Berlinale Part 1: Bob Dylan, Trauma Drama, and Time-Shifting Romance
The 75th edition of Europe’s preeminent film festival, Berlinale, kicks off with politics center stage, an efficient new director, and more celebrities than ever before.
period drama
Bob Dylan Film ‘A Complete Unknown’ Is a Folk anti-Western
In wandering hero terms, Bob Dylan film A Complete Unknown is less a George Stevens’ Western like Shane and more an Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo – with guitars.
The Best Film of 2024
Our Best Film of 2024 commemorates intriguing films, emerging voices and celebrated doyens searching for stranger narratives and new angles on existing legends.
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.
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.
‘Perry Mason’ Season 2 Has Us Asking: Is Justice Possible?
In the solid second season of HBO’s hit reboot of the legendary 1930s franchise, Matthew Rhys’ Perry Mason gets his day in court but seldom finds justice.
Lanthimos’ ‘The Favourite’ Plays with History and Our Emotional Impulsivity
Stylistically risqué, The Favourite relates to a certain type of subversive British cinema from filmmakers such as Peter Greenaway, although it is not an imitation.
Visual Feasts: Merchant Ivory Do What They Do Best in ‘Feast of July’
Visual aestheticism has never been a weak point for the Merchant Ivory production team and they certainly don't slack in their abilities with the sumptuous Feast of July.
‘The Astronaut Wives Club’ Shoots for the Moon, Finds a Star or Two
Based on Lily Koppel's 2013 book by the same name, The Astronaut Wives Club suffers from a bloated cast, allowing for only one or two compelling storylines.
‘Ripper Street’ Is a Smart, Witty and Humane Drama
Ripper Street's greatest strength is to avoid direct reference to the killings as an investigative project and to treat them as traumatic events from which its characters are trying to recover.