Snowpiercer vs. The Giver
I wouldn't begrudge anyone who thinks the films Snowpiercer and The Giver have as much in common as an elephant and a plum, but I have been thinking about the two in conjunction recently.
Category: Disclosure
-
-
When the Game Stands Tall (Carter, 2014)
For all of the rightful emphasis placed on the way contemporary society pressures and damages young women by placing ridiculous and unhealthy expectations on them, we may be even more uncomfortable looking at how cultural stereotypes can hurt boys trying to become men.
-
Dream Deceivers: The Story Behind James Vance vs. Judas Priest (Taylor, 1992)
Dream Deceivers stops short of insisting on an explicit connection between Mrs. Vance's religion and her willingness to blame heavy metal music for her family's dysfunction. But only just.
-
The Maid’s Room (Walker, 2013)
Despite the many second act flaws, the film is not without merit. The opening act is very strong, the four leads dig into their characters with relish, and Arturo Rogriguez composed an effective, atmospheric score.
-
Levitated Mass (Pray, 2013)
Levitated Mass is one of those delightful, obscure but unheralded documentaries that always seems to congregate around my the bottom of my list of annual favorites.
-
Get on Up (Taylor, 2014)
Even if, like me, you care little for Brown's music, there is still a lot in the film about race, gender relations, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, childhood, and determination to give you plenty to think about.
-
Wet Behind the Ears (Copeland, 2013)
Like its protagonist, Wet Behind the Ears is unpolished but still willing to work for our approval. The characters do acknowledge how difficult it is to be (young and) unemployed, but the film doesn't wrap those acknowledgements in a most-put-upon-generation entitlement blanket.
-
Heaven is for Real
1More Film Blog is giving away a free DVD of Heaven is For Real to one lucky reader.
-
Cannibal (Cuenca, 2013)
Much as with George Sluizer's The Vanishing--another horrific film that I can't quite understand why anyone esteems--I find that Cannibal's stylish beauty doubles rather than mitigates the repulsion I feel at the film's lack of humanity. If you aren't going to tell me anything true, at least don't try to trick me into thinking it's not ugly.
-
Honour (Khan, 2014)
The United Nations estimated in 2000 that there are approximately 5,000 honor killings each year. Can a movie adequately address the horror of knowing your family wants you dead?