The masterminds behind Rabies (2010), Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado return once again with thundering vengeance with Big Bad Wolves! Not only does the story, characters, and soundtrack dispel a potent trail of “badassness” but even the title helps elevate and cement Big Bad Wolves’ reputation to an unparalleled class of prestigious filmmaking. They take the overdone vengeance theme and presents a full 360 degrees on the issue from the perspective of the pedophile, victim’s father, and policeman. Representing the three corners of this love triangle, they tango back and forth, leaving us to question whose side we really are. Our expectations and perception of the human behavior is tampered with and by the end, we become whimpering sheeps unable to face the fangs of these monstrous creatures. A must watch!

For those of you who don't know already, I do mini reviews on my instagram: @SosReelThoughts. And while I love to do more written reviews, I am consumed by my video reviews as you can see but definitely check me out on my instagram for more concise and short reviews! And Big Bad Wolves is finally now on VOD and everywhere else so definitely watch it! One of the top films of AFI FEST '13!!!

‪#‎BigBadWolves‬ available now: 
iTunes
On Demand
In Theatres

Read more »

READ MORE

Kristin from Sales on Film and I review Rebecca Zlotowski's Grand Central starring Tahar Rahim (A Prophet) and Lea Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color). One cay say that this film is an atomic kind of film considering that it takes place at a Nuclear plant with a juxtapositioning story of an equally dangerous love affair. Although, there are some technical things I liked about this film, this soap opera kind of story was just bland and uninventive. I guess it's just nice to see attractive people getting it on.

Follow Kristen:

http://SalesOnFilm.Tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/salesonfilm

Read more »

READ MORE

OK, ladies and gentlemen! My review of Spike Jonze's Her is finally here! Her showed at the AFI FEST '13 and I can easily say its one of the best film of 2013! Spike Jonze's Her is THE ULTIMATE 21st century love story that contemplates the idea of the essence of love and relationships. Jonze serenades and cradles us in his arms as we equally reflect and relate to Theodore's loneliness, dilemma, and revelation. Definitely a MUST-SEE!!

Read more »

READ MORE

HOLY CRAP! AFIFEST is now over! I watched over 20 films and I am here to review them! I know this video is incredibly long so just watch the beginning and skip to your preferred mini review!!

TOP FILMS:

02:40 - Yeon Sang-ho's The Fake

03:20 - Harmony Lessons (BEST FILM IMO)

04:26 - Spike Jonze's HER

05:20 - The Past (review: http://youtu.be/DPOSSjOzodU)

05:52 - Borgman 

06:19 - Gloria (Chile's entry to Oscars '14)

06:45 - Like Father, Like Son

07:17 - Jodorowsky's Dune

07:57 - We Are the Best

08:36 - Miyazaki's The Wind Rises (review: http://youtu.be/NXi0cDWaY9I)

08:56 - Blue Ruin (review: http://youtu.be/5GtXI2NYsTM)

09:20 - Big Bad Wolves

OTHER FILMS:

10:18 - Nebraska

11:23 - Saving Mr. Banks

12:10 - Child's Pose (Romania)

12:41 - The Grand Central

13:19 - The Lunchbox

14:24 - Manakamana

15:18 - MOEBIUS!!!

16:11 - Tom at the Farm (review: http://youtu.be/CLkR9sUiNZg)

16:54 - Vic + Flo

17:40 - In Bloom

18:24 - The Sacrament

18:58 - Inside Llewyn Davis (review: http://youtu.be/LLMi5QEvtfk)

20:24 - My Dog Killer

WHEW! That was a long and doozy one! Thanks yall for those who actually watched this!!!

Read more »

READ MORE

Kristen from Sales on Film and I review the new Coen Bro's film, Inside Llewyn Davis. Inside Llewyn is an undeniably beautiful film that chronicles the failing life of Llewyn Davis. Even though its premise is simmering in melancholy and harshness, the Coens construct a tale that shines through and through especially with the stellar performance by Oscar Isaac. 

Follow Kristen:

http://SalesOnFilm.Tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/salesonfilm

Read more »

READ MORE

Whoever said animation was just for kids clearly hasn't been introduced to the grim work of South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho. His sophomore feature, THE FAKE, showcases the kind of South Korean social ills seen in his debut film, THE KING OF PIGS. But this time, he dissects another subject – religious cults – through his realistic animation style.

The story centers on an unlikely anti-hero, a drunk abusive father named Min-chul who reappears into his family's life, only to feed his gambling habits with his daughter's college savings. Meanwhile, their small country town is on the brink of devastation as their land will soon be flooded by a dam construction project. Apprehensive of their future, the townspeople turn to the leaders of a church that promises them a haven-like housing development in another town. However, the church leader, Choi Kyung-suk, is a wanted man seizing the opportunity to lure the entire town to give their fortune to him. In his maddeningly drunken state, Min-chul smells something foul in the air and tries to expose Choi as a fake.

As with any cult, the only way to have subservient devotees is by stripping their soul bare, only to slowly give back what was already theirs. The whole town becomes susceptible to irrationality when they are starved by desperation and fed false hopes and illusions about the power of God. Ordinarily sober people become inebriated with the intoxicating sense of God's will, and it blinds them from taking responsibility for their own lives. The townspeople oscillate between good and evil – a distinction that becomes murky as good-intentioned people become monsters.

As human beings, we shake our heads and think that this could never happen to us, but director Yeon holds a mirror to the audience to suggest that at any moment, desperation can gnaw and puncture our toughest layers, turning even the utmost "nonbeliever" into a "believer." Like a powerful religious leader himself, director Yeon does not let us go so easily and instead creates a simmering tension for the entirety of the film that compels us to wonder if we are any better than the characters on screen.

It's no news that Yeon's films are not easy to swallow, but as with any arduous journey, there is a transcendence that allows us to look beyond ourselves and question our preconceptions of who we are. THE FAKE is a dark and provocative commentary on modern South Korea that never ceases to shock or challenge viewer's perception of religious cults and themselves.

(via AFIFEST.com)

Read more »

READ MORE