Nothing will ever be able to take away Bruce Willis‘ status as an iconic action hero, based entirely on the fact that he starred in Die Hard, which is arguably the finest ever entry in the genre’s long and illustrious history. As well as appearing in a further four sequels, the rapidly receding actor also went on to feature in box office hits and cult classics like The Last Boy Scout, The Fifth Element and Armageddon to name but three.
However, the 65 year-old is apparently determined now to torpedo his reputation by lending his name to a consistent string of terrible bargain basement action thrillers that occupy the darkest depths of the VOD market, many of which are so irredeemably awful that even Nicolas Cage would probably turn them down.
Willis is certainly keeping himself busy, though, showing up in no less than fourteen such efforts in the last five years alone,...
However, the 65 year-old is apparently determined now to torpedo his reputation by lending his name to a consistent string of terrible bargain basement action thrillers that occupy the darkest depths of the VOD market, many of which are so irredeemably awful that even Nicolas Cage would probably turn them down.
Willis is certainly keeping himself busy, though, showing up in no less than fourteen such efforts in the last five years alone,...
- 12/1/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Chicago – In the realm of micro-budget independent films, it’s rare that a story produces psychological intrigue and the aura of a pulse pounding thriller. Director Tirf Alexius uses three characters to drive a narrative that is fast approaching the definition of its title, “Critical Nexus.”
Rating: 4.0/5.0
The centerpiece of the film are the uncommon personalities that develop and are destined to come together. “Critical Nexus” refers to the crossroads that are initiated when divergent paths are on a collision course, and the screenplay by Todd Heller sets those paths into a frenzied motion. The film is a kaleidoscope of the point-of-view, as director Alexius uses smart phones and laptop cameras to create a contemporary viewpoint of the “eye,” both watching the characters and allowing them to broadcast their fate. The story creates a mood of vulnerability in coming to that nexus, and it is in being vulnerable that the...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
The centerpiece of the film are the uncommon personalities that develop and are destined to come together. “Critical Nexus” refers to the crossroads that are initiated when divergent paths are on a collision course, and the screenplay by Todd Heller sets those paths into a frenzied motion. The film is a kaleidoscope of the point-of-view, as director Alexius uses smart phones and laptop cameras to create a contemporary viewpoint of the “eye,” both watching the characters and allowing them to broadcast their fate. The story creates a mood of vulnerability in coming to that nexus, and it is in being vulnerable that the...
- 9/13/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – Director Tirf Alexius is one of the most ardent filmmakers a person will meet. He believes succinctly in his new film “Critical Nexus,” and is anticipating a sold out premiere in Chicago on Friday, September 13th. The gritty new movie thriller is a intriguing departure in the micro-budget film category.
“Critical Nexus” refers to the ultimate crossroad when uncommon elements are destined to come together. In this case it is a 16 year old video blogger, a former internet developer and a random mass killer. The film is a departure because it comments on current technologies and the “connections’ those technologies make. It speaks to how the lack of personal interaction is a dangerous and often deadly obsession.
Kiley Moore, Ron Lipski and Karmann Bajuyo of ‘Critical Nexus’
Photo credit: R-Squared Films
Tirf Alexius is a local filmmaker, who actually graduated from Chicago’s Columbia College with a drama degree.
“Critical Nexus” refers to the ultimate crossroad when uncommon elements are destined to come together. In this case it is a 16 year old video blogger, a former internet developer and a random mass killer. The film is a departure because it comments on current technologies and the “connections’ those technologies make. It speaks to how the lack of personal interaction is a dangerous and often deadly obsession.
Kiley Moore, Ron Lipski and Karmann Bajuyo of ‘Critical Nexus’
Photo credit: R-Squared Films
Tirf Alexius is a local filmmaker, who actually graduated from Chicago’s Columbia College with a drama degree.
- 9/12/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
We are now a week into the three week long Fantasia Film Festival, and while we admittedly have been a little behind due to some technical issues with our website, we still managed to get a dozen film reviews published. Keep coming back to our site as we promise twice the amount of articles by the end of week two. In the meantime, here is a round-up of what we’ve seen and written about so far.
Black Pond
Directed by Tom Kingsley and Will Sharpe
Written by Will Sharpe
U.K., 2011
Comedy, in its nature and its presentation, has morphed dramatically over the past decade or so, both in North America and in Europe, in particular the United Kingdom. From the more overt, on the nose comedy of yesteryear we have now live in an era in which the comedy is delivered with a completely different version of wit.
Black Pond
Directed by Tom Kingsley and Will Sharpe
Written by Will Sharpe
U.K., 2011
Comedy, in its nature and its presentation, has morphed dramatically over the past decade or so, both in North America and in Europe, in particular the United Kingdom. From the more overt, on the nose comedy of yesteryear we have now live in an era in which the comedy is delivered with a completely different version of wit.
- 7/28/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Easton’s Article
Written and Directed by Tim Connery
USA, 2012
Fantasia imdb website
Leave it to a time traveller to arrive late for a party! Easton’s Article arrives at the Fantasia Film Festival a year after films it would have been natural companion pieces with, like Fantasia 2011 films Brawler, Bellflower and Another Earth, films that used a thin veneer of genre to illuminate stories about the most f****d up personal relationships possible.
In the case of Easton’s Article, the genre is time travel and the veneer is very thin indeed. The film’s biggest weakness and biggest strength is that it is not really a time travel story at all. Oh sure, it has the trappings of a time travel story, but that is simply a mask for a story genre much older and darker than time travel.
The set-up for the film is that Easton Dunning...
Written and Directed by Tim Connery
USA, 2012
Fantasia imdb website
Leave it to a time traveller to arrive late for a party! Easton’s Article arrives at the Fantasia Film Festival a year after films it would have been natural companion pieces with, like Fantasia 2011 films Brawler, Bellflower and Another Earth, films that used a thin veneer of genre to illuminate stories about the most f****d up personal relationships possible.
In the case of Easton’s Article, the genre is time travel and the veneer is very thin indeed. The film’s biggest weakness and biggest strength is that it is not really a time travel story at all. Oh sure, it has the trappings of a time travel story, but that is simply a mask for a story genre much older and darker than time travel.
The set-up for the film is that Easton Dunning...
- 7/24/2012
- by Michael Ryan
- SoundOnSight
For those of you that have followed us long enough, you know that we were a podcast (new format/episodes coming in November) before a full website. Our friends over at the Drunken Zombie podcast have an annual film festival and they are celebrating their forth year. Check out the details below and support Drunken Zombie & independent cinema.
From the Press Release:
We are happy to announce our line up for the 2011 Drunken Zombie Film Festival November 4th and 5th inPeoria,Il. This is the fourth year we have done the film festival and it just continues to get bigger every year. We bring independent horror films to fans that might otherwise have not seen them. This year we are teaming up with Landmark Cinemas to bring you to the best experience yet for the Drunken Zombie Film Festival. Just before the festival they are expanding their back lobby concession stand.
From the Press Release:
We are happy to announce our line up for the 2011 Drunken Zombie Film Festival November 4th and 5th inPeoria,Il. This is the fourth year we have done the film festival and it just continues to get bigger every year. We bring independent horror films to fans that might otherwise have not seen them. This year we are teaming up with Landmark Cinemas to bring you to the best experience yet for the Drunken Zombie Film Festival. Just before the festival they are expanding their back lobby concession stand.
- 10/14/2011
- by Andy Triefenbach
- Destroy the Brain
The smartphone boom helps clever companies turn ephemeral real-world resources into marketable goods.
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Chad Meyer and Omid Saadati met at a Bay Area coffee shop about a year ago, and the two young entrepreneurs immediately began talking about what everyone in San Francisco talks about when they first meet: how long it had taken to find parking. "We'd both been going around and around the block, and we'd seen all these prime parking spaces that we couldn't use," Meyer says. The prime spots were privately owned -- driveways, carports, parking lots attached to apartment buildings -- and many were unoccupied while their owners were off at work or on vacation or just out to the store. "We thought, Wouldn't it be great if there was some way that we could communicate with those owners and say, 'Hey, here's 10 bucks, here's 20 bucks. Can I just park in...
#article-bucket a .article-view-enlarged { display:none; }
Chad Meyer and Omid Saadati met at a Bay Area coffee shop about a year ago, and the two young entrepreneurs immediately began talking about what everyone in San Francisco talks about when they first meet: how long it had taken to find parking. "We'd both been going around and around the block, and we'd seen all these prime parking spaces that we couldn't use," Meyer says. The prime spots were privately owned -- driveways, carports, parking lots attached to apartment buildings -- and many were unoccupied while their owners were off at work or on vacation or just out to the store. "We thought, Wouldn't it be great if there was some way that we could communicate with those owners and say, 'Hey, here's 10 bucks, here's 20 bucks. Can I just park in...
- 5/25/2011
- by Farhad Manjoo
- Fast Company
A Chance in Hell now has a horrifying trailer that shows zombies and bullets flying. The film is set in World War II during the winter of 1944. Some Nazi experiments have not turned out as planned and the German forces unleash "a hideous creature" (Horror). Shot on a budget this trailer is a good intro' for horror fans to A Chance in Hell.
The synopsis for A Chance in Hell here:
"Nazi officer, Dr. Bucher must create the ultimate warrior for the fuhrer. All his experiments until now have ended in failure. And with the Americans closing in on Berlin, time is running short. The doctor performs his experiment on a concentration camp child. She transforms into a hideous creature, and hell is unleashed" (Horror Society).
Release Date: Unknown.
Director/writer: Tony Wash.
Cast: Kevin Zaiderman, Steven James Price, Chad Meyer, Adam Stephenson, and Tony Lee Gratz.
The trailer for...
The synopsis for A Chance in Hell here:
"Nazi officer, Dr. Bucher must create the ultimate warrior for the fuhrer. All his experiments until now have ended in failure. And with the Americans closing in on Berlin, time is running short. The doctor performs his experiment on a concentration camp child. She transforms into a hideous creature, and hell is unleashed" (Horror Society).
Release Date: Unknown.
Director/writer: Tony Wash.
Cast: Kevin Zaiderman, Steven James Price, Chad Meyer, Adam Stephenson, and Tony Lee Gratz.
The trailer for...
- 3/30/2010
- by Michael Ross Allen
- 28 Days Later Analysis
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