 Guest review by Jen Barraza The thing about M. Night Shyamalan movies is that they are either brilliant or you've wasted precious hours of your life that you can never get back... there is no in-between with him. And for me, it was the latter for this go around. We arrive at an island paradise with an 'ideal' family of four taking a dream vacation. The father, Guy (Gael García Bernal) and Prisca (Vicky Krieps), seem to be a happy couple but you then find out that this is a sort of the last hurrah for them. They are on one last vacation with their two children 11-year-old Maddox (Alexa Swinton later played by Thomasin McKenzie then Embeth Davidtz) and 6-year-old Trent (Nolan River later played by Alex Wolff then Emun Elliott) before they make their split official. As you can tell from the actor swaps, there is something fishy happening on the island. The secluded beach that they are told to explore ends up possessing a mysterious quality that ages everyone who finds it. Every half an hour, you get one year older. They end up being stuck on this beach with a myriad of characters including a rapper, a medical doctor and his wife, a daughter and mother (and her little dog too), and another couple who happen to be a nurse and therapist. All this matters as tensions rise. They band together then fall apart, sometimes literally, as they try to figure out what the heck is going on and try to escape their paradise turned prison. Now we come to the expected M. Night twist... Part of the appeal of his movies is what he is going to do at the end to make you second guess everything that you just witnessed. Before the movie began we guessed island sacrifice, they are all dead already... aging algae... SPOILER ALERT: Our guesses were wrong though. I think our twists would have been a better payoff than what we got. In the plus column, the cinematography was beautiful and the special effects were solid. The storyline just isn't his best. If you are an M. Night Shyamalan fan I'd wait until this is available on TV and if you're not then I'd watch one of his better ones like Split. I give it 2 stars out of 5 for being pretty.
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Anthony Bourdain in the documentary 'Roadrunner' | CREDIT: COURTESY OF CNN/FOCUS FEATURES
The story of Anthony Bourdain has in many ways been eclipsed by the shocking news of his suicide. But the chef with the rockstar life style was so much more than that one moment. This incredible artist lived to push boundaries and fill the void in his soul with as much as he could, be it for good or bad.
Director Morgan Neville (Won't You Be My Neighbor), pieced together interviews from family, friends, and production team to paint the complex life Tony lived. Choosing to not dwell on Tony's end but still giving it its due, Neville allows the audience to decide for themselves the truth about the brash yet shy, artist and romantic that was Anthony Bourdain. In this review, we also feature a special guest reviewer who has been a long time fan of Tony's work. You can see Roadrunner: A Film About Bourdain in theaters now.
And if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
They are available 24 hours a day in both English and Spanish.
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Kaely Monahan
Kicking off our summer movies is the Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, starring Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek. It was our first film back in theaters (ahhh movie popcorn!). On it's surface this movie is incredibly stupid, but hosts Kaely and Tuesday fell in love with it.
Take a listen to hear why you should see this film!
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Final Account is unlike any World War II documentary you've seen. British filmmaker Luke Holland was drawn to the story of Germany's citizens who lived through the Third Reich not as victims of the Nazis but those who witnessed and even participated in the evil ideology. With interviews from men and women, ranging from SS soldiers to concentration camp guards, Final Account captures Germans' stories and explores Germany's greatest shame from their own perspectives.
See Final Account in theaters now.
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Courtesy of Focus Features
Taking after the incredible film Searching, Director Timur Bekmambetov's Profile makes clever use of the "screenlife" film technique to tell the story of a journalist who attempts to infiltrate the ISIS recruitment scheme for young women. Based on a true story, the narrative's promise is quickly dashed as the film turns away from the actual events of the story to a bloated, infuriating opera of a woman falling in love with the bad guy.
Do we recommend this film? We don't. Listen to find out why.
Never miss a review by subscribing. We're on iTunes and all your favorite podcasting platforms. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Kaely has a new K-RomCom under her belt. Check out her thoughts on Tale of the Nine-Tailed. It stars Lee Dong Wook as a thousand year old fox god called Lee Yeon, Jo Bo Ah as his reincarnated love Nam Ji-Ah, Kim Bum, as the half fox-demon Lee Rang, Lee Yeon's younger brother and Kim Yong Ji as the goddess Talupia who oversees the balance between life and death. Check it out here 
Sundance Film Festival, 2021
CODA kicked off our Sundance 2021 experience, and what a way to begin! Hosts Kaely and ASL-fluent Tuesday offer their insights into how this year's festival went as well as give high marks for this multi-award winning film.
Check out all of our Sundance 2021 coverage here.
Minari is a story about a Korean American family who moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
This is one of our favorite films of 2020, and it is in theaters on February 12 and on demand on February 26th.
Never miss a review by subscribing. We're on iTunes and all your favorite podcasting platforms. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
By Kaely Monahan and Tuesday Mahrle
It's been a festival like no other! Tuesday and Kaely have been blown away by the films, the format, and the vision of this year's Sundance Film Festival. Our in-depth reviews are coming soon. But in the meantime, here are the winners of Sundance 2021.  GRAND JURY PRIZES The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, for Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)/ U.S.A. (Director: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Producers: David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel) — During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America’s history lost – until now. The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to: Siân Heder, for CODA / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin. The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to: Jonas Poher Rasmussen, for Flee / Denmark, France, Sweden, Norway (Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Producers: Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen) — Amin arrived as an unaccompanied minor in Denmark from Afghanistan. Today, he is a successful academic and is getting married to his long-time boyfriend. A secret he has been hiding for 20 years threatens to ruin the life he has built. The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to: Blerta Basholli, for Hive / Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania (Director and Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli, Producers: Yll Uka, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka) — Fahrije’s husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. She sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision: to wait for his return, or to continue to persevere. Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani. AUDIENCE AWARDS The Audience Award: U.S. Documentary, Presented by Acura was presented to: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson for Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) / U.S.A. (Director: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Producers: David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel) — During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America’s history lost – until now. The Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, Presented by Acura was presented to: Siân Heder, for CODA / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin. The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented to: Blerta Basholli, for Hive / Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania (Director and Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli, Producers: Yll Uka, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka) — Fahrije’s husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. She sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision: to wait for his return, or to continue to persevere. Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani. The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to: Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, for Writing With Fire / India (Directors and Producers: Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh) — In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men, emerges India's only newspaper run by Dalit women. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her journalists break traditions on the frontlines of India's biggest issues and within the confines of their own homes, redefining what it means to be powerful. The Audience Award: NEXT, Presented by Adobe was presented to: Marion Hill, for Ma Belle, My Beauty / U.S.A., France (Director and Screenwriter: Marion Hill, Producers: Ben Matheny, Kelsey Scult, Marion Hill) — A surprise reunion in southern France reignites passions and jealousies between two women who were formerly polyamorous lovers. Cast: Idella Johnson, Hannah Pepper, Lucien Guignard, Sivan Noam Shimon. DIRECTING, SCREENWRITING & EDITING AWARDS The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to: Natalia Almada, for Users / U.S.A., Mexico (Director: Natalia Almada, Producers: Elizabeth Lodge Stepp, Josh Penn) — A mother wonders, will my children love their perfect machines more than they love me, their imperfect mother? She switches on a smart-crib lulling her crying baby to sleep. This perfect mother is everywhere. She watches over us, takes care of us. We listen to her. We trust her. The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to: Siân Heder, for CODA / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin. The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented to: Hogir Hirori, for Sabaya / Sweden (Director and Screenwriter: Hogir Hirori, Producers: Antonio Russo Merenda, Hogir Hirori) — With just a mobile phone and a gun, Mahmud, Ziyad and their group risk their lives trying to save Yazidi women and girls being held by ISIS as Sabaya (abducted sex slaves) in the most dangerous camp in the Middle East, Al-Hol in Syria. The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented to: Blerta Basholli, for Hive / Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania (Director and Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli, Producers: Yll Uka, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka) — Fahrije’s husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. She sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision: to wait for his return, or to continue to persevere. Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani. The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to: Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch, for On the Count of Three / U.S.A. (Director: Jerrod Carmichael, Screenwriters: Ari Katcher, Ryan Welch, Producers: David Carrico, Adam Paulsen, Tom Werner, Jake Densen, Ari Katcher, Jimmy Price) — Two guns. Two best friends. And a pact to end their lives when the day is done. Cast: Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove, Lavell Crawford, Henry Winkler. The Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to: editors Kristina Motwani and Rebecca Adorno, for Homeroom / U.S.A. (Director: Peter Nicks, Producers: Peter Nicks, Sean Havey) — Following the class of 2020 at Oakland High School in a year marked by seismic change, exploring the emotional world of teenagers coming of age against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world. SPECIAL JURY AWARDS A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast was presented to: the cast of CODA, for CODA / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin. A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Actor was presented to: Clifton Collins Jr., for Jockey / U.S.A. (Director: Clint Bentley, Screenwriters: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Nancy Schafer) — An aging jockey is determined to win one last championship, but his dream is complicated when a young rookie shows up claiming to be his son. Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker, Moises Arias. A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Emerging Filmmaker was presented to: Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt, for Cusp / U.S.A. (Directors: Parker Hill, Isabel Bethencourt, Producers: Zachary Luke Kislevitz, Parker Hill, Isabel Bethencourt) — In a Texas military town, three teenage girls confront the dark corners of adolescence at the end of a fever dream summer. A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Nonfiction Experimentation was presented to: Theo Anthony, for All Light, Everywhere / U.S.A. (Director: Theo Anthony, Producers: Riel Roch-Decter, Sebastian Pardo, Jonna McKone) — An exploration of the shared histories of cameras, weapons, policing and justice. As surveillance technologies become a fixture in everyday life, the film interrogates the complexity of an objective point of view, probing the biases inherent in both human perception and the lens. A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Vérité Filmmaking was presented to: Camilla Nielsson, for President / Denmark, U.S.A., Norway (Director: Camilla Nielsson, Producers: Signe Byrge Sørensen, Joslyn Barnes) — Zimbabwe is at a crossroads. The leader of the opposition MDC party, Nelson Chamisa, challenges the old guard ZANU-PF led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, known as "The Crocodile." The election tests both the ruling party and the opposition – how do they interpret principles of democracy in discourse and in practice? A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for Change was presented to: Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, for Writing With Fire / India (Directors and Producers: Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh) — In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men, emerges India's only newspaper run by Dalit women. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her journalists break traditions on the frontlines of India's biggest issues and within the confines of their own homes, redefining what it means to be powerful. A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Acting was presented to: Jesmark Scicluna, for Luzzu / Malta (Director and Screenwriter: Alex Camilleri, Producers: Rebecca Anastasi, Ramin Bahrani, Alex Camilleri, Oliver Mallia) — Jesmark, a struggling fisherman on the island of Malta, is forced to turn his back on generations of tradition and risk everything by entering the world of black market fishing to provide for his girlfriend and newborn baby. Cast: Jesmark Scicluna, Michela Farrugia, David Scicluna. A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Creative Vision was presented to: Baz Poonpiriya, for One for the Road / China, Hong Kong, Thailand (Director: Baz Poonpiriya, Screenwriters: Baz Poonpiriya, Nottapon Boonprakob, Puangsoi Aksornsawang, Producer: Wong Kar Wai) — Boss is a consummate ladies' man, a free spirit and a bar owner in NYC. One day, he gets a surprise call from Aood, an estranged friend who has returned home to Thailand. Dying of cancer, Aood enlists Boss' help to complete a bucket list – but both are hiding something. Cast: Tor Thanapob, Ice Natara, Violette Wautier, Aokbab Chutimon, Ploi Horwang, Noon Siraphun. World Premiere NEXT INNOVATOR PRIZE PRESENTED BY ADOBE The NEXT Innovator Prize presented by Adobe was presented to: Dash Shaw, for Cryptozoo / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Dash Shaw, Producers: Kyle Martin, Jane Samborski, Bill Way, Tyler Davidson) — As cryptozookeepers struggle to capture a Baku (a legendary dream-eating hybrid creature) they begin to wonder if they should display these rare beasts in the confines of a cryptozoo, or if these mythical creatures should remain hidden and unknown. Cast: Lake Bell, Michael Cera, Angeliki Papoulia, Zoe Kazan, Peter Stormare, Grace Zabriskie. SHORT FILM AWARDS PRESENTED BY SOUTHWEST AIRLINES® Jury prizes for short filmmaking were awarded at the same ceremony. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Lizard / United Kingdom (Director: Akinola Davies, Jr., Screenwriter: The Davies Brothers). The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was awarded to The Touch of the Master's Hand / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Gregory Barnes. The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was awarded to Bambirak / U.S.A., Germany (Director and Screenwriter: Zamarin Wahdat). The Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction was awarded to Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma / U.S.A., Germany, France, Italy (Directors and Screenwriters: Topaz Jones, rubberband.). The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was awarded to Souvenir Souvenir / France (Director and Screenwriter: Bastien Dubois). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Acting was presented to Wiggle Room / U.S.A. (Directors and Screenwriters: Sam Guest, Julia Baylis). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Screenwriting was awarded to The Criminals / France, Romania, Turkey (Director and Screenwriter: Serhat Karaaslan). By Kaely Monahan and Tuesday Mahrle
It's that time of year for our annual pilgrimage to the Sundance Film Festival. But it's going to be a bit different this year. Instead of flying up to Park City, Utah, we'll be "remoting in" to the festival to stream the movies and attend the talks and exhibits.
Tuesday and Kaely are also super excited to be covering the festival as official press members this year. Here's a preview of just a few of the films we're looking forward to. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for all the latest Sundance news.
Never miss a review by subscribing. We're on iTunes and all your favorite podcasting platforms. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
By Kaely Monahan and Tuesday Mahrle
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