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Archives for : October2023

Movie Review: “Five Nights at Freddy’s”

Posted by :Susan Kamyab On : October 31, 2023
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Category: Movie Reviews

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This week I review “Five Nights at Freddy’s”. It’s about a security guard who begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and discovers the animatronic costumes that reside there, aren’t just robots. They are alive. Find out if I think the film is a fun thriller.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is playing in theaters and streaming on Peacock.

Rating: D+

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NYAD Interview w/ Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, & Bonnie Stoll

Posted by :Susan Kamyab On : October 31, 2023
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Category: Movie Reviews

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“A remarkable true story of tenacity, friendship and the triumph of the human spirit, NYAD recounts a riveting chapter in the life of world-class athlete Diana Nyad. Three decades after giving up marathon swimming in exchange for a prominent career as a sports journalist, at the age of 60, Diana (four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening) becomes obsessed with completing an epic swim that always eluded her: the 110 mile trek from Cuba to Florida. Diana goes on a thrilling, four-year journey with her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll (two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster) and a dedicated sailing team.”

I got a chance to speak with directors, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, and the incredible Bonnie Stoll to discuss the true story, support systems, and more!

NYAD is available to stream on Netflix November 3, 2023.

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Movie Review: “The Other Zoey” is a Feel-Good Rom-Com

Posted by :Susan Kamyab On : October 19, 2023
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Category: Movie Reviews

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As the leaves start to fall and the weather gets cooler, a wave of heavy dramas begins to preoccupy the box office. That’s right, it’s awards season! Us critics, usually get excited as this is equivalent to our football season. But it’s nice to get a break from all those intense storylines and be treated to a heartwarming romantic comedy. Especially, one with a charming cast and enchanting love triangle.

Director Sara Zandieh brings us this sweet story that follows Zoey Miller (Josephine Langford), a smart and somewhat cynical college student who believes finding “the one” involves science, not love. She thinks rom-coms like “Notting Hill” and “Say Anything” are idiotic and unrealistic. She even created an app that will statistically find your perfect match. But when the school’s soccer stud, Zach (Drew Starkey) gets amnesia and mistakes Zoey as his girlfriend, she unexpectedly gets caught in a love triangle between Zach and his cousin, Miles (Archie Renaux). Zoey and Miles share similar interests, but do Zoey and Zach share more chemistry?

“The Other Zoey” is almost nostalgic, referencing classic romantic comedies, while also bringing back that comfort and joy we’d feel from watching 90’s movies like “While You Were Sleeping”. It’s also nice to see stars like Andie MacDowell and Heather Graham in the rom-com setting again. The real gem is the spark that forms between Langford and Starkey. It’s hard to imagine her with anyone other than Hero Fiennes Tiffin (from the “After” series), but it’s nice to see her involved in a more wholesome relationship, even if she’s juggling two different guys.

From a distance this appears to be to be another well produced love story that could stream on Netflix, but if you take a deeper look, you will find the talented leads and quirky plot is worthy of a relaxing and fun trip to the theaters. Best of all, Zandieh provides a message about love that everyone can relate to. If we’ve only grown up around broken relationships, it’s hard not to think so critically about love. As a way to protect ourselves from heartache, we try to be logical and remove the romance part of a relationship when looking for our person. However, if you can let go of that control and lead with your heart, instead of your head, you’re more likely to FALL in love rather than FIND it.

“The Other Zoey” is a familiar but cute and entertaining tale of how opposites attract. Highly recommend everyone go see this delightful romantic comedy.

Rating: B+

THE OTHER ZOEY

Opens in Theaters October 20 & On Demand November 10.

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Movie Review: “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Posted by :Susan Kamyab On : October 18, 2023
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Category: Movie Reviews

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This week I review “Killers of the Flower Moon”. It’s Martin Scorsese’s newest Oscar contender starring Leonardo Di Caprio. Critics rave this is one to look out for this award season, but is worth the 3 and half hour runtime? Watch my video review below to find out!

“Killers of the Flower Moon” opens in theaters on October 20, 2023.

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8th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations

Posted by :Susan Kamyab On : October 16, 2023
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NOMINATIONS UNVEILED FOR THE EIGHTH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE DOCUMENTARY AWARDS PRESENTED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY FILMS

AMERICAN SYMPHONY LEADS WITH SIX NOMINATIONS

20 DAYS  IN MARIUPOL, KOKOMO CITY, AND STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX MOVIERECEIVE FIVE NOMINATIONS EACH 

GALA TO HONOR AWARD WINNERS ON NOVEMBER 12, 2023AT THE EDISON BALLROOM IN MANHATTAN

ACTOR AND STANDUP COMEDIAN WYATT CENAC TO SERVE AS HOST

Acclaimed Documentarian Ross McElwee to Receive The Pennebaker Award Presented by Chris Hegedus

The Ceremony Will Be Live-Streamed Through Facebook, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) at 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, November 12

Nominees for the 8th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards
Presented by National Geographic Documentary Films

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

20 Days in Mariupol (PBS)
American Symphony (Netflix)
Beyond Utopia (Roadside Attractions)
The Deepest Breath (Netflix)
The Eternal Memory (MTV Documentary Films)
Judy Blume Forever (Amazon Studios)
Kokomo City (Magnolia Pictures)
The Mission (National Geographic)
Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+)

BEST DIRECTOR

Maite Alberdi – The Eternal Memory (MTV Documentary Films)
Madeleine Gavin – Beyond Utopia (Roadside Attractions)
Davis Guggenheim – Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+)
Matthew Heineman – American Symphony (Netflix)
Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss – The Mission (National Geographic)
Steve McQueen – Occupied City (A24)

BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

20 Days in Mariupol (PBS)
26.2 to Life (Film Halau)
Bad Press (Oklafilm)
Bobi Wine: The People’s President (National Geographic)
Kokomo City (Magnolia Pictures)
Orlando, My Political Biography (Sideshow)
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Greenwich Entertainment)
The Thief Collector (FilmRise)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Tim Cragg – The Deepest Breath (Netflix)
Tony Hardmon, Matthew Heineman, Thorsten Thielow – American Symphony (Netflix)
Lennert Hillege – Occupied City (A24)
Franz Lustig – Anselm (Sideshow)
D. Smith – Kokomo City (Magnolia Pictures)
Toby Strong, James Boon, Bob Poole, Neil Fairlie, Wim Vorster, Joshua Tarr, Pete Allibone, Neil Harvey, Andreas Knausenberger – Secrets of the Elephants (National Geographic)

BEST EDITING

Sammy Dane, Jim Hession, Matthew Heineman, Fernando Villegas – American Symphony (Netflix)
Madeleine Gavin – Beyond Utopia (Roadside Attractions)
Michael Harte – Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+
Michelle Mizner – 20 Days in Mariupol (PBS)
D. Smith – Kokomo City (Magnolia Pictures)
Aaron Wickenden – The Mission (National Geographic)

BEST SCORE

Jon Batiste – American Symphony (Netflix)
Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans – The Mission (National Geographic)
Nainita Desai – The Deepest Breath (Netflix)
Philip Glass – The Pigeon Tunnel (Apple TV+)
Katya Richardson & Kris Bowers – The Last Repair Shop (Breakwater Studios)
D. Smith – Kokomo City (Magnolia Pictures)

BEST NARRATION

20 Days in Mariupol (PBS)
   Written and Performed by Mstyslav Chernov

32 Sounds (Abramorama)
   Written and Performed by Sam Green

The Disappearance of Shere Hite (IFC Films)
   Written by Nicole Newnham
   Performed by Dakota Johnson

John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial (Apple TV+)
   Performed by Kiefer Sutherland

Secrets of the Elephants (National Geographic)
   Written by Martin Williams
   Performed by Natalie Portman

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+)
   Written and Performed by Michael J. Fox

BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY

Being Mary Tyler Moore (HBO | Max)
The Disappearance of Shere Hite (IFC Films)
It Ain’t Over (Sony Pictures Classics)
JFK: One Day in America (National Geographic)
The Lady Bird Diaries (Hulu)
The League (Magnolia Pictures)

BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY

The 1619 Project (Hulu/Onyx Collective)
JFK: One Day in America (National Geographic)
The Lady Bird Diaries (Hulu)
Lakota Nation vs. United States (IFC Films)
The League (Magnolia Pictures)
Occupied City (A24)
Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY

Being Mary Tyler Moore (HBO | Max)
The Disappearance of Shere Hite (IFC Films)
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (HBO Documentary Films)
Judy Blume Forever (Amazon Studios)
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (Hulu)
Sly (Netflix)
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+)

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY

American Symphony (Netflix)
Carlos (Sony Pictures Classics)
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (Netflix)
Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures/CNN Films)
Love to Love You, Donna Summer (HBO | Max)
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (AMC Theatres)
What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? (Abramorama)

BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY

20 Days in Mariupol (PBS)
Beyond Utopia (Roadside Attractions)
Bobi Wine: The People’s President (National Geographic)
Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court (Showtime)
Every Body (Focus Features)
Lakota Nation vs. United States (IFC Films)
Silver Dollar Road (Amazon MGM Studios)

BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY

32 Sounds (Abramorama)
Between Earth & Sky (PBS)
Life on Our Planet (Netflix)
Path of the Panther (National Geographic)
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food (Netflix)
Secrets of the Elephants (National Geographic)
Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West (Gravitas Ventures)

BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

Black Ice (Roadside Attractions)
BS High (HBO | Max)
The Deepest Breath (Netflix)
It Ain’t Over (Sony Pictures Classics)
The League (Magnolia Pictures)
Reggie (Amazon Studios)
Stephen Curry: Underrated (Apple TV+)
Welcome to Wrexham (FX)

BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY

Burden of Proof (HBO | Max)
The Jewel Thief (Hulu)
John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial (Apple TV+)
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (Netflix)
Telemarketers (HBO | Max)
The Thief Collector (FilmRise)
Victim/Suspect (Netflix)

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY

The ABCs of Book Banning (MTV Documentary Films)
The Barber of Little Rock (Story Syndicate)
Between Earth & Sky (PBS)
Keys to the City (New Yorker)
The Last Repair Shop (Breakwater Studios)
Last Song From Kabul (MTV Documentary Films)

BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES

The 1619 Project (Hulu/Onyx Collective)
Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul (Netflix)
Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court (Showtime)
JFK: One Day in America (National Geographic)
John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial (Apple TV+)
Secrets of the Elephants (National Geographic)
Shiny Happy People (Amazon Studios)
Telemarketers (HBO | Max)

BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES

30 for 30 (ESPN)
Frontline (PBS)
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (Netflix)
POV (PBS)
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller (National Geographic)
Welcome to Wrexham (FX)

About the Critics Choice Awards

The Critics Choice Documentary Awards are an offshoot of the Critics Choice Awards, which are bestowed annually by the CCA to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Historically, the Critics Choice Awards are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations.