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Reviews
Walk of Fame (2017)
A star on the rise, playing a star on the rise
Scott Eastwood, a star on the rise, takes a break from massive blockbusters ('Suicide Squad', 'Fate of the Furious') to play Drew, a struggling LA lawyer hoping to hop careers and catch his big break as an actor in the indie comedy 'Walk of Fame'. Unfortunately for Drew—but fortunately for audiences—the eclectic cast of characters he meets at the prestigious acting workshop Star-Maker Academy drag him down with them into lunacy. These wannabe thespians' uncontrollable lust for wealth and fame incites the film's outrageously over the top gags. 'Fame' delights in skewering the brutal business of trying to make it as an actor in the competitive Hollywood industry. In many ways, this approach (of ridiculing the industry depicted in the film) parallels Ben Stiller's 'Zoolander', which derived countless puns and gags from the pretentious modelling underworld. Any fan of raunchy comedies will find a lot to love here.
One Night (2016)
Touching, thought-provoking romance
1Night is a touching, thought-provoking, coming-of-age romance. Stars Justin Chatwin (Shameless) and Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect) are completely convincing in their roles as jaded lovers trying to rekindle the passionate flame they shared in their youth. Likewise, Isabelle Fuhrman (The Orphan) and Kyle Allen (The Path) perfectly portray both the awkwardness—and tenderness—of teen love and existential angst. The film depicts a chance encounter between two distinct couples, one old, one young, and each reflects disparate aspects of being in love. The interconnected nature of the characters' stories makes for an engaging viewing experience. As their narrative arcs weave in and out of one another's, their relationships grow stronger, and their hopes, dreams, fears, and motivations become more complex and fully-realized. In that respect, the film feels like a two-in-one; the elder couple's arc plays out similarly to the cerebral and bittersweet romance Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, while the joyful (and puerile) relationship between the younger couple hearkens to the exuberant indie romance (500) Days of Summer. What's more, the ending—which I refuse to spoil here for anyone—puts M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense, Split) to shame.
Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies (2016)
Zombies, Lederhosen, and Genre Revival
Horror/comedy fans can rest easy knowing that Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies director Dominik Hartl pulled off an incredible feat: delicately walking the line between horror and comedy. The humor in this film is truly humorous (slapstick is not the name of the game here, thankfully, but there is a little thrown in for good measure). Likewise, the horror is truly horrendous in the best possible way—dramatic character deaths, gory zombie dismemberment, and painful moral decisions see to that. As the film is foreign, it also possesses a unique trait that further distinguishes it from less inspired contemporary films: the humor is intellectually funny. It is evident that actual thought went into not only the jokes themselves, but also their timing and story integration. It is entirely possible to laugh out loud without even looking at the screen; listening to the words is often simply enough. Lederhosen Zombies earns the "comedy" in its horror/comedy genre label; if you like other cerebral horror comedies (like Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead or Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness) this film deserves a spot on your list.