‘That Day, on the Beach’ Surf’s the Edge of Restless Sorrow
In Edward Yang’s 1983 drama That Day, on the Beach compliance is a mask of maturity; defiance is an internal battle.
Film Review
‘Racing with the Moon’ Is Artful and Immersive
If cinema is more than the sum of its parts, then Racing with the Moon is an immersive experience that pairs its talented performers with an artful and expert backdropping.
‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’ Is So Very Much Too Much
There is too much passion and too little cynicism in Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning to dismiss it entirely.
Mogwai’s Legendary Enigma Explored in New Documentary
If the Stars Had a Sound may not have all the answers, but it intuitively understands Mogwai’s enduring charisma, even if their enigma remains.
‘Drop Dead City’ Finds New York’s Soul at Its Lowest
Documentary Drop Dead City tells a serious story about NYC’s 1975 financial crisis with wit, gusto, and occasional profanity
‘Girl With a Suitcase’ Charms With Its Magnetic Performances
Despite what appears to be a probing examination of the socioeconomics of the European class system, Girl With a Suitcase‘s pleasures are simple.
‘Warfare’ Tells a Brutally Universal Story Through a Narrow Lens
Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s taut and astringent Iraq War film, Warfare, is horrifying but also quite human.
Russian Director Karen Shakhnazarov Keeps It Surreal in These Absurdist Films
Russian director Karen Shakhnazarov’s Soviet-era In the Moscow Slums and Zerograd are surreal, absurdist films rich in Impressionistic color.
‘Death of a Unicorn’ Substitutes Hot Splatter with Soft Satire
The satire in the Grand-Guignol fantasy Death of a Unicorn is not barbed enough to really skewer viewers with its point about greed.
Eco-Horror ‘Orca: The Killer Whale’ Takes the Whale’s POV
Michael Anderson’s ’70s-era ecological horror Orca: The Killer Whale takes the whale’s POV and we won’t like what it sees.
Gothic Horror ‘The Mask of Satan’ Gets Deliriously Freaky
Lamberto Bava’s gothic horror The Mask of Satan is a loose framework for ideas to showcase a delirious camera and the freaky makeup effects of Sergio Stivaletti.
‘Sunfish’ Is a Near-Perfect Anthology Film
Sierra Falconer’s anthology film Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), is quietly impressive, workmanlike storytelling.