Elsewhere Review: Freeheld

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Denise
As always, clicky the title for the original piece!

Movie Review: Freeheld

freeheld onesheet

Nutshell: a story about two quiet people who had to stand up for their rights doesn’t have to be this quiet.  In searching for the heart of this story, the filmmakers lost its soul.  Grade: C

I wasn’t sure what I thought of Freeheld after I saw it.  I wasn’t sure a week later. I’m a card-carrying hippie commie pinko; shouldn’t I be falling all over myself to worship a film that’s brave enough to tackle the story of a woman and her domestic partner fighting the system for equal rights?

It’s a quiet film.  But does a film have to shout to get its message across?  It doesn’t dig too deeply into the personal lives of the real-life folks these characters are based on.  But does a film need to uncover everything in order to be true to that person?
Continue reading →

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#31in31: Children of the Corn

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Denise
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Synced with the 31 Day Horror Movie Challenge

oct 15 Children of the Corn“He wants you too…”

Story: newly graduated med student and his girlfriend decide to take the “scenic route” through corn country.  BIG mistake.  Huge.  Because a few years back the kids of Gatlin decided to kill everyone over 18 and worship “He Who Walks Behind The Rows”.  Welcome, y’all!

Scares: The whole film is surprisingly creepy.

Splat factor: A bit of blood here and there, but otherwise it’s a tame R by today’s standards.

Closing scene “shocker”?: Only if you’ve read the original story. Continue reading →

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#31in31 – Sleepy Hollow

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Denise

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oct 10 sleepy hollow

Kill it! No, no! Stun it!

Story: A headless horseman has been decapitating people in Sleepy Hollow. Constable Ichabod Crane thinks the killer is flesh and blood. The people of Sleepy Hollow think otherwise…

Scares: Of the Dark And Stormy Night variety, with a few shocks thrown in for good measure.

Splat factor: Decapitations, and a few other murders. Some blood during Crane’s “forensics”. And the coolest bleeding tree. But nothing over the top. Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Love the Coopers!

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Denise

love the coopers onesheetReady for the holidays?  No, I’m not talking about Halloween and Day of the Dead.  I’m talking about Chrismuswanzyulkka!  No?

Me neither.  I don’t even know what I want to be for Halloween this year.  In fact, I’m thinking that the Peanuts gang had it right with the ghosts thing.

But wanna see a holiday movie super early?  Just think of the bragging rights!  Today it’s all about Love the Coopers.  Roll synopsis!

Love the Coopers follows the Cooper clan as four generations of extended family come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration.  As the evening unfolds, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.

So, in for it?  Read on… Continue reading →

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31 in 31- Knock ’em Dead

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Denise

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Oct 7 knock em dead“I’m sorry.  I only like four-legged bitches.”

Story: 2003 saw a blockbuster horror movie. Ten years later, the three leads put aside their mutual hatred for a sequel on the same island where they filmed the first one. But before cameras roll, people start dying…and hey, there’s no way to get off the island!

Scares: The horror that only comes from knowing you’re watching complete crap.

Splat factor: A splash of red here and there. Everything happens off camera. Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: The Last Witch Hunter

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Denise

last witch hunter onesheetVin Diesel IS a badass.  It is known.  But did you know he can lay the smackdown on witches too?  Yeah baby; The Last Witch Hunter is Diesel’s latest, and it sounds groovy.  Synopsis!

The modern world holds many secrets, but the most astounding secret of all is that witches still live among us; vicious supernatural creatures intent on unleashing the Black Death upon the world. Armies of witch hunters battled the unnatural enemy across the globe for centuries, including KAULDER, a valiant warrior who managed to slay the all-powerful QUEEN WITCH, decimating her followers in the process. In the moments right before her death, the QUEEN curses KAULDER with her own immortality, forever separating him from his beloved wife and daughter in the afterlife. Today KAULDER is the only one of his kind remaining, and has spent centuries hunting down rogue witches, all the while yearning for his long-lost loved ones. However, unbeknownst to KAULDER, the QUEEN WITCH is resurrected and seeks revenge on her killer causing an epic battle that will determine the survival of the human race.

So, ready to watch him save the world again?  Right this way… Continue reading →

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#31in31: The Final Girls

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Denise
31 in 31 logoPsst: The Final Girls was part of this year’s Spooky Movie International Film Festival at the AFI.

Oct The Final Girls“First time away from home? It’s hard to be away from your parents, huh?”

Story: Max, a young woman whose mother died in a car crash, gets talked into a horror movie retrospective on the anniversary of her mom’s death.  BTW, her mom played one of the victims in Camp Bloodbath, the film of the evening.  So when the theater gets literally fired up, Max and her friends find themselves in the film.  Literally.  Can Max save her mom this time?

Scares: Though this is a horror comedy/satire, there are a few rather effective spookies among the gags.

Splat factor: Middling. Most of the kills are off-screen, and then shown in quick flashes or off-center POV. Just like back in the day!

Closing scene “shocker”?: Only if you haven’t been paying attention.

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: There are many horror spoofs, but this one is a true original.

Trick or Treat?: As I drooled over this film the moment I heard of its existence, you can pretty much bet I’m gonna like it. And surprise — I did. The Final Girls is a movie that’s worthy of the hype. Continue reading →

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#31in31: Sawbones – “Aah, Real Monsters!”

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Denise
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Today, it’s spooky podcast time!

I do love me some podcasts.  And I really love me the Sawbones podcast.  Being a huge history of medicine, cultural anthropology nerd, scoping for new Sawbones episode is the #1 reason why I hit refresh on my New Podcasts feed.

Sawbones is usually Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband, comedian Justin McElroy.  But sometimes they’ll have guest hosts; this particular episode has Sydnee’s sister Rileigh stepping in for Justin.  And it’s right on time with the spooky.  (Spoopy?)

To kick of October-ween, Sydnee and Rileigh did an “Aah, Real Monsters!” episode, and it’s fantastic.  Synopsis!

This week on Sawbones, Sydnee and guest star Rileigh Smirl introduce you to the diseases at the root of some monsters myths.

Wanna know more about what kinds of things led people to believe in vampires, werewolves and more? Listen to it for yourself. Seriously, it’s not only a lot of fun, it’s science. SCIENCE!

SAWBONES — “AAH, REAL MONSTERS!”

http://www.maximumfun.org/jwplayer/player.swf

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Bridge of Spies!

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Denise

bridge of spies onesheetC’mon, you know you wanna see this.  Spielberg!  The Cohen brothers!  Tom Hanks vs. Russia!

Synopsis!

A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, DreamWorks Pictures/Fox 2000 Pictures’ “Bridge of Spies” tells the story of James Donovan, a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.

Directed by three-time Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg, “Bridge of Spies” stars: two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks as James Donovan; three-time Tony Award® winner Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm. The film is produced by Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Matt Charman and three-time Academy Award winners Ethan Coen & Joel Coen. “Bridge of Spies” will be released in theaters on October 16, 2015.

I’m dying to see this, as I’ve always been intrigued by the Cold War era.  So much bubbling just under the surface…  Onward, to passes! Continue reading →

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#31in31: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Denise
31 in 31 logo
Synced with the 31 Day Horror Movie Challenge

oct 11 tucker and dale“We got your friend! Hey! Where they goin’?”

Story: 3 days ago, Tucker and Dale just wanted to get away to their brand new cabin “vacation home” . But those damn college kids keep dying all over the place. WTF, bro?

Scares: Mostly chuckles with a chance of guffaws.

Splat factor: PLENTY. Co-eds die in gross, hilarious ways. No, those two adjectives are not mutually exclusive.

Closing scene “shocker”?: Nope.  YAY!

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: 100% original.

Trick or Treat?: I can’t believe I haven’t covered this movie in a 31 in 31 yet! Because it’s freaking awesome. Continue reading →

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