Reviews

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WALTZING WITH BRANDO Review: Billy Zane Channels the Godfather’s Wild Island Dream in a Sun-Soaked Eco-Odyssey

This was the film I’d been dying to see ever since the first still of Billy Zane as middle-aged Marlon Brando surfaced—Brando the island-buying recluse who shot The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris while dreaming of a private Tahitian Eden. Adapted from Bernard Judge’s memoir Waltzing with Brando: Planning a Paradise in Tahiti, the story spans 1969–1974 and chronicles the unlikely partnership between the world’s most famous actor and an American architect as they design an eco-utopia on Tetiaroa. Directed and written by Bill Fishman (Tapeheads), the film marks a reunion with Zane from their 1993 collaboration on Posse. Originally announced in 2019, production faced delays due to the pandemic but wrapped principal photography in Tahiti, with principal locations shot on the actual atoll to capture its raw, unspoiled beauty. Zane not only stars but produces under his Billy Zane Productions banner, alongside Deano Productions, Fallout Entertainment, and local […]

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DRACULA: A LOVE TALE Review: Luc Besson’s Fresh Reinterpretation of Bram Stoker’s Eternal Novel

A bold new take on Bram Stoker‘s timeless classic arrives with Dracula: A Love Tale, reimagined through the visionary lens of Luc Besson, who transforms the vampire legend into a sweeping romantic fantasy. At its core is a Dracula propelled by an all-consuming love, enduring 400 years of torment in search of the reincarnation of his beloved. This intimate origin story rehumanizes the iconic count as a tragic figure, blending historical drama with supernatural yearning in a way that feels both audacious and deeply personal. The film kicks off with a spectacular prologue, unveiling Vlad Tepes as a formidable 15th-century warrior before his fall into the shadowy realm of the immortal Count Dracula. Besson then weaves us through a blood-drenched romantic saga drenched in gothic aesthetics, laced with his trademark over-the-top action set pieces—think swirling mists, chiaroscuro lighting inspired by Flemish masters, and explosive bursts of otherworldly fury—that fully immerse […]

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JFF Theater: THE SCOOP Review: Blending School Drama with Timely Journalism Lessons

Set in a prestigious high school, The Scoop follows Yui Tokoro, a literature-obsessed teenager determined to uncover the identity of a mysterious writer rumored to be a student at her school. To achieve her goal, Yui joins the school’s unofficial press club, led by its eccentric leader (played by Akari Takaishi, known for her standout role in Baby Assassins). As Yui delves deeper, she uncovers corruption within the school, learning the vital lesson that true journalism is about uncovering the truth. This engaging film tackles timely themes such as press freedom and systemic corruption, seamlessly woven into a compelling school drama. Director Keiichi Kobayashi starts with a deliberate, slow pace that gradually builds momentum as the story’s layers unravel, culminating in a powerful climax where only the truth prevails—not just the truth of the mysteries presented by the plot, but also a sincere and evocative message that resonates with the […]

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