Notes from a Genius

"Jane Got a Gun" starring: Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Ewen McGregor, Noah Emmerich, Boyd Holbrook, Rodrigo Santoro written by: Brian Duffield, Anthony Tambakis and Joel Edgerton directed by: Gavin O'Connor Here's what should have been a positive feminist film but instead was turned around and the female lead character sort of plays like a secondary character instead of the focal point of the story. And, with Natalie Portman playing the lead, Jane, you'd think that the film would've done well enough, because she has more than proven her worth as a lead actress. Hell, she even produced the film, which sat on the shelf and then was pushed back as the terrorist attack in Paris happened. There were production halts and the director was ousted after differences of opinion. The male roles were switched multiple times, as well. Then, the backing studio went bankrupt and the film just seemed cursed from the start. It certainly does not help its cause,

"The Hatred" starring: Sarah Davenport, Andrew Divoff, Darby Walker, Nina Siemaszko, Shae Smolik, Gabrielle Bourne, Bayley Corman, Alisha Wainwright, David Naughton, Amanda Wyss written and directed by: Michael G. Kehoe Everything that could be cliche about horror movies seems to have been the M.O. for this filmmaker when he was writing and directing this one. Forget about the whole "mystery" of why someone would keep a Nazi relic in their house, all the shit that goes down from that opening scene on is one big horror film cliche after another. You've got a house full of attractive girls, who all happen to be friends, staying at one of their professor's house, as they are all tapped to be babysitters for the professor's little girl who is staying alone in the house for the first time with these girls that she may or may not have even met prior to this set up.  The Hatred  opens in 1968, where we see a family tending to their orchard. Father Samu

"I Am the Pretty Things that Lives in the House" starring: Ruth Wilson, Paula Prentiss, Bob Balaban, Lucy Boynton, Brad Milne, Daniel Chichagov written and directed by: Oz Perkins This is a horror film that borrows heavily from other psychological horror/thriller films and even books (re: Shirley Jackson). It reminded me of films like "The Haunting" and "The Others" as well as "The Shining" without giving too much away. It is a quiet, psychological thriller that begs you to pay attention and stick with it, even though the "big reveal" seems quite a bit obvious if you're a student of film or even if you've seen movies like this before. So, this is another Netflix-produced Original that could've hit it out of the park, but instead went for the obvious, easy hit. Where the film works is in the disconcerting way it creates a very eerie atmosphere of supernatural terror within this house. Clearly the main character, play

LIGHTS!! Camera. Action. LIGHTS is a Canadian electro-pop musician that has recently also ventured into writing and drawing comic books to completely tell her vision/story. Her latest album is called "Skin and Earth" and coincides with her comic book series, and all the music videos tell part of the story as well. I remember seeing her at Port City Music Hall about 4 or 5 years ago, when her album "Little Machines" came out. I love the small venue atmosphere and I remember it being hot, sweaty, and intense. This time around, she played a sold out club, The Paradise, in Boston. She played an incredible show with an amazing setlist that covered all three of her fantastic albums, including a few acoustic songs, as well. New Fears Play Video Savage Play Video Second Go Play Video Toes Play Video Up We Go Play Video Siberia Play Video Moonshine Play Video February Air ( Acoustic ) Play Video Cactus in the Valley