Reviews

With cheesy teenage films coming out in the main stream I found it incredibly refreshing to get the opportunity to see the authentic and honest independent drama "Urban Hymn". This raw movie is about a troubled teen (Letitia Wright) who gets mentored by altruistic social worker (Shirley Henderson) who persuades her to take her talents of singing and performance and seek a healthy and successful life with it. This impactful movie opened my eyes to the importance of helping someone in need and the dangers of being around toxic and manipulative people. I genuinely feel that this coming-of-age film has so many valuable lessons revolving around never giving up, following your own passion, and accepting help from those open to giving it. I enjoyed seeing how Jamie and Kate (Shirley Henderson) friendship become stronger over time and I think it was incredibly meaningful that Jamie uses Kate's life advice and lessons to help her live the life she is entitled to even after Kate is gone. Another meaningful scene was when Jamie's (Letitia Wright) reckless friends barge in to Jamie's chorus group and make fun of the class, and Jamie tells them to leave and stands up for herself and the other chorus singers. It shows how much character development she has gone through and made me so excited to see her character transform in such a positive way. I loved every minute of this heart-wrenching and I highly recommend you taking the time to watch this!

The Beat Beneath My Feet is a charming musical dramaedy about a teenage social outcast named Tom (Nicholas Galitzine) who discovers his rowdy neighbor (Luke Perry) is actually a former rock & roll legend who fakes his own death to escape financial debt. I loved this coming-of-age film because it thoughtfully shows the struggles of growing up and finding yourself. It is definitely relatable to young adults and teens who have ever struggled with fitting in and I especially loved how Tom's passion of music helped him reach his full-potential. It also included an amazingly up- beat soundtrack that was an exceptional addition to the film. This inspirational indie flick is definitely worth the watch if you haven't already had the chance to see it.

Chief Zabu is a socio-political comedy shot in the 1980's that only recently released this year and just in time for the presidential election. It tells the story of two New York businessmen who scheme to take over a Polynesian country in hopes of living out their American dream. Neil Cohen and Zack Norman create a hilariously quick-witted script in this social satire that I found exceptionally entertaining. Also, Allen Garfield and Zack Norman were perfect in their roles as the hysterical New Yorkers. Their chemistry on screen was truly captivating and I loved their intelligent humor and perfect comedic timing. Although this was a low-budget film with a short running time, it successfully manages to humorously incorporate topics of the political and social world that are still incredibly relevant today. I highly recommend watching this uniquely brilliant comedy.

Blood in the Water is an intense sexy thriller that revolves around an attractive young LA couple, Veronica (Willa Holland) and Percy (Alex Russell), who while house-sitting in the beautiful Hollywood Hills gets visited by Percy's former frat brother (Miguel Gomez). Freedgood (Miguel Gomez) introduces the couple to the dangerous world of drug-dealing and other criminal activities that kept me in suspense the entire time. It shows the dangers of risky and illegal behavior and shows just how far one would go to keep the appearance of a lavish lifestyle. It also includes an edgy love triangle that adds to the deception and greed of the story. The scandalous behavior between the characters gives the plot momentum and leads to an incredible ending the I never saw coming. It also shows Veronica's skepticism of both men and includes her struggling between her feelings between the two. If you enjoy dramatic and engaging thrillers, I absolutely recommend this one.

Citizen Soldier is set in post-9/11 and is about a group of Oklahoma men and women in the National Guard who get deployed to fight in the most menacing areas of Afghanistan. Go-pro helmet cameras were used incredibly in the making of this documentary because it gave a more personal look in to the soldier's tour of duty. This film included honest and genuine interviews from the National Guard members, which added a more inclusive and emotional element to the film. It stands out amongst all other military films because it is not simply a documentary about violent warfare or pro-war propaganda, but instead it shows the dramatic transformation of average civilians to National Guard soldiers fighting tirelessly in Afghanistan. It is focuses on the brotherhood and bond shared between these brave soldiers and defines what it truly means to have a fellow soldier's back while on the battlefield. The leadership and bravery that the armed troops of our country possess truly amazed me. I thought it was a heartfelt film.