Suicide Kale is fine. It has some minor laughs, mild intrigue and some genuine empathy at its centre. But it’s not exactly a standout in any way. 5.5/10
Tag: <span>mixed review</span>
Splendid Isolation is some sort of ambient apocalypse. I’m not entirely sure I’m on board with that as a mood. But I still respect this film’s uniqueness, intent and especially its incredibly strong visuals. 5.6/10
While not bad as a film, this is a story I’ve seen multiple times done both better and more interesting. Gasoline is ultimately pretty forgettable if you’ve seen more than one queer crime film. 5.1/10
Beyond its underrepresented protagonist, there’s such a strong sense throughout the film of Jorge Manzano’s passion and talent as a storytelling. But so many of the decisions and limitations brought on by budget hinder that story from reaching its full potential. 5.0/10
While at times the movie skews a bit edgier, this is a very safe, entry-level sort of punk scene on display. The kind of punk ready to be beamed into your living room for a safe, stay-at-home watching experience. 5.9/10
NIMBY bites off more than it can chew. But I respect the attempt. This film is listed as a comedy and there are some jokes. But the subject matter is too dark and too prescient to be particularly funny. 5.3/10
I have respect Gridiron Grind because of the story it chose to tell. But I also really wish that the execution of that story had matched the potential of this narrative.
The Slave is one of the most stylish softcore films I’ve seen. It delves deeper into kink than other similar movies. What I would give for a version of this movie that had dialogue to back up the rest of the film’s good qualities. 5.6/10
The First Girl I Loved (2019) is not the most groundbreaking or ambitious film, especially in its visual choices. But this small-scale tragedy is tender enough to generate some emotion. 6.1/10
August at Twenty-Two came too late in the mumblecore subgenre to be a classic. But even if it had a release ten years earlier, I doubt it would’ve been then either. 5.5/10