Movie Review The Rift Dark Side of the Moon

The Rift Dark Side of the Moon (2016) 

Directed by Dejan Zecevic

Written by Barry Keating, Milan Konjevic

Starring Ken Foree, Monte Markham

Release Date March 27th, 2017

Published March 27th, 2017 

Streaming on Plex 

The Rift: Dark Side of the Moon is a strange little low-budget sci-fi horror movie that has no business being as fun as it is. This American-Serbian production from director Dejan Zecevic is well paced, fun and quite creepy. Movies like The Rift are a nice reminder that low-budget sci-fi horror is still being made and can still be quite fun despite our pop cultural prejudice in favor of big budgets, big studios and big movie stars.

The Rift: Dark Side of the Moon stars Katrina Kas as Liz, an American sleeper agent in Belgrade. Liz has been inactive for two years following the death of her son when she is asked to return to the field. The agency, the CIA, has asked Liz to accompany Agent Smith (Ken Foree) to the site of a crashed American satellite outside a small village in Serbia. Joining the mission are a Serbian secret agent named Darko (Dragan Micanovic) and an American scientist and former Astronaut named Dysart (Monte Markham).

Read my complete review of The Rift Dark Side of the Moon on Geeks.Media. Subscribe to my movie reviews on Geeks and if you enjoy the review, consider leaving a tip. 

Movie Review The Bobby DeBarge Story

The Bobby DeBarge Story (2019) 

Directed by Russ Parr 

Written by Norman Vance Jr

Starring Roshon Fegan, Big Boi, Romeo Ballantine 

Release Date June 29th, 2019 

Criticizing TV One's The Bobby DeBarge Story is like having to discipline a puppy that has urinated on the floor, you don't want to be mean, but you have to let the puppy know not to do that again. As with a puppy, I will attempt to be gentle, but this is a huge puddle on the floor. This earnest, high camp, biopic mixes emotional honesty with some of the cringiest costumes and performances of 2019.

Multi-hyphenate entertainer, Roshon Fegan, plays the role of Bobby DeBarge, among the oldest of the DeBarge siblings, who would each find a measure of success on the Motown label in the late 70s and early 80s. It was Bobby and his brother Tommy (Blue Kimble) who would break out of the incredibly talented DeBarge family first.

Read the complete review of The Bobby DeBarge Story on Beat.Media here. 

Article February 23rd, 2012 It's Art Vs Mainstream at the Oscars

It's the art crowd vs. the mainstream crowd in the race for Hollywood's biggest prize at the Academy Awards. The battle for Best Picture has boiled down to "The Artist," a black and white throwback to old time Hollywood, and "The Help," a mainstream phenomenon that has earned well over $100 million at the domestic box office.

This divisive battle has two aspects of the Academy crowd at odds: Those who wish to promote film as an art form, and those who bow to the tastes of the mainstream, movie-going public.

Anti-Commercial

If there is anything the art crowd in the Academy loves, it's a movie that flies in the face of commercial sensibilities. "The Artist" -- a black and white silent film starring a pair of relatively unknown French actors, Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, and directed by a Frenchman, Michel Hazanavicius -- does just that

Recent Academy history bears out the battle-lines. In 2009 the commercially challenged "The Hurt Locker," without a big star or big name director, became the lowest-grossing film ever to win Best Picture by upsetting the biggest commercial hit of all time, James Cameron's epic "Avatar." The result was hailed as an upset almost solely because of "Avatar's" massive box office numbers.

"The Help"

The mainstream crowd in the Academy has a soft spot for the movies that mainstream moviegoers love. In 1998 the mainstream got in line with the phenomenon that was "Titanic" and overcame a wave of art-lovers pushing for the tiny English indie "The Fully Monty" and the gritty cop drama "L.A Confidential." In 2003 the mainstream stuck it to the art crowd by honoring "Chicago" over art-house fave "The Pianist." And the mainstream won again in 2004 when "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" topped the beloved art-house flick "Lost in Translation."

Box Office Blockbuster

"The Help" may not have the box office numbers of a "Titanic" or "Lord of the Rings," but it is the highest grossing film among this year's nominees by a wide margin, taking in over $169 million at the domestic box office. That total is nearly $100 million more than the next closest Best Picture nominee "War Horse," which has an estimated domestic box office of $78 million. "The Artist" stands at $28 million ahead of only "The Tree of Life" among Best Picture nominees at the box office.

Art vs. Popularity

Why the divide between the art crowd and the mainstream? It may have something to do with ratings for the Academy Awards. Handing the big award to the most popular film in the field is the quickest way to curry favor with fickle awards show viewers who feel the Academy looks down upon non-Academy members. Whatever the reason, the art vs. commerce battle-lines have been drawn; we're set for a showdown on Oscar Sunday.

Article January 24th, 2012 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to 9/11

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" opened nationwide on Friday, Jan. 20. The film deals with September 11 through the eyes of a young boy who lost his father in one of the towers. The Hollywood approach to September 11 thus far has been direct and earnest for the most part. Here's a closer look at Hollywood's approach to September 11.

"Collateral Damage" / "25th Hour"

Less than a year after the tragedy, Hollywood had no idea how to deal with September 11. Arnold Schwarzenegger dealt with the tragedy by trying to go back to fighting bad guys. However, his film "Collateral Damage," which found Arnold trying to stop terrorists from blowing up a building in Los Angeles, didn't feel so much timely as ill-timed and inconsiderate; Schwarzenegger would go back to the "Terminator" well one more time before giving up movies for politics.

Spike Lee was more thoughtful when he became the first New York filmmaker to reflect on 9/11. "25th Hour" was not about post-9/11 New York directly but the sense of gloom that hangs over the movie has as much to do with the fearful, edgy sadness of the city as a whole in the wake of 9/11 as it did with the sad fate of Edward Norton's convict on his last free night before prison. Also, the footprints of the Towers are revealed right outside the window of one character's apartment -- the first time the site had been seen in a Hollywood feature.

"United 93" / "World Trade Center"

By 2006 Hollywood was ready to deal directly with the tragedy of 9/11. Director Paul Greengrass gave audiences a surreal trip inside one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center as well as inside the air traffic control command center for the East Coast of the United States which tracked the chaos of the day. The striking authenticity of "United 93" included the casting of Ben Sliney, National Operations Manager for the FAA, as himself re-enacting the choices he made on September 11.

The tragedy of 9/11 inspired earnest assessment even from one of the most controversial directors in the world. While many worried that Oliver Stone would desecrate the memory of that day the director of "JFK" and "Natural Born Killers" turned in the least controversial and arguably most flag waving and heroic portrayals of the 9/11 aftermath with "World Trade Center."

"Reign Over Me" / "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

The film that most resembles "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" is a slightly more adult oriented but similarly grief oriented film. "Reign Over Me" starred Adam Sandler as a man whose life went to pieces after he lost his wife and daughter in one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. "Reign Over Me" carries the same strange sense of humor and odd warmth that makes up much of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."

Both films are focused on the grief of those left behind after the tragedy and that grief extends to us in the audience. Seeing actors we know playing out the stories of people who really experienced the tragedy and loss of September 11 is the closest that some of us will ever come to knowing what that tragic day was like.

Of course we all shared the shock and the fear of that day but those who lost someone in the tragedy have a different and far more life-altering experience of September 11. Movies like "Reign Over Me" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" give the rest of us an approximation of that experience that makes both films unique and valuable.

Article May 30th 2011 10 Movies to Watch This Summer

Summer is all about the blockbusters and this season offers blockbusters galore. The rebooted X-Men take us back to '˜The First Class.' We will find out the origins of "The Green Lantern" and '˜Captain America' this summer. And just who are all of these little blue people running around? Plus, this summer we'll see the return of Optimus Prime, Harry Potter and some Apes. So stay out of the sun and stay inside the theaters for the Top 10 Movies for Summer.

X-Men: The First Class June 3rd

In need of a reboot after the modest returns of "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," the creators of the X-Men film franchise decided to go all the way back to the beginning for "X-Men: The First Class." Find out where Charles '˜Professor X' Xavier, Erik '˜Magneto' Lensherr and the first class of student at Xavier's School.

"Kick Ass" director Matthew Vaughan takes the directorial reigns of this origin story set in the late 1960's just as Charles Xavier has started his school for gifted, mutant, students. The supporting cast includes Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Lenny Kravitz's daughter Zoe as Angel and Nicholas Hoult as Beast.

Super 8 June 10th

J.J Abrams and Steven Speilberg are a superstar team behind the scenes and the result of their collective imagination is the buzz heavy "Super 8." Ever since a big tease during the Super Bowl in January fans have been anticipating this secretive event movie about unseen, alien forces attacking a small town, secretive military types trying to keep the problem under wraps and a father and son, Kyle Chandler and Joel Courtney, along with their family, neighbors and friends who are caught in the middle.

Green Lantern June 17th

We've seen Superman, Batman, Spiderman and Iron Man; it was about time that The Green Lantern got the big screen treatment. Long a favorite of the D.C comics' fans, The Green Lantern has been talked about for a movie for years. However, it wasn't until the super combination of director Martin Campbell and star Ryan Reynolds came together that stingy Warner Bros. finally offered a '˜Green' light.

The story of "The Green Lantern" finds test pilot Hal Jordan shocked to be gifted with a ring of power by an alien who crashes not far from him. Jordan is not exactly the hero type but once he discovers the power of the ring and the responsibility that comes with it he rounds into hero form. Meanwhile, a crazed scientist named Hector Hammond threatens the survival of earth and one of Jordan's friends plots a betrayal.

Transformers Dark of the Moon July 1st

Michael Bay, Shia LeBeouf and some CGI robots reunite to imperil the earth for the third time in "Transformers Dark of the Moon." This time, Optimus Prime discovers that humans have been lying to him about just how much they know about his people and he's none too happy. The revelation of a spaceship on the moon leads to a new round of war between Autobots and Decepticons with more carnage and destruction in store for planet earth. All this just as LeBeouf's Sam gets a new girlfriend played by Maxim model Rosie Huntington Whitely who takes over for the departed Megan Fox.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows July 15th

The final film of the '˜Harry Potter' franchise, until the inevitable remakes, arrives this summer and we will finally see the showdown that we've waited nearly a decade for. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) will go nose to, well, nostril (?) with the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes.) The showdown will happen but not before several beloved characters and hated villains meet their end. A happy ending is assured by J.K Rowling's astonishingly popular book series but there are likely surprises still in store even for fans well aware of how the story ends in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2.

Captain America: The First Avenger July 22nd

Chris Evans has some experience as a comic book superhero; he played Johnny Storm in a pair of underwhelming "Fantastic Four" movies. Now, Evans takes an even bigger role in the Marvel universe becoming Steve Rogers the weakling who becomes the heroic Captain America after a unique and dangerous experiment.

Joe Johnston ("Jumanji," "Lost World: Jurassic Park") directs "Captain America: The Last Avenger" as an origin story set around the beginning of America's entrance into World War 2. Steve Rogers wants to go into the army but is too scrawny until a secret government experiment recruits him to become a guinea pig for a program to create super soldiers. Soon, Steve Rogers is the muscular and heroic Captain America fighting the Germans and the evil Red Skull played by Hugo Weaving.

Cowboys and Aliens July 29th

The director of "Iron Man," Jon Favreau, is making a western with aliens, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and James Bond (Daniel Craig)? Talk about a fanboy dream. Yes, "Cowboys and Aliens" hits theaters this summer with a whole lot of novelty and a whole lot potential. Daniel Craig plays an outlaw who wakes up in the desert with an alien weapon strapped to his arm while Harrison Ford is a villain who wants Craig dead but must instead team up with him when Aliens invade.

Smurfs July 29th

The little blue forest dwellers, The Smurfs, are smurfing to New York City in their first live action feature film adventure and they are bringing the evil Gargamel (Hank Azaria) as they seek help from Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays as a helpful New Yorkers. The voice cast includes Katy Perry as Smurfette, Jonathan Winters as Papa Smurf, Paul Reubens as Jokey and SNL's Kenan Thompson as Greedy. "Scooby Doo" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" director Raja Gosnell is at the helm of what will likely become a little blue film franchise.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes August 5th

A young indie director, a quirky Oscar nominated actor and a bunch of Apes have to be a bit worrisome but the track record for the "Planet of the Apes" movies at least offer a good deal of kitschy fun. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" provides the origin story of a planet dominated by apes. Franco is a scientist who accidentally dooms humanity by greatly enhancing the intelligence of apes leading to a war for supremacy. Hey, it can't be any worse than the Mark Wahlberg-Tim Burton remake? Right?

Glee Live in 3D August 12th

If Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and the Jonas Brothers can go 3D why not the kids from Fox's "Glee?" Yes, the cast of the hit series is currently on the road for their first nationwide arena tour and the cameras are rolling for a concert film, "Glee Live in 3D," with "Mobbed" creator Kevin Tancharoen at the helm. Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Cory Montieth and Kevin McHale are all in along with the rest of the New Directions but Matthew Morrison is not, he's got his own tour plans this summer as he pushes his first solo CD.

Article March 31st, 2011 Leaked Dragon Tattoo Trailer

The first glimpses of David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" leaked over the Memorial Day weekend. While Sony remained mum about the release, scrutiny of the stolen clip has centered on Sony executives leaking the clip themselves, as noted by MSNBC. Curiously, Sony has not asked outlets like Entertainment Weekly to pull the clip. The "leaked" trailer has already been downloaded more than a million times on Youtube, indicating interest in "The Girl with Dragon Tattoo" is quite high.

Here are a few famous examples of movie leaks and how they helped and hindered movies in the past.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1"

Just days before the release of the first installment of the final Harry Potter movie hit theaters Nov. 19, 2010, the first 36 minutes of the movie appeared online. While Warner Brothers issued a statement promising to prosecute whoever leaked the footage, the leak only stoked the already flaming hot buzz: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" opened to the biggest box office in the history of the franchise.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine"

In April of 2009, a full length but not completed version of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" was leaked online less than a month before the film opened on May 1, according to CNN. While the film eventually opened to more than $85 million, the opening was down from the previous X-Men adventure, "X-Men: The Last Stand," which opened to $102 million.

More than 1 million people downloaded the film illegally, but problems behind the scenes that led to reshoots plagued the movie, as did many negative reviews. Ironically, while 20th Century Fox was pursuing those who illegally downloaded "Wolverine," Fox News movie critic Roger Friedman reviewed the leaked version and gave the film a very positive review. Friedman was subsequently fired.

"Ang Lee's Hulk"

In 2003, a New Jersey man named Kerry Gonzalez received a copy of "Hulk" from a friend two weeks before the film's debut in June. Gonzalez digitized a copy of the film and then uploaded it onto the Internet. Gonzalez ended up paying $7,000 in fines and spent six months in home confinement.

It's unclear how much the leak hurt the opening weekend box office of "Hulk." The ability to download full length movies in 2003 wasn't nearly as advanced as it was when more than 1 million people downloaded "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" in 2009. "Hulk" was also the subject of troubling behind the scenes buzz and mixed critical reviews.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The leak of the trailer for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" may be another watershed for the industry. If the rumors about Sony leaking the clip itself turn out to be true, it would be the first known occasion that a major movie studio has used the very tactics it decries as criminal -- footage shot by an amateur camera in a movie theater and then uploaded onto the Internet -- as a way of marketing a movie.

Movie Review: Documentary Boogeymen

Boogeyman (2001) 

Directed by 

Written by Documentary

Starring Freddy Krueger, Pinhead, Norman Bates, Michael Myers, Jason Voohees 

Release Date Unknown

Published December 20th, 2001 

A warning to horror film fans: avoid the new DVD Boogeymen. The disc that is positioned as sort of a documentary retrospective of the horror genres best. Yet Boogeymen plays more like the kind of promo disc you would receive with your subscription to Fangoria.

All the horror greats are on the disc from Norman Bates to Hellraiser's Pinhead to the greatest of them all, Freddy Krueger. They are all featured on the disc but in strange little vignettes that introduce the characters as if they were contestants on the dating game. For example, clips of Freddy are introduced with a picture, vital stats and little tidbits like "Son of 100 maniacs", killed by the parents of the Elm Street children, now returns to kill in children's' dreams. All that's missing is Wink Martindale saying "Ladies how about a warm welcome for Freeeddyyyyy Krueger." 

The disc is filled with famous clips like Freddy's first kill, and the Phantasm ball but the clips are very long and are accompanied by no commentary and no interviews essentially no insight into the making of these classics.

The DVD extras does include a commentary and a couple of interviews but why are they only in the extras and not in the documentary itself? If your looking for real insight into the making of a horror film rent Wes Craven's new nightmare with the commentary by Craven himself and leave Boogeymen on the shelf.