When so many movies are released each weekend and trailers often seem better than the movie itself, what should one do? In this precarious situation, we consult the The CineMagic 8-Ball (TM) to help us see through the nebulous marketing haze. Doing so just might save us all a disheartening trip to the cinema and spare us unnecessarily springing for $7 popcorn. See what the 8-Ball says about this week’s releases… ——————————————————————————————————————————————- DARLING COMPANION The story of a woman who loves her dog more than her husband. And then her husband loses the dog. Hollywood legend Lawrence Kasdan has had a hand in some of the most famous and memorable films of all time. Capable of…
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[DIFF Review]…Escape Fire
How many pills would you take to feel better or at minimum numb your pain? 2, 5, how about 64…a day? That’s one of the stories explored in Matthew Heineman’s affecting documentary. Escape Fire covers prescription addition, the numbers of the health care industry and more. The documentary starts by describing the term “Escape Fire” and tells of the 1930’s smoke jumper Wag Dodge whose actions coined the phrase. It’s a fascinating premise especially when applied to the crisis in the US Health Care System. We’re told the answer is right in front of us but when the US spent 2.7 Trillion dollars last year, really where and how do you start? Many…
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[DIFF Review]…Extraterrestrial
Timecrimes (or Los cronocrímenes) is perhaps one of the best loved time travel films out there, aside from Back to the Future, The Time Machine and Primer of course. In Nacho Vigalondo’s latest feature, Extraterrestrial, he treats us to a more humorous affair with a mixed bag of great romantic comedy-esqe tropes. There’s a lovely female lead, the unsure of himself male lead, even a quirky neighbor. But the difference here is that all those familiar elements are set against the back drop of an alien invasion. To fans of Vigalondo’s previous work, the Cary Grant/Merna Loy level of goofball antics in this film might seem like something out of left field, but that’s…
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[DIFF Review]…Compliance
One of the more controversial films of the 2012 Dallas International Film Festival (or any Festival really) is Craig Zobel’s harsh reality-based account of a phone prank pushed entirely too far. Likened, in theory, to the Milgram experiment, Compliance tells a tale of the desire to appease (or comply with) authority figures gone wild. It’s a story too unbelievable to be true but is and, as the film shows, if you layer something ever so slightly, you can push any one past better judgement and far beyond their breaking point. Compliance starts with an already stressed fast-food manager Sandra prepping for what will be a normally busy Friday. Everything from…
