Category Archives: Film reviews

CUFF 2023, Film reviews

You Can’t Stay Here Review: A Psychologically Haunting Ride with The Chicago Underground Film Festival

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With the conclusion of The Chicago Underground Film Festival, I felt many of the film experiences required a lot of tolerance tohandle. The invigorating part of this phenomenon is that filmmakers are putting their art to the test. I felt that many of the films went in-depth into worlds that are unknown. Specifically, I mean there were films that explore addiction, politics, and various challenging subject matter. The film that haunted me the most is You Can’t Stay Here, a film in which a mistake made in the wrong setting takes a turn for the worse.

You Can’t Stay Here is directed by Todd Verow. The film’s opening delivers that noir feeling which sends shivers down its audience spine. It is a film that takes place in the 1990s around New York City. The vibe during that time period on the east coast provides a setting of realistic suspense that only grows more haunting. You Can’t Stay Here feels eerie based on the perception of how the mind feels when anxiety is provoked. It is also a film in which safety is questioned sporadically throughout due to experimental filmmaking and writing.

The plot of the film is geared on a photographer, Rick (played by Guillermo Diaz). He strolls through New York’s Central Park focused on his photography. Rick’s whole world is turned upside down when he is the witness of a homicide situation. The murderer is Adam (played by Justin Ivan Brown) and he puts Rick into a life-threatening scenario. Adam has feelings for Rick and Rick has feelings for Adam. With their eerie bond, Rick’s situation can threaten his life if he reveals evidence to the authorities about Adam. Because Rick tends to be a man of solitude already, there is a feeling of intense loneliness that only causes his desire to grow throughout You Can’t Stay Here.

The film is an experience of anxiety which is built upon the audience’s increasing concerns about Rick. His thoughts and Adam’s presence continuously haunts him. Adam also shows up into Rick’s dreams. It is a bizarre experience and has dazzling sensations. The realism of the dangers impacting Rick’s life arewhat causes ongoing anxiety and suspense during You Can’t Stay Here.

There is a line in the film that goes, “Lose yourself in my eyes.” Rick is in a place where he is completely beside himself. Adam is always in his head and on his mind. The horrific event where Rick chose not to do anything only opens the door to his reality being altered. The state of mind throughout You Can’t Stay Hereis a continuous blur of emotions. It is a ride which starts with aneerie event that simply does not leave Rick or the film’s audience. You Can’t Stay Here is an experience that is unforgettable, but hard to revisit. You Can’t Stay Here is a film that requires an open mind. Three stars for You Can’t Stay Here.

Film reviews, Landmark Cinemas: Movies You May Have Missed

Joyland Review

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This movie experience made me think about life’s questions, including those on pursuing connections and feeling connected. Joyland is a spellbinding film because of the deep and humanistic approach used by writer and director Saim Sadiq. His international achievement is successful because he knows how to portray characters with cultures and family values. Watching Joyland was invigorating due to its passionate story of finding realization in uncharted territory.

The story of Joyland takes place in Pakistan. The main character is Haider (played by Ali Junejo), one of the youngest siblings inhis family. Haider struggles with employment. Due to this, he takes a job with a Bollywood-style burlesque show as a backup dancer. He realizes that there is a lady, Biba (played by Alina Khan), who grabs his attention. Haider and Biba begin to connect and build a strong bond. The problem is that Biba is trans, but nevertheless the love between Haider and Biba grows. It is clear they have deep feelings for each other. However, due to cultural expectations and family values, Haider feels he will be hated due to his attraction for Biba. Fundamentally, hisfamily believes that men should fall in love with women and have children. While their love may be strong, how can Haider and Biba move forward?

As the tension rises with a renaissance of disturbing cinematography, it is clear that love is real for Haider and Biba. Their love for each other grows out of disconnect because both feel emptiness in their lives. When they find each other, they feel accepted.

With the role and norms of a traditional family taking a center role in the film, viewers learn this is also where the secrets of Haider and Biba lie. Haider is in a relationship with his significant other, Mumtaz (played by Rasti Farooq), and questions why his life is at a standstill. He also wonders if he is happy with Mumtaz. The tensions caused by dishonesty is where the film gets shaky with increased with increased turmoil.

Deep down, Joyland is a poetic ride that consists of frustration, disconnect, and confusion. The film’s writing is strong throughout. I felt sadness and aggravation as Haider and Biba find themselves at a loss about their situation. The feelingswhich come from love’s desire keeps the narrative direction flowing. I appreciated how the bond of love keeps growing with an emphasis on mindfulness and sensitivity. Biba is sensitive about being trans, and Haider is sensitive about loving someone who is trans. This fact does not change who they are as humans. What changes is how others perceive them. Regardless, both have a right to be happy.

Joyland is artistic in the way it shows the way love can come in unexpected moments, and with unexpected people. The film is also set in an interesting territory of different political and religious tides. Joyland soars with engrossing performances and filmmaking. This is one of the most touching and emotional films I have seen in a while. The chances of love surviving deliver hopefulness in Joyland. Four out of four stars.

Film reviews

Dumb Money Review

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In this post-covid era there are still the ups and downs of the stock market, and the many curiosities of Wall Street. Dumb Money, directed by Craig Gillespie, takes place during the Covid era and it is an accurate representation of some of the most curious events that have ever occurred with the stock market.

The characters in Dumb Money range from wealthy, to middle class, to poor. It’s the story of how one man turned Game Stop into a high-value company and helped many people make a lot of money by manipulating the stock market. It’s an incredible film one that will grab viewers’ attention.

Dumb Money begins with Gabe Plotkin (played by Seth Rogen), Steve Cohen (played by Vincent D’Onofrio), and Ken Griffin (played by Nick Offerman), three wealthy businessmen with fancy homes, expensive hobbies, and excesses galore. They accumulated much of their wealth through stocks and they think they understand the stock market until, that is, Game Stop starts growing massively because Keith Gill (played by Paul Dano) is using social media and market strategies to convince people to invest in it. Keith begins to live stream and as his audience grows, so does the Game Stop stock.

Keith is a naturally gifted soul. He has a wife, Caroline (played by Shailene Woodley), and a brother, Kevin (played by Pete Davidson), who struggles to hold down a job and makes poor choices. Keith’s personality grabs the attention of others who take his market advice seriously. Those people include a Game Stop employee, Marcus (played by Anthony Ramos), and a lady who works in a retirement home, Jenny (played by America Ferrera).

As Game Stop increases in value the big wigs on Wall Street and the wealthy people who got rich from the stock market start getting concerned. Keith keeps pounding the message that people get ripped off a lot in our economy, and he tells people how to beat the fat cats at their own game.

Dumb Money is a film that is written with class and a sense of humor. It is a wild, inviting comedy with bizarre characters in serious situations. It is a monumental and unique masterpiece. Four out of four stars for Dumb Money.