There is something immediately unnerving about Atropia, and not just because it takes place inside a fabricated country designed to help soldiers rehearse for war. Directed by Hailey Gates, the film understands that the strangest part of these simulations is not the fake buildings or staged violence, but the emotional labor required to keep the illusion alive. From that discomfort, Atropia builds a dry, frequently funny satire that slowly reveals a softer and more complicated center.
Read MoreQuiet, Haunting, and Underseen: Why Canadian, Sniper Deserves a Second Look
Canadian, Sniper is the kind of film that asks for patience and, for those willing to give it, quietly rewards that investment with something haunting and unexpectedly intimate. Flying largely under the radar upon its release, it deserves a second look as a deeply felt character study about PTSD, masculinity, and the uneasy silence that follows war. Rather than functioning as a conventional thriller or war film, the movie is almost entirely inward-facing.
Read MoreAll the Lost Ones (2024)
In All The Lost Ones, director Mackenzie Donaldson delivers a lo-fi dystopian thriller that’s as much about survival as it is about the slow erosion of trust in a fractured America. Set in a near-future where climate change has catalyzed a government crackdown and subsequent civil war, the film explores the lives of a small group of resisters trying to outrun a brutal militia force. At the center of the story are Nia, her sister Penny, and her boyfriend Ethan, who find themselves hiding in a remote cabin—until their sanctuary is disrupted by a militia leader named Conrad.
Read MoreM*A*S*H: Pilot (1972) #RetroReview
The pilot episode of M*A*S*H, which first aired on September 17, 1972, lays the foundation for what would become one of television’s most beloved and enduring series. Written by Larry Gelbart and directed by Gene Reynolds, the episode immediately establishes the show’s unique blend of sharp humor, satire, and heartfelt moments. With a premise centered around the antics of doctors and nurses at a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War, the series introduces a colorful cast of characters who set the stage for years of clever storytelling.
Read MoreVikings: Valhalla: The Complete First Season (2024) #BluRay
Vikings: Valhalla: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray offers a thrilling return to the Viking world, packed with intense drama, battle scenes, and rich historical intrigue. Set a hundred years after the events of the original Vikings series, Valhalla follows a new generation of heroes, including the famed explorer Leif Eriksson, his fiery sister Freydis Eriksdotter, and the ambitious prince Harald Sigurdsson. This fresh chapter brings a new layer of conflict, as tensions between Vikings and English royals escalate, while old Viking faiths clash with new Christian ideologies.
Read MoreAmerican Sniper (2014)
American Sniper has been sitting on my desk since December, but rather than watch it at home, alone, I decided to venture to my local cinema to see it alongside my fellow gun-toting, red-blooded, Texan friends. I opted for the latest showing, not because I had a choice, but because that was all that was available. Keep in mind, I'm seeing this weeks after it's release and I'm still sitting among a packed house.
Read More