legacy

‘El Conde’ metaphorically skewers a dictator’s life

In the wake of the recent 50th anniversary of the 1973 Chilean coup d’etat that resulted in the overthrow of democratically elected President Salvador Allende, an effort led by the country’s military and backed by the US government, a number of film projects (both documentary and narrative features) have been released looking back on this event. These projects have taken a variety of forms, and one of the most unusual (and creative) among them has been a production that takes a metaphorical and wickedly satirical look at the life of Allende’s successor, dictator Augusto Pinochet (1915-2006), portraying him in a surreal but fitting milieu, as seen in the hilarious but insightful allegorical biography, “El Conde” (“The Count”).

Brent Marchant2024-01-30T11:26:22-05:00December 15th, 2023|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews, Smart Horror|

‘Indiana Jones’ dials up his destiny one last time

All things eventually come to an end, whether we’re ready for it or not. We may not like what we see, either, especially if we’re troubled by what’s on the horizon. We might even feel like there’s more that we could or should have done to forestall what’s unfolding while we had the chance, opportunities that slipped through our fingers and are unlikely to come again. But sometimes destiny has a way of intervening, giving us another unexpected shot at realizing our aspirations and perhaps even making a meaningful difference.

Brent Marchant2023-08-20T17:15:02-05:00July 5th, 2023|Action-Adventure, Conscious Creation, Movie Reviews|

‘Being Mary Tyler Moore’ surveys an icon’s life and work

I find it curious how often many of us think of the everyday lives of well-known actors and actresses as being virtually identical to the parts they play in movies and on television. These performers are so convincing in their roles that countless viewers tend to believe their on-screen and off-screen personas are virtually indistinguishable. However, when we examine the credibility of that idea, many of us can’t help but come to the conclusion that this notion is patently ludicrous.

Brent Marchant2023-07-27T08:57:09-05:00June 18th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|

‘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 Marchant2023-07-12T11:30:40-05:00May 30th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Living’ breaks the chains of limitation

Willingly taking ourselves out of our comfort zones is something that may make many of us squirm in discomfort. As creatures of habit, we like our lives filled with familiarity and predictability. So, when we find ourselves faced with having to make adjustments in light of our conditions, we might rail against those circumstances, especially if we feel the pressure of time constraints squeezing us into unexpected (and not necessarily welcome) alterations.

Brent Marchant2023-02-12T21:05:28-05:00January 15th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Argentina, 1985’ shows us how to exceed ourselves

All too often, we set limits for ourselves that come to define us, sometimes in a far too restrictive way. But are we enduringly confined to such constraints, or can we surpass them and achieve more than we thought we’re capable of? The answer may surprise us

Brent Marchant2023-02-01T01:19:16-05:00December 24th, 2022|Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Official Competition’ wrangles with rivalry, self-deception

To thine own self be true. It’s solid, sage advice we’d all be wise to heed, especially if we lose sight of it and fall prey to the perils of self-deception, something that can get us into trouble with both ourselves and others. Yet it’s astounding how often we ignore this wisdom and stray off into dangerous territory, full of pitfalls with serious consequences.

Brent Marchant2022-08-01T11:32:46-05:00July 10th, 2022|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Foreign, Movie Reviews|

‘Elvis’ chronicles the rise and fall of an innovator

Every so often, innovators come along in various fields of endeavor who shake things up and create something unique and inventive, revolutionary conceptions that set their particular milieus of expression on their ear. These creations set new standards for others to emulate or adapt, sometimes even birthing entirely distinct genres different from others that preceded them.

Brent Marchant2022-07-26T06:52:47-05:00July 5th, 2022|Biography, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes’ exposes the perils of deception

The truth can be hard to face. We may want to deny it, dismiss it or cover it up, but it inevitably comes back to us in all its unblemished fidelity, forcing us to deal with it, no matter how dire the consequences associated with it may be. Attempts at imposing deception may work for a while, but cracks in the foundation of such lies ultimately emerge,

Brent Marchant2022-07-21T09:05:27-05:00June 28th, 2022|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|

‘Le Guin’ documentary presents an ode to a visionary author

Various fields of artistic expression often go through radical conversions as a result of the visionary works of a handful – or sometimes even just one – maverick figure. Through the singular works of these individuals, entire genres are frequently transformed. In filmmaking, for example, the name Stanley Kubrick comes to mind. In music, it’s the Beatles. And, in science fiction literature, many often cite the writings of author Ursula K. Le Guin,

Brent Marchant2022-07-10T19:15:14-05:00June 2nd, 2022|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|