The Cinema Scribe

What happens when a pair of egocentric, polar opposite acting rivals become involved in a film project being made by an eccentric, inscrutable director? That's what happens in the Spanish dark comedy/satire, "Official Competition."

Some things bear repeating, especially when they’re important and have been disregarded or not taken seriously. It doesn’t matter how many times or how emphatically the message has been said, either. If the word is not getting through as effectively as it should be – or at all – then it needs reiteration, particularly when the stakes are high. Find out more in the latest Cinema Scribe segment, a r...

In a world where it’s become all too easy to make compromises for the sake of personal considerations to the detriment of people, practices and principles, it’s become almost unfathomable that there are still individuals out there who are ready and willing to stick to their guns. Their intentions, methods and actions may not always be obvious, but the underlying beliefs and motivations are neverth...

Standing out often means standing alone, especially for proponents of particular causes. Individuals who embrace this stance frequently must engage in striking, sometimes-outlandish behavior that gets them noticed in order to get their initiatives noticed. But having to go to such lengths can be exasperating, frustrating and even legally challenging. Find out more on the latest Cinema Scribe segme...

Is it possible to see the “same” situation in two different ways? That’s an age-old question that’s been debated for eons by philosophers, theologians and even quibbling parents, each claiming that their view was “right.” But who’s to say that anyone is “wrong” in these quarrels? Find out more in the latest Cinema Scribe segment, a review of the prophetic new sci-fi offering, "The Pink Cloud." Fin...

How well do “you” (sometimes called “the localized you”) know the totality of your true self? Chances are most of us aren’t even aware of the existence of any of the other parts of ourselves. But those well versed in metaphysical circles have a good sense about our innate multidimensionality and what that can do for us. Find out more in the latest Cinema Scribe segment, a review of "Everything Eve...

We all know what it takes to be human, right? In fact, as far as most of us are concerned, it’s a done deal, case closed, no further discussion. However, in an age of rapidly evolving technology, we’ve begun to realize that those hard and fast definitions have come up for reevaluation, as illustrated in the insightful new sci-fi offering, "After Yang." The Cinema Scribe is a bi-weekly show hosted...

Dreams carry tremendous power. They give us hope, inspiration and motivation to achieve lofty goals, aspirations that have become synonymous with the word “dream” itself. But there’s even more to them that; their power can impact our existence in unimaginable ways. Find out more on the next Cinema Scribe, featuring a look at the whimsical sci-fi comedy/fantasy, "Strawberry Mansion."

Getting past the pain in our lives is an arduous undertaking. Even talking about it can be grueling. But, in many cases, that’s what needs to happen if the survivors of such atrocities want to get past them. Find out more in the next Cinema Scribe segment featuring a review of the gripping domestic drama, "Mass." The Cinema Scribe is a bi-weekly show hosted by Author Brent Marchant. Brent will foc...

Passing judgment is something that seems to come all too easily to most of us. That’s especially true when someone engages in acts that affect us negatively. But what happens if such effects result from acts that originate with honest, benign intentions? Find out more on the next episode of The Cinema Scribe featuring a review of the Oscar-nominated Norwegian comedy-drama, "The Worst Person in the...

To truly leave a mark on one’s life, it pays to do so with a genuine sense of integrity. Such is the essence of heroism, the stuff of which legends big and small are made. Find out more on the next episode of The Cinema Scribe featuring a review of the new Iranian cinematic morality play, "A Hero." The Cinema Scribe is a bi-weekly show hosted by Author Brent Marchant. Brent will focus on a specifi...

All too often, we’re faced with difficult situations that pose us with perplexing choices. Evaluating the options can be dizzying, leaving us feeling as though we can’t decide. But those fallbacks are innately insufficient. Find out more on the next Cinema Scribe with a review of the new sci-fi romantic drama, "Swan Song." Find more reviews at https://www.bringme2life.com/thecinemascribe

When faced with difficult situations, it may be tempting to turn a blind eye, hoping that the wishful thinking spawned from this practice will somehow materialize into a bona fide reality. But what do we do when we realize that’s not going to happen, when we understand that we’ve squandered opportunities to solve the issues facing us? Such are the dilemmas posed in the new darkly satirical comedy,...

Ambition is a dual-edged sword. On one hand, it can drive the fulfillment of noteworthy and beneficial accomplishments. On the other hand, it can get out of control when left unchecked. So what will it be – a path to achievement or a road to ruin, a question addressed in the campy new domestic drama, "House of Gucci." The Cinema Scribe is a bi-weekly show hosted by Author Brent Marchant. Brent wil...

When a distraught public figure seeks to transform her life in the wake of mounting pressure from within and outside her privileged royal family, she experiences a near meltdown at a holiday gathering as she struggles to preserve her sense of self, as seen in the new speculative historical drama, "Spencer." www.bringme2life.com/thecinemascribe

How far would you go to get what you want? In particular, how determined would you to be to fulfill your objectives if you felt you were being intentionally excluded from doing so? Such are the questions raised in the new period piece drama, "Passing." Find more reviews at bringme2life.com/thecinemascribe

When a childless Icelandic farm couple makes a startling discovery in their barn, it changes their lives forever in the unusual new thriller/folk tale.dark comedy, "Lamb." The Cinema Scribe is a bi-weekly show hosted by Author Brent Marchant. Brent will focus on a specific movie each week and use its context for explaining what some call "law of attraction" and what Brent calls "conscious creation...

There's a big difference between having faith and practicing blind faith, as a once-popular but naive televangelist discovered through a very public fall, as seen in the new film biography, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye."

When a young man seeking to run away from his past find himself in circumstances that won't let him avoid it, he comes into his own and discovers his true calling in life in the spectacular new action-adventure epic, "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings". The Cinema Scribe is a bi-weekly show hosted by Author Brent Marchant. Brent will focus on a specific movie each week and use its context...

When an aging French tennis star who never lived up to his potential faces the end of his career, he's determined to make a comeback before it's too late in the new sports drama/character study, "Final Set" ("Cinquieme set"). The Cinema Scribe is a bi-weekly show hosted by Author Brent Marchant. Brent will focus on a specific movie each week and use its context for explaining what some call "law o...

In a desolate, other-dimensional realm of existence, a stoic case worker interviews candidates vying to incarnate into physical reality in the engaging, thought-provoking new metaphysical drama, "Nine Days." https://bringme2life.com/thecinemascribe

When an unemployed, thirty-something spinster-in-training comes upon an unexpected opportunity to change her fortune, she pounces on it, much to the consternation of her village's male population, forcing her to stick to her resolve in the face of oppressive odds, as seen in the new Macedonian comedy-drama-satire, "God Exists, Her Name is Petrunya.

As filmmakers and distributors race to produce and release typical summertime fare, alternative offerings like documentaries have stepped up to help fill the void, in many ways making this “the summer of the documentary.” Here are brief looks at nine films worth seeing.

In the summer of 1969, an African-American music and cultural festival took place in New York City that, unfortunately, faded into obscurity and was nearly forgotten for 50 years. Now, however, that event has been brilliantly brought back to life in the entertaining and uplifting new documentary, "Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)."

What do a destitute farmer, a holdout homeowner, an ambitious American expat, a lovesick busboy and a beautiful young rich girl have in common? They're all linked by a bizarre set of circumstances as depicted in the quirky, fact-based Chinese comedy-drama, "Dead Pigs."