Greed is an interesting thing, one of the seven deadly sins which sometimes brings out the very worst in people. Money is a very attractive motivator and in desperate times, can turn good-natured individuals into devious scoundrels. The Irish dramedy Life’s a Breeze does focus on greed and the unfortunate effect it has on family but it does it in a way that is light and at times, rather farcical. It is a film about family, first and foremost, and how something as material as money can either bring the family together or tear it apart.
All posts by Unger the Radar
Honeymoon
It would appear that the modern horror film is severely lacking this day and age. Loud crashes and found cinema seem to be all the rage since Saw’s ridiculously gruesome torture porn reign is over. Filmmakers seem to be at a loss when it comes to originality when scaring their audiences. Luckily, there is the occasional spark of horror creativity. The latest comes from newcomer director Leigh Janiak who has taken audiences into the woods for what may seem predictable and by-the-numbers but is actually a fresh take on an established setting and popular formula. Honeymoon is a tense and unpredictable horror/thriller which may actually throw you for a loop.
The Quitter
Independent dramedies can be a thing of absolute beauty. Powerful acting contained within the world of a crafty director’s lens, joined in by a script dripping with realism and quirkiness are the film’s most essential ingredients. When these important factors mix, cinematic magic is bound to happen. The Quitter is one such indie that blends all of these ingredients and the results are utterly sublime. It is a romantic dramedy with heart, humor and at times, baseball.
A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY
When it comes to emergency situations, fires rank very high. Blazes damage property, injure people and sometimes, take lives. They are feared by many and are sometimes, uncontrollable and it takes a certain type of personality to combat these terrible forces. Firefighters are the heroes who are called to extinguish the flames and save lives and the new HBO documentary A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY shines a spotlight on the brave individuals, soldiers who go toe to toe with fires, put them out and rescue those in the process.
God Help the Girl
Scotland is a country that doesn’t get represented on film too often. The land is absolutely beautiful and full of rich history but when the casual moviegoer pictures it, not much comes to mind other than Mel Gibson yelling with war paint on his face or maybe sequences from Highlander. There is much to behold in Scotland and the latest hipster musical/drama God Help the Girl manages to blend quirky drama with lovely visions of Glasgow on a calm summer’s day. It is a unique film that showcases the musician-turned-filmmaker Stuart Murdoch’s talents, who is actually the frontman for indie pop band “Belle and Sebastian”. God Help the Girl is Murdoch’s directorial debut.
The Identical
Musical dramas often present predictable and cliché stories. Troubled characters and relationships riddled with conflict are usually at the forefront of movies that fall into this genre. The Identical, while being a squeaky clean and sincere tale, is one such film that goes the direction of “been there, done that”. It is rated PG and has some religious undertones, making it appropriate for the entire family. The performances feel very familiar and so does the movie’s ultimate message. With a bland plot and decent songs, it isn’t necessarily a bad film; it just doesn’t go above that of average quality.
The November Man
There seems to be a popular trend these days with certain actors when they approach or surpass their 60s. For some reason, when male actors reach this decade, they decide to star in violent, explosive, sometimes entertaining action/thrillers. It apparently started in 2008 with Liam Neeson in Taken, continued in 2010 with Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables, and was evident earlier this year with Kevin Costner in 3 Days to Kill, and so on. Post-midlife crisis cinematic bloodbaths are all the rage nowadays and Pierce Brosnan’s latest actioner The November Man firmly reinforces that fact. It is a ridiculous quasi-interesting spy thriller that features decent performances, lots of dead bodies, and little less.
Boredom
Human beings express a wide range of emotions and exhibit many different types of behavior. Boredom is one such feeling and the subject of one of the year’s most illuminating documentaries. The film, aptly titled Boredom, explores what causes this common feeling and how it can not only be bad for your mental health but bad for your physical health as well. People often overlook the issue of boredom and attribute it to a great many things but they don’t really dig deep to unearth the reasons behind it. Boredom does just that and if you are curious about the subject, then this documentary is definitely for you.
Starred Up
Prison sucks. There’s no disputing that. Being behind bars is probably hell on Earth for many people who’ve been caught breaking the law. Being caged like an animal can be truly taxing on one’s psyche and whoever does the crime must certainly do the time. The latest British prison drama Starred Up is the perfect representation of what’s it like to be in the clink and the results are gritty, brutal, and absolutely sensational.
The Congress
What happens when youth and beauty start to fade? Well, in Hollywood, when that happens, the once beautiful actress and symbol of all things young and sexy is put out to pasture. The sad truth is that once an actress is past her prime, she is no longer in demand. Everything she worked for and went through will be nothing more than a memory, a piece of history. The Congress is a bleak, honest, and entertaining sci-fi drama which addresses the issue of age and celebrity, a very important part of the entertainment business. This film explores said issue in a way that is unique, scathing, and at times, kind of fun.
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