Critic Nic
Film reviews, entertainment news, and insight.
ThanksKilling (2009)
Mar 5th
Director/writer: Jordan Downey | Rated: n/a (violence & nudity) | Review date: 5-Mar-2010
Jordan Downey’s ThanksKilling starts off with a smack-talking killer turkey chasing town a topless dame in colonial America, setting the stage for the rest of this preposterous ultra-low budget horror-spoof. In modern day, when five college classmates head back home for the holiday they unknowingly stumble upon the awoken curse of the Thanksgiving turkey. I already used up my food analogies in my review of Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, so bear with me.
ThanksKilling is one of those films that aims to be bad. Not just the low-budget More >
Fish Tank (2009)
Feb 28th
Director/writer: Andrea Arnold | Rated: n/a (language/strong sexuality) | Review date: 21-Feb-2010
Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank has won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and after viewing it there’s no surprise as to why. The film stars newcomer Katie Jarvis as Mia, a troubled 15 year old growing up in a fairly low income area of England with her drunken and abusive mother (Kierston Wareing) and her younger sister (Rebecca Griffiths). Things take a big change when Mia’s mom brings home Connor, played by Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds).
Mia spends her days wondering around town, typically getting into trouble and doing More >
Black Dynamite (2009)
Feb 21st
Director: Scott Sanders | Rated: R | Review date: 20-Feb-2010
Long-barreled revolvers, kung-fu, and funky pimps are the key ingredients to Black Dynamite, starring (and also co-written by) Michael Jai White. Black Dynamite (White) is ex-CIA; back on the streets to get revenge after his brother is murdered by the Man. In his rampage, Dynamite discovers the pool of corruption and conspiracy by the Man to keep the black people down. White is hilarious as the title character, keeping a serious face during the most obnoxious of moments. White’s cut physique and nicely choreographed kung fu moves make him the ideal More >
Remarkable Power (2010)
Feb 14th
Director: Brandon Beckner | Rated: R | Review date: 14-Feb-2010
Kevin Nealon stars as Jack West, late-night talk show host on the verge of losing his job. In order to save his career, Jack must come up with a plan to boost his ratings. Meanwhile Ross (Evan Peters), a nobody living on his own in L.A. is seeking purpose in his life. Ross seeks inspiration from an infomercial promising “remarkable power.” Behind the scenes, private detective Van Hagen (Tom Arnold) and crime scene photographer Athena (Nora Zahetner) start to put together the pieces of a bizarre and mysterious case.
I have to More >
Bright Star (2009)
Feb 14th
Director/writer: Jane Campion | Rated: PG | Review date: 14-Feb-2010 – Happy Valentine’s Day!
Jane Campion’s Bright Star is the biopic following John Keats and his romance with Fanny Brawne during the last years of his life. Ben Whishaw plays Keats, the underrated and struggling poet. Fanny Brawne, played by Abbie Cornish, is the girl next door and aspiring fashion designer who’s at first rather unimpressed with poetry to say the least. Soon enough though, the two become drawn to one another and an exciting love affair begins.
Campion does a great job capturing the romanticism of 19th century London. The costume and More >