The Movie Blog

The Human Spirit Stirs the Blood in “Alive”

January 19, 2020John Smistad

I wasn’t sure where the new Swedish short “Alive” would take me. Not at any point was I confident how this well done tale of a disabled woman and her caregiver was ultimately going to wind up. Until, that is, the scene toward the story’s denouement when one of the … [Read More]

Quick Flick Review: “Faithful” needed less Histrionics, more Subtlety

November 19, 2017November 19, 2017John Smistad

Faithful is a psychological thriller about a woman named Lauren who’s struggling in her relationship with a cheating husband. I often have the opportunity to review short films by aspiring Directors. By nature the budgets are minimal and the scripts spare. Still, the end result varies widely in terms of … [Read More]