A Book Review by Tanja Bresan. An insightful and well researched book on judicial processes and views on expressing justice, its meaning, and duplicity within the Hollywood courtroom film genre.” Truth and Trickery in Courtroom Movies (Vandeplas Publishing, 2021) written and researched by two prominent law professors and cinephiles – […]
Dear Evan Hansen: Not Quite the Broadway Epiphany
By Elias Savada. The new movie adaptation, starring a now 27-year-old Platt, has a few problems…. the conversion to the big screen (of this tale concerning social anxiety disorder) brought the play’s A+ grade down to a B-minus.” Just over six years ago, a high school musical captured my heart […]
Defying a Deadly Game: The Alpinist
By Elias Savada. A penetrating ride up the side of sheer madness, yet a celebration of one man’s individualism.” Been there, seen that. Well, if we’re talking about mountain climbing. No, not me personally. I’ve just watched a lot of rock (climbing) stars in movies glorifying those incredibly epic – […]
Old Math, New Tricks: Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter
By Elias Savada. Some of you may be screaming at Schrader for his obsession with tormented souls in slow-burning, character-driven, and fiercely impulsive dramas. But if anyone’s going to tackle the style, I want him driving the car. And Isaac is his poker face chauffeur in The Card Counter.” In […]
Pervasive Effects: Zhao Liang’s I’m So Sorry
By Yun-hua Chen. With a rather comprehensive scope, the documentary’s subject matter spans from the mid of 20th century to recent past and ongoing present, and encompasses the full spectrum of nuclear weapons, nuclear plants, and the storage of high-level radioactive waste.” The director of the documentary I’m So Sorry, […]
Smiles in the World of Tiles: Lily Topples the World
By Elias Savada. A lovely little crowd pleaser, devoid of drama but filled with captivating artistry.” Like a leisurely afternoon watching fun YouTube videos, Lily Topples the World collects a bunch of those, and more, as it puts a smile on your face as worlds (of tile) tumble. No matter […]
‘She’s not my partner – we’re feminists’: Nikole Beckwith’s Together, Together
By Charlotte Daraio. By parodying its viewers expectations, Together, Together proves that relationships, and films about them, don’t need to fit into a preconceived box to be legitimate nor need to be directly relatable to be poignant.” A film poster with a man and woman sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, since the dawn […]
Terror and Slow Reveals in a Gallery: Nia DaCosta’s Candyman
“Candyman Ain’t Real!” Nia DaCosta Begs to Differ
Deconstructing Uncertainty – Ambiguity and Film Criticism: Reasonable Doubt
Ten (Abbas Kiarostami, 2002) A Book Review by Thomas Puhr. Law’s selections are refreshingly diverse….Most importantly, his collection is a testament to the importance of active viewing, of entering a critical dialogue with a piece of art rather than taking it all in at face value.” “Ambiguity” is a go-to […]
Reminiscence: A SciFi-Noir Slog
By Elias Savada. A sad debut feature for Lisa Joy, the co-creator, often executive producer and producer, and sometimes writer of HBO’s highly regarded Westworld series. Her vision here totters between genres and usually just reminds you of better film….” With his Wolverine days behind him, his new role finds […]
