Tag Archives: IFC

Film reviews

Skincare Review

Leave a comment

Elizabeth Banks in Skincare

There is a beauty line that is in strange territory. It is reputation-wrecking. Skincare has the audacity of a threatening situation. Written and directed by Austin Peters, it is a thriller of uniqueness. It brings in the place where connections are bound to happen. Its location is California, and the opening brings in an array of gems and success. Style and make-up are the high tier. When the chance of competition arises, there is also the startling momentum of one’s career to face sabotaging elements.

The big star is Hope (played by Elizabeth Banks). Hope is a famous aesthetician with her studio. Her assistant is Marine (played by Michael Jae Rodriguez). Hope has the looks and the personality to sell in her world of success. Changes occur when an owner named Angel opens his boutique across from her studio. Hope receives notifications that her email account has sent many lewd messages. Hope also finds ads for being an escort. The deficits continue to climb. Hope’s life falls into a downward spiral on the brink of losing her studio. Her manic mode goes bonkers. She has the help of a friend named Jordan (played by Lewis Pullman), and she is willing to do whatever it takes to Stop Angel from wrecking her business or find out who is framing her.

It is a silly premise. Skincare does know how to make the detrimental situation clever and enticing. It is a thriller that throws many obstacles into the mixture of the conflict. It is a competition of ego and personality. Where does the line get drawn? The product line is Hope’s weakness because it is not her strong suit. Hope is cute and attractive. She can use that to her advantage. Unfortunately, it leads her to an awkward quid pro quo scenario. Hope has options to save her career, but the conflict is coming to the right decision. The more time passes (with lewd messages and hacked accounts), the continuance of reputation and fame burst into flames.

The stressfulness of the quirky setup is the scandal going to the extreme. The writing is straightforward. It has layers of graphic consequences. The focus of an aesthetician, the film is a murky satire with crinkles of make-up waiting to be purified. Publicity hits all kinds of angles and stresses. Hopes’ rent falls behind. Angel continues to make profits. While Angel is bringing in the revenue, Hope continues in her downfall.

The characterization of Banks is one of many manic and bipolar episodes. It does give its audience the chance to think about personality and professionalism. Is Angel truly her enemy? Does her level of fame mean she already has enemies? Are there people who have tried to take advantage of her before? The background of success is authentic. Skincare creates a reminder for its audience that a following has potential risks. Hope is bound to have her life threatened forever. Can she handle the moving parts properly?

It is wacky, present, and realistic. Skincare gets serious in moderation. It begins with joyfulness, and the hammer comes down in increments. The slapstick aspects are giddy sporadically. Regardless, it knows how to be a thriller, and it knows how to be amusing (while its audience is on the edge of their seats). Three out of four stars for Skincare.

Film reviews

The Last Breath Review

Leave a comment

Kim Spearman in The Last Breath

What is more detrimental? Limits on oxygen levels? Sharks? Two sharks or more? The Last Breath brings terror to the depth where survival is critical. The film is directed by Joachim Hedén is known in his directing to depict perilous diving expeditions. With his recent project, The Dive (released in 2023), he introduces new aspects of fear.

The discovery of a historic finding is what makes The Last Breath unique. With the center of the action taking place arounda WWII battleship, there are many paths to choose or opportunities to become direction-turned. The Last Breath has that expedition factor of hitting unexpected blocks when exploring the unexplored. When the divers go below, the views of the water and the battleship are stunning, however it is the writing that conveys that this is not a friendly environment for a new adventure.

The film introduces us to Levi (played by Julian Sands) and Noah (played by Jack Parr). They both are divers and recruit a group of friends to go on a diving trip. The exhibit is the sunkenU.S.S. Charlotte. The other friends are Brett (played by Alexander Arnold), Logan (played by Arlo Carter), Sam (played by Kim Spearman), Riley (played by Erin Mullen), and Brian (played by Maxime Durand). This diving trip is an extraordinary one for the group. Once they enter the ship, there are many spaces and places to explore. That is until white sharks swim rapidly in and around everyone. As the title hints, having the ability to breathe is the key to making it out alive in The Last Breath.

The sense of trepidation and dread is felt with the limitations of oxygen. Noah reminds the gang frequently about their percentage levels in the oxygen tanks. That had me thinking back and forth about the chances of survival with the gang. Time, stress, and breathing intensity decrease the viability of the oxygen tanks. The usage of resources hitting their plateaus sold me on this gripping storyline with The Last Breath. I asked myself questions. Who is likely to have more air? Who is to think logistically for safety? Who has a chance of making it out with resources hitting limitations? There are also ones about sharks. How can the divers think clearly when  sharks are squirming everywhere? What are the weaknesses of sharks? A WWII battleship becomes the scene of an underwater survival match of sharks and minnows in The Last Breath.

The sense of going deeper creates dangerous possibilities in The Last Breath. The presentation of water is in cinematic mode. The lighting (before and during the peril) immerses its audience in the feeling of being in the trenches with the divers. It leaves the viewer with no limits on thinking and if there is a point-of-return or not for these men.  The vibe of scarcity is pervasive and engaging.

There are components around safe diving in The Last Breath that hold a place of importance. The divers stick together to ensure safety to prevent injuries or death. Many dive films care about finding a terror trap and have their divers fall right into it. The Last Breath does not do that. The difference is The Last Breath provides angles to create a thinking pattern within the suspense for its audience. Predictability finds itself blurred in The Last Breath. It is a direction of peril with many moving parts in the sense of Tetris. Three out of four stars.

Film reviews

Ghostlight Review

Leave a comment

This film takes place in Chicago, Illinois. It is a tale about finding light and escaping during moments of turmoil. It proves that emotions can be portrayed outwardly and that some are stronger than many anticipate. Ghostlight brings its audience on a journey of deep thoughts. The storyline of a struggling father is the means of redemption in Ghostlight and one which Chicago natives will feel a bond with. Filmed around many areas of downtown, Chicagoans will feel the warmness of the city itself. They will especially recognize the theatre scene.

The film’s main character is Dan (played by Keith Kupferer). Dan is a construction worker and is dealing with grief and turmoil in his family. His daughter is Daisy (played by Katherine Mallen Kupferer), and his wife is Sharon (played by Tara Mallen). Dan finds himself dealing with conflicts and underlying issues with no resolution, so he decides to join a community theatre for a production of Romeo and Juliet. He thinks this will be an activity for distraction, but ultimately it foreshadows his own life as he is in character with rehearsals. Working with the mind of the theatrical director Rita (played by Dolly De Leon), Dan’s journey evolves into something more fulfilling than he had ever imagined.

The dynamics of resurfacing challenges are encouraging in Ghostlight, as Dan is faced with many days of having to think through hard choices for his daughter. His involvement in theplay is where his mind can think more poetically. Theexpression of that characterization is its message of brilliance in finding balance with what one is passionate about and how it can lead to more rewarding aspects of life. With the Shakespeare production, Dan’s finds that his emotions while being in character start to bring out the best in him. What happens on the stage carries over to his family life.

There is a feeling that Dan’s emotional path is leading him to let go of what is going on in his personal life and bring it to the dramatic irony in the community production of Romeo and Juliet. Feeling present is where the film finds the moments for Dan to have a sense of purpose. It is a triumphant and exhilarating ride that will touch the hearts of many.

This is a tale where the writing of the film is Dan’s life trying to use art in order to improve his mindset. This works not only for himself, but with his difficult conflicts with his daughter.  There are overbearing aspects to his hardship. The stage and his involvement are where he feels his sense of connection. Ghostlight is written to shed a unique light on the issues of boundaries and finding what is beneficial.

The direction of navigating and finding a balance is where Ghostlight is breathtaking. It reminded me of how much being involved in theater can change one’s life, especially for those who feel there is a hardship that is out of theiitr control. For Dan, his life is in a halting pattern, but the stage is his place of safety and sanctuary for his thoughts and finding rewarding moments. Despite the conflicts with his daughter, and the other issues, there is light and talent that can blend to bring forth empathy and happiness.

My love for Ghostlight lay in its portrayal of how putting effort into a craft can bring meaning to one’s existence in areas of artistry, fulfillment, mental health, and navigating life. There is a juxtaposition here between the stage and reality. Where does Dan’s life find its common ground? Is it with being involved in a production? Is it with his family? Ghostlight precisely navigates the conflicts of Dan with a continuity that is spellbinding.

The stage is the place of purpose in Ghostlight. The navigation of life for Dan is the world of possibilities he finds throughout the film itself. Ghostlight soars with an abundance of happiness, sadness, and acceptance through the heart of a man feeling that his thoughts truly matter. A revolutionary work of art that is diverse and compelling. Theater can truly change lives as it does in Ghostlight. Four out of four stars for Ghostlight.