Year: 2021

Reviews of “Dead Pigs,” “Supernova” and “Land” are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Media Network, available by clicking here ...

Looking for new and different movie viewing options? Find out about some excellent selections on Thursday, June 24, on the latest edition of The Good Media Network’s Frankiesense & More video podcast with yours truly and special guest host Danielle Findlay. Tune in at 1 pm ET on Facebook Live by clicking here. And, if you don’t see the show live, catch it later on demand! ...

“Land” (2020 production, 2021 release). Cast: Robin Wright, Demián Bechir, Sarah Dawn Pledge, Kim Dickens, Warren Christie, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Brad Leland. Director: Robin Wright. Screenplay: Jesse Chatham and Erin Dignam. Web site. Trailer. When beset by an unspeakable calamity, it can be nearly impossible to regroup. Those who care about us will undoubtedly try to lift our spirits and help us get our bearings back, but that may not be enough, especially if our heart and spirit are not in it. So what are we to do under such circumstances? That may not be an easy question to answer, but we always have choices to restore hope, a notion examined in the heart-tugging drama, “Land.” For Edee (Robin Wright), life undoubtedly seems pretty unfair. Having experienced a heartbreaking personal tragedy, the Chicago native is unsure what to do. Edee’s sister, Emma (Kim Dickens), recommends that she see a counselor, but that seems to provide little comfort. In fact, Edee is so distraught by her circumstances that she has trouble coping with everyday life, frequently lapsing into bouts of uncontrollable hysteria. She also unreservedly lets others know that she doesn’t want to be around them, feeling as though she doesn’t belong ...

In celebration of Gay Pride Month, join my partner, Trevor Laster, and me for a fun and insightful interview about the dynamics of same-sex relationships on the Bring Me 2 Life radio podcast with host Selo Closson, beginning June 22. To listen, click here and select Episode 206. And, for a preview, click here. The broadcast will also be available on these additional formats: Spreaker, Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser and Jiosaavn ...

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, Tuesday, June 22, at 2 pm ET, available by clicking here. And, if you don’t hear the show live, catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser and Jiosaavn ...

“Dead Pigs” (2018 production, 2021 release). Cast: Vivian Wu, Haoyu Yang, Mason Lee, Meng Li, David Rysdahl, Zazie Beetz, Cao Kefan. Director: Cathy Yan. Screenplay: Cathy Yan. Web site. Trailer. There’s more that binds us than meets the eye, and the strings that connect us may take some surprisingly unexpected forms. It may not be possible to anticipate the impact they’ll have, either, but we should nevertheless make an effort to remain conscious about their existence, for the developments that arise from them can be quite striking – and startling. So it is for a collection of seemingly unrelated parties in the recently released fact-based Chinese comedy-drama, “Dead Pigs.” In 2013 near Shanghai, China, thousands of dead pigs were found mysteriously floating down the Huangpu River, a phenomenon that eventually spread nationwide. The cause? No one knew initially, but the story created a sensation that captivated the public’s attention and dominated the headlines of various news organizations. This strange incident prompted an array of related events, some of them seemingly removed from this enigmatic source, but all of them ultimately tied to the perplexing aquatic swine. And those ancillary tales provide the basis for the interrelated stories in this quirky ...