help to tell the story, and the sound design is a little experimental with some scenes with room-tone only, some with musical commentary verging on not trusting the script, performance and the images; and some with music that fits the scene and doesn't editorialize it.
While the movie doesn't seem to be a back-door pilot for a television series in the traditional sense, the character development and background of the supernatural characters presented are interesting enough that it could be possible for other feature-length Jovi and Lou stories.
It reminds me of some of my favorite memories of mature comic books, with nods to the George Burns "Oh, God" movie series, the first "Bedazzled" movie, world mythology, and even the long running "Supernatural" television series where they just made up stuff that resonated with mythology and religion as we know it.
Dirty Beautiful (2015)
Intimacy that grows through living through uncomfortable realities
More intimate than most romance dramas, the themes of intimacy, individuality, coupling, and dreams are dipped in a Hollywood- Los Angeles location and career set.
A not so bad looking everyman, David, who sort of wants to be a husband in a couple, portrays his positive traits first, before we learn of his negative traits which are a great part of what keeps him single.
He seeks intimacy and in his best moments looks like he deserves it.
Even if you never wanted to work in Hollywood or filmmaking, the idea of watching movies and learning about people from movies instead of from direct experiences is something that introverts, omniverts, and extroverts who just like movies can relate to.
If you do want to be a filmmaker or work in media production or Hollywood, the film gives a few relatable examples of what it is like to be a writer or creative in Los Angeles.
As the story unfolds we learn why David wants to be in a couple, and universal issues that have little to do with romance or everything to do with romance - such as intimacy, childhood and teen angst that carry over to adulthood, relationships with parents and others; self-medicating with drinking, the difference between social drinking and heavy, compulsive drinking, and why do Americans drink so much anyway - squirm into a not-so-bad looking everyman with skills and talent.
David is not a completely reliable narrator, but Hollywood is the land of dreams. The film gives room for the viewers to come to some of their own conclusions.
High quality look, performances. HIgh level of drama and angst in the story which is more about intimacy and relationships than physical passion.
There are a lot of things that David does wrong, but he hangs on and tries to do what's right.
It would be spoilery to speak of the women in detail in this story, but the wonderful irony is that although David is inexperienced with relationships, the filmmakers, lead by director, writer and producer Tim Bartell are not; and this shows in the storytelling.
Boo Boo the Fool (2022)
Funny situations with mostly kind and mostly stupid folks
Mostly 20-somethings with 20-something problems, dreams and friends.
Some things are universal to other age groups though, and there are some good repeating elements that were probably part of the outline for the story that the actors then delivered.
Adult things are discussed, but nothing is too explicit.
Bad things happen to people who make bad decisions in this story, but the heart of the individual characters keeps things tied together.
Director, producer and writer Nakia Hamilton seems to have started with characters and situations but the smoothness of the actors
- and evolving reality like improv with prompts leads me to believe that more than half of the script and performances were improvised.
It may be that some of the actor-comedians had favorite characters that they brought to the movie's neighborhood world, or the writer had many, many characters and situations that he strung together with the basic plot.
High quality visuals and sound.
Good editing.
Appears to be comedy with improvisational prompts by the various actors in the scenes are followed-up by the characters.
Ideal audience is probably teens and 20-somethings, although some of the 30, 40, and 50 year old comedic guest stars had fun bits.
It reminds me a little bit of "Seinfeld" where big deals are made of things that should be smaller things. People make bad decisions, but then try to make up for it and work towards better results.
Some extremely strange scenarios spiral out, and the actors in the scenes do a good job of keeping up with the prompts to make some entertaining bits and engaging characters.
Bang Bang Betty (2023)
Gun Action and Strong Characters with Second Chances
It's Kakra Nunoo-Brown and Emily Rose Hernandez versus Marc Anthony Wazer and Daniel Moen in action-drama "Bang Bang Betty" a well put together, modern, exploitation feature film with a host of supporting characters - most notably Gerald Parrish as a father and big-brother figure.
Directed by Alexander T. Hwang and DP is Adam Beck; the other notable crew lead in this is the stunt coordinator Gary Choi (and yes you do see him die) and Rising Star Stunt Team (yes many of them die) on camera.
The film takes visual advantage of the exterior locations in New Mexico and Mexico, and even the interior scenes have attention to detail in their set-up.
High quality looks and editing, this is a modern version of an exploitation movie where the story takes on consideration of men and women.
The script is by Deanna Gomez with the story by Gomez and Hwang.
The story has a few coincidences... but sometimes in a smaller town or small city everybody does end up knowing everybody.
With a lower budget (no car chases, but people in a hurry from time to time in their cars), sometimes moving or fast healing wounds are a distraction, but overall worth watching from beginning to end to see who will win and why.
Some of the best performances, lines and background information are in the second half of the film - the mysterious, suspense elements of who has loyalty to whom - and what their true motivations are enough to make it worth watching to the end.
With a large cast, each of the main characters and even some of the tertiary characters have their moments in further setting the scene and situation.
For me the violence was the reason for the 18 plus rating, but others may notice some of the language nearly as much. If they had a 24 plus rating for violence, I might even go that far. Trigger warning for PTSD from military service or gun violence victims.