Cati Gonzalez’s “Ekaj” presents an interesting conundrum for me, because while they compare their film to “Midnight Cowboy” they also compare it to “Kids.” I for one loathe “Kids” while loving “Midnight Cowboy.” The latter is the tale of the American dream and our grasping for it that is often unattainable. Thankfully while “Ekaj” can sometimes have the guerilla filmmaking of “Kids,” it’s thankfully much more steeped in “Midnight Cowboy,” in the end, which is why I probably enjoyed it.
Tag Archives: Drama
A Story in Black & White (2016)
A young woman finds out she is pregnant and spends an increasingly overwhelming week trying to figure out what to do and what she wants her life to be.
Ready to Go (2017)
Lance is preparing to do the hardest thing there is for a pet parent. As he brings his cat to the vet, he talks through a lot of emotions and gets his feelings figured out.
Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare? (2018)
“Truth or Dare?” is a movie that feels like it belongs in 2005 where Hollywood was churning out abysmal remakes of mediocre Japanese horror movies. And that’s what it felt like I was sitting through. It feels like somewhere there’s an original Japanese version of “Truth or Dare?” that’s sadly not even very good, either. “Truth or Dare?” comes from Blumhouse which is usually great about releasing bold and unique horror movies. Even when they land with a thud, their cinematic experiments usually have potential to impress. “Truth or Dare?” wants to be this modern tech iteration of “It Follows” and “The Ring.” With a competent director and writer, this could very well have been a haunting story about the damaging effect of secrets, trauma, and how we never quite know the people we love.
The Hungry (2017) [Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2018]
Set in current day New Delhi, The Hungry is an adaptation of Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare, Here, a second time bride is about to marry a man and bring together two powerful families. As the wedding is prepared and celebrations start, lives are changed and revenge is brought upon various family members.
Ajji (2017) [Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2018]
A young girl goes missing while on an errand for her grandmother. When she is found, it’s clear that she has been raped and left for dead. As the police is no help, her grandmother decides to take matters into her own hands.
Prakasan (2017) [Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2018]
A man leaves his country village and home to go to the city for work and new experiences. Once there, he discovers he may not be ready for the realities of life in the big city. His difficulty in adapting, the challenges he is met with, and being labeled as something he is not all make him question his decision to be there.