Did you know that Pinball machines used to be outlawed? I didn’t either, and when I saw the trailer of this lost piece of history, I knew I had to check out this film that took me back to a… Read More ›
drama
“Citizen Sleuth” is an interesting exploration of the lines between true crime investigation and exploitation. [SXSW]
True Crime podcasts are a dicey guilty pleasure: on one hand, the reinterpretation/summary of gruesome and/or strange murders can be enticing to delve into; on the other hand, you risk crashing into the space of exploiting the tragic lives in… Read More ›
“With Love and a Major Organ”: A Rare Science Fiction Gem. [SXSW]
In the surreal and quirky With Love and a Major Organ, director Kim Albright deftly examines the difficulty of finding love and connection inside a world ruled by the algorithm. Based on a play by Julia Lederer, who also wrote… Read More ›
The lesser-known aftermath of World War II is brought into the light thanks to director Mizuho Nishikubo’s “Giovanni’s Island,” now available from GKids Films and Shout! Factory.
Acts of aggression always come with unintended consequences. On the smaller scale, as when my children fight, it could be that the toy they’re fighting over takes a break for a bit and neither gets to use it. On the… Read More ›
With a giggle and a wink, Tomas Gomez Bustillo’s “Chronicles of a Wandering Saint” asks audiences whether we notice that heaven is a place on earth. [SXSW]
How do you know if you’ve lived a good life? That’s a hard question to answer objectively because of the various cultural and social rules that come to define what “good” is. Do intentions really matter if someone gets hurt… Read More ›
Bring the debauchery of Damien Chazelle’s divisive “Babylon” home, courtesy of Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment.
Whiplash, La La Land, First Man — each one directed by Damien Chazelle, two of three written by him, and each one (love or hate them) makes a declarative statement regarding its subject. It shouldn’t surprise that the Oscar winner… Read More ›
Prequel “Furies” rages harder and asks tougher questions than its predecessor.
Content Warning: Sexual assault and violence against women are heavy visual and narrative themes throughout the film. Actor Ngô Thanh Vân has been working for nearly two decades across genres and countries. She’s known more widely in the U.S. by… Read More ›
Ally Pankiw’s “I Used to Be Funny” first feature is a provocative, intense, and deeply unsettling gut-punch. [SXSW]
In 2020, during the height of this pandemic were still finding ourselves in, I was sitting on my couch with my partner wondering what to do on the first night of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and Twitter was recommending… Read More ›
Director Vasilis Katsoupis’s “INSIDE” is a layered exploration of the things people value and how those things can separate us.
As with every generation, there is a separation in what’s considered normal or acceptable as one comes up into adulthood. Growing up, there was a sense that homes should be filled with photographs of posed family and pieces of art,… Read More ›
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment re-releases Wolfgang Petersen’s suspense-filled actioner “Air Force One” in a limited edition steelbook.
“It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.” “Never tell me the odds.” “I know.” “Get off my plane!” An actor is lucky if they get even one line that stands the test of time, invading the zeitgeist and maintaining… Read More ›
Writer/director Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking” has everything, except the specificity and unique point of view that women’s cinema needs.
With an impressive cast, best-selling source material, two Oscar nominations, and one Oscar win, Women Talking has gotten a lot of buzz. Unlike some of this year’s other best picture nominees, Women Talking isn’t supposed to entertain crowds or draw… Read More ›
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases Martin Campbell’s swashbuckling “The Mask of Zorro” in a limited edition 4k UHD Blu-ray steelbook.
As a child who enjoyed studying myths and legends from Roman and Greek culture, it wasn’t much of a leap to be fascinated by super hero stories. Typically, the ones that drew me came from DC Comics, specifically Superman. The… Read More ›
The waiting room from immigration hell awaits “Upon Entry.” [SXSW]
Nobody enjoys a waiting room. In a world accustomed to instant gratification, the experience feels intolerable, even if you have an appointment or assurances that your stay in that space is only temporary. Co-directors Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez… Read More ›
Sundance 2022 Special Jury Prize Winner “Leonor Will Never Die” comes home, thanks to Music Box Films.
I love the movies. Gosh, I love movies. I love watching them and I love making them. – Keanu Reeves, May 14th, 2019. We should all be so lucky to be able to do what brings us joy, what fulfills… Read More ›
With “Creed III” in theaters, go back to the beginning and explore the first four films of the “Rocky” Universe in 4K UHD for the first-time in the newly released “Knockout Collection.”
On March 3rd, 2023, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) stepped into theaters with Creed III, the ninth film in the Rocky Universe. It’s a film that takes the character, the offspring of original Rocky (1976) character Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers),… Read More ›
“Pure O” stays raw in its showcasing of real-world impacts of mental health diagnoses. [SXSW]
Writing a screenplay is daunting in of itself; making it be semi-autobiographical is a whole other beast in of itself. Why make life easy though when you’ve decided to also direct your first feature while you’re the limelight of the… Read More ›
Loevner and Kanter’s new romantic dramedy asks audiences if they plateau or keep rising when they hit “Peak Season.” [SXSW]
What is best in life? For some, it’s the ability to travel, to wear fine clothes, and eat exotic dishes. For others, to achieve greatness either professionally or personally. If one considers the ideas within filmmaking team Henry Loevner and… Read More ›
“The Long Game” falls short in its telling of an inspired by real life story. [SXSW]
To make a successful sports film, sometimes it’s better to have an exciting game in this film’s foreground. Of all the sports, golf is not the most exciting springboard to tell a story. However there have been good golf films… Read More ›
Tünde Skovrán’s pseudo-narrative documentary may not inform who you are, but it will strongly convey “Who I Am Not.” [SXSW]
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. – Genesis 1:27 – New International Version There are many versions of Genesis 1:27. They each carry the… Read More ›
To destroy the systems that keep us in place, we may need “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster.” [SXSW]
Content Warning: The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster feature several scenes involving flashing lights. Photosensitive audiences should take precautions before viewing. Those who proclaim that America isn’t racist or isn’t built upon racist structures is either profiting from it… Read More ›