“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma Review: Sex, Slashers, and the Search for Intimacy
After making a splash with “I Saw the TV Glow”, writer-director Jane Schoenbrun continues to carve out a distinctive path with MUBI’s “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma”. Once again, Schoenbrun takes familiar genre material and uses it to explore more personal themes. However, this time, the results didn’t always resonate with me.
The Rivals of Amziah King Review: Matthew McConaughey Finds Gold in an Unlikely Honey Business Drama
Oscar-winning Matthew McConaughey continues to embrace the mature phase of his career with “The Rivals of Amziah King,” a unique and soulful rural drama directed and co-written by Andrew Patterson.
**Cookie Queens” Review: A Captivating Look at the Girl Scout Hustle**
One of the great joys of covering the Sundance Film Festival is discovering a movie you missed has found a distributor. This is the case with Roadside Attractions’ *Cookie Queens*, directed by Alyssa Nahmias and executive produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
‘Fightland’ Review: 50 Cent’s STARZ Boxing Drama Lands a Powerful First Punch
Hip-hop mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson continues his successful relationship as an executive producer with the Starz network through the new series “Fightland,” created by Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith.
Slow Jam Saturday : Chauncey Black, “Everyday Is Your Birthday”
This week’s Slow Jam Saturday pick takes us back to 2008 to show some love to Chauncey Hannibal, a member of Blackstreet, and his solo track “Everyday Is Your Birthday.” Chauncey’s vocals were featured prominently on the group’s first four albums until he began his solo career in 2005. He initially signed with Flipmode Entertainment, and “Everyday Is Your Birthday” was the first single from his project titled “Church Boy,” although the actual album was never released.
Second Listen Sunday: Brooke Valentine, “Chain Letter”
As my loyal readers know, one of my passions during my Air Force enlistment was being a DJ. Since I was stationed in the UK, it was sometimes hard to keep up with the music scene, as there was no satellite radio, the club scene rarely showcased new music, and I missed out on shows like 106 & Park. Often, I would buy new CDs based solely on their covers and find a way to incorporate the music into my sets, particularly if the artist caught my attention. One such artist was Brooke Valentine, who is this week’s pick for Second Listen Sunday.
‘The Dink’ Review: Jake Johnson Serves Up a Warm, Winning Pickleball Comedy
Once it became popular, it was pretty clear there would always be a movie about the paddle-wielding insurgency that is pickleball. The only surprise is that “The Dink” from Apple TV manages to extract genuine warmth from a premise that could easily have devolved into a feature-length sitcom sketch.
‘Motor City’ Review: Alan Ritchson Powers a Brutal, Nearly Dialogue-Free Revenge Thriller
Director Potsy Ponciroli shifts gears for his third feature in “Motor City,” produced by IFC Films. Chad St. John penned the film’s screenplay, which was actually on the 2009 Black List and spent several years in development hell before finally getting underway.
Splash City Review: Lionsgate’s Gritty San Francisco Crime Drama Brings Raw Street-Level Energy
San Francisco in film is often depicted through sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge or romanticized, foggy hills. However, “Splash City” from Lionsgate brings the focus down to street level. Co-directed by Alex Ferrufino and Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr. (better known as rapper and entrepreneur Berner), this R-rated crime drama moves away from postcard aesthetics to present a sharp, urgent portrayal of survival on the streets.
Second Listen Sunday : Akon, Konvicted
Since my wife’s favorite solo artist, Ne-Yo, is currently on tour, I decided to show some love to Akon this week for Second Listen Sunday by focusing on his second album, “Konvicted.” I first discovered Akon in the fall of 2004 when I made my DJ debut while stationed in the UK. During my warm-up set, I played “Locked Up,” and one of the bouncers came over, handed me a pound, and said it was about time someone played that song.
Slow Jam Saturday : Ne-Yo, Queen
Last night, R&B superstar Ne-Yo performed at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, VA, so I felt it was only fitting to dive into his catalog for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday. Now, two decades into his solo career, Ne-Yo has numerous songs to choose from, but I decided to go with “Queen.”
Desire Review: Netflix’s Erotic Thriller Turns the 80/20 Rule Into a Dangerous Obsession
Growing up as a teenager in the mid-nineties, I was introduced to a variety of erotic thrillers through Cinemax. I am well-acquainted with this genre and still enjoy watching it today. When Netflix’s “Desire came to my attention, I was immediately intrigued. Although my review copy was entirely in Spanish, my teenage years spent binge-watching telenovelas came in handy.