theamazin

Liberation Men delivers a tense, boots-on-the-ground war story that deserves attention. Set during the liberation of Holland, the film follows two Canadian soldiers tasked with an impossible mission-free a Dutch town before Allied artillery levels it. This is the kind of underdog story that indie war films thrive on, and the filmmakers make the most of their resources to tell it well.

The attention to detail is impressive, from the period-accurate uniforms to the Dutch and German dialogue that adds authenticity. You can feel the passion behind this production. The battle sequences are well-staged, and the intimate cinematography keeps you in the trenches with the soldiers. While some performances are stronger than others, the overall effort is commendable. This isn't a Hollywood blockbuster, but that works in its favor-the raw, stripped-down approach makes the story feel personal.

Indie war films are tough to pull off, especially with a limited budget, but Liberation Men does an admirable job. If you're a WWII history buff or just appreciate a well-crafted war story told from a fresh perspective, this is worth checking out.

Ordinary Things takes a familiar rom-com setup-friends faking a relationship-and twists it into something heartfelt and unexpectedly layered. What starts as a sweet deception to comfort a dying mother turns into a tangled mess when she makes a miraculous recovery, forcing Dannie (Cristina Duchesne-Rivera) to face a truth she never saw coming: maybe the lie wasn't a lie at all.

What makes the film work is how effortlessly it balances humor and sincerity. The chemistry between Duchesne-Rivera and Julian Simoes (Tyler) is never forced, making their shift from childhood best friends to something more feel earned. The comedy lands without trying too hard, and the emotional beats hit just right, avoiding over-the-top melodrama.

Director Micah Caronna keeps the pacing tight, ensuring the film never overstays its welcome, while Jennifer Tobler's script infuses the characters with warmth and authenticity. Vanessa Rodriguez also deserves a mention as Dannie's mother, adding both heart and humor to the mix.

At its core, Ordinary Things is about love in all its messy, complicated forms-romantic, familial, and even self-love. It's not trying to reinvent the genre, but it doesn't have to. It's simply a well-executed feel-good film that reminds us that sometimes, the best things in life aren't planned.

Shot well and the acting is fine but the script defies all common sense. How does script this bad get funded and put into production? Who is making these decisions? It's hard for me to believe that no one involved saw the glaring problems with this script. For one how can you be stuck in a house with windows? Just break a window and leave. It's never established that the windows can't be broken. Also the idea that a dating site sends you to a vacation house on a first date with a complete stranger is dopey. Who would do that? The way the two people react to their predicament isn't even close to believable. I wanted to turn this off but it was like watching a spectacular train wreck.