Eagle vs. Shark
This quirky New Zealand comedy is almost too quirky. Think Napoleon Dynamite quirkiness taken to the nth degree with adorable New Zealand accents to the mix – and that’s Eagle vs. Shark: a sometimes hilarious comedy about two lovable misfits who fall in love while playing video games at an animal themed costume party. Written and directed by promising newcomer Taikia Cohen while at the exclusive Sundance Director’s and Screenwriter’s labs, Eagle vs. Shark is also similar to Dynamite in that it starts off strong, has a weak and unfunny middle section, and concludes rather brilliantly. Jemaine Clement and Loren Horsley, the film’s leads, give winning performances. Eagle vs. Shark should be in theaters in mid to late summer – just in time for unfunny hipsters to have something to quote when not talking about their favorite neo-soul-classical-punk-speed metal bands.
Eagle vs. Shark
6 / 10
The Devil Came on Horseback
The best documentary of the festival is also the most important. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur is something American citizens know very little about. But thanks to documentary filmmakers Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg as well as the film’s subject, former U.S. Marine Brian Steidle, the American public will be educated on all the details of the brutal genocide. As shown through still photos taken by Steidle, The Devil Came on Horseback gives an honest and unflinching account of the crimes in Darfur and also shows how little the United States and United Nations are concerned about the issue. This is the type of film that, if widely seen by people all over the world, could cause a revolution of sorts to inspire those in power to take action and end the pointless killings of thousands of innocent people. Please make time to see this film when it comes to theaters, or rent the DVD when it’s released.
The Devil Came on Horseback
9.5 / 10
The Signal
Most independent, low budget horror films are so bad they don’t even earn the right to be put in the $2 DVD section at Wal-Mart. However, every now and then a horror film made by absolute no-names will come out and completely shatter your expectations. The Signal, made by three friends from Atlanta, is this type of film. Set in the fictional city of Terminus, The Signal tells the story of what would happen if all our media outlets were overtaken by a strange signal that causes everyone to go crazy. It’s well directed and acted – and it’s sure to make film geeks all over the world blow a collective wad when it hits theaters later this summer. Featuring action, suspense, gore, and a surprising amount of (intentional) comedy, The Signal is a film not to be missed.
8.5 / 10
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