LADY OF THE MANOR Film Review September 15, 2021 Eclectic Arts

Lady Of The Manor

Lionsgate
Reviewed: 9/15/2021

Rating: 4 / 5


“Available in Select Theaters, on Digital and On Demand September 17th! Available on Blu-ray and DVD September 21st!”

(Lionsgate)

The new comedy film “Lady Of The Manor” has one thing going for it - the performance of the lead actor Melanie Lynskey. She is funny, quirky, and engaging. Luckily she is in nearly every scene in the movie. Without her presence on screen, there wouldn’t be much to write about.


Hannah (Melanie Lynskey) is hired to portray Lady Wadsworth - an aristocrat who once lived in the home that Hannah is now giving tours in. Hannah is a stoner and a mess so the tours don’t exactly go as the heirs wanted them to. The ghost of Lady Wadsworth herself (played by Judy Greer) teaches Hannah how to be more like her.

((L-R) Judy Greer as Lady Wadsworth and Melanie Lynskey as Hannah in the comedy film, LADY OF THE MANOR, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.)

The film goes back and forth with the initial fish out of water concept, then the we’re friends concept, and ends with the we're buddies now concept.


There isn’t really anything new in “Lady Of The Manor” but it is a light and high spirited comedy. If you’re in the mood for a nice distraction from your day, “Lady Of The Manor” will hit all the right notes.


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts

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CRAZY FIST Film Review September 14, 2021 Eclectic Arts

Crazy Fist

Well Go USA
Reviewed: 9/14/2021

Rating: 2.5 / 5


On Digital & Blu-ray September 14!

(Well Go USA)

The new film “Crazy Fist” does it’s best to be a sleek, stylish, and action packed film (MMA style to be precise) but it’s clear from the onset that, while it achieves the surface nature of those attributes, the substance is sorely missing.


An original film from Hi-YAH!, this movie has plenty of eye candy for everyone to enjoy. The fights are quick edits with some occasional inspired parts but it just tries too hard to be a mix of one of the Fast and Furious films and a modern Donnie Yen film.


Cinema demands style and substance, not just style. “Crazy Fist” could have been so much more if they had added in the substance to back up the glitz.


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts

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SHELTER IN PLACE Film Review September 13, 2021 Eclectic Arts

Shelter In Place

1091 Pictures
Reviewed: 9/13/2021

Rating: 2.5 / 5

On VOD and Digital on September 14th!

(1091 Pictures)

The new horror film “Shelter In Place” takes last year’s start of the pandemic and turns it into the plot of the movie. A couple are on their honeymoon at a hotel in Hollywood where they are basically stuck due to the pandemic.


The film starts out with a scare and then plods along with not much going on other than the couple interacting with some of the hotel staff. The movie strives for uneasiness and cabin fever but it doesn’t really succeed in that regard.

(1091 Pictures)

In the second act, the film picks up a bit, especially toward the finale, but at that point I was already frustrated that more of the horror aspect wasn’t spread earlier throughout the film.


I will always be a fan of the horror genre. But, lately there have been more misses than hits when it comes to what brought me to the genre in the first place decades ago - to be scared.


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts

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LAST NIGHT IN ROZZIE Film Review September 13, 2021 Eclectic Arts

Last Night In Rozzie

Gravitas Ventures
Reviewed: 9/13/2021

Rating: 3 / 5

(Gravitas Ventures)

The new film “Last Night In Rozzie” follows two childhood best friends into the present day. One is a lawyer with his own personal issues while the other is facing his last days from a hospital bed. His dying wish is to reconcile with his 10-year old son.


The film is clunky in places. It certainly has it’s bright moments, particularly those scenes between Ronnie (Neil Brown, Jr.) and Pattie (Nicky Whelan), but other times it seems to lose its focus surrounding the dramatic narrative.

(Gravitas Ventures)

The finale from yesteryear (no spoilers) is well done but by the time it’s revealed, the overall impact is diminished by the up and down of the film thus far.


“Last Night In Rozzie” was like a cinematic rollercoaster but not necessarily on purpose.


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts

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FAUCI Film Review September 11, 2021 Eclectic Arts

Fauci

National Geographic Documentary Films with Magnolia Pictures
Reviewed: 9/11/2021

Rating: 5 / 5


Opens locally at the Grand Cinema in Tacoma, WA on 9/10

(National Geographic Documentary Films)

The new documentary film “Fauci” is a fascinating look at arguably the most well known doctor in the United States currently. Whether you agree with him or his findings is really immaterial if you look at the history of what Dr. Fauci has accomplished over his immense career.


I liked that the film showed footage from the detractors. This was not a love fest by any means. But it also shows how, in the case of AIDS/HIV and Ebola, Dr. Fauci took criticism and used it to actually change the way he continued his pioneering work in both of those historical disease outbreaks.


Of course they show modern day footage from the current COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Fauci is interviewed at length throughout the film and it’s interesting hearing his take on what has transpired over the last 19 months or so.

(Dr. Anthony Fauci in seated interview in his office at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (National Geographic for Disney+))

Again, you are entitled to your opinion about Dr. Fauci and his work. But, make sure you’re looking at his entire career and also this film before slamming the scientist that has given us more hours of his life than, frankly, any of us deserve.


I, for one, am glad he pursued medicine. And even more thankful that his work, while influenced over the years (it can’t be helped when you’re the go to infectious disease guy for the leaders of the free world to be affected by the politics in DC), has created a strong think tank of scientists that are doing what they can to eradicate the infectious diseases of the world.



Recommended.


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts

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AZOR Film Review September 6, 2021 Eclectic Arts

Azor

Mubi 
Reviewed: 9/6/2021

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Azor will open 9/10 in New York at the IFC Center and 9/17 at the Laemmle Royal and Playhouse in Los Angeles.

(MUBI Presents:  "Azor")

The new film “Azor” is a political thriller based in Argentina in the 1970’s. The plot revolves around a private Swiss banker Yvan (Fabrizio Rongione) and his partner who has mysteriously disappeared.


The film takes it’s time setting up the plot, the characters, and eventually the finale.


Fabrizio Rongione was a delight to watch throughout the film. His portrayal of Yvan was both nuanced and sophisticated.


The plot as a whole though started to wear thin for me as the movie plodded along. The pacing never really picked up. I thought with all the clues being dropped throughout the first part of the movie, the second act would have picked up the pace a bit. But, it didn’t.


“Azor” was an interesting film but it seems like the director (first timer Andreas Fontana) was still finding his way throughout the filmmaking process. It was a good, solid, directorial debut that really could have been great.


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts

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THE INFLUENCER Film Review September 6, 2021 Eclectic Arts

The Influencer

Breaking Glass Pictures
Reviewed: 9/6/2021

Rating: 4 / 5

(Breaking Glass Pictures)

The new film “The Influencer” is a present day look at the social media influencer phenomenon. And in this case, how it can go very wrong. If you’re not familiar with influencers, they are basically modern day pitch people. Their large social media following can catch the interest of companies that then hire them to promote their products/business/etc.


As someone that has a love/hate relationship with social media right now, “The Influencer” was a fun yet dark look at what’s behind some (not all) of the influencers out there, taken to a thrilling extreme of course.

(Breaking Glass Pictures)

Abbie Rose (played by Kasia Szarek) is a popular social media influencer that is as shallow as they come. She is the center of a home invasion by five criminals (actually numbered - initially led by Yasmine "Yaz" Abeydeera") that tears her world apart and shows what her life is really like.


The world of social media and it’s own influence on modern society is something that will continue to evolve and develop over time. For those of us that remember a time when none of this existed, it will be very interesting to see how all of this affects the future generations that are growing up with social media as a normal part of their culture.


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts

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