Director Terry Gilliam has always been a difficult talent for me to connect with. His films relish in a level of weirdness that never lands as intended. Movies like Time Bandits (1981) and 12 Monkeys (1995) never left a significant… Read More ›
foreign film
Radiance Films adds a first-time Blu-ray edition of Tai Katō’s revenge horror “The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost” to their collection.
When people talk about stories standing the test of time, at least in America, it’s usually in a hyperbolic sense, talking about the awesome impact and influence that a specific tale has infiltrated since conception. We certainly have stories to… Read More ›
Filmmaker Po-Chih Leong’s wartime dramatic actioner “Hong Kong 1941” joins Eureka Entertainment’s Masters of Cinema series with a strong HD restoration.
In the history of the world, there have been indigenous peoples and there have been colonizers. In some cases, it’s viewed as a matter of perspective, but, by and large, if a people originated from a location, they are the… Read More ›
“Re-Creation” poses a judicial what-if of a well-known cold case. [Tribeca]
I am not going to pretend that the name Sophie Toscan du Plantier means anything to me outside of the context of the film as I do not follow famous deaths or cold cases. However, maybe if I was older… Read More ›
Director Hideo Gosha’s iteration of “Gate of Flesh” gets added to the 88 Asia Collection with a solid presentation both on and off disc.
From September 2nd, 1945, until April 28th, 1952, the U.S. American military, backed by the U.K., occupied Japan in order to supervise the surrender of their competition in World War II. It’s easy for U.S. history today to recall the… Read More ›
Uttera Singh’s feature directorial debut dramedy “Pinch” views universal issues through a specific cultural lens. [Tribeca]
Trigger Warning: Mention of sexual abuse in the following review. Regardless of time and place, some people will only seek to take advantage. All they need is an opportunity and the belief that no one will turn them in and… Read More ›
Propulsive and raw music doc “Metallica Saved My Life” requires no prior exposure or knowledge of the band, the only entry fee being empathy. [Tribeca]
Trigger Warning: Metallica Saved My Life features a variety of flourishes in the editing that include light bursts that may prove impactful for photosensitive viewers. Concert footage does also include expected flashing lights, but nothing out of the ordinary. Some… Read More ›
Documentary “The End of Quiet” uses a microcosm to ask big questions about the cost of modernity. [Tribeca]
In the modern era, noise is constant and everywhere. Doesn’t matter if you live in urban, suburban, or rural areas, if you’ve got some kind of signal transmission, it produces sound, whether you can hear it or not. Recognizing the… Read More ›
Comedy thriller “Birthright” leaves you laughing hysterically in the darkest of corners. [Tribeca]
If you’re a fan of the most insane over-the-top, completely plausible, uncomfortable comedies of all time, then Zoe Pepper is a name to look out for and her newest feature, Birthright, is an absolute must-see. While the film is not… Read More ›
Filmmaker José María Cabral’s documentary “42nd Street” raises more questions than it answers.
There are certain places in this world that draw people to them. The ones to come to immediately to mind in the U.S. are Los Angeles, California, or New York City, New York, as cornerstones of music, theater, and entertainment… Read More ›
“Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” strikes all the typical Austen rom-com notes.
Back in 2013, Director Jerusha Hess brought to life the silly world of Shannon Hale’s novel Austenland. In it, Jane Hayes (Keri Russell), a 30-something fangirl for the works of Jane Austen, travels to a British resort themed to the… Read More ›
Twisted masterpiece “Steppenwolf” brings all of its blood and brutality home courtesy of Arrow Video
Blowing me away (as well as many audience members) at Fantasia International Film Festival in 2024, Steppenwolf is a Kazakh language thriller which follows two characters — a psychopathic, murderous former police investigator (Berik Aytzhanov) and a woman consumed by… Read More ›
“Manas” turns years of research into a sobering drama with intimate and powerful storytelling. [SFFILM]
Manas is a sweeping and emotionally resonant film that lingers long after the credits roll. With breakthrough performances and a poignant human feel that permeates every frame, it is not only a must-watch but also a strong contender for awards… Read More ›
Coming of age dramedy “The Colors Within” brings a cornucopia of bonus features home with it.
Before writer/director Naoko Yamada created The Colors Within (2024), she released Garden of Remembrance, a 2022 short film in which remembrance gives way to healing from grief, the presentation of which involved toying with colors, specifically the way in which… Read More ›
The clear potential in “The Devil Smokes” gets hampered by narrative indecision and a need for stronger directorial discipline. [SFFILM]
The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box) (El diablo fuma (y guarda las cabezas de los cerillos quemados en la misma caja)), also listed simply as The Devil Smokes, is an ambitious and visually arresting… Read More ›
“Wan Pipel” Blu-ray Giveaway
Marking the end of filmmaker Pim de la Parra’s time with Scorpio Films is the 1976 dramatic romance Wan Pipel (One People), which is having its worldwide Blu-ray debut via Cult Epics. Courtesy of Cult Epics and MVD Entertainment Group, EoM… Read More ›
Filmmaker Ali Weinstein’s “Your Tomorrow” explores the past and present of a publicly-invested third space. [ATLFF]
Third places are an important part of any community. They provide individuals, young and old, a place to congregate outside of home and work/school, to relax with various kinds of leisure activities. For the Ontario, Canada, community, this includes Ontario… Read More ›
Toei classic “The Rapacious Jailbreaker” escapes onto Blu-ray thanks to Radiance Films.
In the visual essay “Rule Breaker: An Introduction to Sado Najajima” (2025), film critic Tom Mes calls director Sadao Nakajima (The Great Okinawa Yakuza War; Jeans Blues: No Future) one of “the Three Aces of Toei,” and laments that this… Read More ›
Claude Faraldo’s controversial satire “Themroc” gets a 4K HD restoration through Radiance Films.
Content Warning: Themroc includes implied incest and cannibalism, which may be disturbing to some viewers. One of the best human experiences is discovery; that feeling of coming across something you’ve never heard of, seen, or discussed. Opportunities abound like this… Read More ›
“Sister Midnight” loses itself amidst a glut of messaging and genre-bending. [BUFF]
Writer/director Karan Kandhari (Bye Bye Miss Goodnight) presents audiences with Sister Midnight, a dark comedy (slightly akin to Nightbitch (2024) while also being incredibly different) about the situations that arise from arranged marriages and what happens when you’re just not… Read More ›