By Tony Williams. For the new set of John Huston’s bleak 1950 film noir The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Criterion includes a cover that reproduces a still from the film, rather than the company’s recent fascination with bad artwork design. This suitable choice of coverart reflects how this two-disc DVD edition […]
Authenticity in Many Forms: 20th Century Women
January 4, 2017
By Jude Warne. Perhaps there are no two greater examples of cinematic contrast during this year’s Oscar season than Damien Chazelle’s La La Land and Mike Mills’ 20th Century Women. Both films will most likely land some number of Oscar nominations when they’re announced in Hollywood later this month. Both films are […]
The Allure of a Stone Heart: Verhoeven’s Elle
By Elias Savada. There is a brazen, dangerous atmosphere floating about the French-language feature Elle, a dramatic thriller with much to admire but, depending on your sensibilities, not as much to like. Maybe I’m too much of a puritan in this case and need to re-watch it. It’s an edgy […]
Under the Shadow of Missile Fire: An Interview with Babak Anvari
By Ali Moosavi. A few years ago an impressive short film debuted called Two and Two (2011). Fast forward to 2016 and that young filmmaker, Babak Anvari, has made his first feature, Under the Shadow. This psychological supernatural thriller, not only a hit with the critics, also impressed the British […]
Festival of Ghibli at TIFF: A Quick Take with Chance Huskey of GKIDS
By Tom Ue. From 24 December to 10 January, the Toronto International Film Festival screens Spirited Away: The Films of Studio Ghibli, a programme of 22 feature films from one of the world’s most influential film studios. In what follows, I discuss the enduring appeal of Ghibli films with Chance […]
Bridging the Ideological Gap: Reform Cinema in Iran by Blake Atwood
December 21, 2016
A Book Review by Ali Moosavi. I have always thought that for a deeper understanding of Iranian films, one has to have a better knowledge of the Iranian culture, history, and politics. Blake Atwood’s Reform Cinema in Iran (Columbia University Press, 2016) goes a long way to bridge the gap that currently […]
On Communal Love and Sharing: Thomas Vinterberg on The Commune
December 17, 2016
By Amir Ganjavie. Based on firsthand observations from his childhood, Thomas Vinterberg’s latest movie, The Commune, helps us reflect on the difficulties involved in many people living and sharing together in a big house. This take on communal living could be seen as a metaphor for a type of idealized alternative […]
Film Scratches: Eloquence Without Words – The Kingdom of Shadows (2016)
December 14, 2016
Film Scratches focuses on the world of experimental and avant-garde film, especially as practiced by individual artists. It features a mixture of reviews, interviews, and essays. A Review by David Finkelstein. A family group sits, nearly motionless, yet seething with tension, in a living room with peeling wallpaper and dead leaves blowing […]
Complexity in the Ordinary: An Interview with Kelly Reichardt on Certain Women
December 12, 2016
By Amir Ganjavie. The latest film from Kelly Reichardt, Certain Women, centers on topics that define and characterize her cinema. Based on short stories from Maile Meloy’s collection Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It, the film presents a story of four strong, independent women coping with the difficulties of living […]
Film Scratches: Ghosts in the Machines – Before She Leaves Her Body (2015)
December 8, 2016
Film Scratches focuses on the world of experimental and avant-garde film, especially as practiced by individual artists. It features a mixture of reviews, interviews, and essays. A Review by David Finkelstein. Before She Leaves Her Body, an ambitious and absorbing feature film by brothers Ryan and Tyler Betschart, begins with two allegorical […]