2020 NCFCA Awards

North Carolina Film Critics Association

3 hours ago

Review: “Invincible Dragon” from member Douglas Davidson.

With turns in “Ip Man 3” (2015), “Pacific Rim: Uprising” (2018), and “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy” (2018), Max Zhang is slowly becoming recognizable in the stateside martial arts community. His movements are fast, his skill precise, and his presence commanding: the perfect combination for a star in the making. Personally, after seeing him in “Master Z,” hearing the name Max Zhang immediately perks my ears up as the notion implies I’m going to be in for a good time. Enter 2019’s crime drama actioner “Invincible Dragon” (originally titled “The Invincible Dragon”) with a home release from distributor Well Go USA, whose track record of films includes “Swing Kids” (2018), ‘The Witch: Subversion” (2018), ‘Better Days’ (2019), ‘First Love” (2019), “Shadow” (2019), and “Furie” (2019), and you’d think you’d be set for an exciting, blood-pounding time. Even when “Invincible Dragon” just lets loose, going absolutely full-tilt insane, the execution of the narrative is so rushed and haphazardly edited together that very little satisfies even if it’s entirely memorable.

Available on Blu-ray and DVD October 6 2020. #InvincibleDragon ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

6 hours ago

Recommendation: View from the Couch from member Matt Brunson.

View From The Couch is a weekly column that reviews what’s new on Blu-ray and DVD. Ratings are on a four-star scale. ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

9 hours ago

Review: "The Last Vermeer" from member Kenneth Morefield.

Like its protagonists, Han Van Meegeren and Joseph Piller, "The Last Vermeer" is unassuming. Its subject — the looting of European art by the Nazis — was covered more dramatically in "Monuments Men" and "Woman in Gold." Add to that the fact that Van Meegeren was a historical figure, and the outcome of its mystery will be known to many of the viewers from the outset.

Was Van Meegeren (Guy Pearce) a collaborator who helped Nazis plunder Dutch cultural treasures, or was he a subversive forger who tricked them into overspending for clever forgeries while keeping the original treasures safe? The film takes a long time to get around to asking that question since the first thirty minutes or follows Piller (Claes Bang) tracking down war criminals and puzzling over the eccentric artist’s cavalier demeanor after seemingly being called to account for his national betrayal.

In select theaters now. #TheLastVermeer ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

23 hours ago

Review: "Happiest Season" from member Nicole Ackman.

While the Hallmark Channel and Netflix turn out a wildly high number of Christmas films every year, it’s rare to see a new holiday film that feels like it could become a classic that people return to year after year. But Clea DuVall’s “Happiest Season” might just be that rare movie. With a bleach-blond Kristen Stewart and Christmas music galore, it sets itself apart from other Christmas movies by featuring a romance between two women at the center of its plot. Written by DuVall and Mary Holland, its clever script is genuinely funny without trying too hard, though it holds all of the second-hand embarrassment that you could hope for in a rom-com of this type.

Available on Hulu November 25 2020. #HappiestSeason ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

1 day ago

Review: "The Croods: A New Age" from member Edwin Arnaudin.

Like a Cro-Magnon struggling to light a fire, the animated caveman comedy "The Croods" (2013) offered plentiful visual imagination while skimping on the script. But in its sequel "A New Age," things have advanced to the point where fire is everywhere and other discoveries have likewise been made.

Reminiscent of "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" in its rampant zaniness, the sequel from Joel Crawford — taking over for Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders — is an unexpected delight, full of creative combo creatures (spiderwolves, anyone?) that kept its predecessor from becoming extinct, plus steady quality laughs and a decent story.

In select theaters November 25 2020. #TheCroods ...