It would seem that were one to gaze into the future of sci-fi filmmaking, society will never see an end to the concept of UFOs as a plot device, with “They’re Here” the latest, but far from greatest, contender for the spot of genre-defining piece presumably meant to spark a conversation about whether or not we remain alone in the vastness of space. While this particular outing may indeed be rich in onscreen conversation regarding the possibility of interstellar visitors between whoever might be occupying the film at any given moment, it’s far from eye-opening and, it would seem, purposely aimless.

Continue reading ‘They’re Here’ Review: A Small Group Of UFO Believers Don’t Make For A Captivating Film [Tribeca] at The Playlist.

“And on the pedestal these words appear:/‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;/Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair!’/Nothing beside remains. Round the decay/Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare.”

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s iconic poem, “Ozymandias,” since its publication in 1818, has endured as a tribute to the diminishing power of empires and the insubstantiality of nations for centuries—a sustaining reminder that leaders and monuments perceived to be indestructible will fade into dust.

Continue reading ‘The American Sector’ Speaks Volumes About Freedom With Eloquent Silence [Berlin Review] at The Playlist.

For many Americans, especially those under the age of 30, the Berlin Wall is a chapter in history that they may or may not learn much about in their schooling. Sure, you’ve heard of the Berlin Wall. You may have even seen some of the famous speeches about the structure, specifically delivered by President Ronald Reagan. But the story behind the structure, the violence it caused, and the hatred it inspired are lost on many Americans.

Continue reading ‘The American Sector’ Exclusive Trailer: Doc Showcases Pieces Of The Berlin Wall Scattered In The US at The Playlist.

There’s a reason that Ronald Reagan is still called “The Great Communicator” all these years later, and it’s all on screen in Sierra Pettengill and Pacho Velez’s documentary “The Reagan Show,” making its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Eschewing both the cozily intimate style of modern political portraits like “Mitt” or the hard-hitting reportorial data crunch of a “Frontline” episode, Pettengill and Velez instead mine the thousands of hours of footage from the time period.

Continue reading ‘The Reagan Show’ Is A Comedic But Sober Documentary About Politics As Blooper Reel [Tribeca Review] at The Playlist.