Author: Morgen Schuler

documentary Reviews

EOY Catch Up: RM: Right People, Wrong Place

by Morgen Schuler

Kim Namjoon, better know as RM and member of the musical supergroup BTS, released an album early in 2024 titled Right Place, Wrong Person (RPWP). Within the world of ARMY, BTS’ fanbase, it was beloved just as any release from any of the members always are. However, it didn’t end up being as much of a commercial success as his bandmate Jeon Jungkook’s Golden or Park Jimin’s Muse despite those two albums bookending his own release. That doesn’t diminish the quality of the songs contained within RPWP; as a matter of fact, it is a deep dive into the emotional state of RM as a man and an artist that doesn’t go for the easy listen or immediately relatable lyrics. It just gets better the more often you listen to it. That becomes even more evident with a viewing of the accompanying documentary he created as the album was produced.

Reviews

EOY Catch Up: Hard Truths

by Morgen Schuler

Set in contemporary London we meet Pansy, a middle-aged black woman just trying to move forward in an increasingly stressful world. As we follow her accomplishing every day mundane tasks she seems to be set off by the most innocuous things from being bumped into walking down the street, to a cashier at the grocery rubbing her the wrong way. Her stress becomes our stress and it’s hard to understand just where all the hostility comes from.

Reviews

EOY Catch Up: Flow

by Morgen Schuler

Cat is languidly living in an urban wilderness. Surrounded by worn-down buildings and lush greenery, you sense both the familiar and the unknown. Without any warning he is faced with quickly rising water; he moves farther and farther up surrounding buildings and to the top of a sculpture identical to our small protagonist. Nothing but water as far as the eye can see, he’s unsure of where to go.

A Complete Unknown
Reviews

A Complete Unknown shows Dylan’s pricklier side

by Morgen Schuler

Based closely on the events of Bob Dylan’s life, A Complete Unknown follows the man himself from stepping fresh-faced into NYC to the height of his popularity as he alienates almost everyone who cares about him. We’re introduced to a young Dylan(Timotheé Chalamet) freshly arrived in New York City by way of Minnesota.

Reviews

In Moana 2 Disney does right by their strongest “princess”

by Morgen Schuler

Moana 2 feels like a natural extension to the first. Better yet, the the storyline is even more focused on Moana because Maui is tied up again (literally and figuratively) in a trap keeping him from seeing his precious humans for the first half-ish of the film. While I love his personality, the charm and comedic timing he adds to the narrative, he should (and is) a supporting role to help our lead find her way.

Reviews

Megalopolis still has me scratching my head

by Morgen Schuler

Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) is a genius inventor who discovered/created a new element he dubbed Megalon. This material is incredibly durable, easily manipulated and can do any number of things in any number of ways to create stuff we need across many aspects of our lives (ie the load-bearing structure of a building or material for a dress, it can apparently run the gamut). Cesar considers this new compound the answer to many of mankind’s problems including homelessness and war. Ever the optimist, he wants to create a utopia, Megalopolis, with Megalon as its backbone both literally and metaphorically.

Festivals

Local Sightings started off another stellar fest this weekend

by Morgen Schuler

This weekend saw the kickoff of Seattle’s 27th Local Sightings Film Festival ten-day run September 20th – September 29th. Hosted at Northwest Film Forum (and online), it showcases the best and brightest the Pacific Northwest has to offer, both new and established. Filmmakers from WA, OR, AK, ID, MT, BC, and the Yukon are all eligible to participate which adds a mix of cultures, perspectives and styles for us to enjoy. Just as in years’ past the festival includes short and feature film programs that run the gamut from documentaries to experimental films.