evan_ginzburg Reviews

International Falls (2019)

May very well be the best film I've seen this year.

[10/10 · 19 September 2020]

International Falls is tremendous. Rob Huebel and Rachael Harris are both funny and heartbreaking with memorably great performances. May very well be the best film I've seen this year. Bravo to all concerned.

Brush with Danger (2015)

Brush With Danger Great Achievement For Young Filmmakers

[8/10 · 29 September 2014]

If you love action and Martial Arts films, Brush With Danger is a remarkable achievement. The Indonesian brother/sister team of Livi and Ken Zheng put the project together in their early 20's. Both Martial Arts champions, Livi is the producer, director, writer, lead actress while Ken is co-writer and lead actor. Featuring exciting and realistic fight sequences, it is rare to see a female action lead and ever rarer to see a brother-sister team battling together on film. Former 27 year Baltimore police officer Nikita Breznikov lends credibility to the role of the detective in the film and he also served as Casting Director. Livi and Ken have a warm screen presence, have already filmed a second feature, and I believe they are going to be major forces in the film industry in the years ahead.

Evan Ginzburg, Associate Producer of The Wrestler, Host Legends TV & Radio

Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975)

Heartfelt and moving film

[8/10 · 22 August 2010]

I think the label of blaxploitation for this film is quite unfair- it's heartfelt, various Black and White characters are shown as flawed rather than the "us vs. them" mentality of many racially charged films of that era- and you deeply care about what happens to everyone involved. Plus Moses Gunn is as fine an actor as ever set foot on the silver screen. Just thoroughly enjoyed it in spite of low budget feel and some clichéd moments. I even got choked up at times. Well worth seeing. Additionally, I was quite saddened to find that so many of the cast died relatively young. For a film from the mid 70s, there's an awful lot of actors in this movie no longer with us.

Beyond the Sea (2004)

Beyond the Sea

[9/10 · 18 August 2005]

I loved Bobby Darin and I love this movie. Yes, it was disconcerting that Spacey looked too old to play the younger Darin. And yes, it did leave out important aspects of Bobby's life (i.e. his 2nd wife- gee, didn't that rate?). But the sheer courage of the fantasy sequences, dance numbers and unusual plot devices made this memorable and most certainly pleasurable. I don't quite understand why many critics were so harsh- did they assume that just because a man produces/directs/stars/sings in a film it's an "ego trip?" To me it totally felt like a loving tribute to a man whose talent I also tremendously respect. And yes, Darin remains immortal. And this film can only help on that end.