By Ali Moosavi. Both these films show the lengths their makers have gone, the enormous risks they’ve taken, all for the sake of cinema.” Two films made by Iranian directors have at least one thing in common: they both show the deep, undying passion that many Iranians have for cinema. […]
The Amazing Elasticity of Neo-Noir: Silent as the Grave (2023)
By William Blick. Shows the glory of the ever-independent neo-noir film that will be around for a long time.” For me, neo-noir reemerged effectively with Blue Ruin, an underrated Coen brother-esque film that was buzzing around in 2010’s era at the Hampton Film Festival, where I happened to see it. […]
The Father of the Iranian New Wave: Dariush Mehrjui, 1939-2023
By Ali Moosavi. The discovery of the groundbreaking filmmaker’s body with that of his wife in their home, both stabbed, on Saturday, 14 October (found by their daughter), has sent a shockwave throughout the film community at a troubling time…. The news item was brief: the bodies of the Iranian […]
Recent Contemporary Protest Cinema and Political-Cultural Exoticism
By Hamed Soleimanzadeh. By bringing attention to the challenges of the surrounding world, exotic protest cinema encourages audiences to take responsibility against the injustices and inefficiencies.” The concept of political-cultural exoticism in protest cinema refers to the presentation and understanding of ethnic, national, and regional cultures and policies in films […]
Mastering the Multiverse –Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
By Matthew Sorrento. It’s invigorating to see a broad entertainment reach the heights of cinema’s visual potential.” While preparing the classic horror comedy Re-Animator, producer Brian Yunza had his director Stuart Gordon and other team members sit for a marathon VHS film festival of recent horror. The purpose: to top […]
Lawrence Tierney: Face of a Cop Hater (Preview)
By Burt Kearns. Tierney is another picture altogether…. He is a man who has had his head handed to him.” Lawrence Tierney was twenty-six years old in April 1945, when he became an “overnight sensation” in the title role of the gangster film Dillinger. In the years to follow, his erratic […]
Don’t Let It Drain – Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
By Matthew Sorrento. Just what the pinball tribe needs, and offers a whole lot for feel-good indie fans, too.” This new release, aptly titled Pinball, celebrates the game, its ignored legacy, along with an important page in its history. Those (mostly older) who sing the famous hit from Tommy do […]
Strange Hits: The Birth (and Deaths) of Cocaine Bear
The reviewer confounded, a “poet” responds…. For the few happy stoners who loved Strange Wilderness…. Three of them were back to the multiplex in early ‘08, night after night (while their supply lasted) bringing the only box office before it closed after a week. Late-night conversations, fueled by caffeine, conjured desires for a sequel. Back to […]
Finding Humor in Tragedy: The Films of Iranian Director Reza Jamali
By Ali Moosavi. A new and original voice in the Iranian Cinemas whose films deserve to find a wider audience.” With only two feature films to his credit, Iranian writer-director Reza Jamali has emerged as a new and unique voice in the Iranian cinema. Both his films, Old Men Never […]
Luca Guadagnino’s Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams at Provincetown FF 2022
By Chet Domitz. Following his dream, Ferragamo was home wherever he was and on whatever continent. He created his own world. “ The 2022 Provincetown International Film Festival was the site of the North American premiere of Luca Guadagnino’s Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams. Guadagnino was in attendance to introduce the […]