Director Léa Mysius on ‘The Five Devils’ Aromatic Mystery
Director Léa Mysius talks with PopMatters about her sophomore feature The Five Devils, a nuanced exploration of the primitive senses.
drama
Suffering in Silents: Two 1922 Melodramas from Frank Borzage
Frank Borzage, king of silent film melodrama, shows how it’s done with Back Pay‘s tale of redemption and the James Oliver Curwood-inspired The Valley of Silent Men.
How Would Depression-Era Family-Centric Show ‘The Waltons’ Fare in These Times?
In its first season, The Waltons addressed—and took a stand against—sexism, anti-Semitism, religious fanaticism, book burning, xenophobia, and intolerance, and it conveyed the importance of environmental consciousness.
Succession’s Final Season of Satire and Calamity Offers No Parting Panacea
Succession, HBO’s most lauded release of the decade solidifies its place as one of TV’s best dramas, even though it shares nothing positive about our capitalist world.
Jayne Mansfield Outsmarts the “Dumb Blonde” Role In Steinbeck Adaptation ‘The Wayward Bus’
Jayne Mansfield’s dramatic performance in the John Steinbeck-adapted drama The Wayward Bus disproves the notion that she was only capable of playing a “dumb blonde”.
Will the TV-Adaptation of ‘The Power’ Persuade Viewers?
The characters’ prospects in the upcoming TV adaptation of Naomi Alderman’s The Power are dubious, considering it’s an idea-driven dystopian novel that fries them with an over-abundance of imagery and biblical allusion.
Psychological Drama God’s Creatures Renders the Maternal Toxic
Like pride before a fall, the psychological drama God’s Creatures critiques the sentimentality of blood and the tribal mindset of loyalty above conscience.
In Thriller ‘The Night of the 12th’ Justice Is Absent
French true crime adaptation The Night of the 12th (La nuit du 12) is a response to the fraught relationship between men and women, and the detective as metaphor.
Sports Drama ‘Creed III’ Realizes It’s Time to Build a New Legacy
Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut Creed III escapes the shadow of Apollo, Rocky, and Drago and finds new ground for Donnie and the Creed spin-off series to build their own legacy.
The DIY Effect on Self-Funded Director Juleen Compton’s Dramas
Juleen Compton’s little-known ’60s films, Truffaut-effected Stranded and Mekas’-affirming The Plastic Dome of Norma Jean, have been lovingly restored thanks to her work ethic in a completely different field.
Burning Down the Patriarchy with Valerie Armstrong’s ‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’
Kevin James’ “average Joe” working-class sitcom characters play to a type well supported by the American patriarchy. Valerie James’ revenge comedy Kevin Can F**k Himself attempts to bury that dated format.
What ‘The Quiet Girl’ Can Tell Us About the ‘Incel’ of Inisherin
Ireland-set dramas The Quiet Girl and The Banshees of Inisherin share character types that suffer similar neglect yet tragically divergent fates.
