'Half Magic' Review: Kickstarting the Sexual Revolution Through Satirical Comedy
Heather Graham is here to prove that she is more than just the stereotypical leading lady she's been known to play.
She's got a voice and right now is the perfect time to use it. Taking to the big screen, Graham shows off her directorial and screenwriting skills with her feature film debut, Half Magic. The satirical comedy, which is loosely based off of her own unjust and, at times, demeaning experiences in Hollywood, is the female-driven movie we should all be watching. If there were ever a movie to propel the #MeToo and "Time's Up" movements to the forefront of conversation, it would be Half Magic.
Young Honey (Chloe Graham) grew up believing that sex comes with a stigma attached, as is relatively common within devout Christian belief systems. These sexual insecurities have grown to affect both her personal and professional relationships. Now a young adult, Honey (Heather Graham) finds herself working in the entertainment industry in L.A. as an assistant– with dreams of making it as a screenwriter– to both boss and boyfriend, Peter (Chris D'Elia). Peter is the embodiment of a male chauvinist pig, some of his notable one-liners include, "If you want to make a good story, you gotta write about a man," and "I'm not against women's rights, I'm just saying there's no market for their films."
Fed up with not being taken seriously, Honey finds comfort in the women-led support group run by a flamboyantly fabulous leader (Molly Shannon) who encourages women to "embrace the power of their pussies." It's during one of these body appreciation exercises when Honey meets Eva (Angela Kinsey) and Candy (Stephanie Beatriz), two women who are also struggling with various degrees of sexism, bad relationships, and low self-esteem in their own lives.
The common thread running through the film stands as a powerful message to women everywhere – you are deserving and capable of what you want, now it's up to you to get it.
The women take to each other quickly, like kindred sexual spirits, and support each other in trying to tackle the negativity in their lives. Through friendship, the women learn what it takes to stand up for themselves and how to tap into the power of self-confidence. The road to self-love and acceptance isn't easy or without detours, but in the end, Honey and the gang come to the realization that the key to happiness lies within, and isn't that something we could all be reminded of?
At its core, Half Magic is a story about female empowerment in friendships, careers, and sexual experiences. While the situations the protagonist finds herself in are comical and look like caricatures of the current political workplace environment (due to a solid performance from funnyman Chris D'Elia), the common thread running through the film stands as a powerful message to women everywhere – you are deserving and capable of what you want, now it's up to you to get it!
'Half Magic' is rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and drug use. 94 minutes. Now playing at the Vintage Los Feliz Theatre and on VOD and Digital HD.
'The Female Brain' Review: Whitney Cummings Gives Us a Lesson on Love
This review originally ran during the 2017 LA Film Fest
Comedian Whitney Cummings was every bit the engaging artist as she introduced her directorial debut, The Female Brain, at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Saturday evening.
She briefly spoke about choosing to adapt Louann Brizendine's nonfiction book, The Female Brain, as her first film, so eloquently describing it as a modern-day "Magic School Bus." "And if you are too young to know what The Magic School Bus is," she went on to say, "Then I hate you."
The Female Brain is a vignette-style romantic comedy that looks at the lives of different couples in varying stages of their relationship. Unlike other generic rom-com's, however, The Female Brain focuses on the fact-based situations and pitfalls that arise when primal neurology meets passionate or unrequited love. In other words, Cummings is giving audiences a lesson on why we do the things we do in relationships, breaking down the stereotypes women face by blaming it on science!
As the anchor of the film, Cummings plays the neuroscientist Julia Brizendine, a type-A woman who rigidly controls her daily habits in order to get the necessary chemicals she "technically" needs to live a happy life. This includes hanging out with friends, working out, staying organized, and other things that give off different types of endorphins without engaging in a romantic relationship (because why would anyone willingly put themselves through the dating scene?). Her plan gets thrown off when she meets Kevin (Toby Kebbell), a participant in one of her research groups who attempts to woo her despite her stance on romance.
As a woman, I could personally relate to more moments in the film than I would like to admit, but 'The Female Brain' doesn't appeal to just women.
The rest of the cast plays like a who's who of comedians, Broadway hotshots, and NBA superstars. Lisa (Sofia Vergara) and her husband Steven (Deon Cole) struggle with diminishing sex appeal and connection, Greg (Blake Griffin) and Zoe (Cecily Strong) are newlyweds that are still figuring out the balance of power within the relationship, and Adam (James Marsden) and his girlfriend Lexi (Lucy Punch) struggle with boundary issues. Guest appearances from Beanie Feldstein and Ben Platt are as surprising as they are delightful.
The humor ebbs and flows throughout the film, a few moments playing to the lowest brow of comedy, but overall the tone of The Female Brain is both fun and informative. The addition of animated brain diagrams, which pop up throughout the film, help to digest the scientific information more easily.
As a woman, I could personally relate to more moments in the film than I would like to admit, but The Female Brain doesn't appeal to just women. The men sitting next to me laughed just as much through the film as I did, proving two things: one, Whitney Cummings' humor translates from the stage comedian to big screen director and two, we're all just humans looking for love, trying to keep the love alive, or slowly realizing that we're all doomed because we will eventually end up acting like our parents.
'The Female Brain' is not rated. 98 minutes. Now playing at Laemmle's Monica Film Center.
Timothée Chalamet, Daniel Kaluuya Share Their Spirit Animals [WATCH]
One of our favorite nights of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is the presentation of the Virtuosos Award, which was created to recognize a select group of talent who have distinguished themselves through breakthrough performances in film this past year.
We take to the red carpet and chat with the six recipients (Gal Gadot was unable to attend), among them Oscar-nominees and some of Hollywood's biggest and brightest stars. This year, we celebrate Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), Mary J. Blige (Mudbound), Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick), Hong Chau (Downsizing), and John Boyega (Detroit).
Joel McHale, Emmy Rossum Talk 'A Futile and Stupid Gesture' [WATCH]
We catch up with director David Wain and actors Joel McHale, Emmy Rossum, Martin Mull, and Matt Walsh before the World Premiere of A Futile and Stupid Gesture at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
A Futile and Stupid Gesture is the story of comedy wunderkind Doug Kenney (played by Will Forte), who co-created the National Lampoon. Kenney was at the center of the 70’s comedy counter-culture which gave birth to Saturday Night Live and a whole generation's way of looking at the world. Now streaming on Netflix.
For our review of A Futile and Stupid Gesture, click here
'Pity' Sundance Review: The Only Thing Sad About This Film is That It Had To End
The day after I saw one of my favorite films in competition in the World Cinema Dramatic category– the Greek dark comedy, Pity– I saw the film’s director casually having a late breakfast at The Bridge Cafe in Park City.
The moment I recognized it was him was a euphoric one for many reasons– here was the man whose work I had become infatuated with a mere 24 hours earlier and considered one of the bests from the fest. Plus, it reminded me just how lucky the independent film community is to have a festival like Sundance, where creative energy bounces around Park City from artist to art lover, and audiences are introduced to films that otherwise may not end up on their radar. Pity is one of those films that I am so grateful to have seen in this environment.
Pity is Babis Makridis’ sophomore directorial feature film that tells the deliciously off-kilter story of a man who becomes dependent on the pity of strangers to give his life meaning. Actor Yannis Drakopoulos plays the unnamed man whose situation looks grim– his wife is in a coma and, with no apparent domestic skills of his own, has come to depend on his neighbor’s daily bundt cakes to feed himself and his son. It becomes apparent, however, that the food isn’t the only thing satiating his appetite, his neighbor’s constant care and concern also feeds his growing ego and desire for sadness. The man picks up his dry cleaning and tells the employee all about his life’s misfortune, and leaves with freshly pressed suits and a bountiful supply of sympathy. It isn’t until his wife begins to recover that the man realizes that he depends on the pity from strangers to continue living and will stop at nothing to ensure he receives it.
The situations are hilarious and horrifying all at once, the winning combination that makes every moment feel like a metaphorical punch in the gut... exactly the way our protagonist would like it.
This is not a case of schadenfreude– happiness at the misfortune of others– but a case of twisted and psychological self-sabotage. The man is only happy when he is sad, he is quite literally addicted to sadness, and that is what makes this Greek tragicomedy, whose tagline is “Stay Sad,” one of the most creative and smart films to hit the arthouse/dark comedy scene. Perhaps the best part of all is the understated execution of this wacky plot, which is attributed to Drakopoulos' deadpan performance and beautiful cinematography. Makridis and his DP Konstantinos Koukoulios create a visually stunning and engaging aesthetic that grounds this black comedy in reality, making the character's situation all the funnier because of its realness.
Makridis’ directorial accomplishments may not run long just yet, but he is no stranger to the film industry– just ask his Pity collaborator and co-writer Efthimis Filippou whose credits include The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Lobster, and Dogtooth (all directed by the great Yorgos Lanthimos). If you’ve seen any of the previously mentioned films, expect that same tone (and soundtrack) to come across in Pity. The situations are hilarious and horrifying all at once, the winning combination that makes every moment feel like a metaphorical punch in the gut... exactly the way our protagonist would like it.
97 minutes. 'Pity' is not yet rated.
Sundance 2018, Here We Come!
Tomorrow marks the official start of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and Cinemacy is so excited to be returning to Park City, UT to cover the best of the fest from start to finish!
The weather predicts snow, and the lineup predicts over 100 innovative and groundbreaking independent films from all over the globe. Founded by Robert Redford in 1978, the Sundance Film Festival is a cultural tastemaking event that sets the tone for the coming year in indie film– some of last year’s notable gems that went on to box office and critical acclaim include Call Me By Your Name, The Big Sick, and Mudbound. And although the ink is not yet dry on Cinemacy’s film festival schedule– there are more events, panels, and performances to attend than there are hours in the day– we have narrowed down some of our most anticipated events.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
It is undeniable that female artists are shaping the film industry at this very moment, creating a platform and a call to action for equality and respect. The result is a major societal and revolutionary re-vamping of the system, and that is why this year, in particular, it feels extremely important to highlight the contributions and impact that women have made in cinema. It is with delighted anticipation that Sundance is hosting various discussions highlighting these current events with universally inspiring women, including Ava DuVernay, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Joan Jett, Octavia Spencer, and so many more. There will be conversations based on how storytellers transform not only the arts but society at large, and how the stories we tell will shape our future.
Brett Dennen
As a whole, the biggest draw of the festival may be the films, but Sundance also caters to the music-driven crowd with the inclusion of various pop-up performances and lounges. The ASCAP Music Café is a great place to re-group after spending the day in the snow or a theatre, and this year they are celebrating their 20th Anniversary with an impressive lineup. Brett Dennen and Ethan Gruska are just a couple of the artists set to perform, spotlighting music's essential role in the art of filmmaking. And in keeping with the theme of music, another scheduled event is the “Scoring for Sundance” panel, which gives the opportunity to hear from various composers as they discuss the art of music over a hot cup of coffee.
(L-R) Burden; I Think We're Alone Now; Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
When all is said and done, however, it is the films that inspire us most. Out of 13,468 submissions, 110 feature-length films were selected to screen at this year’s festival. What is Cinemacy most looking forward to? For starters, covering master filmmaker Gus Van Sant’s drama Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, and Rooney Mara; cinematographer-turned-director Reed Morano’s sci-fi feature I Think We’re Alone Now starring Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning; and the sensitive drama, Burden starring Garrett Hedlund, Andrea Riseborough, and Forest Whitaker.
Follow Cinemacy along on our journey to Sundance and beyond on Instagram and Facebook to get an insider’s look at all the happenings at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival!
'In The Fade' Review: A Mother's Worst Nightmare is Realized and Relived
A mother's worst nightmare is realized and relived in the most devastating way in director Fatih Akin's suspenseful crime drama In The Fade.
Set on the unrelentingly cold streets of Hamburg, Germany, an unprovoked bombing by a pair of Neo-Nazis shatters Katja's world, leaving her widowed and childless in an instant. Nominated for a Golden Globe and Critic's Choice award among others, In The Fade is also German's official Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film.
The film begins with a simple title card: Family. Old home movies show a tattooed Katja (Diane Kruger) with her ex-con Kurdish-German husband Nuri (Numan Acar) as they say "I do" at their unconventional prison wedding (he served time for selling drugs). The footage shows a family that may be tough and hardened in appearance, but are very sweet and rich in love. Katja's life gets turned upside down in the most violent of ways when she discovers that her husband and their six-year-old son Rocco (Rafael Santana) were the only two deaths in a mysterious bombing which took place outside of Nuri's office. In between self-medication and nervous breakdowns, Katja believes she has a clue that could lead detectives to her family's murderers... if only somebody would listen.
The second chapter of the film reads: Justice. Court dates, testimonies, and false alibis force her to relive that day over and over again. As if that wasn't painful enough, the court's unsatisfactory ruling pushes Katja to the brink of losing it. She decides once and for all to take justice into her own hands when the system fails her. That leads up to the last chapter of the film: The Sea. The ocean is a universal sign of rebirth, but director Fatih Akin doesn't take this theme literally. In fact, the last chapter proves to be the strongest yet and makes In The Fade, as a whole, an incredibly powerful story.
In what is remarkably her first German-made movie, German-born actress Diane Kruger gives one of her strongest performances to date as Katja.
In what is remarkably her first German-made movie, German-born actress Diane Kruger gives one of her strongest performances to date as Katja. From the initial blood-curling scream of discovering her loved one's deaths to the eerily subdued conversations with Nuri's parents and picking out a child-sized casket with her sister, Kruger's performance as a grieving mother, in all of its stages, is a triumphant tour de force.
There are character similarities between Katja and All the Money in the World's Gail Getty, another memorable performance by actress Michelle Williams. The theme of a mother's relentless quest for answers and a fearless, "do whatever it takes" attitude makes her a heroine worth standing by and rooting for.
In The Fade is a challenging movie to sit through just based on its content, but it's beautifully composed cinematography and phenomenal performances make it the challenges worth it.
'In the Fade' is rated R for some disturbing images, drug use, and language including sexual references 106 minutes. Now playing at the Laemmle Royal with a national release to follow.
Morgan's Top 10 Films of 2017
The joke may be that 2017 has been a seemingly never-ending cycle of bad news and events, but it has also been a fantastic year for independent film. First-time directors Jordan Peele and Greta Gerwig made a splash with their feature debuts, more stories featuring LGBTQ representation were brought to the forefront, and unique storytelling all around has made this year one to remember. Below are the top ten films that I saw this year.
10. In a Heartbeat
Despite running just four minutes long, watching the animated short film In a Heartbeat became one of my favorite moments in film this year. The story of a young boy attempting to hide his feelings (literally, his heart) from another boy is at once full of innocence and yet also mature in its positive theme of self-acceptance. Directed by art school students Beth David and Esteban Bravo (it was their final project to graduate) and funded on Kickstarter, In a Heartbeat has already been met with much success, having been racked up 20 million views in its first five days since its official YouTube premiere. It's likely In a Heartbeat slipped through the cracks this year, but the good news is that you can still stream this winning short on YouTube in full for free.
Watch 'In a Heartbeat' in full on YouTube here.
9. Ingrid Goes West
In this age of social media, more and more studies are showing that an unhealthy attachment to social media can lead to depression and a false sense of reality. This is the premise of Matt Spicer's award-winning Sundance film Ingrid Goes West, a #nofilter look at modern-day superficiality in the digital age. Spicer's hilarious dark comedy is centered around the delusions of mentally unstable twenty-something, Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza), a social media stalker who confuses “likes” on Instagram for authentic relationships. So when she gets it in her head to make the beautiful social media influencer Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen) her BFF (best friend forever) IRL (in real life), Ingrid commits to doing whatever it takes, leading to a darkly perverse story and hilarious film that, while it may be a funny satire, may also make you re-consider posting that next photo to Instagram.
Read our full review of 'Ingrid Goes West' here.
Watch our full 'Ingrid Goes West' red carpet coverage from this year's LA Film Fest here.
8. Thelma
With films like 'Louder Than Bombs,' director Joachim Trier has shown he has a sensitive and artistic eye, which, lent to the seemingly ordinary story of a young woman coming of age, turns into something extraordinary. In his latest film, Thelma, Trier explores the tangle of repression, desire, and the supernatural through his main character, Thelma (Eili Harboe), a first-year university student who finds herself falling for a female classmate which, given her family's deeply religious background, imposes immediate feelings of confusion and shame upon her that manifest themselves into supernatural mayhem. Ruminating in silence and a sense of foreboding, Trier embodies the pursuit of love through this allegorical and psychological thriller, Trier has given us the true definition of a cinematic experience, which is also Norway’s official foreign-language Oscar submission.
Read our full review of 'Thelma' here.
Watch our full interview with Joachim Trier on 'Thelma' here.
7. Manifesto
Highly theatrical in its performance-driven style, Manifesto is a series of vignettes derived from famous 20th Century art movements in which Cate Blanchett stars in every role. Taking on thirteen different contemporary personas – from a homeless man, to choreographer, to anchorwoman – Blanchett and director Julian Rosefeldt modernize the manifestos of the past as well as show their lasting relevance in today’s world, making for an experimental tour-de-force of a film that blew me away. While on the surface it may seem like Manifesto only caters to niche “art house” enthusiasts, I can't recommend you taking a chance on exploring this unconventionally beautiful and stimulating work.
Read our full review of 'Manifesto' here.
6. The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Rejoining forces with Colin Farrell after The Lobster (my favorite film of 2016), Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a destructive psychological thriller born out of revenge, showing just how easily any one person’s life can turn upside down and the desperate situations they'll go through to cope. Farrell plays a renowned cardiovascular surgeon who provides mentorship for young Martin (Barry Keoghan), an odd boy who shows interest in becoming a doctor. Martin’s intentions seem pure at first, but after a string of questionable acts, Steven begins to have reservations about their relationship. Only by that point, it’s too late. Lanthimos pulls no punches when it comes to creating graphic and unsettling visuals to dissect the complications in human relationships, and his latest film is no exception. Fantastical and darkly absurd, Sacred Deer is uncomfortably hilarious and will make you think about the sacrifices one will make under impossible circumstances.
Read our full review of 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' here.
5. Lady Bird
The mother-daughter relationship can be a delicate dance, especially during those teenage years when it feels like the world and everyone in it is literally against you. If only you could move to New York, wouldn't that solve everything! For those of us who have lived through that phase (*raises hand), Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut, Lady Bird, is sure to strike a chord. Saoirse Ronan leads a cast of amazingly talented actors as she struggles to see eye to eye with her mother and vice versa – neither realizing their frustrations stem from the fact that they are exactly alike. This is a must-see for anyone who likes their humor playful, smart, and overall heart-warming.
Read our full review of 'Lady Bird' here.
4. Get Out
Written and directed by Jordan Peele (half of the former comedy duo "Key and Peele"), the satirical comedy Get Out is one of those rare films that is hard to shake long after its watch. Even over 10 months since I initially saw the film, I'm still fascinated by its bold theme and expert craftsmanship. Get Out tells the story of a young black man (Daniel Kaluuya) meeting his white girlfriend’s (Allison Williams) family for the first time, only to discover a hidden secret that threatens both his relationship and his life. With captivating performances and a smart script filled with hidden symbolism sprinkled throughout, Get Out is one that you'll want to re-visit many times over.
Read our full review of 'Get Out' here.
3. Jane
There may have been a number of films chronicling the life and times of Jane Goodall – who is most widely known for her study of chimpanzees and their behavior in the wild – but this is not just another nature documentary. In partnership with National Geographic, Jane is comprised fully of never-before-seen footage shot by notable wildlife photographer (and former husband) Hugo van Lawick during her assignment in Gombe, Tanzania in the 1960s. These special moments of Jane’s initial bonding with chimpanzees and the relationship she would develop with them over time are priceless and truly enchanting to watch on the big screen. With an original score by Philip Glass, Brett Morgen’s profile of Jane Goodall is a powerhouse film that sheds light on this incredible woman and serves as a reminder to stop and appreciate life’s beauty and natural wonders.
Read our full review of 'Jane' here.
2. Call Me By Your Name
Call Me By Your Name is the rare kind of big-screen adaptation that not only stays true to the details that made the novel so special, but improves upon them. Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer star as two acquaintances, turned friends, turned lovers, who navigate the confused feelings of desire for each other over one sunshine soaked summer in a 1980s Italian countryside. With a screenplay by James Ivory and directed by Luca Guadagnino, the story is beautifully sensual and lyrical, making for a romantic film that offers enough intimacy and devastation to capsize anyone. Newcomer Chalamet commands the film as teen Elio, whose journey of self-discovery and coming-of-age is one that bridges worlds in its emotional resonance and is already gathering awards and early Best Actor buzz.
Read our full review of 'Call Me By Your Name' here.
1. The Florida Project
Sean Baker's The Florida Project moved me in ways that I haven't been moved in a long time, making this “little indie that could” my favorite film of the year. Emotional, nostalgic, and captivating, this $2 million feature success from A24 is a result of the sum of its parts, most notably in the fantastic performances from its young star Brooklynn Prince and supporting anchor Willem Dafoe. The loose story follows six-year-old Moonee (Prince) as she lives with her teenage mother (Bria Vinaite) in a long-stay budget motel, plays with neighboring kids, and, due to certain circumstances, is quickly forced to grow up, all while being overshadowed by the blinding happiness of the neighboring Disney World. Life is complicated, beautiful and messy, and Baker captures that hard-to-describe energy in a short 111 minutes. It isn’t just the script that brought me to tears (although that happened more than once too), it is the raw, palpable energy in front of the lens from the film’s rising stars (especially that last scene, bring the tissues). The Florida Project offers a unique perspective on growing up and my feelings from that initial viewing have stayed with me to this day, and I'm certain they will with you too.
Read our full review of 'The Florida Project' here.