REVIEW: Almost Holy [Crocodile Gennadiy] [2016]

“I don’t need permission to do good deeds” The most fascinating part of Steve Hoover‘s latest documentary Almost Holy [Crocodile Gennadiy] is how its subject Gennadiy Mokhnenko parallels the life of well-known Russian cartoon “Krokodil Gena”. The latter deals with a lonely crocodile zoo worker named Gena and his friend Cheburashka: a young, abandoned creature rejected by the establishment employing him. The two therefore construct a home for the lonely as a result so nobody will feel their pain again. This show is the only thing to come out of…

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Top Ten Films of 2013: A year in cinema to write home about

2013 has been a banner year for cinema with a slew of quality pictures that makes you wonder how only nine got enough first place votes to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Most of my favorites could have filled that elusive tenth spot for some added acclaim—whether having a chance to win or not. I hadn’t even seen a good chunk of these until the calendar flipped to 2014, the sheer amount of winners was too vast. And after only awarding three films a 10/10 rating last year,…

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REVIEW: Blood Brother [2013]

“I don’t want to just be a face in a book” While finding one’s calling is easy for some and effortless for others, the rest may need to travel around the world before figuring out what truly gives them meaning. Robin “Rocky” Braat is one of these lost souls—an underachieving youth from a broken home who finally said enough was enough. Embarking on a search for “authenticity” that takes him to India, this wandering traveler discovers purpose in quite literally the place he least expected. Not fond of children or…

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