'The Things We Hold Sacred' Review: Making The Most of Limited Time
Imagine it's the last day on Earth. In 24 hours, life, as we know it, will cease to exist. How will you choose to spend this valuable time? This is the rhetorical question filmmaker Matthew Paris asks the audience in his latest short film The Things We Hold Sacred. The micro-budget indie packs a big punch by focusing on themes of gratitude and reflection. The film is available to stream on the Rumble platform.
A Day in the Life Before Impending Doom
In this observational slice-of-life drama, Jacob (Matthew Paris) lives out his final day on Earth modestly and simply. Jacob is a successful, single man but in the face of an impending natural disaster that threatens to destroy the planet (Melancholia style), none of that matters. Jacob reflects on what he sees as life's simple pleasures, like long car drives and making a sandwich. Ironically, the awareness of his inevitable demise is what forces him to finally pay attention to these little things that matter most.
The Things We Hold Sacred interestingly feels inspired by the great silent movies of the 1920s. From the intentional film grain to the decision to exclusively use intertitles, or "title cards" with no voiceover, Paris makes it a point to amplify these old-school characteristics. This works for the majority of the film, however I wish the intertitles remained on screen for longer. They tend to pass too quickly and I found myself missing some of the text.
Takeaway
Written, directed, produced, and starring Matthew Paris, The Things We Hold Sacred is the definition of a one-man band. His thought-provoking film may be simple on the surface, but the message is rich for discussion and philosophical debate. He leaves audiences with a final quote, which serves as a nice reminder: "Never take your accomplishments or things for granted. Hold them sacred."
'A Weird Kind of Beautiful' Review: Secrets Don't Keep Friendships
Filmmaker Gabriel Mayo embodies the spirit of a Joe Swanberg picture in his debut feature film, A Weird Kind of Beautiful. In this tight-knit group drama, Mayo crafts a tense and eccentric story as deeply held secrets reveal themselves. Don't let the film's minimalist set and production design fool you, there is never a dull moment. A Weird Kind of Beautiful makes its world premiere at the 2025 Miami Film Festival.
Secrets Don't Keep Friendships
A group of dysfunctional twenty-somethings gather together after the funeral of their best friend. They commemorate his memory the only way they know how, by drinking and sharing old stories. The group gives off the impression of immaturity and stunted growth as they bicker and yell at each other in dramatic and often piercing ways. Yet the dynamic drastically changes when their former friend Eric arrives with his fiance. Eric, the group outlier, hasn't seen his friends in eight years. His attendance is a pleasant surprise for most, but not everyone.
Having held his secret for years, one of the friends is finally ready to come clean. She exposes one of Eric's deep dark secrets which threatens his future with his fiance and his relationship with the group. This secret is vile, disturbing, and graphic. A trigger warning should be acknowledged for those sensitive to unsettling sexual acts involving minors. It's a horrifying circumstance that adds infinite shock value to the film. However, it's hard to not be repelled by this storyline.
A Dialogue-Heavy Script Is a Shock to the System
Gabriel Mayo's feature flips the script on the conventionally lighthearted fare often found in buddy films. In A Weird Kind of Beautiful, there is a somber and palpable energy that intends to shake things up. In addition to the jarring script, the decision to film in a single location further creates a sense of bottlenecked tension. Mayo acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to make stylistic changes during production, and the one-location setting solved logistical problems. The frenetic energy comes from the dialogue, which the cast passionately delivers.
Takeaway
Friendships are nebulous relationships that evolve as we grow older. A Weird Kind of Beautiful shows one extreme of confronting hard truths. Whether or not these relationships can weather the storm is yet to be seen. However, the film does a commendable job of conveying the ebbs, flows, and growing pains in adult relationships.
'Minted: The Rise (and Fall?) of the NFT' Review: An Impossible Dream
It's bittersweet to think back to the days of the early NFT boom. We were still in the thick of COVID-19 caution but slowly coming out of quarantine when TikTok and Tiger King monopolized the collective consciousness. Then comes NFTs, a revolutionary form of digital art that initially seemed like a fad but ended up becoming a cultural disruptor. In the new documentary Minted: The Rise (and Fall?) of the NFT, filmmaker Nicholas Bruckman charts the wild ride of the art world's former darling.
From Astounding Cultural Movement to Biggest Financial Collapse
An artist named Beeple sits in his living room surrounded by loved ones as they all stare at his TV in disbelief. Beeple's newly created NFT has sold for $69 million. This digital artwork, which is still in the infancy stage of popularity, has officially made Beeple the third highest-selling artist of all time. But what exactly is an NFT, and why are people spending thousands, if not millions, of dollars on art that can literally be saved on a computer for free? This is Bruckman's starting point as he navigates the curiously bizarre trajectory of the NFT.
Watch the Minted: The Rise (and Fall?) of the NFT trailer here.
Bruckman does a great job of getting into the minds of these digital pioneers whose lives have changed forever by selling their art on the blockchain. After Beeple's historic sale ignited an all-out frenzy, many artists found themselves living out their own rags-to-riches stories. But all good things must come to an end. Minted goes into stunning detail about the conspiracy theories, celebrity endorsements, and dark side of this controversial new frontier.
NTFs: Everything or Nothing?
Watching this film in hindsight, as the stock market is currently volatile, gives off an eerily uneasy feeling. Nicholas Bruckman could have never predicted the timing of this release to perfectly align with cultural events but it works so well in tandem. It forces the audience to question not just the monetary value of an NFT, but the very nature of art. This larger philosophical question is juxtaposed against composer Dan Deacon's bright and forceful score.
Takeaway
The question remains: Are NFTs dead? Minted hypothesizes that they may not be raking in millions of dollars like they used to, but there is still a market for them. However, what has died are people's hopes and dreams that this was sustainable. Minted made its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and is coming to Netflix on April 9th.
'Sound Spring' Review: A Love Letter to a Small Town
Filmmaker Catalina Alvarez infuses unusual techniques that mirror the uniqueness of her niche subjects in the documentary Sound Spring. Unconventional in its production yet traditional in intention, Sound Spring is a love letter to the small town of Yellow Springs, Ohio. The film makes its World Premiere at the 2025 Cleveland International Film Festival.
An Oral History of a Town, Narrated by its Residents
The story of Sound Spring unfolds over a series of eight vignettes. Within each sequence, residents give thoughtful interviews about their lives in Yellow Springs. The history of the town is explored through archival photos and verbal anecdotes from Ohioans of various generations. Most of the vignettes are intentionally surreal, examples include a breakdancer who speaks while posing during a challenging upside-down dance move. Another moment shows a young woman rollerblading and an older woman working out with weights. While the delivery of the message may be comical, the weight of their words is to be taken seriously. Through interviews, we learn of the historical importance of Yellow Springs. This includes ancestors' settlements after slavery, Antioch College, Ohio's Trail of Tears, and the unexpected relationship with Coretta Scott King.
Creative Liberties (Mostly) Pay Off
Director Catalina Alvarez crafts clever ways to reinvigorate the traditional documentary formula. The most noticeable and impactful method is through the sound. The focus is primarily on the audio because these vignettes are all re-stagings of the subjects' previous audio interviews. Alvarez gets meta by having them perform their own previously recorded media.
In one vignette, a DJ's interview is set to a lo-fi hip-hop drum track with every few words getting remixed. Another vignette uses voice manipulation across two interviews, where the original speakers' voices are dubbed by another person. These manipulations add an exciting element to a niche subject that could have been considered monotonous due to its hyper-specificity. The film's misstep comes from the creative decision to have overlapping dialogue. This effect results in muddying the interview's sentiment and made me wonder if I was having technical issues.
Takeaway
The experimental documentary genre is continuously pushing boundaries and Sound Spring is a welcomed new entry. Catalina Alvarez boldly shows what's possible in this art form, and while not every move she makes pays off, the risk alone is worth championing.
'The Luckiest Man in America' Review: Get Rich, Scam Trying
An underdog story is usually an easy crowd favorite. Throw in a large cash prize, like Slumdog Millionaire, and you'll no doubt have a box office winner. Director Samir Oliveros doesn't stray far from this tried and true formula in The Luckiest Man in America. The result is an enjoyable yet mediocre historical dramatization that doesn't move the needle much one way or the other. The film opens nationwide this Friday, April 4, 2025.
Big Dreams Require Bold Actions
Based on actual events from 1984, The Luckiest Man in America stars Paul Walter Hauser as Michael Larson, an unemployed ice cream truck driver from Ohio. A huge fan of the "Press Your Luck" game show, he is ultimately selected to compete in an upcoming episode. This marks a life-changing moment for Michael, who makes it known that any prize money will be going towards ensuring his daughter's wellbeing. Michael's initial game show debut is rocky. He quickly loses any acquired amount of money due to his poor judgment, as well as curses on TV. Michael Larson is the epitome of an underdog engaging in a losing public battle.
However, after a quick commercial break, Michael's luck begins to change. His bets start paying off big time, and he quickly racks up thousands of dollars in winnings. The game show host (Walton Goggins) is in disbelief, as are the other contestants and studio audience. Michael's winning streak also catches the attention of the control room, who are quick to act. What they discover about Michael is beyond their wildest dreams. Behind the dopey small-town facade is a calculated mastermind who is using mental tricks and memory patterns to beat the system at their own game.
A Moderately Tame Thriller
The Luckiest Man in America is an enjoyable movie for those who want surface-level entertainment. The film's billing as a "thriller" does feel a bit misleading though, as "drama" feels more accurate. The story itself is a fascinating one and filmmaker Samir Oliveros' instincts to bring this to the screen are applauded. Even if the film feels flat due to the lack of character development, there is no question that Paul Walter Hauser makes for a compelling leading man. Had the film delved deeper into Michael's psychological development to truly get a dynamic portrait of this complicated man, it would have been more satisfying.
Takeaway
If you're looking for a fun and lighthearted watch, The Luckiest Man in America may be the film for you. One has to wonder though if a documentary would have been more compelling than this scripted version. Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable cinematic escape that clocks in at a sharp 90 minutes. The Luckiest Man in America premiered at TIFF in 2024.
'Humantis' Review: A Short Arthouse Indie With a Big Message
Identity and belonging are the key themes of filmmaker Paris Baillie's incredible animated short Humantis. The experimental stop-motion film uses mystical praying mantis-like creatures as a vessel to symbolize a universal human experience of denial and transformation. Humantis made its World Premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and won the jury award at AFI Fest.
A Journey Through Experimental Stop Motion
Humantises, a praying mantis/orchid hybrid with human-like capabilities to feel emotion, are masters of deception. They move around the world in a cluster. All looking, acting, and moving the same. However, when one rogue humantis begins to unintentionally change color, its outward difference is met with shame and embarrassment. It struggles to blend in and finds itself an outcast. It's only when the humantis meets a similar-looking creature that it realizes there is no point trying to hide from this inevitable change. Embracing the transformation, the humantis eventually learns its otherness is beautiful and something to be proud of.
The Beautiful Humantis World
The craft behind Humantis is excellently produced. In addition to the mesmerizing stop-motion animation, the film is without dialogue. Only the score and sound design aid the film's sonic journey. This decision to forgo any language is always a calculated risk, and in this case, it most definitely serves the film for the better. The choreography is admirable as well, a delicate art form that Baillie masterfully succeeds in directing.
Takeaway
Humantis is a beautiful arthouse indie film that may be short but packs a big message. It's an impressive feat for Paris Baillie, who is not only credited as director and writer, but also composer, editor, and cinematographer.
'Gazer' Review: A Neo-Noir Full of Suspicion and Conspiracies
There's an eeriness that permeates Ryan J. Sloan’s feature film debut, and it's enough to send chills down your spine. This tangible sensation makes Gazer's darkly emotive storytelling and overall aesthetic such a captivating watch. Making its World Premiere in Directors’ Fortnight at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Gazer is a neo-noir for modern times.
A Seedy Neo-Noir Full of Suspicion and Conspiracies
Set against an unforgivingly bleak cityscape, Gazer is the story of a young mother Frankie Rhodes (co-writer Ariella Mastroianni) who finds herself trapped in a dangerous transaction. Frankie suffers from a unique condition that affects her perception of time, which proves to be a hindrance in her quest for normalcy. Frankie's condition progresses with age, and she is doing everything she can in the present to prepare for the future, specifically saving money for her young daughter. To keep her life in order, and somewhat functional, Frankie relies on a tape recorder that constantly plays self-narrated tapes of her various memories.
One evening, a desperate yet determined Frankie accepts a shady job from a mysterious woman with a dark past. Little does she know that by accepting this questionable opportunity, which promises to pay her $3,000 cash, she will inadvertently get caught up in a murder plot full of conspiracies that put both her and her daughter's futures at stake.
An Unapologetically Bold and Beautiful Indie Film
In addition to the film's cerebral and layered storyline, Gazer excels at creating a moody ambiance. It is masterfully shot on 16mm by cinematographer Matheus Bastos. His capturing of surreal moments, specifically a dream sequence between Frankie and her husband, stopped me in my tracks. In this scene, Frankie and her husband mirror each other's movements in uncanny unison, giving incredible performances. The hauntingly melodic score, which is fantastically crafted by composer Steve Matthew Carter, further propels the film.
Takeaway
If you're a fan of Memento or Severance, you will find a lot of tonal crossovers in Gazer. Ryan J. Sloan's impressive directorial debut is even more commendable by its production capabilities. Per the film's press notes, Gazer was "shot on a shoestring budget over weekends" for two years. In front of and behind the lens, Gazer is an exciting thriller that proves independent film is alive and well.
'Hello Beautiful' Review: Finding Oneself When All Feels Lost
A model undergoes a transformative journey that leads to a life-changing epiphany in the film Hello Beautiful. Based on Christine Handy’s bestselling novel Walk Beside Me, director Ziad H. Hamzeh's dramatic adaptation shows how a breast cancer diagnosis brings to light an uncomfortable reality, but in the aftermath of this challenge, there remains a sense of resilience and strength. Hello Beautiful makes its premiere as the opening night film at the 25th Beverly Hills Film Festival.
A Model Realizes Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
Willow (Tricia Helfer) seems to have the picture-perfect life: a loving husband and children, a beautiful home in a desirable neighborhood, and continues to thrive in her career as a middle-aged model. Despite appearances, however, Willow is not living a fairytale life. Her relationship with her teenage daughter can be described as toxic at best, and her self-esteem is fragile. Willow has always been able to fall back on her beauty but she is soon forced into accepting a new, uncomfortable reality that challenges her perspective of worthiness.
A devastating breast cancer diagnosis sends Willow into a spiral. Her gorgeous blonde hair is soon gone, the victim of aggressive chemotherapy. For a woman who has depended on her looks her whole life, this is a harsh reality check. She is bitter, and angry at the world, even threatening suicide during her lowest moment. Willow's acceptance of her situation does not happen overnight, but she gradually comes to terms with her new circumstances. Her true epiphany comes after meeting a woman during chemotherapy who arguably has less than Willow. This is the catalyst for Willow's reflection on her privilege. It's true, she has cancer, but she also has a loving family, a wonderful support system, and the means to fight the disease until she reaches remission.
The Nuances of Playing a Complex Character
Handling the subject matter with sensitivity, filmmaker Ziad H. Hamzeh explores themes of identity and the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Capturing Willow's heartbreaking and emotional journey is Tricia Helfer, who herself is a supermodel-turned-actress. Her performance is adequately layered and complex. There are moments where she comes across as entitled and selfish but I attribute that to her shock. Not everyone processes trauma the same, and there is no "correct" way to grieve. Understanding this and giving Willow grace is the best way to empathize with her during her more trying moments.
Takeaway
Hello Beautiful captures a universal experience for many women who find themselves on the receiving end of a cancer diagnosis. The film doesn't shy away from showing the ugly side of illness, and this authenticity is what makes Hello Beautiful such an important watch.