Ramin Bahrani’s stellar and often brilliant drama is very much a post 9/11 film about the immigrant experience, the “America Dream,” and the promise of perpetual poverty. In a country that doesn’t even grant its born citizens a chance at higher quality of life, what hopes do immigrants have? Ramin Bahrani’s indie hit “Man Push Cart” focuses primarily on Ahmad, a young man who is working toward a big goal that always seems so painfully out of his grasp. Like everyone in America, he works until he can barely stand, and he does it every single day without complaining.
Category Archives: Movie Reviews
Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)
Taylor Sheridan’s “Those Who Wish Me Dead” is a nice, neatly packed vehicle that hearkens back to the simpler thrillers from the 1990’s and doesn’t really demand too much from her. Back in the decade, this movie probably would have been headlined by someone like Ashley Judd or some such. In either case, “Those Who Wish Me Dead” isn’t entirely an original or groundbreaking film, but as a solid and reliable thriller, it works. And it works damn well once it gets moving.
The Djinn (2021)
A 12 year-old who spends more time alone than he probably should finds a book of spells from which he summons a being that wants something dark from him. As he works to survive his night alone and return the being where it came from, more is discovered about his family and why he is the way he is. Continue reading
High Ground (2020)
A young Aboriginal man works with a former soldier to save his family and land from the newly arrived British while tracking down a dangerous criminal.
Thunder Force (2021)
Riddle me this: If the media keeps boasting about how much of a brilliant actress you are, and you do nothing but star in crappy movie vehicles created by your husband, are you really that much of an actress? I ask that because I’ve about lost all tolerance for Melissa McCarthy. Maybe at one time in her career, she seemed like she could rise to the top of the heap. But her insistence on allowing her husband Ben Falcone to sabotage her career with consistently awful movies has completely tainted any remaining good faith in her.
Central Park (2017)
During a financial scandal that has put one teen’s father in jail, a group of mega rich teens go to Central Park one night to get drunk, get high, hook up, and relax. As one can expect from a slasher film, these are exactly the things that set off their killer.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time (2021)
When their plan to steal $14B goes sideways, a group of highly trained mercenaries takes refuge in a family house where they encounter something quite unexpected.