gesture

‘Midwinter Break’ asks, ‘what do we really want out of life?’

Has anyone noticed how it’s becoming increasingly rare these days to find movies that present stories with insightful, contemplative narratives? Granted, pictures like this may not appeal to everyone, but these releases address ultimately account for significant and meaningful aspects of our lives and the nature of existence, big issues that aren’t – and shouldn’t be – easily dismissed. That’s especially true now, given the hunger that many of us have for offerings that provide profound food for thought on both practical and existential levels.

Brent Marchant2026-03-16T21:23:32-05:00February 25th, 2026|Character Study, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews, Romance|

‘How to Make Millions’ puts life into perspective

There are things in life more important than money, but sometimes we lose sight of that, unwittingly allowing our perspectives to become seriously skewed. Unfortunately, this usually happens most often when family-related considerations are involved. And those flawed perceptions, in turn, can become even further distorted when money is tied up with those familial matters, particularly when inheritance concerns loom. Such is the case for a Chinese-Thai family facing the prospects of what will happen to the assets of its terminally ill matriarch.

Brent Marchant2025-08-28T07:39:09-05:00July 13th, 2025|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Mountains’ copes with the nature of change

Change often carries a cost. At the same time, though, it’s also accompanied by unexpected rewards. In either case, however, we frequently don’t recognize what’s coming, what it might entail and how it could affect us. What’s more, a lack of awareness of what’s unfolding can place us in a seriously compromised position.

Brent Marchant2024-11-22T00:27:19-05:00September 8th, 2024|Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Tuesday’ examines making friends with death

Death. It’s a subject that many of us don’t want to deal with, let alone feel comfortable talking about. It can be especially difficult when it involves someone we care deeply about, particularly in a scenario like a parent having to prepare for the loss of a child. Yet death is the one fate we all ultimately share, so it’s not something we can conveniently try to avoid. Given that, then, this is an eventuality that we must all find a way to accept.

Brent Marchant2024-07-16T14:05:19-05:00June 20th, 2024|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews, Sci-Fi|

‘The Hypnosis’ skillfully dissects changes in beliefs, behavior

Sometimes we can all use a little help in changing our behavior when we’re unable to do so on our own. There are many different approaches we can use for this, too, depending on our personal preferences. One of the most commonly employed practices is hypnosis, which has been successfully used for such things as losing weight and quitting smoking. But, in some cases, it can work so well that we may unintentionally end up overcompensating, prompting a whole new crop of issues to contend with.

Brent Marchant2024-07-14T19:20:39-05:00June 15th, 2024|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘The Old Oak’ searches for common ground

Getting along with others sometimes isn’t easy, even under the best of circumstances. Differences – of almost any kind – can become obstacles that impede communications and understanding, potentially making relations between individuals and groups problematic or even impossible. But conditions need not remain that way if we make an effort to get past them, an undertaking that generally calls for finding common ground and seeking solidarity.

Brent Marchant2024-07-07T01:29:11-05:00June 12th, 2024|Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘All Happy Families’ seeks a cure for dysfunction

An old saying maintains that we can pick our friends but not our family. But is that really so? It might seem that way at times, especially in situations where we struggle mightily to get along with them and put up with their annoyances and quirks. However, one could also contend that the individuals we incarnate with are present in our lives to help us learn valuable lessons in areas like cooperation and forgiveness.

Brent Marchant2024-06-29T14:31:48-05:00June 5th, 2024|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘The Miracle Club’ explores the power of pilgrimage

When answers are elusive, we often become frustrated that we can’t find them. That can be especially aggravating when the sought-after solutions are meant to address particularly difficult questions. We’re thus left wondering what to do. However, at times like these, we often resort to embarking on physical or spiritual journeys to tangible or metaphorical destinations that are believed to possess special qualities that serve as sources of inspiration and enlightenment.

Brent Marchant2024-06-12T11:29:51-05:00May 27th, 2024|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Radioactive’ reveals a chillingly toxic truth

An old expression maintains “Don’t believe everything you read in the newspapers.” It’s an adage that seems to have taken on increasing relevancy these days, too. But there was a time not all that long ago when many in the public were willing to accept without question whatever information was reported in the media. Fortunately, there were those who were astute enough to recognize when things didn’t add up and were willing to raise their voices in protest.

Brent Marchant2024-06-05T08:23:01-05:00May 19th, 2024|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|

‘Fingernails’ charts the quest for the perfect mate

How do we know when we’re in love? And, even if we suspect we are, how do we know if we’re with the right person? In an age where individuals are increasingly out of touch with their own feelings – especially the one they seem to crave the most – these are pressing questions that desperately beg answers. So what should we do?

Brent Marchant2023-12-20T14:27:38-05:00November 5th, 2023|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews, Romance|