film reviews, interviews, features | BRWC

Author: Allie Loukas

  • The Debt Of Maximilian: Review

    The Debt Of Maximilian: Review

    The Debt of Maximilian

    “The Debt of Maximilian” is a low-budget dramatic thriller that follows the life of Max (Travis Lee Eller.) Max is a pretty unlikeable lead character from the start; he suffers from a gambling addiction that he keeps his family in the dark about and has insurmountable amounts of debt to repay. At home Max has a pregnant, stressed out wife and a small child. As the couple is facing foreclosure on their home Max becomes desperate for cash, so much so that he is willing to do almost anything to get it.

    Throughout the film Max strolls around town looking for money, trying to place gambling bets, and just being all around desperate. When he runs into his younger brother, Kyle, played by Mark Valeriano, who, in my opinion was the strongest actor in the entire movie, is where he gets into real trouble. Kyle has been selling drugs for cash, and asks Max to hide his money for a while. Max, who is unable to control himself around said wads of cash, of course runs himself into a mess again. There’s violence, threats, chase scenes, and some poorly choreographed fighting. 

    Which leads me to my next observation; let’s talk about the general quality of this film. Well, the editing is not good, the cinematography is not good, and the acting varies from passable to just bad where I can’t recommend this to a general audience. That being said, when I read the budget for this film, a mere 10,000 dollars I understood its shortcomings much more. It is very hard to make a film on that kind of money, a herculean effort by the director that should not be ignored.

    That being said, there is potential here. Does the film fall into the “so bad it’s good” category? Yes, yes it does. Maybe that would make some of you reading this want to see it even, and, in theory, that’s not really such a bad place to be in for an unknown director. I think the filmmaker, Saxon Moen, could be a legitimate B-movie director on Lifetime or something similar. Heck, I could actually see this film being purchased by Lifetime in the edited state that it is in right now.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o95TwoiWlMo

    Is this a film that would be a critical darling? No, but, I’ve seen other ultra low budget indies that have absolutely no potential to capture any sort of underground audience. The difference here is that this one does have something to the point where I think this director could gain a kind of cult following, and potentially even make a living off his efforts; and that is a feat in and of itself.

    For Moen, I do hope that happens and he finds his way with an underground audience. If he made another film, I would be more than willing to watch it, this film did hold my attention as well. I got through the entire thing without feeling the endless need to skip forward, it had entertaining action bits and some fun sequences. If you do watch this though, take it for what it is, a bit of fun in a so bad it’s good way. I don’t think this film takes itself too seriously and it could serve as a guilty pleasure, or a bit of fun for a Friday or Saturday night.

  • The Wolf Of Snow Hollow: The BRWC Review

    The Wolf Of Snow Hollow: The BRWC Review

    The “Wolf of Snow Hollow” is the second feature from writer, director, and actor Jim Cummings. In similar fashion to his debut film “Thunder Road” (2018) Cummings plays essentially the same character; a fast-talking, nightmarish divorced cop trying to solve a mystery. This time around he’s a former alcoholic searching for what or who is killing women in the sleepy town of Snow Hollow, Utah.

    Set against a snow dusted backdrop beautifully captured by DP Natalie Kingston we’re immediately catapulted into John Marshall’s (Cumming’s) bizarre mind.There’s a lot going on in this film, not only is there a killer on the loose, but there’s multiple intersecting storylines. Including John’s rocky relationship with his ailing father (the late Robert Forester) and his toxic parenting style with his 17-year-old daughter Jenna (Chloe East.)

    Although Cummings is the lead, he interestingly shares the screen quite a bit with fellow female officer Julia Robson (Riki Lindhome) who, in true “Fargo” (1996) fashion, was very well-suited at solving the crime. The two played off each other quite well, a unique pairing I wouldn’t expect to work but it did. Cummings’ acting style is interesting; his good looks would lead you to believe he would only be capable of showing surface emotions, but there’s a lot bubbling underneath the handsome exterior and he really breaks the pretty boy stereotype.

    His character was equally tragic and funny and reminded me of an aggressive, alcoholic version of Deputy Dewey (David Arquette) from “Scream” (1996) so much so that I kept wishing It were set in the mid-90’s.Throughout the piece Cummings pokes fun at toxic masculinity. There were some incredibly funny one-liners “have women had to put up with this shit since the Middle Ages?” Psst, yes we have.

    I appreciated the film’s very forward thinking in terms of the way it played with gender stereotypes, with the focus here on something that used to be incredibly taboo; a woman in the police force.There was good build and suspense throughout that really made me wonder if the killer was human or wolf, but also made me wish that it were the film’s main focus.

    Whereas the opening scene started off as a traditional horror film, which hottie is going to die first, the scenes thereafter sort of melded into something I didn’t expect and didn’t really follow any sort of formula. It was almost like there were two different plots. John Marshall as a struggling alcoholic suffering from childhood trauma, and John Marshall as a funny, jerky, and somewhat inept cop trying to solve a serious crime.

    I don’t know if the confusion came just from the editing, or if this was an actual intended mix of styles and sub-plots. Either way it was a bit all over the place. Generally speaking, editing was definitely not the invisible art here.

    It was too aggressive to the point where it became jarring, the film was also sadly over scored to the point where I lost what was going on in multiple scenes. There were just so many cuts and so much music that the plot got a bit lost. 

    This is not to say I didn’t enjoy this film, I did; and everything it said and was trying to say. It was a little Coen Brothers, a little “Scream” (1996,) and a little “Split” (2016) all mixed into one, and I can almost see this being made into a TV series that follows a different murder each episode. Maybe for that version the wolf comes out at each full moon.

  • This Is Paris: The BRWC Review

    This Is Paris: The BRWC Review

    Paris Hilton is an icon. Love her or hate her, Paris spawned an entire generation of pseudo celebrities, and is even credited with inventing the selfie. As the original “famous for nothing” heiress Paris created a sub-culture built on the heels of the recognition she gained from the reality series “The Simple Life” where she lived on a rural farm and worked blue collar jobs with her best friend Nicole Richie.

    Most people remember her famous sayings “that’s hot” and “loves it” but none of us ever met the woman behind the curtain and carefully constructed image.Fast forward to present day, we meet Paris as a successful DJ. An entrepreneur in her own right, Paris shrewdly capitalized on her mid 2000’s fame and created a global brand. This girl is sharp. She knows how to make money, but she really isn’t the image she created.We also meet her equally intelligent sister, Nicky Hilton Rothschild who gives her doses of tough love.

    Their sisterly bond is interesting as they had two entirely different experiences growing up, but Nicky’s care and concern for her sister was unique and heartwarming. We then dive into Paris’s upbringing, and it wasn’t all glitz and glamour as one would think.Paris was a rebellious teen, and during those years her parents sent her off to a handful of different schools in hopes they would straighten her out, the worst of the lot being Provo Canyon School where Paris and her classmates recalled being verbally, physically and emotionally abused.

    Each have suffered lasting effects from the abuse, in Paris’s case it led to her getting into a toxic relationship with Rick Solomon who then sold her out with the infamous “1 Night in Paris” sex tape. Paris, not understanding that abuse was wrong due to her treatment at Provo clung on to Rick for the love she so desperately craved and needed. She reluctantly agreed to filming the sex tape due to pressure from Solomon, and her desire to make him happy.

    The PTSD caused a lifetime of damage for her, humiliation and degradations followed her well into her adult life. The documentary, from director Alexandra Dean really makes you understand the inner workings of Paris. Why she is the way that she is, and what her struggles were. We were even able to see how much she has grown when she was about to play at the Tomorrowland festival, arguably the biggest moment of her career as a DJ.

    It was there that her boyfriend at the time, Aleks, instead of being happy for her, seemed hellbent on being jealous and catty and tried to ruin it for her. I admired Paris as she ripped the VIP bracelet off his arm and kicked him out, not allowing him to ruin what she had built. She went on to play a successful set and move on with her life. I obviously don’t know her, but, as an audience member, I felt proud of her.

    She has suffered abuse, has been hated, made fun of, and humiliated yet she still knew her worth, presented herself as someone of high value, and no longer had the tolerance for someone who just wanted to control her. She set a boundary and stuck to it. Women as a whole could follow this example from her. No matter what we have gone through in relationships and life, we all deserve someone who treats us with care and respect, supports our dreams, and wants to be with us.

    At one point in the film, Paris described a photo famed photographer David LaChappelle took of her before she was famous. Inside her grandparents posh Beverly Hills living room Paris flicked off the camera, unknowingly telling the world and her abusers to fuck off. It was interesting as it was almost prophetic of her growth trajectory as a person and a celebrity, she’s had enough and isn’t afraid to show it.

    Please visit www.change.org/shutdownprovo to sign the petition to close the abusive Provo Canyon School.

  • Herb Alpert Is… – Review

    Herb Alpert Is… – Review

    Who is Herb Alpert? Most commonly known as a trumpeter who led Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass in the 1960’s, Herb, now in his 80’s, has taken to visual arts. He is a painter and a sculptor as well as a philanthropist. “Herb Alpert Is…” from documentarian John Scheinfeld follows Alpert in the present day, showing his evolution from musician to artist and musician.

    The most interesting part of this piece to me was showing how artists basically cannot escape art, and how one form of artistry can often mold into another. It is not uncommon for a musician or an entertainer to be interested in the visual arts and vice versa, it’s almost like artists have the creativity chip running through their veins and its unescapable.

    I have to admit, being a millennial, I had heard some of Alpert’s music before but I wasn’t all that familiar with it. It was interesting to learn about him, and I really enjoyed seeing his daily life and learning his personality. Unlike many other famous musicians, Herb seems incredibly stable. It was refreshing to see a famous artist in their 80’s who has a sharp mind, and hadn’t passed away early due to drugs or some similar tragedy.

    Herb seemed to have a nice home life, he has been married to Lani Hall since 1974. Maintaining a 46 year marriage in the entertainment business is admirable and rare, and Herb is truly an artist in every sense of the word. A man who cares deeply about his music and visual art, and someone who puts passion and commitment into everything he delves into, including his personal relationships. It was nice to see a man who didn’t allow fame to get to his head, he seems like a person I could sit down and have a coffee and a chit chat with and not feel like I wasn’t on his level.

    That being said the documentary left something to be desired with the editing and pacing. We were able to learn who Herb was. His music, his artistry, his business career and other parts of his life that were important to him, but there wasn’t a linear storyline from his youth to the present day it was rather all mixed around; and I think the film could have held my attention better with a different approach.

    I understand the filmmakers were trying to show all aspects of his life, but perhaps should have zeroed in better on one thing at a time to have a more cohesive storyline. The editing tended to jog from one part of his life around to another and simply didn’t feel fluid.

    Aside from that, I do enjoy documentaries about musicians like Herb, and hope to see more of them. It was nice to travel back in time to an era where the music industry felt more pure. Where music was almost entirely based on talent and these extreme images that record labels and management teams create for musicians today weren’t necessary. The talent was raw, the artists were real, and the music not overproduced and auto tuned.

  • Elvis: That’s The Way It Is – Review

    Elvis: That’s The Way It Is – Review

    Elvis: That’s The Way It Is – Review. What can I say about Elvis Presley that hasn’t already been said? He is an artist among a small pool of unique icons. When we think Elvis we think of legends like The Beatles, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, or Frank Sinatra.

    There will truly never be another Elvis. “Elvis: That’s The Way It Is” is a digitally remastered documentary from 1970 that follows Elvis’s journey and return to the stage in 1969 after he had been absent from concerts for a decade.

    We get to see Elvis in the recording studio and at his rehearsals up until the arc of the film when we finally got to see him on the Las Vegas stage. What was most interesting to me about this piece is that we got to see Elvis as he truly was, an artist.

    The name Elvis is synonymous with an image, much like someone like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis’s image has almost been overused to the point of abuse; I have to admit I even own a set of Elvis dishes, matching cups, and salt and pepper shakers I picked up at an estate sale not long ago. I think the novelty of Elvis really made people lose sight of who he actually was, a man of true talent from the golden days of music who was completely immersed in his craft and cared deeply about it.

    It would be difficult for someone like Elvis to be made famous today, his baritone voice so unique and rare that I can’t imagine modern pop record label executives wanting to invest money into developing his artistry, or even having an ear for it. Elvis’s music, voice, and performance style are unique and timeless. He is unforgettable, and so many of his songs ring true today.

    In the latter third of the film I was reminded of his song “In The Ghetto” which, as someone from and currently residing in Chicago, I really appreciated this song and felt Elvis’s awareness of these issues were not only pure and sincere, but also ahead of their time. This song is not only still culturally relevant, but for this type of artist to draw attention to the unfair and inescapable conditions people are born into was a big step for the music industry and entertainment as a whole.

    Elvis truly is the King. After a decade offstage for him to come back with such a mesmerising performance was a treat to watch. Not only was his voice still smooth and his performance flawless, but he had such a charm and great interaction with his audience.

    Though his fans put him up on a pedestal, Elvis literally leaned down from the stage to kiss them and show them appreciation and love. He even walked through the crowd, though this may be a move you couldn’t do in today’s world, it was nonetheless risky, but that seemed to be who Elvis was. A risk taker for his craft, his concerts, and his life. It is a shame the world lost an icon too soon, but thankfully Elvis’s memory lives, and we can always go back and marvel at the artist who spawned arguably one of the most unique images ever created in the music industry.

    At the risk of sounding cheesy, I tip my hat to the original filmmaker, the late Denis Sanders, and think I speak for all of us when I say “thank you, thank you very much.”