Review: A Flimsy Script Hinders a Beautifully Filmed, Acted Land
It’s rare that I wish a film were longer than its economic 84-minute run-time, but such is the case for Robin Wright’s directorial debut, Land. From a script by Jesse […]
Review: Lapsis Builds an Interesting Alternate Reality, but Lacks a Unique Perspective
It’s not easy to create a believable alternate reality in contemporary independent films; particularly if the world of the film deals with technology, the sheer volume of details to consider […]
Review: A Film Bursting with Love, Warmth and Sheer American Perseverance, Minari Approaches Sublime Perfection
Every now and then, a film approaches such sublime perfection that subsequent viewings only strengthen one’s warm impression of the work. Lee Isaac Chung’s touching and deeply relatable Minari is such […]
Review: Caught in a Time Loop, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things Asks Us to Appreciate the Little Moments
Added to the list of recent movies about adventures in time-looping is the latest from director Ian Samuels (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser) and writer Lev Grossman (based on his […]
Review: Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar Is a Ridiculous—and Ridiculously Funny—Trip
As I giggled my way through Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar, the Bridesmaids follow-up by co-writers Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig (who also star), I realized that it […]
Review: Despite Erratic Storytelling, The Mauritanian Is a Compelling Glimpse into Life in Guantanamo Bay
Directed by noted documentarian (One Day in September) and feature filmmaker (The Last King of Scotland) Kevin Macdonald, The Mauritanian centers on the horrific true story of Guantánamo Bay detainee […]
Review: A Modern Western, Cowboys Puts Family Dynamics to the Test
Set in small-town Montana, Cowboys, the latest from writer/director Anna Kerrigan (Five Days Gone), concerns a family in crisis largely because its patriarch, Troy (Steve Zahn), is a good man […]
Review: Judas and the Black Messiah Is an Inspiring, Infuriating Chronicle of Activism and Betrayal
Sometimes, all of the pieces of a film just come together and fit so beautifully that the resulting work is more intense and beautiful than the sum of its parts. […]
Review: A Zealot in Search of a Mission in Haunting, Eerie Saint Maud
After creating a series of effective shorts in recent years, writer/director Rose Glass’ debut feature, Saint Maud, is finally getting released stateside after being delayed a year because of you […]
Review: Women Isolated Physically and Emotionally Find Connection, Affection in The World to Come
He’s not even the star of this movie, but I have to say, Christopher Abbott has had a hell of a past 12 months as far as compelling performances go. […]
Dispatch: Award Winners and A Few More Films as Sundance Film Festival Wraps
The Sundance Film Festival wrapped last week, and even though it was entirely virtual this year, it turns out it still takes just as long to recover from long days […]
Travel the World with International Cinema, All Eligible for Academy Awards, From the Comfort of Home
Like so many events forced to reschedule (and reimagine) their plans because of the pandemic, the news came fairly early, relatively speaking, that the 2021 Academy Awards would be delayed […]