Tangerine (4/4)

Writer and Director: Sean Baker

Co-writer: Chris Bergoch

Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, James Ransone, Karren Karagulian, and Mickey O’Hagan

Tangerine: Too much going on in a broken world, is there any potential for a positive outcome?  Betrayal. Friendship.  Drug use. Disloyalty. Hustling to get money. Living a double life.  These are some of the adrenaline thrills and behavior we see from the lead characters in feature film, Tangerine.  I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end; Sean Baker created a storyline that made me really care for the characters and fall in love with lead Sin-Dee, who is played by Kitana Kiki Rodriguez.

What defines betrayal? Is it conditional on the relationship? Does it depend on if you’re a coworker, best friend, or lover? This storyline intertwines two worlds, between a taxi driver and prostitutes in Los Angeles, there is plenty of action, pun intended.

This film is a raw and exposed look at getting into trouble in a big city.  Everything will come to surface eventually, whether it’s a mother in law catching her son-in-law cheating, or Sin-Dee’s best friend finding out she lied. This film shows who’s really there for you, and how to steer on the air of caution.  Tangerine defies predictability.

There were sweet moments brief care and love. Was it illusional? Was everything and everyone delusional? I noted a lot of symbolism and metaphors with the films embodiment of twists and turns-that which life can bring. The writer/director, Sean Baker, created this film with an exceptionally artistic eye.

It's a MUST WATCH!

Note: These ratings and review are personal opinion of the author.

RUNOFF (3/4)

Written and directed by Kimberly Levin

Starring: Joanne Kelly, Neal Huff, Alex Shaffer, Kivlighan de Montebello, Tom Bower & Darlene Hunt

Runoff, an Independent Feature was screened for New Yorkers to view at the chic Crosby Street hotel in SoHo on June 21st. While reading the description of the film beforehand, I was eager to see a film about farm life, which is polar opposite from a life we are used to in New York.  The film exceeded my expectations with a depiction of a life utterly opposite from city life.  Relationship wise. Lifestyle wise. Economic wise.  Now, we live in a society where—for the most part—there are infinite possibilities. Infinite ways to go about a goal or issue.  This family did not have such widespread choices.  The family in Runoff is threatened to leave their land, in financial struggle, a health issue, and much anxiety that surfaces and flows like that of a river. The problem at hand can leave for a bit, but it will just come right around as the stream cycles.

The debutant director Kimberly Levin, who's also the writer of the film, has created a complex story with even more complex characters. In this world nothing is black and white, and no one is good and evil. The story and the characters are all in that gray zone, just doing their best to survive. It does get overly complicated and close to confusing at points, but the story does bind together to deliver a powerful punch with a thoughtful story.

With beautiful cinematography, color, nature, and plenty of wide shots showing farm life, this film created an awe. A  sympathy for the family, even though I as the viewer do not live on a farm.  Betty, is the mother who holds everything together like glue, for as long as she can.  I think her character can be a metaphor for all of us and our actions in day-to-day life.  Some things require a sense of urgency.  Sometimes the issue at hand completely has to do with money, and sometimes, we as humans don’t realize how our actions can affect more than just our family. Those are some of the beautiful and insightful feelings I was left with as the film was coming to a close.  When I make a decision, is it only best for me? For my best friends?  Am I being selfless or selfish? How can I help the community? I think this colorful film highlights family troubles, decision making, with nuclear family dynamics still highlighted, and a farm lifestyle that may soon become extinct, this film is an eye opener to remember that we are all being affected by the same stream.

The film is filled with beautiful performances by entire cast including lead actors Joanne Kelly and Neal Huff. Joanne's performance has lots of shades and she play in beautifully. Neal Huff shows the charisma of a charming and loving husband and father, girth and pain of a hard working farmer and man struggling hard to support his family. The supporting cast is amazing and beautiful performances by children make it even more flavorful.

Runoff will open Theatrically on June 26th, by Monterey Media.  It will also be available on On Demand, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Xbox, and more.

(with addition inputs from Art Shrian)

Note: These ratings and review are personal opinion of the author(s).

Jurassic World (3/4)

Jurassic World - Official Trailer (HD) The Park is Open - June 12 http://www.jurassicworldmovie.com/ Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce the long-awaited next installment of his groundbreaking Jurassic Park series, Jurassic World. Colin Trevorrow directs the epic action-adventure based on the novel "Jurassic Park" by Michael Crichton.

Similar to the Terminator, you and many of others have been fan of Jurassic Park. The first movie in the series was breakthrough in special effects and animatronix, setting up bench mark for many future movies and pushing films into a new era of visuals. Also, the movie made dinosaurs a household thing. Almost all of us had our dinosaur crazy days!

This movie is a definite reminder of those good old days, and that good old movie. Almost so it feels like a rehash, but a good rehash. Amazing effects, great visuals, good performances and not too bad storyline either. It makes for a fun entertaining movie.

***spoilers***

Similar to original, the movie is about a newer better dinosaur theme park owned by Mr Masrani, played by none other than the new Hollywood A-lister from India, Irrfan Khan. Bryce Dallas Howard works for him and looks over and manages yeh park. Chris Pratt is the raptor trainer, and dinosaur lover. All is hunky-dory until the latest crazy dinosaur which is hybrid of T-Rex and raptors among others creatures, sets lose. He's a man made intelligent dinosaur, who just wants to destroy and kill. It's up to our couple and her 2 nephew kids (mother played by completely wasted Judy Greer. Why does she only gets such roles?), to save the day. Well, it's not just that simple but a good way to some it up!

***spoiler ends***

You should definitely watch this movie, if you're a Jurassic fan or dinosaur fan. Or even if you want to watch a fun summer entertainer. You can ignore it if you don't care about Hollywood summer entertainers!

FSLC & Met Opera co-present FREE outdoor screening of WEST SIDE STORY | @filmlinc

The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera announced that they are co-presenting a free outdoor screening of Jerome Robbins & Robert Wise’s Academy Award–winning film West Side Story on the Lincoln Center Plaza in front of the opera house on Friday, August 28 at 7:45pm. The 1961 classic is a bold, beloved adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which was originally inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The free screening, running 2 hours and 30 minutes, is open to the public and seating is first-come, first-served. The event is a special tease, serving to kick off the Met Opera’s popular Summer HD Festival.


Before Lincoln Center became the place to hear Plácido Domingo sing “La donna è mobile” or witness Anna Netrebko deliver Lucia di Lammermoor’s mad scene, the Upper West 60s was imagined in this film as a gritty, blue-collared neighborhood where Tony belted out “Something’s Coming,” Maria declared “I Feel Pretty,” and the Jets danced to “Gee, Officer Krupke.” Natalie Wood stars as good girl Maria (dubbed vocally by Marni Nixon), who falls in love with handsome Tony, played by Richard Beymer, who happens to be the leader of the gang facing off against the faction led by Maria’s brother. Rita Moreno and George Chakiris complete the principal cast (both winning supporting Oscars). The real star of the show, though, is Bernstein’s glorious score. From “Maria” to “Tonight” to “America” to “Somewhere,” West Side Story features one unforgettable tune after another (not to mention song lyrics by a twentysomething Stephen Sondheim), along with dazzling emotional choreography. The story of impossible love and violent death should set the stage ideally for Bizet’s Carmen—the opening opera of the festival the very next night on Saturday, August 29.
The much-praised box-office blockbuster received 11 Academy Award nominations and won all but one. Oscars include Best Picture, Best Director (Wise and Robbins—the first time that award went to co-directors), Best Supporting Actor and Actress (George Chakiris in his first major film role and Rita Moreno), Best Color Cinematography, Best Color Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Sound, Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Film Editing, and Best Color Costume Design.

For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com