Venice Film Festival in Focus: ‘Queer’, ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’, ‘2073’
In the vein of socially relevant topics at Venice Film Festival 2024, Queer, Joker: Folie a Deux, and 2073 got the island of Lido talking for different reasons.
Film
‘The Beach Boys’ Documentary Brings the Sun and Surf to the New Kids
The Beach Boys documentary appeals to Gen Z and Gen Alpha via Disney Plus with a breezy, linear, appreciation of the band’s sunny legacy.
Venice Film Festival In Focus: ‘Wolfs’, ‘The Brutalist’, ‘The Room Next Door’
The 81st edition of the preeminent Venice Film Festival sees heaps of madly ambitious, off-kilter releases by Jon Watts, Brady Corbet and Pedro Almodóvar.
Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here Is an Homage to Fearless Women
Masterfully layered and confidently executed, I’m Still Here swivels between intimate family drama and sweeping political thriller in an homage to fearless women.
Arch Oboler’s ‘Bwana Devil’ Mauls the First 3D Movie Audience
Arch Oboler’s Bwana Devil kicked off the 1950s 3D movies craze with a man-eating lion story, and 70s years later it’s trying to get its claws into audiences.
Silent Film Restorations ‘The Craving’ and ‘Annie Laurie’ Radiate the Medium
Francis Ford was an important silent film actor and director, and not just for being John Ford’s brother. Star Lillian Gish had the clout to get what she wanted.
Quirky Comedy ‘Between the Temples’ Delights in the Unconventional Types
Nathan Silver’s 1970s-styled throwback Between the Temples is a comedy of people awkwardly fumbling toward purpose, faith, and meaning.
Teen Horror Film ‘Cuckoo’ Is a Deliriously Fun Mess
For his teen horror film Cuckoo, director Tilman Singer tries to tame his wild and creative imagination into something more commercially friendly, with mixed results.
‘Playing With Fire’ Will Burn the Uninitiated
Alain Robbe-Grillet’s Playing With Fire marks a curious effort when considered in the scope of cancel culture today, yet it compels nonetheless
Rhino Man’s Tribute to a Friend and the Future
Rhino Man director John Jurko II was drawn to the storytelling and filmmaking process, but became deeply involved in global environmentalism and a profound friendship.
The Family-Friendly ‘Bookworm’ Is a Reunion – with a Twist
Ant Timpson and Toby Harvard’s Bookworm effuses charm and humour, and reveals the Jekyll and Hyde-like sides of their creative personas.
Animated Sci-Fi ‘The Time Masters’ Challenges Conformity
René Laloux’s conformity-challenging animated sci-fi The Time Masters resonates with Hayao Miyazaki films and Jack Vance novels.