way of thinking

‘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|

‘The Plague’ matches wits with disempowerment

Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of a bully’s wrath can understand the hurt, anxiety and self-esteem issues that frequently accompany such physical and emotional trauma. The abusive taunting, teasing, mockery and ostracism that come with such cruel treatment can leave its victims devastated for years afterward, making it difficult, if not impossible, to recover. And this doesn’t even account for the awkwardness that the abused go through in seeking to assimilate into society and its everyday course of conduct. However, such incidents – as painful as they can be – frequently lead to valuable life lessons in empowerment and overcoming adversity.

Brent Marchant2026-03-08T18:57:44-05:00January 26th, 2026|Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews, Smart Horror|

‘Eleanor the Great’ wrestles with the merits of ‘the good lie’

We’ve all been taught the wisdom behind the notion of “honesty is the best policy.” It’s sound, solid guidance that’s nearly always appropriate (provided it’s not carried to an unhealthy extreme). But what about the opposite of this advice: Is there ever any benefit in a falsehood, the so-called “good lie?” At first glance, it might be easy to dismiss this idea out of hand, but what if something less than truthful is capable of imparting insight, inspiration or comfort to someone in distress? In cases like that, can it realistically be summarily rejected?

Brent Marchant2026-02-02T18:24:02-05:00December 8th, 2025|Character Study, Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘The Roses’ advises ‘Don’t take love for granted’

When we’re fortunate enough to find ourselves in love, we should do all we can to cherish this blessing. After all, it seems like many more of us these days are having difficulty drawing this into our lives, so, when it’s present, we should do all we can to preserve and protect this precious commodity. Unfortunately, however, all too often we let incidentals get in the way of giving love its proper due.

Brent Marchant2025-10-20T08:21:13-05:00August 28th, 2025|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews, Romance|

‘Words of War’ courageously exposes a terrible truth

As much as one would like to believe that humanity is capable of great things, we’ve also seen many instances where the opposite, unfortunately, is true. And, to make matters worse, many of those unsettling developments remain out of view, hidden in the shadows – that is, until someone comes along to courageously expose them. Those revelations often come at tremendous personal cost, too, but, when the world becomes aware of such horrors, opportunities for change, justice and healing begin to emerge. Such are the hopes offered up the gripping new fact-based historical drama, “Words of War.”

Brent Marchant2025-09-27T18:55:38-05:00August 6th, 2025|Biography, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Eric LaRue’ explores coping under fire

When one lives in a small town, it’s not uncommon for everyone to seemingly know everybody else’s business, a circumstance that can be inconvenient, frustrating or annoying. But, worse than that, if one is somehow associated with an incident that’s tragic, scandalous or unspeakable, dealing with the fallout of such conditions (and the associated consequences) can be wholly intolerable. So how does one cope in scenarios like this?

Brent Marchant2025-09-24T06:25:53-05:00July 31st, 2025|Character Study, Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews|

‘Can I Get a Witness?’ appraises the price of paradise

“Can I Get a Witness?” (2024 production, 2025 release). Cast: Sandra Oh, Keira Jang, Joel Oulette, Zaa Nkweta, Shaz Far, Casey Kenneth Wright, Yuki Morita, Ben Immanuel, Patrick Gallagher, Naika Toussaint, Andre Anthony, Oscar Chark, Jude Wilson, Cassandra Sawtell, Tedra Rogers, Ally Battaggia, Kymo Van Oers, Jovanna Burke. Director: Ann Marie Fleming. Screenplay: Ann Marie Fleming. Web site. Trailer. Successfully vanquishing global ills like environmental degradation, economic inequality, insufficient health care and armed conflict in order to purposely create an earthly paradise is undeniably an ambitious and virtuous goal that most of us would probably support. The benefits of creating a healthy, sustainably managed future are undeniable. But how far would we be willing to go to realize it? The [...]

Brent Marchant2025-09-03T16:55:22-05:00July 15th, 2025|Conscious Creation, Drama, Movie Reviews, Sci-Fi|

‘Wallis Island’ contemplates recapturing the past

Recapturing the past may be an enticing, seductive prospect, especially when it involves revisiting pleasant memories of days gone by. If nothing else, it can help to plug holes of loneliness and despair in our psyche, filling us with feelings of warmth and happiness. But is it realistically achievable or just wishful thinking? At most, it may only provide fleeting relief, not nearly enough to satisfy us for the long term or to resolve the source of the underlying anguish.

Brent Marchant2025-08-20T17:59:13-05:00June 26th, 2025|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Movie Reviews, Romance|

‘Turtles’ asks, ‘Is love enough?’

Is love enough to sustain a relationship? It can certainly provide a powerful bond to keep partners together, but is that sufficient to maintain that connection when other issues arise (e.g., day-to-day life challenges, disagreements and disconnects about fundamental goals and aspirations, cohabitation conflicts, a growing lack of sexual intimacy, etc.)? These matters often come to a head when certain turning points in life are reached, such as health issues or retirement, especially when each partner holds different views about what that next stage of life is supposed to be all about. And, as is becoming increasingly apparent these days, these questions impact both traditional partnerships and same-sex couples. So what’s to be done?

Brent Marchant2025-08-06T19:42:59-05:00June 12th, 2025|Comedy, Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, LGBTQ+, Movie Reviews, Romance|

‘All Shall Be Well’ grapples with fairness, inclusion

They say that “blood is thicker than water,” an observation that can make its presence apparent in many ways. This often becomes most obvious during times of crisis, when major decisions are called for, such as when a death occurs or an inheritance is involved (money being on the line frequently speaks volumes). And, in conjunction with those conditions, differences and disagreements frequently arise, making difficult situations more tense, perhaps even combative. So what accounts for this?

Brent Marchant2025-07-13T12:31:05-05:00April 25th, 2025|Conscious Creation, Drama, Foreign, LGBTQ+, Movie Reviews|