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Reviews
Joe's War (2017)
Important and timely film
Joe's War is a very effective and relevant film. It focuses on the rapidly growing PTSD epidemic that's claiming the lives of many American veterans.
The film follows Joe (Michael Markiewicz) a soldier returning home from two tours in Afghanistan who can no longer face the "normality" of everyday life after experiencing the horrors of war.
It isn't long before Joe turns to alcohol and the relationships with his friends, family and girlfriend begin to deteriorate. A psychiatrist (Armand Assante) and a fellow veteran (Louis Vanaria) may be the only two people who can save him from total self-destruction.
This is what the Hurt Locker would be if it followed the Jeremy Renner character once he returned home. Now this isn't an all out war film but it does feature some very graphic battle scenes that are hard to shake.
I highly recommend this film. It's a great character study and it brings awareness to a very critical issue in our country.
Found (2012)
Blown Away
This movie is proof that a good story will overshadow any budgetary limitations. I'd heard of this film for quite some time because of all the rave reviews. I don't usually watch new horror movies because I think they're generally unwatchable but I decided to give Found. a look because I was so curious to see what the production did with only $8,000.
Well, I was engaged from the opening scene when a young boy named Marty tells us through voice over that he sneaks into his older brother Steve's room when he's not home just so he can take a look at the severed heads he keeps in his closest. Needless to say, Steve is a serial killer and Marty's the only person who knows his older brother's secret.
The film gave me chills in a way very few films do. There's something very real and disturbing about the subject matter that does not let up until the end credits roll much like Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.
It is important to point out that aside from the story, every other aspect of the film is incredibly amateur. The footage looks like it was shot on a digital camera from the early 2000s, the sound is very poor and the acting from most of the cast is very amateur. Does it matter? Surprisingly not at all. I basically ignored all of this because the story was so captivating and relevant to today's society that I just wanted to see how much worse this young boy's nightmare could get...and it gets indescribably horrifying.
Kudos to the team for basically picking up a camera and using whatever resources they had to tell such a twisted story. If you're mature enough to get past the budgetary limitations and appreciate the film for what it is, you will not be disappointed. This is coming from a die hard horror fan. Best horror film I've seen in many years.
Brutal (2012)
Brutal Review
Just watched this film at a friend's house last night and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was!
The plot concerns a group of friends from Brooklyn who disrespect a crime boss named Carlo (superbly portrayed by Peter Green) one night. As a result, they're beaten within an inch of their lives and left bleeding in the street.
Eager to retaliate, the four friends hold up Carlo's bookmaking operation and make off with almost 100k. BIG MISTAKE! The friends quickly realize they're in way over their head once Carlo decides to exact revenge.
Brutal is a dark, gritty, no nonsense crime film in the same vein as Pusher. If movies like that are up your alley, I highly recommend this one.