Review: In The Outpost, War is Hell, a Brutal Devil in the Vivid Details
I’ve never had a particular affinity for war movies, but the ones I tend to appreciate the most are those that feel honest and authentic about the way people behave […]
Review: House Music and Friendship at the Center of Pulsating Beats
If you check out Beats this weekend, the latest from Scottish filmmaker Brian Welsh (from a play by Kieran Hurley, who co-wrote the script), it will help greatly if you’re […]
Review: A Girl Discovers Her Voice in Moving, Thoughtful House of Hummingbird
The American film landscape isn’t lacking for coming of age films, particularly those of the female teenage experience. Bora Kim’s lyrical debut feature film House of Hummingbird explores similar themes […]
Review: Irresistible…Isn’t
Considering our place in the world currently, many of the themes and topics on display in Irresistible, the latest film from writer/director Jon Stewart, seem alarmingly dated and not nearly […]
Review: Ella Fitzgerald’s Perfect Voice in the Spotlight in Just One of Those Things
Over her long and storied career, singer Ella Fitzgerald was given many titles, including the “First Lady of Song,” “First Lady of Scat,” and the list goes on. But what […]
Review: In Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, the Music’s a Hit; The Jokes, Less So
How do you make a film about two passionate Icelandic would-be musicians who succeed in becoming their country’s representative on the immensely popular Eurovision Song Contest show and not have […]
Review: Classic Comedy and Camp Films Revisited in Time Warp Volume 3
The final chapter in a three-part documentary series on the history of some of the most famous cult films in history, Time Warp, Vol. 3–Comedy & Camp focuses on works […]
Review: A Nature Photographer Swims with Polar Bears in Picture of His Life
There is a wildlife photography enthusiast out there somewhere who will find Picture of His Life—a slight new documentary probably better off as an episode in some nature-centric television series—worth their […]
Review: A Teacher’s Timeless Influence on Generations of Actors in Creating a Character: The Moni Yakim Legacy
When I first moved to New York City a few years ago, I splurged on a tiny studio apartment in Manhattan, 160 square feet (not counting the bathroom and closet) […]
Review: Miss Juneteenth Soars as a Tale of Finding Oneself, Finding a Way Forward
If the first two thirds of Miss Juneteenth, the beautifully realized debut feature film from writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples, feel a bit quiet and underdeveloped, please do yourself the favor of […]
Review: A Teen’s First Love, Family Drama in Transformative Babyteeth
The vibrant Australian piece Babyteeth is an alarmingly strong drama about the sometimes strange array of people pulled into our orbit when we are at our most desperate and fractured. […]
Review: Vivian Liberto Remembered as Johnny Cash’s First Wife in Touching New Documentary, My Darling Vivian
One of the many films set to debut at the ultimately cancelled SXSW Film Festival back in March, My Darling Vivian is the account of Vivian Liberto, the first wife […]