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Film reviews

No Other Land Review

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This is by far one of the most important and essential documentaries I have ever seen. No Other Land paints a meaningful portrait that blends elements of hope and faith. It goes into uncharted territory by showing the impact which exists today in the Occupied West Bank. Despite all the press, this documentary struggles to get attention. Even an Oscar win was not enough for it to receive the distribution it truly deserves. I do not believe there has been a release with so much controversy since the Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. However, the rights were acquired under the same distributor. Despite all the efforts, No Other Land isn’t getting to a wider audience. This is a pity, since it is a compelling and revealing film that taps into difficult emotions.

No Other Land is not a typical documentary, because it is about a real, ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The film documents the issues surrounding the West Bank’s Masafer Yatta, a small, occupied area that is corrupted by politics and soldiers while families lose their homes. One man stands in the center to capture it all and tell his story…Basel Adra. He is living through the tensions and recording live conflicts betweenthe soldiers and the villagers. In many moments, he documents the horrid nightmare for residents living in Masafer Yatta. No Other Land is very real and hits its audiences hard. The harshness of the turmoil is shocking. Scenes that are hard to dismiss will lead to disbelief but will also take viewers breath away.

As the footage provides many B-roll moments, my gut was wrenching because of how hard-hitting reality is. The political climate and unexpected boundary changes come as punches to the face. At the same time, the film reminds audiences to have a heart and pray for those who are suffering. No Other Land is a rare example of cinematic film making. The presentation of extreme personal loss sparks deep empathy.

Through Basel’s experiences, his co-directors Yuval Abraham and Hamdan Ballal are with him. Yuval is the journalist. The land expulsions lead to increased fighting. The continued losses only serve to elevate the tension. When Basel gets out his camera and yells the words, “I’M FILMING YOU,” audiences see the courage that he has put forth to create the documentary. No Other Land is astounding. I was hooked, I was mortified, and I was astonished.  No Other Land is spellbinding. The film still has limited distribution, but I have faith that it will keep climbing the ladder to reach more new eyes. The story of corruption and poverty is pure adrenaline in No Other Land. Four out of four stars.

 

Film reviews

Shadow Force Review

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It is a thriller that lacks qualities. It has spies and political factors, and it moves too quickly. Shadow Force is an enticing title, but the outcome is flawed. Directed by Joe Carnahan, who also wrote the film. Leon Chills was a co-writer of Shadow Force. There is a 007 feel to Shadow Force. Lots of it feels like a TV series. One that felt like it was still in development. It is just all over the place. It did not hold my attention, but it did when there was a safety area of a car for a child. Shadow Force has a creativity with gadgets and a poor foundation.

The plot of the film is set on a separated couple. They are Kyrah Owens (Kerry Washington) and Issac Sarr (Omar Sy). They have their son, Ky (Jahleel Kamara). Their old employer is on a hunt for them. Their old boss is Jack Cinder (Mark Strong). Jack is a ruthless man of wealth, greed, and always succeeding. However, the costs of livelihood are at stake.

The approach to the film is slow with pacing. Its speed to brutality is rapid, and it happens without context. It brings in a team of spies behind the scenes. Ones that relate to Kyrah and Issac, and their character names are Auntie (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), Unc (Method Man), Cysgod (Marvin Jones III), and Anino (Jenel Stevens). They are all spies behind the shadows. The hunt is hot, but Shadow Force does not boil well to sell.

The spy plot is just one that continues down the path to mingle. Some moments had me sold, and some had me in boredom. Much of the “boredom” was the instant direction to rampage violence. I understand mayhem sells in action movies, but layers of why and what is happening should have a brighter presence. There were not many “layers” of clarification for justification with Shadow Force.

The dynamic of two-faced spies and mistakes is where I feel Shadow Force had a chance. One to bring a loop of more turmoil to the story and fulfillment of what is causing karma. The hidden operations and truths do not deny lies. The context of invigoration is where Shadow Force is a blur. It is a massive smoke screen.

I will say that the cleverness of characterizations was dazzling with Shadow Force. They were just the wrong characters in the wrong spy movie. It is one where it is a bucket that is just a paint of confusion. What were the missions of the characters? How serious are politics and spy issues? Where are the layers of a puzzle? The film starts with a bam, and moving along, it begins redundancy.

To give any form of positivity, the diversity is one-of-a-kind. Sy’s character brings in the French language with a young boy. I felt there would be a correlation between bringing more international politics for a point-of-action mode on this factor. It did not suffice, only more dragging and unexpected action. They had no means of support to better Shadow Force. Two out of four stars.

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2025, Film reviews

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight (Chicago Critics Film Festival 2025)

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This film paints a portrait of what reality is like for a younger individual to be faced with poverty. On some level this truthful portrait hurts, but at the same time, it is eerie. Written and directed by Embeth Davidtz, she is legendary as she also plays one of the leads. The pacing of the film in an austere setting is done artfully. The harsh environment spirals to reveal honesty.

The film is based on a memoir focused on a young girl named Bobo (played by Lexi Venter) who tells the story. Bobo is an eight-year-old living with her family on a Rhodesian (now Zimbwawe) farm. At a very young age, she is exposed to extreme poverty. Her mother is Mrs. Fuller (Davidtz). The film highlights hardship and politics in an era before technological advancements.

What came to mind while watching this film was the theme of working hard for a purpose. Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight portrays inequality in a realistic way that creates empathy. The story demonstrates resilience. It is by far one of the best features presenting the effects of poverty during childhood. The film’s subject is a great discussion starter, because the audience gets to see the world through the eyes of an eight-year-old surroundedby drugs, harsh language, and parents who provoke objectionable behavior in a country where harsh conditions are the norm. When seeing this film at The Chicago Critics Film Festival, it moved me to think more politically and empathetically.