‘The Swimmers’ review: Sally El Hosaini’s drama is a harrowing true tale of survival and dreams [B+] | Zurich
As long as cinema has existed, there have been “based on true events” films. George Méliès’ Joan of Arc (Jean D’Arc), released in 1900, is... Read More
Film Festivals
‘Smile’ review: Inventive jump scares and Sosie Bacon’s committed performance are just enough to carry Parker Finn’s horror debut [C+] | Fantastic Fest
From the opening scene of Smile, the feature film debut of writer-director Parker Finn, you know exactly what kind of horror film you are getting... Read More
Tribeca Film Festival Review: ‘Don’t Make Me Go’ can’t leave well enough alone [Grade: B]
Don’t Make Me Go achieves the rare feat of showing its hand too often and still not earning its final twist. Hannah Marks’s road movie... Read More
‘The Lost City’ review: Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum charm in a cute but stale retread of familiar jungle territory [Grade: B-] | SXSW
The phrase “they don’t make them like they used to” is floated around a lot with modern art, whether it is movies, books, television, or... Read More
‘The Girl and the Spider’ review: A tangled web provides a fascinating contemplation of human interaction [Grade: B]
In their second feature film, The Girl and the Spider, Swiss brothers Ramon and Silvan Zürcher continue to explore the themes and style that they... Read More
‘Cyrano’ review: Peter Dinklage has a song in his heart but it’s not enough to let the film soar [Grade: B-]
In Joe Wright’s Cyrano, love is the main theme centered in this adaptation of Erica Schmidt’s off-Broadway musical of the same name, based on classic... Read More
‘C’mon C’mon’ review: A perfectly somber Joaquin Phoenix and a breakout performance from Woody Norman add up to a Mike Mills classic [Grade: A]
There is something so simple yet profound about the films of Mike Mills films. Whether it is about letting go of your loved ones with... Read More
‘The Velvet Underground’ review: Music doc from Todd Haynes brilliantly reintroduces important counterculture voices to a new generation [Grade: A] (Mill Valley Film Festival)
Much like the eponymous band it explores, The Velvet Underground defies documentary narrative conventions by focusing on its themes, first and foremost, letting the story... Read More
‘The Phantom of the Open’ review: Mark Rylance hits an ace in endearing sports comedy [Grade B+] (London Film Festival)
Craig Roberts’ latest sees Mark Rylance delivering the most endearing performance of the year, he is incredibly lovable. Obviously, with The Phantom of the Open... Read More
‘Paris, 13th District’ review: Noémie Merlant shines in a tender, yet dreamy tale of human connection [Grade: A] (London Film Festival)
Jacques Audiard’s latest is a tender, dream-like tale about people seeking true connection. Paris, 13th District marks Audiard’s first step back to his native language... Read More
Interview: ‘Gladiator II’ Cinematographer John Mathieson on Reuniting with Ridley Scott and Continuing the Legacy and Lore 
Interview: Alan Menken and Glenn Slater on Creating the Songs and Score for ‘Spellbound’ and the “Perfectly” Cast Rachel Zegler 
2025 Oscar Predictions: BEST PICTURE and BEST DIRECTOR (November) 
Interview: John Lithgow on ‘Conclave’ Being a Career Highlight, Oscar Buzz and Comparing Director Edward Berger to David Lean [VIDEO]