Author Archive
Film Review – Cracked
The Thai horror film Cracked (2022) creates effective creepiness with limited resources. Utilizing a small cast and a few locations, director Surapong Ploensang (who co-writes with Orunusa Donsawai and Pun Homchuen) evokes mood with relative ease. While the overall narrative is thin in terms of story and character, the craftsmanship on display…
READ MOREFilm Review – Kandahar
At this point in his career, Gerard Butler has settled comfortably into a string of mid-budget action thrillers. That’s not a bad thing, necessarily. In a time where theaters are crowded with tentpole superhero franchises, remakes, and sequels, Butler’s work has offered audiences a throwback alternative. Some…
READ MOREFilm Review – Fast X
***Warning: This review contains minor spoilers*** It goes without saying, but the Fast & Furious franchise has had several makeovers in its near two-decade existence. What started out as a gang of street racers boosting DVD players out of semitrucks has turned into a globe-hopping adventure involving…
READ MOREFilm Review – The Mother
Given her history as a dancer, as well as her willingness to take on physically demanding roles – from Hustlers (2019) to the slapstick of Shotgun Wedding (2022) – it’s surprising that Jennifer Lopez hasn’t done more action films. She clearly has the physicality to do it. In The Mother (2023), she runs,…
READ MOREFilm Review – Carmen
Director/choreographer Benjamin Millepied’s Carmen (2022) is not so much an adaptation of the famous novel/opera, but a complete re-imagining that uses the source material as a groundwork. The result is an intoxicating and vibrant sensory experience. Some viewers may be turned off by its poeticism (some might describe…
READ MOREFilm Review – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
There is an air of finality all throughout Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). Sure, when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is anything really over? I wouldn’t be surprised to see any one of these misfits show up again in some form or another down the road.…
READ MOREFilm Review – R.M.N.
The title of R.M.N. (2022) loosely translates to “Magnetic Resonance Imaging,” or “M.R.I.” This is a not-so-subtle clue from Romanian writer/director Cristian Mungiu over his intentions. Just as he did with his Palme D’or winning 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007), Mungiu takes a small, enclosed narrative and uses…
READ MOREFilm Review – Peter Pan & Wendy
Writer/director David Lowery is establishing himself as one of the premiere fantasy filmmakers. Whether his work is centered around family-oriented tales (such as Pete’s Dragon (2016)) or adult centered fables (The Green Knight (2021)/A Ghost Story (2017)), Lowery has the ability to craft fantastical elements with sincerity and intelligence. He takes…
READ MORE