2019 North Carolina Film Critics Association Awards

North Carolina Film Critics Association

19 hours ago

Review: "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" from member Joe George.

Mel Brooks’s classics "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein" work as comedies because they love the subject of their satire. The original props from James Whale’s "Frankenstein" or the song “Blazing Saddles” sung by Western legend Frankie Laine reveal an attention to detail possessed only by a superfan. But Brooks’s adoration of genres never kept him from making jokes about them. In fact, his love drove the jokes.

The makers of the Netflix comedy "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" clearly love the titular competition. They love its mix of camp pageantry and naked sincerity. They love the inherent drama of oddballs from lesser-known locales chasing their dreams. They love the contest’s gaudy, in-your-face style aesthetic.

Available for streaming on Netflix. ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

23 hours ago

Listen: The Cine-Men, Episode 34 with members Douglas Davidson, Darryl Mansel, and Kevin Sampson.

Cine-Men hosts Douglas Davidson and Seed return with guest Kevin Sampson to discuss films they've seen recently and their favorite movies about revolutions, liberations, and breaking free. ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

1 day ago

Review: "Dads" from member Kenneth Morefield.

It is not entirely accurate and hence not entirely fair to use Fitzgerald’s quote from “The Rich Boy” as an epigraph for Bryce Dallas Howard’s documentary encomium on fatherhood. It is hardly Howard’s fault for knowing the dads she knows, and they don’t think they are any better — or different — from the rest of us, even if they can make snap decisions to, for instance, buy a farm if that’s what it takes to help their kids.

The film’s affability goes a long way, but at some point the absence of an antagonist, a conflict, a disagreement, a choice, began to make me restless. Fathers are great, excepting the rare cases when they are cruel abusers. Dads who stay at home are special, but dads who can’t aren’t wrong…just unfortunate. ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

1 day ago

Review: "Disclosure" from member Andrew Spitznas.

"Children cannot be what they cannot see.” – Marion Wright Edelman

“…each person’s history unfolds through the need to be recognized, and recognized without reservation.” – Robert Antelme

"Disclosure," the wonderful new documentary on the history of transgender representation in movies and TV, contains the above quote from children’s rights activist Marion Wright Edelman. Though French concentration camp survivor Robert Antelme is not quoted, his statement meshes more closely with Disclosure’s mission. For, in its ambitious walkthrough, it argues that increased trans visibility and respect in our entertainment must be matched with increased social respect and safety.

Available on Netflix now. ...

North Carolina Film Critics Association

1 day ago

Review: Shudder's “Yummy” from member Hunter Heilman.

What’s so wonderful about horror is that there’s truly something for everyone. Do you find yourself compelled most by fear of the unknown? Try some supernatural horror. Scared of a violent apocalypse? There are tons of zombie films at your disposal. Home invasions? They got you. Torture Porn? There are eight “Saw” movies practically begging for you to watch them. There’s such a spectrum of different things with hybrids and new additions to the spectrum of the genre added what feels like every day. Young or old, squeamish or hardened, meek or fearless, I truly believe that the horror genre is the great equalizer in a way, for that it taps into something everyone innately experiences: fear.

Available for streaming on Shudder now. #Yummy ...