The High Note

the high note

In the Key of Eh

The High Note’s coronavirus-induced direct-to-streaming release might be a blessing in disguise, seeing as it’s a perfect example of a movie that makes no case whatsoever to be seen in theaters.  Its visual palette has that bland, distinctly digital warmth that has become the go-to for so many low-ish budget releases these days.  But since The High Note makes it clear from the get-go that it has no pretensions of visual style, its real test is how it fares as a frothy romantic comedy. Continue reading

Destroyer

destroyer

Nicole Un-dimed

“[Actor] as you’ve never seen him/her before” is a movie marketing cliché I’ve grown to hate, but damn if Destroyer doesn’t earn it.  As burnout LAPD detective Erin Bell, Nicole Kidman looks, in a word, rough.  The beautiful actress is borderline unrecognizable here, sporting the face of an “after” picture in an anti-meth PSA.  Erin’s hair is brittle, her teeth are gray, and her blue eyes – her one intact feature – are sunken.  Her clothes hang off what appears to be a scarecrow-thin body.  It’s an amazing makeup job, is what I’m getting at, and one that never distracts from the core of the movie. Continue reading

The Fast and Fentress Film Discussion Podcast Episode 1: The Invitation

the invitation 2

Hey all, my podcast is finally up on Soundcloud, so give it a listen below; you can expect more episodes in the coming weeks.  For the first episode, my brother Sean and I analyze the 2015 thriller The Invitation.  This is an in-depth discussion, so expect major spoilers.  Enjoy!