Year: 2022

“Mass” (2021). Cast: Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Ann Dowd, Reed Birney, Michelle N. Carter, Breeda Wool, Kagen Albright. Director: Fran Kranz. Screenplay: Fran Kranz. Web site. Trailer. Getting past the pain in our lives is an arduous undertaking. It goes without saying that recovering from a terrible tragedy can be exceedingly difficult. Even talking about it can be grueling, especially when unspeakable acts are involved. That’s ironic, too, given that openly vocalizing one’s feelings is often one of the most effective ways of bringing about healing. But, in many cases, that’s what needs to happen at some point if the survivors of such atrocities want to get past them to achieve a sense of closure and perhaps to be able to express forgiveness, elements that provide the basis for the new domestic drama, “Mass.” Two middle-aged married couples are up against the biggest challenge of their lives. Having unexpectedly shared in an exceptionally traumatic experience, they have spent several years trying to unravel their feelings and to figure out how to pick up the pieces. They’re so numb that they don’t even know where to begin, and that’s kept them from moving forward to address the issues in question. But, ...

Reviews of “A Hero,” “Red Rocket” and “Delicate State,” as well as a year-end documentary wrap-up preview, are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Media Network, available by clicking here ...

“Red Rocket” (2021). Cast: Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Suzanna Son, Brenda Deiss, Judy Hill, Brittney Rodriguez, Marlon Lambert, Ethan Darbone, Shih-Ching Tsou, David Maxwell, Parker Bigham, Seward B. Lott, Dustin Hart, Brandy Kirl, Elisa Silva. Director: Sean Baker. Screenplay: Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch. Web site. Trailer. The temptation to do whatever we want can sometimes be great, especially when the enticements are irresistible. But just because the desire is there, does that mean we should always act on those impulses, particularly when there’s the potential for others to be harmed by what we do? Many of us would justifiably look upon such actions as the height of irresponsibility, our heads spinning and wondering how anyone could be so selfish and inconsiderate. In situations like this, it would seem some hefty life lessons would be in order, the stuff of which provides the basis of the story line in the new dark comedy/cautionary tale, “Red Rocket.” Mikey Sabre (Simon Rex) has led quite a colorful life. For the past 17 years, the prolific “adult entertainer” and silver-tongued con man has been living the high life in L.A., earning a bundle of cash and hauling in a boatload of awards for ...

“Delicate State” (2021). Cast: Paula Rhodes, Charlie Bodin, Glenn Morshower, Cathy Baron. Director: Paula Rhodes. Screenplay: Paula Rhodes. Web site. Trailer. How does one survive when the world is falling apart? What’s more, how does one accomplish that when simultaneously assuming a significant new responsibility? That’s a rather full plate to handle, and making decisions on how to proceed may be difficult, if not overwhelming. Such are the circumstances faced by a young married couple in the disturbing new speculative drama, “Delicate State.” Imagine if you were parents-to-be, blissfully happy about the impending blessed event. Such is the case for a young middle class couple, Paula (Paula Rhodes) and Charlie (Charlie Bodin). And, because they want to remember as much as they can about the experience, they decide to record a detailed video diary, a gift they one day hope to share with their young one. In the diary, Paula and Charlie speak to their unborn child as if he or she were already present. They discuss everything, from their feelings about becoming parents to the naming process to their hopes and aspirations for the future. They exude tremendous joy at the prospects that await them, and it shows in ...

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, Tuesday, February 8, 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 ...

“A Hero” (“Ghahreman”) (2021). Cast: Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Sahar Goldoust, Maryam Shahdaei, Alireza Jahandideh, Saleh Karimaei, Mohammas Aghebati, Farrokh Nourbakht, Ehsan Goodarzi, Fereshteh Goldoust, Fatemeh Tavakoli, Ali Hasannejad Ranjbar, Naghameh Ghavanlou, Sarina Farhadi. Director: Asghar Farhadi. Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi. Web site. Trailer. To truly leave a mark on one’s life, it pays to do so with a genuine sense of integrity, one that accurately reflects one’s authentic self. Such is the essence of heroism, the stuff of which legends big and small are made. But, regardless of the magnitude behind these tales, they all have one thing in common – they’re stories rooted in truthfulness, untainted by secondary considerations that can dilute or undermine the validity of the alleged primary intent. Those are among the issues raised in the new Iranian morality play, “A Hero” (“Ghahreman”). Rahim Soltani (Amir Jadidi) can’t seem to catch a break. The onetime-painter/calligrapher is doing time in prison in Shiraz, Iran for his failure to repay a loan that he was planning to use for starting his own business. However, his creditor, Bahram (Mohsen Tanabandeh), was so displeased with what he saw as Rahim’s fiscal irresponsibility that he brought a lawsuit against him that ...