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https://www.thenerdelement.com/2022/01/29/sundance-2022-rebecca-hall-puts-on-a-masterclass-in-resurrection/

Resurrection is a psychological thriller that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this month. The film is written and directed by Andrew Semans (Nancy, Please).

In Resurrection, Margaret’s (Rebecca Hall) life is in order. She is capable, disciplined, and successful. Soon, her teenage daughter, who Margaret raised by herself, will be going off to a fine university, just as Margaret had intended. Everything is under control. That is, until David (Tim Roth) returns, carrying with him the horrors of Margaret’s past.

Resurrection is a showcase for Rebecca Hall’s (The Town, The Prestige) talents, she commands the screen throughout as Margaret. Her gradual spiralling from the perfectly put together woman we see at the start of the film is very well done, slow enough to make it believable without dragging it out. As a viewer, you initially trust Hall’s Margaret and believe what she is seeing to be true. As Resurrection progresses, the viewer is given more reason to doubt her perspective and question if she is to be believed.

Rebecca Hall’s performance is highlighted by a seven-minute monologue, which is done all in one shot with a gradual push in. There is nothing in the frame but Hall and she knocks it out of the park. The film veers into some surreal moments but Hall manages to keep her performance real enough to keep the viewer hooked.

Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) is another actor who impresses. It may come as no surprise given his resume; he usually puts in a great performance. Details on Roth’s character David are not revealed right away; the suspense is built by keeping the viewers in the dark over who is he and how dangerous he is. Like Hall, Roth manages to make an odd situation seem believable. You go with Roth and Hall despite some of the more surreal elements of the film.

Wyatt Garfield’s (Beatriz at Dinner, Nine Days) cinematography is simple but very well shot. Resurrection has a desaturated look and feel with nicely composed shots. Given the story, the director Semans wanted something more sedate as to not make the film too crazy. It complements the story well. The music composition is a little more stylised, Jim Williams’ (Titane, Raw) score isn’t always present but comes in at vital moments. It’s a little unconventional, which fits the story perfectly.

Resurrection is a really good film; the only negative was a side plot at Margaret’s work involving Angela Wong Carbone’s (Chicago Med, Doublespeak) Gwyn. That didn’t really work for me. Her situation somewhat mirrors Margaret’s and it allows for some all-important exposition but I wasn’t given enough to connect with Gwyn and it took up time I would have rather spent on other things.

The positive aspects of the film vastly outweigh the negative however. Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth really owned the screen. Semans writing makes you unsure of what you are watching, what is real and what is delusion. Resurrection keeps you off balance pretty much the entire time. The ending is great, there will be different interpretations but it’s not too open ended.

IFC Films and Shudder recently bought the rights to Resurrection, IFC will release the film in cinemas and on demand, while Shudder will get the first streaming window. I would highly recommend seeking it out, especially for fans of horror and thrillers.

The post Sundance 2022: Rebecca Hall puts on a Masterclass in ‘Resurrection’ appeared first on The Nerd Element.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/first-look-from-peacocks-killing-it-starring-craig-robinson/

Killing It is a comedy about class, capitalism, and one man’s quest to achieve the American dream. And also about hunting really big snakes.    

Co-Showrunners, Writers, and EPs Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici had this to say about the impending series:

“It’s a daunting creative balancing act, but lucky for us, we were writing for Craig Robinson, aka the most likable man in the world. His hilarious, effortlessly charming performance grounds even the wildest comic moments in something deeply human and relatable.” 

The series will begin streaming this April. 

http://nerdywithchildren.com/best-80s-and-90s-board-games-to-play-with-your-family/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=best-80s-and-90s-board-games-to-play-with-your-family

Here’s our nostalgic list of the best 80s and 90s board games that the whole family will enjoy!

Back in the 80s and 90s, board games were a staple of social gatherings and family nights everywhere. Later, digital gaming became the go-to way to play games with others, and board games struggled to compete. Today, you can boot up a PC, one of the many consoles, go to an arcade (yes, they still exist), play on a tablet, or even play games on a phone.

With so many ways to game, one might think board games are just relics of a bygone era. Not true! If the millions of dollars going into Kickstarter campaigns for board games, not to mention the large section of board games at all big box retailers, are any indication, board games are booming! And many of the 80s and 90s games we grew up with are now being reissued or reimagined for today’s generation, making this the perfect time to share board games you loved as a kid with your kids. So, gather family and friends around the table and get ready for hours of analog awesomeness with our list of the best board games from the 80s and 90s!

Perhaps you’re looking for more modern, fantastical board game options? Be sure to check out our list of fantasy board games that parents can enjoy playing with their kids!

Now then, the deck is shuffled and everyone has their player token, so let’s begin!

The post Best 80s and 90s Board Games to Play With Your Family appeared first on Nerdy With Children.

https://www.thenerdelement.com/2022/02/02/sundance-2022-cha-cha-real-smooth-proves-to-be-a-crowd-pleaser/

From writer-director and lead actor Cooper Raiff (SHITHOUSE) comes Cha Cha Real Smooth, the story of a New Jersey party starter working the bar mitzvah circuit after college who meets his match in a suburban mother (Dakota Johnson), then begins sitting for her autistic daughter (Vanessa Burghardt), bringing him closer to their family.

Cha Cha Real Smooth premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2022 and won the Audience Award in the US Dramatic category. The drama-comedy has a very clear voice, that of writer-director Cooper Raiff. There’s a lot of anxious, quick talking. It’s nothing particularly ground breaking but it’s witty and charming enough to make the film a fun watch.

Raiff isn’t Jewish but he attended a lot of bar mitzvahs growing up and he has a fondness for the right of passage they represent. The journey into adulthood for the kids at the bar mitzvahs is contrasted well with Raiff’s Andrew, who hasn’t figured out adulthood at all but is giving life advice to his brother David (Evan Assante) like he understands the meaning of life.

Cooper Raiff is great as the awkward, funny Andrew. He’s in his early twenties and figuring out what to do with his life. He lives on the floor of his little brother’s room and only really knows how to party, hence the party starting job. I’m not sure that Andrew’s personality is too far away from Raiff’s so perhaps it’s not a surprise he handles the character well.

Dakota Johnson (The Lost Daughter, Fifty Shades of Grey) plays Domino, the young mother who is lonely and struggling with her fiancé Joseph (Raul Castillo) often working in a different city. She is pretty good playing someone who is unsure of themselves and what they’re doing in life, but these are characteristics I have seen her play many times. Johnson is convincing with what she is asked to do and she has great on-screen chemistry with both Raiff and Vanessa Burghardt, who plays her daughter Lola.

Cha Cha Real Smooth is Burghardt’s first acting role on screen and she is great in the film. Lola is autistic, as is Burghardt, and while this is important to the story, it isn’t the only defining characteristic. Lola is a fully formed character, more than an autism diagnosis. Burghardt has said herself how unusual this is compared to other roles she has auditioned for. Vanessa Burghardt is a natural onscreen and played perfectly off Raiff and Johnson. I really hope this opens doors for her going forward.

The cinematography by Cristina Dunlap (Am I OK?) is simple and pleasing to the eye. Great composition and lighting. The music by Este Haim and Christopher Stracey (Maid) is just about what you would expect from a small feature about finding your place in the world. Cha Cha Real Smooth is well made all around.

Cha Cha Real Smooth is an enjoyable movie. In trying to defy expectations, I feel like some of the narrative turns didn’t fully add up but I liked the idea of trying to do something different. A lot of these types of movies can get very similar. Cha Cha Real Smooth was purchased by Apple TV+ for $15m at Sundance 2022, so expect to see it made available on that streaming service later this year. I’d recommend checking it out.

The post Sundance 2022: ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ Proves to be a Crowd-pleaser appeared first on The Nerd Element.