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Film Review – Belle
The Japanese film Belle (2021) exemplifies how animation can be utilized to transport us into fantasy worlds. Because we are fully aware that those are not real people or places shown on screen, we’re given more flexibility to accept what we see and immerse ourselves deeper into…
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Film Review – The 355
The title of The 355 (2022) represents an unidentified female spy who fought for the colonies during the American Revolution. The metaphor is not subtle, as this action thriller stars five female actors all hailing from different parts of the world. In terms of story and execution,…
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Film Review – The Lost Daughter
All Leda wants to do is go on vacation. She booked a beachfront resort in Greece so that she can take a few days for herself, read, swim, and do a little writing. However, we realize that peace is something Leda will not get here.…
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Film Review – Parallel Mothers
Pedro Almodóvar is one of the few filmmakers in the world who can depict melodrama with such precise observation. Others would steer away from the genre, thinking it too schmaltzy or overdramatic. That is not the case with Almodóvar. His stories involve love, deception, sex,…
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Film Review – The Matrix Resurrections
When The Matrix (1999) was released, it was a gamechanger. It altered the way action blockbusters were made, melding sleek sci-fi within a cyber-punk framework. Heady philosophical ideas of identity and control were at the forefront of a story where humans fought against their machine…
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Film Review – Nightmare Alley (2021)
What makes noir such a compelling film style is in its visual design and sense of desperation. Characters are lured into the dark world of crime, sex, and greed, where connivers and schemers come up with plans that always fall apart. They feel the noose…
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Film Review – Swan Song
Swan Song (2021) – not to be confused with the Udo Kier-starring vehicle that came out earlier this year – is a methodical and moving sci-fi drama. Writer/director Benjamin Cleary makes his feature-length debut in this examination of love, loss, and identity. The best sci-fi…
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Film Review – The Hand of God
Paolo Sorrentino, the Italian writer/director whose The Great Beauty (2013) won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, has returned with what might be his most personal work to date. The Hand of God (2021) is a coming-of-age tale of a boy growing up in…
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