Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Forms Under President Clayton Davis, Launches Hashtag #YoSoyLEJA
New York, NY – December 7, 2019 – The Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA) has formed under President Clayton Davis (owner of AwardsCircuit) in an effort to create a diverse voice in the industry for the Latino community. After realizing there was a glaring gap in the diversity conversation for Latino voices in entertainment, Davis […]
They Nominated What?!
Each year at CineSnob.net, we set our alarm clocks for way too early and watch the Oscar nominations live, like the film nerds we are. We then stumble to our computers and in blind outrage and pure jubilation, give some quick reactionary thoughts on the nominees. Let’s dive into the major categories, shall we?
Top Ten Films of 2017
The Florida Project (dir. Sean Baker) – Compassionately told through the eyes of a child, like in recent films “Where the Wild Things Are” and “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” the story of 6-year-old Moonee (a breakout performance by Brooklyn Prince) and her irresponsible mother (Bria Vinaite) living in an off-the-highway Orlando motel in the shadows of Disney World, is a captivating observational drama filled with moments of incredible sadness, wide-eyed innocence and pure joy. The insular environment director Sean Baker (“Tangerine”) has created for these marginalized characters to live in is extremely convincing and actor Willem Dafoe, who plays the motel’s kindhearted manager, gives the film its authentic core. Knowing the “Happiest Place on Earth†is a destination far from reality, despite its close proximity, makes the narrative all the more emotionally resonant, regardless of how one interprets the film’s final hopeful/heartbreaking moments.
SXSW Review: The Disaster Artist
“The Disaster Artist,†a comedy documenting the creation of the cult-classic film “The Room,†often called “the worst movie ever made,†received a standing ovation from a crowd at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, where the film screened for South By Southwest as a work in progress. Director and star James Franco, who plays the […]
Top 10 Films of 2016
JERROD KINGERY’S TOP TEN FILMS OF 2016 10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story As the first “stand alone†Star Wars film, “Rogue One†overcame heavy reshoots and the series’ terrible track record with prequels to turn a better film than the warm, fuzzy nostalgia hug/retread “The Force Awakens†turned out to be. It’s far […]
Fantastic Fest Review: Zoology
Ivan I. Tverdovskiy’s “Zoology” is certainly one of the tamer features I’ve ever seen at Fantastic Fest. There isn’t a single drop of blood, no deadly creatures, no body mutilation, no gross-out humor, or anything of the kind onscreen that can often be associated with this Drafthouse-based film festival. But it’s that lack of such content that makes Tverdovskiy’s second feature film such an incredible feat of storytelling. It may not feature the usual characteristics of genre films that play the festival, but it is reaches cathartic depths that other films of its type never even dream of.
Fantastic Fest Review: Don’t Kill It
Of all the films that open with multiple family massacres, “Don’t Kill It” is the funniest of the bunch. The new film from Mike Mendez (“Big Ass Spider!”) deftly blends humor and action to create a wickedly entertaining ride destined to become a cult classic.
Fantastic Fest Days 1 & 2 Recap: Turtles, Creepy Elevators & Everything in Between
After a one-year absence, I finally ventured north was again to Austin for Fantastic Fest. Honestly, those 365 days felt much longer. I missed the people, the sense of community, and the celebration of all things film. I had to bow out of attending 2015’s Fantastic Fest since I was busy planning my wedding. Not that I’m complaining. Not really. Besides, this year I get to bring my favorite movie buddy and new bride with me, and I’m definitely not complaining about that.
Top Ten Films of 2015
Here’s a look at CineSnob.net’s Top Ten Films of 2015 from editor Kiko Martinez and critics Jerrod Kingery and Cody Villafana. CODY VILLAFANA For the umpteenth year in a row, the calendar comes to a close and I’m left thinking about how disappointing the year in film was. It’s particularly surprising since midway through the […]
Man Vs. Snake – Fantastic Fest
Starring: Tim McVey, Dwayne Richard, Walter Day Directed by: Tim Kinzy and Andrew Seklir (debut) Walter Day and Billy Mitchell are like Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury of the classic video game documentary universe. Ever since their debut in “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters†as self-appointed authority figure and enigmatic villain, respectively, […]
SXSW 2015 Film Coverage
REVIEWS Night Owls | by Cody Vilafana One & Two | by Cody Villafana Twinsters | by Cody Villafana For Grace | by Cody Villafana The Little Death | by Cody Villafana INTERVIEWS Colin Hanks & Sean Stuart – All Things Must Pass | by Cody Villafana Adam Pally & Rosa Salazar – Night Owls […]
They Nominated What?! – 2015 Edition
In what is becoming a yearly tradition, CineSnob.net woke up at the crack of dawn this morning to watch the Oscar nominations unfold live. In the first year where all nominations were announced live on TV, there were some surprises, both good and bad. Here are our thoughts on the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards, […]