Featured Post Archives - Brent Marchant

‘Everything Went Fine’ pits love against death

Questions related to assisted suicide and the right to die have been debated hotly for decades, and proponents on each side of these issues have made passionate arguments for their causes. Is it ethical to help someone take his or her own life, or must its sanctity be preserved at all costs? At the same time, is it proper to deny someone the right to bring their existence to an end if they so choose, especially if they are in extreme pain or if they feel that their continuation is anguishing or pointless?

Brent Marchant2023-05-30T18:13:47+00:00May 30th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Drama, Featured Post, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘The Living Record of Our Memory’ validates an art form’s innate value

Imagine if there were no “Casablanca” (1942). No “Jaws” (1975). No “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), no “Avatar” (2009), no “Wizard of Oz” (1939). The prospect is unthinkable, even to the most casual moviegoer (imagine what that would mean for an avid cinephile). That’s what we’d face if no concerted effort were made to preserve these films for posterity.

Brent Marchant2023-05-24T09:20:30+00:00May 24th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Featured Post, Movie Reviews|

‘Still’ profiles an icon’s journey of celebrity and challenge

As a society that worships those in the celebrity spotlight, we tend to place these icons on pedestals, imbuing them with almost superhuman attributes. We often look on them as leading seemingly perfect lives. We may even wonder, “What problems could they possibly have?” But, given their seemingly larger-than-life accomplishments, we frequently lose sight of the fact that these luminaries are people just like the rest of us.

Brent Marchant2023-05-21T02:57:56+00:00May 19th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Featured Post, Movie Reviews|

‘Fathers and Mothers’ scrutinizes parents behaving badly

Wanting the best for one’s children is a natural tendency for many parents. But how far is one willing to go to see this ambition realized? For some, this takes the form of supportive but restrained encouragement, a healthy approach, to be sure. But what happens when the push for success becomes an obsession, one driven by ever-escalating expectations that put undue pressure on the kids?

Brent Marchant2023-05-16T09:13:28+00:00May 16th, 2023|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Featured Post, Film Festivals, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Slava Ukraini’ praises hope and unity

When a group takes on a formidable task, it helps to have a sense of solidarity in tackling it. It’s also beneficial to have a suitable attitude toward it, one full of optimism and hope. And, of course, a healthy dose of commitment can cement the effort, taking events in the desired direction. Achieving those results may not be easy and there may be disappointments or even tragedies along the way. But success tends to multiply itself.

Brent Marchant2023-05-14T22:56:56+00:00May 14th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Featured Post, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Viking’ stresses the need for flexibility, resourcefulness

When we take on challenging, risky or dangerous tasks, it usually helps to have a back-up plan in place. No matter how well we might plan for all conceivable contingencies, there may be times when things still slip through the cracks and need to be addressed. But, even with such a Plan B option, there may yet be occasions that defy even our best projections and sincerest intentions for trying to identify solutions for the unexpected.

Brent Marchant2023-05-07T22:27:00+00:00May 7th, 2023|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Featured Post, Foreign, Movie Reviews, Sci-Fi|