SNOWMANCE Report Card

REPORT CARD

SNOWMANCE:

SUMMARY: Grade = B	This is a cute, harmless holiday movie.  One you can gather around the tree, with the family having popcorn and hot chocolate.  You can enjoy the story, without having to explain agendas to the kids afterwards.  This is especially made for little girls.
ACTING Grade = C	There is nothing of note here.  Most of the actors are B-list or lower.  They all do a credible job, with Hutch prominent as Cole.
SCRIPT Grade = C	It’s a template story.  No surprises nor exhilarating plot twists.  Still, the story sticks to a tried and true formula that fits in nice at Christmas time.
TECHNICAL: Grade = C	There’s only one scene of magic, and it's so demure you can miss it if you’re not paying attention.  It’s basically a love story, and all the technical aspects are yeoman for the genre.
IMPRESSIONS:	I must have been in a sappy mood when I watched this because I made it to the end and though there was nothing of note, it was a comfortable tale, like wearing an old Bruins jersey. It was tremendous watching a movie with no hidden agendas, or pushing of cultural change.
STARS	Ashley Newbrough; Adam Hartig; Jesse Hutch; Lauren Cochran; Tamara Gorski; and Tom Anniko.
TECH FOLKS:	Director – Douglas Mitchell Writer – Blaine Chiapetta Cinematographer – Charles Lavack Editor – Brue Little
RECOMMENDATIONS:	SNOWMANCE is avoiding theatres, and released directly to streaming services and home video.  This movie makes an excellent family movie night for the holidays, especially if the kids haven’t hit high school yet.

LASSO Report Card

REPORT CARD

LASSO – Dread Central

SUMMARY: Grade =D	There is definitely a place for a movie like LASSO.  It is a total gorefest with no cohesive plot nor character development.  It is an excuse for the boys in the SFX department to go crazy killing and maiming people in a variety of ways, and in this, LASSO excels.
ACTING Grade = C	Nothing outstanding.  A cast of B and C listers acts like they are supposed to in a drive-in horror flick.
SCRIPT Grade =F	Lame.  No rhyme nor reason to anything here.  The rodeo goes berserk, and the only item out of the ordinary is the cowhands are all shooting up horse steroids.  There is no reason why the cowboys go berserk, no reason why they need to mulch the bodies, and no explanation who the guy with the trench coat is, nor the clown.
TECHNICAL: Grade = B	This is a gore fest.  If you can think of it being pierced, stabbed or crushed, it is.  Corrigan does a good job making the right parts squeamish, and the others comical. Nearly the entire film is shot in low light to add in the SFX shortcomings.
IMPRESSIONS:	LASSO is a ripping commentary on the girlie man snowflake.  The hero is a whinny runt with a big mouth.  He could have ended the shennagins early three times over, but just keeps wussing out. There is a commentary being made on Trish, also, but for the life of me, I do not want to travel that path, save to say it’s a slam on the entire woman warrior theme.
STARS	Sean Patrick Flanery; Lindsey Morgan; Andrew Jacobs; Skyler Cooper; Joe Sobalo; Molly Goode; Don Demico; Tony Vella and Karen Grassle.
TECH FOLKS:	Director – Evan Cecil Writer – Roberto Marinas Cinematographer – Luke Sauer Editor – Christa Collins SFX Supervisor -Matt Corrigan
RECOMMENDATIONS:	Unless you are in a mood to scoff at the “gender neutral” Cooper, or see folks dismembered with ranch tools, then it will be difficult to enjoy LASSO.  It offers nothing more.

ALONE WE FIGHT Report Card

ALONE WE FIGHT

REPORT CARD - By The Professor

SUMMARY: Grade = C	The second Indie film in as many months concerning WWII, but having no large battles. The film plays tribute to the Army Rangers, from a proven war template format. It’s basically a low budget fair to midland war movie.
ACTING Grade = C	The acting is adequate; no particular standouts.
SCRIPT Grade = C	The script suffers from underdeveloped characters.  While we see them respond in different manners, there is no explanation of their rationale.
TECHNICAL: Grade = C	SFX guys slipped on the audio.  Guns sound like caps.  All grenades blow straight up, like M-80s.
IMPRESSIONS:	Not sure why Lee switched studios.  At least he brought his technical crew with him. Battle strategy is lame (“I’m going to flank left.”)
STARS	Adidas Bristow; Matt McCarthy; Phil Nathanael; Kate Conway; and Lara Ducey.
TECH FOLKS:	Director & Writer – Justin Lee Cinematographer – Justin Janowitz Editor – Michael Tang
RECOMMENDATIONS:	This one if for aficionados of WWII movies.  The scene with the sniper is the film’s best.