If you want an answer about the religious legitimacy of conversion therapy in the American Christian right you might get a taste of it in “Pray Away” a Netflix original documentary released this month on Netflix. Reparative or “conversion therapy” sprouted up in the 1970’s in right wing America as an attempt to convert theContinue reading ““Pray Away”: What Would Have Jesus Thought?”
Category Archives: film
“499”: The Colonization of Mexico: Fantasy Melded to Horror
“499” recreates the steps and strategy used by Cortes in 1521 in his conquest of the Aztec Empire in Mexico. The film is a mix of fantasy and horror. Fantasy as it begins with a conquistador swimming to a beach in Veracruz. Who is he? Well he is the sole survivor of a shipwreck ofContinue reading ““499”: The Colonization of Mexico: Fantasy Melded to Horror”
“A Wake”: Reminding us of the Pain and Struggle with Life
“A Wake” reminds us that life can be painful and full of emotional struggles. The themes raised in the plot may not be innovative but deserving to be related to us again. My first reaction on reading the brief PR synopsis provided the me by distributor Breaking Glass Pictures was due to two Disney actorsContinue reading ““A Wake”: Reminding us of the Pain and Struggle with Life”
“Mutantism on the March” :Chapter 90 “The New Piracy”
Eno Ergot was a very frustrated individual these days because of his inability to locate his idol Bluebeard. He was beginning to believe the stories everyone was telling him that it was only an actor Richard Burton that played the role of Bluebeard. The real pirate, if there was ever one, had long ago goneContinue reading ““Mutantism on the March” :Chapter 90 “The New Piracy””
“The Madness Inside of Me”: Subdued, Sophisticated and With Some Rough Cutting Edges
Thank goodness for indie cinema. It can be rough, jarring and unsettling and far from the smooth and predictable big budget perfection that is boring and uninspiring, “The Madness Inside Me” could stink with Hollywood predictability but it veers from that oft beaten path. Imagine you are in your home and some psycho killer burstsContinue reading ““The Madness Inside of Me”: Subdued, Sophisticated and With Some Rough Cutting Edges”
“Whelm”: Not Exactly a 1,2,3, Film
A dandy last of the outlaw’s American movie. We can be fancy and call it “post Western” gangster. Where the Western left off Clarence Dillon and Al Capone took over. The outlaw spirit in America lives in the film “Whelm” set in 1930’s Indiana. Many American gangster movies present you with an easy 1.2,3 linearContinue reading ““Whelm”: Not Exactly a 1,2,3, Film”
“The Five Rules of Success”: Above and Beyond the Con Trying to go Straight
No doubt you have seen many movies about a convict on parole trying to go “straight”. They usually are linear and without any artistic creativity. Well ”The Five Rules of Success” is not one of those Turner Classic Movies that are entirely linear but nonetheless interesting. This film takes the genre into a whole differentContinue reading ““The Five Rules of Success”: Above and Beyond the Con Trying to go Straight”
“All The Streets Are Silent”: Hip Hop and Boarder Treasure Trove New York Style
Nothing could be farther from silence in the streets of New York in this documentary that chronicles the convergence of hip-hop, rap and skateboarding (1987-1997) in New York City. The documentary is full of the roaring streets of New York City with a subculture of boarding and rap and hip-hop music. You know once uponContinue reading ““All The Streets Are Silent”: Hip Hop and Boarder Treasure Trove New York Style”
“The Walk”: A Fine Atypical Animation Short From Quebec
There is much that can be the subject of interpretation in “The Walk”. It is an atypical animated short. Sort of like “ultrasound animation” if I can invent a new term! “The Walk” is written, directed and produced by multi-disciplinary artist Yoakim Bélanger entirely painted by hand with Chinese ink and pencils, six images perContinue reading ““The Walk”: A Fine Atypical Animation Short From Quebec”
The Neutral Ground”: The United States Struggles Against Racism: The Haunting Past and Present of Confederate Monuments
Former President Donald Trump took the United States close to a coup d’’état amidst a background of smouldering race relations. For him monuments were just historical references. Pull down the Confederate ones and then George Washington would be the next. However it is not as simple as that. For Black Americans in the Southern UnitedContinue reading “The Neutral Ground”: The United States Struggles Against Racism: The Haunting Past and Present of Confederate Monuments”
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