Cinder Inc. Studios

02/15/2024

New Social Media Assistant internship position
Started yesterday.

02/13/2024

True Detective: Night Country
Episodes 2 - 4
USA, 2024
(TWO AND A HALF STARS)

"Besides strong performances by the leads, a decent cast for the most part, and a great atmospheric tone with on location filming, beautiful cinematography, and good sound design, the show has too many flaws to get over.

The story is too paper thin to be moving this slow, and the reveals are not engaging enough to keep audiences entertained. The story is written almost like a first draft that needed refinement, and the supernatural aspects of the show could turn off most True Detective fans looking for pure engaging crime drama.

Despite things improving and the story getting somewhere, with Episode 4 being the strongest yet, it may be too little too late to recover from a mixed bag of a new season, and with only two more episodes to go, it feels like everything won't have a satisfying conclusion."

Now at

02/11/2024

02/09/2024

Cleo, from 5 to 7, directed by Agnes Varda
France, 1962
(FOUR STARS)

"A quintessential masterpiece for a reason. The grandmother of New French Wave cinema, Ms. Varda created a blueprint of what was to arrive in European cinema: from the way it plays with its editing, its seamless long shot takes, and the way it mixes fantasy with realism, breaking the convenient rules of filmmaking, and all with a hint of breezy humor and tongue-in-cheek flavor.

Surprised by how fun this film has, how full of life, and how vibrant and childlike it is. Even in youth, Varda knew the first thing about making a film: she had fun, and so do we."



Now at The Criterion Channel

02/09/2024

True Detective: Night Country, directed by Issa Lopez
Episode 1
(THREE STARS)

"A subpar, flat entry to the newest addition to the True Detective series. Solid main stars' performances with not much to munch on when it comes to the script. Supernatural vibes on this one may be divisive to longtime True Detective fans. Shooting on location does help set the cold and dark mood better than a set ever would, despite the questionable cgi. Hoping it gets better from there due to the show having promising themes and reveals."



Now on

02/04/2024

to .tx for last Saturday's of Cleo from 5 to 7, a

Looking forward to in two weeks.

Thanks for the cake!

01/31/2024

Lightstorm Entertainment workers win their union vote overwhelmingly.

to the workers and

01/31/2024

Day 2 as a Jury Intern at

Seeing student films from across the world, some good, others not so much. Not as easy as it looks.

01/29/2024

as a Jury Intern

Thank you for making me part of this event

01/17/2024

The Book of Clarence, directed by Jeymes Samuel
USA, 2023
(THREE STARS)

"An unevenly comedic drama about a downtrodden con man in Jesus' times, alongside a decent cast and great production value, it may be a tough sell to most viewers. It is a historical fiction dramedy, it pokes fun at Christian tropes without insulting them, and it does take its time telling its story. But if one gives it a chance, it can be a moving artistic piece on a man trying to find himself, despite his failures. A unique idea by a unique voice behind the camera.

It is a miracle this movie was made at all."

Now playing on VOD and in theaters

01/16/2024

Ferrari, directed by Michael Mann
USA, 2023
(THREE STARS)

"Despite a lackluster story and questionable use of CG and Italian "accents," focusing on some of the least intriguing moments in Ferrari's life, heavy performances by Penelope Cruz and Adam Driver with a rich production design and cinematic work make this worth a try, even if it may not be a memorable film for most moviegoers."

Now playing in theaters everywhere.

01/15/2024

Happy MLK Day!!!

To a man who fought for the rights of the oppressed, for racial equality and voting eights in this country, and for all of those still fighting to this day to keep his legacy alive, we thank you.

Let us hope for a better future with more people inspired by MLK's legacy than not, for any other causes still worth fighting for for equal rights and acceptance of the other.

Thank you all.

01/15/2024

The Beekeeper, directed by David Ayer.
USA, 2023
(TWO AND A HALF STARS)

"One of the better films portraying Jason Statham, it is at once too campy to be taken seriously and too self-righteous to have fun with. Despite that, the action scenes are brutal enough when close combat is on screen. Additionally, the performances by Josh Hutcherson (fresh of FNAF fame) as a spoiled rich young billionaire entrepreneur, Statham himself as a vindictive superhero figure, and Jeremy Irons (who is more in the film as previously thought of) as a conflicted man who has to deal with a rich brat whose stupidity made Statham out for revenge, almost save this movie.

If one can get over its meddling second act, it's strangely written script and laughable antics, one can have a good time at the movies. It all depends on how seriously (or how not seriously) you take a movie where the avenger is called 'The Beekeeper.'

Ne playing in theaters everywhere.

01/13/2024

With , food is more than just sitting down and rating. It becomes a ritual, a tradition, and a beacon of refuge. With us, food becomes a symbol of

for making us part of yours, just as you have become part of ours.

01/11/2024

Push to Enter, directed by Anthony Nicolau
USA
(TWO AND A HALF STARS)

"Despite a great lead performance, gorgeous shots, and a great ex*****on behind the camera, its simplistic story and inconclusive ending may leave some viewers unsatisfied."

Watch now for

01/10/2024

Najaluk Night, directed by Jennie Williams.
Canada, Documentary, 2021
(THREE STARS)

"Showcasing a tongue-in-cheek Inuit tradition, more Krampus than Santa Claus, where the kids who misbehave tend to get hit with sticks, it uses horror elements to make it scarier than it is.

Its cinematography, throat singing score, and sense of fun make this a worth watch, even if it may not have much else to say."

Now streaming on via
Link on story.

01/10/2024

Letter to a Pig, directed by Tal Kantor
Israel/France, 2022
(THREE AND A HALF STARS)

"Haunting, mesmerizing, dreamlike abstractions abound.

This animated short, with its blend of animation tehcniques with live action, shortlisted for the Oscar and featured at Annecy, showcases a Holocaust survivor, generational trauma, hatred of the other, and a young girl growing up in a hopeless environment.

When all you are taught is to fear and hate, sometimes it is tough to see the light. But there is light. There is always light."



Congrats, and thank you for this film, .kantor

Now streaming on and

01/10/2024

Beautiful and haunting, animation at its finest, in only 17 minutes.

A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. A young schoolgirl hears his testimony in class and sinks into a twisted dream.