Zugzwang (2015)

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

One of the bigger problems in “Zugzwang” is the intent behind the premise and concept. I was never sure if this short film was supposed to be a whimsically sweet tale of an underdog pursuing love, or a disturbing tale of a young boy out of touch with human dynamics who can’t take a hint. I found the ultimate resolution a bit uncomfortable and unsatisfying, but thankfully those caveats don’t bog down “Zugzwang,” completely. True it sounds like I’m down on the short film but despite its hazy intentions director Yolanda Centeno’s short film is charming and inventive.

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The PC Thug: 25 Facts You May Not Know About Reading

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

Believe it or not, there was once a time where not all kids shows was about goofy characters singing songs in repetition. Surely, we had “Barney,” and “Bananas in Pajamas,” but we also had shows that taught, educated, and brought us an experience. Before Elmo took over, “Sesame Street” was a great parade of puppets and humans learning together. There was also “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood,” and “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?” The best among them though was “Reading Rainbow.” After the heartbreaking cancellation of “Reading Rainbow” in 2009 by (the gradually right leaning) PBS Network in America, Levar Burton fought to bring the show back, and despite his difficulty the series still lived on through memories and the love by fans of all ages.

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The Women (1939) [Blu-Ray]

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

Director George Cukor’s 1939 classic “The Women” is a pretty superb and remarkable film, and that’s because it features a primarily female cast. There isn’t a male cast member in the entire cast of seasoned performers, and while this might be cause for wonder in regards to the context of the story, the narrative really doesn’t need men. Cukor’s film is about women both old and young, and how they deal with the world and each other. Men are really irrelevant in the grand scheme of the social structure of the female and how their bonds with one another craft their future. While primarily depicted as a comedy, it’s also very much a sad drama about how women deal with their issues of infidelity and insignificance. Their issues and problems are real, while the consequences of infidelity and divorce really create a tidal wave of heartbreak and trauma that lasts throughout the narrative.

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The Normal Heart (2014)

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

Director Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of the acclaimed Larry Kramer stage play “The Normal Heart” is a stunning and often grueling drama that thankfully never sugarcoats the painful illness it touches upon. It’s a human drama about human beings stricken with a horrific disease that reached pandemic proportions in the 1980’s and was generally ignored by the media and the government for many years. “The Normal Heart” is a tough watch because it is also the first chapter in an ongoing war that continues to affect the world and is still generally ignored, and dismissed as hopeless by many to this day.

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Watercolor Postcards (2013)

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

One of the main draws to director Rajeev Dassani’s “Watercolor Postcards” aside from its positive message, is the wonderful cast he assembles. His film is colored with an array of brilliant character actors, from Jonathan Banks, to John C. McGinley. Keeping the film afloat though is the sheer excellent performance from Bailee Madison. I’ve been a fan of her performances for years, and here she handles what could have been a goofy character with grace and subtlety allowing for a protagonist filled with an endless supply of hope and faith that makes her look strong rather than naïve.

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Ghost World (2001)

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

I know a lot of these coming of age dramedies about young people learning to move on with their lives is supposed to include bouts of self loathing, but “Ghost World” tends to play it a little too far, most times. Director Terry Zwigoff’s adaptation of the Daniel Clowes’ graphic novel is considered a cult classic, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what. It’s such a cloying, misleading, and obnoxious movie with trite ideas that, despite my repeated tries I can never get around to remotely enjoying this.

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