About the ReelFellas
James Jones
Reviews, Previews, ReelFellas Site Illustrations and Design
James is Marketing Director for Gulf Coast Business Credit and writes about film for ANTIGRAVITY, a monthly entertaiment magazine published and distributed in New Orleans. He was born and raised in New Orleans and has a B.A. from Guilford College (Fine Arts and English) and is in the process of earning a Post-Bachalaureate Cerificate in Media Arts from Tulane University College. The "Donkey," as his friends affectionately refer to him, is a tall drink of water with piercing, deep baby-blues and a mysterious past. Here is a photo of him at his deepest, darkest depth, years before film criticism saved his life. James' love for art, fine wines and cheeses is only surpassed by his pursuit of truth and die-cast metal transformable robots. He enjoys long, introspective walks, large iced coffees, and midwestern brunettes with freckles.
On Movies: "To give you a little insight into my taste in film, Wes Anderson's Rushmore is my favorite movie (hence the header illustration), but I think that Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter might actually be the best film of the 90's. Some of my favorite classics are Orson Welles' Touch of Evil, Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, Carol Reed's The Third Man, and Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch. And I always make room for comedies that are actually funny from start to finish, like Andy McKay's Anchorman and the Farelly Brothers' Kingpin. Lastly, I think that when you combine the Coen Brothers' Raising Arizona and The Big Lebowski you get the greatest American commentary ever conceived by the mind of man."
On his rating system: "My rating scale ranges from one to ten, with a ten being an instant classic (which basically means it's unattainable). If you trust my opinion, don't go see anything I rate as five or below. Sixes, in general, will probably have nothing original to offer. They're the kind of movies I usually recommend catching on cable or rental. I do realize that some people just enjoy seeing movies in the theater, especially the bigger, louder ones. If you're that type of moviegoer, take a six from me as an unethusiastic recommendation."
Fritz Esker
Reviews and Previews
Fritz Esker grew up in the New Orleans area and has a B.A. from Loyola University (Film Studies and English Writing) and an MFA from the University of New Orleans (Creative Writing). He currently works as a freelance journalist and grant writer. After boring friends for years with lengthy, rambling speeches about film, he decided to use the power of the Internet to bore both friends and strangers. Aside from film and writing, he also loves reading, sports, travel, walking, improv, and he loves you (yes, you) for taking the time to read this bio. His favorite football team is the Saints, his favorite state (other than Louisiana) is Vermont, his favorite muppet is Gonzo, and his favorite books are Catch-22 and A Confederacy of Dunces.
The quote (from a critic whose name he can't remember) that Fritz feels best sums up his feelings about film criticism is "There are movies to admire and there are movies to love. If you're lucky, they're one and the same." Using this criteria, his favorite film is The Shawshank Redemption. He is still deeply bitter over the fact that Forrest Gump beat it for Best Picture.
Unlike his partner in critical tomfoolery, Fritz does not use any kind of numerical or letter grading system when reviewing movies. This is because he is deeply insecure and afraid that if he puts a number rating at the top of his review, then you won't read the review itself.