THE LEGACY OF A WHITETAIL DEER HUNTER
There are too many missed shots in this nature-calling dramedy of a father desperate for an incredible bonding experience with his son that never goes as planned. Josh Brolin puts in a genuinely thoughtful performance, yet surprisingly there are very few comedic sparks flying between him, Danny McBride and young Montana Jordan. And that’s a shame since it’s directed by the creator of Eastbound and Down & Vice Principals.
THE BLEEDING EDGE
Filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering slice open the greed, depravity, and the long-lasting devastation left by the $300 billion medical device industry. The tragedy of seeing uninformed patients (mainly women) putting trust in procedures that should be safe but instead destroys them from the inside out is infuriating. This jarring documentary puts the industry, FDA, and doctors under the knife to cut through the bullshit so to bring much-needed awareness to those who think innovation is always a good thing.
WHITE FANG (2018)
This telling of Jack London’s classic tale uses unique animation in hopes to make it feel fresh for an entire new generation. But the problem is it lags for far too long and it’s only 85 minutes to begin with. And for a story about animal instinct and survival and the poisons of humanity, it excludes any excitement for those in hopes of a stirring viewing experience.
CALIBRE
Two lifelong friends go on a hunting trip that will alter their lives forever in a gripping, murderous thriller w/ two solid performances from Lowden & McCann. Director Palmer uses an unfortunate event to show what someone is truly capable of while feeling suffocated by a quiet, desolate atmosphere where an escape seems non-existent.
RECOVERY BOYS
A revealing documentary about the opioid epidemic shown through four young guys needing recovery while healing deep wounds out in the West Virginia country. Director Elaine McMillion Sheldon puts addiction up-close and personal, witnessing first-hand the struggle, fear, strength, and the never-ending journey of being clean. It’s affirming and affectionate seeing such fragile lives saved, but also alarming when one little thought can shatter them in to tiny pieces.
DUCK DUCK GOOSE
An average animation about a silly goose who flies solo but becomes grounded while begrudgingly taking two ducklings under his broken wing as they find their way home. This is solely made for the smallest of ages & they’ll be distracted by the bright colors; but, it’s hardly funny & does nothing substantial w/ its story, struggling to find worth in the journey.
TAU
This wannabe sci-fi thriller about a woman befriending a house’s computer program in order to escape is completely colorless & quite pathetic. It’s an aimless, lazy story of creator vs creation you’ll want wiped from your memory instantly. You’re only left wondering why on Earth Gary Oldman would even lend his voice to such a Netflix dud.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
LUKE CAGE: SEASON TWO
After the first season of Luke Cage, expectations were at an unreasonable high for the second season. But, the first couple of episodes made me roll my eyes a bit, thinking, “oh, boy – this is going to be bad.” Hokey dialogue, uneventful plot, and the scene with the New York Jets being one of the wackiest things I’ve seen on a show. But, if you can sit tight through those first couple of episodes, things pick up big time.
That’s due, in large part, to the villains. In terms of performance, I would put The Bushmaster among the MCU’s greatest. His grand introduction really injected some life into the series. Then, you have Mariah Stokes, who pushes the envelope far beyond things you think she’s capable of. The tension between Cage and those around him starts to boil over, too, and suddenly I found myself watching with sweaty palms.
Between the characters and the action, it had me calling this Netflix’s best Marvel series yet by the time I wrapped it up. And, if you’ve seen Daredevil or The Punisher, that’s saying something.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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