Film reviews

Local Area Network Review

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In a film centering around mental health and the importance of community, Local Area Network scores a touchdown. Written and directed by Glenn Garrabrant, the story takes a deep dive into the life of a man working through the steps while battling with his mental health. Although rejection is always on his mind, he has a friend who will not give up on him. Local Area Network tackles the tough subjects of suicide and depression. The film reminds its audiences to remember what good there is in the world…even in times when it is not seen. Life is not easy, but the positive elements are a reminder of opportunities for growth in Local Area Network.

This film spoke to me on a personal level. As a critic and someone who has dealt with my own struggles, I find light in projects tackling mental health. I relate to shows like the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and the HBO series In Treatment. Local Area Network repeatedly reminded me that having the people in our lives we trust helps people who are feeling down hold their heads high. Local Area Network is an independent film that focuses on this important issue in the most touching yet dramatic way possible. The context is engrossing. Garrabrant has an eye for creating connections that will change lives.

The film’s main character is Sam (Jeff A. Smith), and he is trying to help his friend Paul (Michael Farca) recover from the heartbreaking moments he has encountered. Paul finds himself in and out of a mental institution following conflicts with his ex-wife. Sam puts together activities to help Paul come out of his shell. He sets up old-school gaming in basements, creates other social outings, and does what he can to truly help Paul find meaning again. Despite the work Sam puts in, Paul is also good at hiding his feelings. There are moments which blindside due to the more difficult elements of dealing with mental health concerns. This is what makes the journey in Local Area Networkso spellbinding. For Sam, his life includes people who want him to have fulfillment, and they also want to be around whenever they question how he is feeling. Social settings without screens highlight human interactions and are most fulfilling.

I have admiration for Garrabrant’s directing approach. He creates the atmospheres and settings which feel touching. At the same time, he is good at keeping the possibility of relapses in the picture although his characterizations are determined to not let that happen. The hero of a good friendship is what dazzles and stirs emotions in Local Area Network. With the film being shot around different areas of Chicago, I recognized and related to many of the settings because I enjoy getting out to cultural places. The atmosphere of Local Area Network made me feel closer to home. This film is a cinematic ride where trial and error reminds audiences they can get back up from falling. The message of the story is to not give up. Viewers will come away inspired to look for help when in doubt. Four out four stars for Local Area Network.

Film reviews

Psycho Killer Review

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The title is fun and sketchy. Many will think of the famous song by the Talking Heads. However, it has no correlation to this film. The premise of the story made me feel like I was watching a repeat plot of a videogame. The film nails it with scares and kills, but the rest of the film is flawed yet utterly exhilarating. Directed by Gabin Polone, this is Psycho Killer. The familiar traits of many terror and slasher films I love are combined in Psycho Killer. Titles which correlate to this film range from Weapons to Se7en. The same writer, Andrew Kevin Walker, is also behind those films. While he may have written for some masterpieces in the past, the direction was not quite as promising as well in Psycho Killer.

The film is a murder mystery that keeps pace by keeping the grizzly components as the primary scenario. A killer kills and creates a trail. There are clues, but also a pattern where evidence goes awry. The pattern is put together and broken again, but the grizzly violence continues to shock and awe. Some may enjoy this and others will not. My mind was neutral. Although I usually love films where suspense includes puzzles and patterns, those factors did not have me aching to solve much during Psycho Killer.

The main character is Jane Archer (Georgina Campbell). She suffers a tragic loss with a killer right in front of her. The killer’s character name is Psycho Killer (James Preston Rogers). He goes from state-to-state, using traceless methods to continue to kill and send messages. While Jane tries her best with her investigations, Psycho Killer is always ahead of her. With his many tactics of kills happening on his behalf and timing them perfectly, there is a unique rollercoaster in which one kill is more detrimental than the other. The film is creepy and disturbing but still lacks quality because the predictability is so much like a videogame.

I have mentioned the concept of a videogame multiple times in this review, and I even struggled to decide if this movie did it for me or not. The videogame that Psycho Killer seems to have clips from and correlations to is called Hatred and is only available to download on Steam. The game is tougher to find because it is so violent that it got an AO rating. Psycho Killer does not have the same level of violence as the game Hatred but shares the extreme and predictable theme—kill them all! This plotline is becoming more prevalent and overused in so many slasher films like this. In short, the film was poorly written, yet there were moments of extreme graphics that were cinematic. Overall, though, Psycho Killer is below average. The kills may impress some viewers, but the quality of context is why I’m still unconvinced about this movie. In the end, I believe this director is still getting his feet wet with a genre that he may want to continue in his career. Two out of four stars for Psycho Killer.

Film reviews

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert Review

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When there is a film to be made where the music shines and memories are spellbinding, director Baz Luhrmann does it right. After directing Elvis in 2022, he takes on another film in that same vein, only this time it contains archived footage of the real Elvis Presley. It is filled with moments of conversations, concerts, and the deep personality of the Elvis the world knows. EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is surreal in its purpose, like a time-machine of moving and musical memories. With the IMAX experience, the gritty aspects of fame feel both circular and angular—the musical moments radiate out loud in the context tomake one feel present.

Audiences can immerse themselves in this film. Especially those who grew up with Elvis. The archived footage moves in a chronological mode jumping frequently from interviews to concerts. This felt like Moulin Rouge but with real footage, as the spellbinding aspects are on the same level in both films. Luhrmann knows how to transition from heartache and shining. Vividly emotional, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a journey through time that keeps rocking with the very well-done concert footage.

There is a sense of appreciation that keeps moving through Luhrmann’s direction, especially in the frequent moments where the facial expression of Elvis is captured. Even though the audience will find themselves jamming a lot with the film, they will also see the realization that money and fame do not always buy happiness. The appreciative form of an artist is how real the experience feels. It is unstoppable.

The archived images of the tours in Las Vegas are where I felt the sparks of magnificence in the visions Luhrmann brings forth. There is a certain magic in all of his projects. Much of which had me thinking back to Elvis and Moulin Rouge. He weaves elements of hidden sadness with the attention of impacting the world with the charms of music and showmanship. Like Moulin Rouge, EPiC: Elvis Presley creates a vision of connections while hiding the sorrow below the fame—a humanistic value that speaks to many from the mind of Luhrman.

This is documentary- driven, and at times feels slow, but that is what the film is about. Appreciating Elvis Presley is what EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is all about, because much of the footage has never been seen.  The era of when the footage was recorded gives it a time machine feeling that felt more immersive to me in IMAX. I felt like I was transported to a world of concerts I never got to experience. It takes us back toan era where it was all about ticket stands and phone lines to acquire concert seats. The days before the internet shine with thrills in Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert.

Despite the sad moments, the concert does not stop going. Luhrmann continuously pushes on with the true shots of the concerts—every moment matters.  EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert continues to relive the importance of one man that changed the world with not only his music, but his persona alone. Deep down the shots and continuity with fame and the concerts is what makes Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert an unstoppable force of a vivid musical sensation. I was hooked, and the IMAX technology continued to blow my mind in its and hour-and-a-half running time.

This is one that I feel must be seen on the big screen, and IMAX if available. To experience a film of this nature, it should definitely be seen in a way to feel as real as it can possibly be. Without that, the presence will not shine as big as it should in order to be fully appreciated.  An overall unforgettableexperience.   Four out of four stars for Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert.

 

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