motivation

‘Touch’ explores what might have been

“Touch” (“Snerting”) (2024). Cast:. Egill Ólafsson, Kōki, Pálmi Kormákur, Masahiro Motoki, Yoko Narahashi, Ruth Sheen, Masatoshi Nakamura, Meg Kubota, Tatsuya Tagawa, Charles Nishikawa, Sigurour Ingvarsson, Starkaour Pétursson, Akshay Khanna, Kieran Buckeridge, Benedikt Ellingsen, Maria Ellingsen, Eiji Mihara, Eugene Nomura, Harpa Elísa Ϸórsdóttir (voice). Director: Baltasar Kormákur. Screenplay: Baltasar Kormákur and Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson. Book: Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, Touch (2022). Web site. Trailer. No matter how well life may treat us, almost everyone undergoes a memorable, fulfilling experience that, unfortunately, doesn’t last as long as we thought (or hoped) it would. These scenarios – usually romantic in nature – leave such profound, enduring impressions on us that we can’t shake them when they end, often abruptly and somewhat unceremoniously. We tend [...]

Brent Marchant2024-09-21T16:13:28-05:00July 16th, 2024|Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews, Romance|

‘Golden Years’ shows how to put the luster in retirement

Retirement is supposed to be one of those times of life that we eagerly look forward to. Having the free time to do what we want, when we want, is thought to be liberating and thoroughly enjoyable. But, for some, the transition from full-time working life to full-time leisurely living can be challenging, especially in the relationships of long-partnered couples.

Brent Marchant2024-08-30T12:57:27-05:00July 7th, 2024|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, Movie Reviews, Romance|

‘Day One’ examines the lust for life at death’s doorstep

There are times in life when what we crave most is, regrettably, not available to us. That’s particularly true for those on death’s doorstep. While individuals experiencing such circumstances may understand and even accept the inevitability of the fate that faces them, there may still be a part of them that wants or needs to hold on, perhaps to complete unfinished business, address a task that has not yet been tackled or ensure the care and well-being of others.

Brent Marchant2024-08-27T08:40:36-05:00July 5th, 2024|Action-Adventure, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews, Smart Horror|

‘All of Us Strangers’ celebrates the enigmatic power of love

Love is truly an enigmatic force. When it’s present in our lives, it can move us to indescribable degrees of joy, bliss and fulfillment. But, when it’s absent – particularly when it’s suddenly snatched away from us – it can leave us in the depths of despair, a sense of despondency from which we may often feel we’ll never escape. However, just when all seems lost, it can have a way of sneaking back into our lives.

Brent Marchant2024-02-13T21:40:28-05:00January 27th, 2024|Conscious Creation, Drama, LGBTQ+, Movie Reviews, Romance|

‘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|

‘A Million Miles Away’ reaches for the stars

We all have aspirations we’d love to see fulfilled. Much depends, of course, on how diligent, committed and enthusiastic we are at putting in the legwork to see things through. But perhaps even more important is how strongly we believe in the dream’s realization. If that’s not in place, the rest of this effort may fade away over time or not fall into place at all. So how determined are we when it comes to the strength of our faith and conviction?

Brent Marchant2023-12-10T20:23:59-05:00October 22nd, 2023|Biography, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Framing Agnes’ recounts an alternative community’s history

All too often, we think we know an individual or community when, in fact, we don’t understand them well or at all. There could be various reasons for this – a lack of information volunteered by the subjects in question, preconceived notions on our part, widely circulated commonly held misconceptions, or even so-called, generally accepted urban legends. It’s unfortunate when these developments occur, because they frequently present us with an inaccurate, misleading perception. That makes setting the record straight a prime consideration.

Brent Marchant2023-05-19T12:34:40-05:00April 14th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Documentary, LGBTQ+, Movie Reviews|

‘A Life’s Work’ celebrates the power of belief

Many of us have trouble seeing into the future, sometimes no more than just a week or so in advance. That lack inherently leaves us wondering what’s next and how to plan for it. As a result, we often tend to go from moment to moment, unaware of what awaits us around the corner until we actually find ourselves in the midst of it. But not everyone operates that way

Brent Marchant2023-05-07T22:27:43-05:00April 5th, 2023|Conscious Creation, Documentary, Movie Reviews|

‘The Fabelmans’ examines an artist’s roots

When we look upon the works of gifted artists – regardless of the medium involved – we’re often tempted to wonder where the abilities that gave rise to them came from. To be sure, much of the credit obviously belongs to these creative types themselves, but still there are other influences that help to nudge their talents to the surface, inspirations that bring out their innate skills and enable them to flourish.

Brent Marchant2023-01-22T23:06:44-05:00December 7th, 2022|Biography, Character Study, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Tár’ seeks to unscramble one’s motivations

Understanding what drives us is crucial to our success in life’s endeavors. But, if we truly wish to attain the goals we seek for ourselves, we need to grasp what impels us and the beliefs that underlie our ambitions. Should we fail on this point, we could end up with a mixed bag of results.

Brent Marchant2022-12-07T19:45:05-05:00November 10th, 2022|Character Study, Conscious Creation, Drama, LGBTQ+, Movie Reviews|