jessitoms Reviews

Life of Riley (2023)

Lisa Datz's 'Life of Riley' Sparks a Yearning for More

[10/10 · 7 December 2023]

"Life of Riley" marks an impressive debut for Lisa Datz, demonstrating her prowess not only as an actress but also as a skilled storyteller and emerging filmmaker. In this captivating 15-minute short film, Datz masterfully weaves a narrative that unfolds with layers of romance, drama, and intrigue.

One of the standout elements of Datz's debut is her ability to showcase a range of talents within a limited time frame. As an actress, she delivers a compelling performance that resonates with authenticity, drawing viewers into the emotional depth of the character. Datz's storytelling skills are equally commendable, as she crafts a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

Datz's directorial debut is characterized by a keen understanding of pacing, visual storytelling, and the ability to elicit genuine emotions from her audience. The cinematography and production quality further enhance the overall viewing experience, showcasing Datz's commitment to delivering a polished and professional product.

As a debut film, "Life of Riley" not only establishes Lisa Datz as a formidable talent in the world of filmmaking but also leaves a lasting impression on audiences. It serves as a promising introduction to what we can anticipate from Datz as she continues to explore her capabilities as an actress, storyteller, and filmmaker. With the potential for expansion into a series, "Life of Riley" sets the stage for an exciting journey into the realms of love, drama, and intrigue under Datz's creative direction.

Abducted (I) (2021)

Abducted - The Movie, Review: sans spoilers!

[10/10 · 18 December 2021]

In today's cinematic blockbuster realm, we are enamoured by glamorous scenes and CGI, pulled into repetitive series of familiar stories and choose movies based on who is acting in them. We don't always get the opportunity to come into a theatre expecting something new with emotionally grasping storylines.

Abducted - The Movie, directed by Daniel Foreman, took me by surprise! This was intelligent, spiritual, tense, and terrifyingly realistic, all while truly encapsulating the daily suppressions of the systemic racisms that are still so hard wired into our society and bringing awareness to the formidable "Highway of Tears", where so many indigenous women and girls have gone missing. To weave all of this into a spiritual thriller with thick plot lines was impressive.

Foreman teamed himself with a stellar cast. The relationships and characters were all portrayed without a Hollywood façade, giving natural emotional connections to the ever-growing character development that takes place throughout the whole film. Everyone had a story to tell and a reason for being who they were; there was a complete cycle of cause and effect for everyone, including the villain. This really fed into the story, bringing you right next to the characters as they strive to survive within their own realms of struggle within society.

The ending gives an honest and inspirational take-away, reminding us that family and appreciation of culture are important, as well as asking for help after traumatic events. They then finished off the film giving one last message of awareness and perspective on the ongoing series of cases to MMIWG.

The summary and the trailer barely scratched the surface of what the movie actually offered and to be honest, I would probably have to watch it a couple more times to gather all the deep underlying layers intertwined into the web of this film. It's mysterious, thought provoking, socially conscious and intense... with a little quick-whit humour spun in for some relief.

You need to see it!