Month: May 2016
The Angry Birds Movie: Mildly annoyed, not mad
by Matt Ward
“The Angry Birds Movie,” released in theaters nationwide last weekend, is a pretty blatant attempt to revitalize a fledgling video game franchise. Angry Birds, the first really big game to hit smartphones with universal appeal, saw players launching red, yellow, blue and black birds with a slingshot in an attempt to destroy the homes of green pigs who have taken all the birds’ eggs. … Read More The Angry Birds Movie: Mildly annoyed, not mad
Captain America Civil War: No spoilers edition
by Matt Ward
Perhaps the biggest flaw in blockbuster films, especially the superhero variety, is that they rarely account for all of the carnage, death and destruction left behind by all of the fight sequences and explosions audiences come to expect from these big-budget cinematic cash cows. “Captain America: Civil War” refuses to shy away from the consequences of war, making it the centerpiece of the entire … Read More Captain America Civil War: No spoilers edition
Dependent’s Day: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
Some of the best independent features start out as expanded versions of short films – made or just planned in the head of the filmmaker. Oscar-nominee Whiplash began as a short film from director Damien Chazelle and Hill Country Film Festival alum Before I Disappear began as an Academy Award winning short film called Curfew. Dependent’s Day, a comedy from writer/director Michael David Lynch … Read More Dependent’s Day: Hill Country Film Festival review
Bear With Us: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
What’s the worst possible way to propose to the perfect woman? Thought of it yet? Odds are whatever you thought of isn’t as outlandish as independent comedy Bear With Us, a hysterical film from director William Stribling and co-writer Russ Nickel. The film had audiences rolling in their seats at last weekend’s Hill Country Film Festival, where Bear With Us took home the prize … Read More Bear With Us: Hill Country Film Festival review
Captain America Civil War: An incredibly spoiler-filled review
by Matt Ward
This is a incredibly spoiler-filled review of Captain America: Civil War. Do not scroll past the trailer unless you have already seen the film. It may ruin the entire experience for you. Seriously. Don’t do it. There will be a spoiler-free review of this movie as well. This isn’t it. Also, nearly all of Cinematic Considerations is written in third person form. This column … Read More Captain America Civil War: An incredibly spoiler-filled review
Cut to the Chase: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
Your average Hollywood thriller nowadays costs anywhere from $25-50 million to make. Boosted with formulaic scripts that are some variation of explosion here, car chase there with a half dozen gun battles along the way, there’s little originality left in the genre, especially when you get into the world of half-cooked, rushed to the screen sequels. If the thriller genre is ever going to … Read More Cut to the Chase: Hill Country Film Festival review
Mother’s Day: Moms deserve better than subpar comedy tribute
by Matt Ward
Mother’s Day is a holiday celebrated annually to honor women have born, adopted or raised children with an emphasis on the mother-child relationship. “Mother’s Day” is a newly released movie directed by Garry Marshall that does pretty much none of that. Marshall’s film is a romantic comedy without any romance and lacking in comedy; it’s a family drama that doesn’t have much heart; and … Read More Mother’s Day: Moms deserve better than subpar comedy tribute
Transpecos: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
It’s hard to imagine a more timely independent feature to hit the big screen in 2016 than Transpecos, Greg Kwedar’s dynamic and explosive thriller along the Texas-Mexico border. With homeland security, drug lords and massive wall-building in the news, now more than ever do moviegoers need this film to help them engage in thought provoking discussion thanks to Transpecos’ cinematic world where ambiguity reigns … Read More Transpecos: Hill Country Film Festival review
Cinematic Considerations 