The Greek Ties to Pittsburgh’s Movie Theaters of Yesteryear
My dad has always said that his favorite moviegoing memory is the open-air cinemas of Greece. Some of my earliest moviegoing memories are of the drive-in theater of my mom’s hometown of Carmichaels, PA, located sixty miles south of Pittsburgh. Neither of them can fathom how these life experiences led to this career and this article, but what none of us considered was Pittsburgh’s rich history of Greek cinemas.
“Tuner” Strikes a Chord
Tuner is a quest for that tranquility in a world that is too loud. One that hits all the right notes — tuned not to perfection, but to the discordant reality that ultimately creates something special in its imperfections.
“Is God Is” is Righteous, Burning Fury
Drenched in Southern Gothic imagery and righteous anger, Is God Is is a blaze of glory and pain.
“Forge” Almost Manages to Break the Mold
Forge is weighed down by some of the expected genre tropes of heist flicks, but manages to weave its own story about the intersection of identity and ambition in the capitalist hellscape we all live in.
Xander Robin & Nick León Talk Magical, Weird South Florida Wonders in “The Python Hunt”
Florida is an enigma. Unlike most other places in the United States, it has a mysticism that isn’t easy to pin down. Something otherworldly combines with the strange, natural beauty to create the wonder that is Florida.
“By the Roots” Remembers Where it Came From and Where it Can Go
Young’s voice in By the Roots is so strong, not only because of the script and direction, but in the community she has entrusted to take ownership of the past to shape the future.
Melissa Martin & Jim Tucker Capture Pittsburgh’ Magical Darkness in “Basic Psych”
It’s special when Pittsburgh is allowed to be unapologetically Pittsburgh on film. The beautiful gold bridges against the green hills, the winding roads into the suburbs, the place Melissa Martin and Jim Tucker call home.
“That Alien, Sound” Captures the Mysteries of Life
That Alien, Sound, like the cosmos Sound hails from, is swirling with thematic notes that create a galaxy of their own.
“$POSITIONS” is a Gamble that Pays Off
Director Brandon Daley may have taken some inspiration from the anxiety filmmakers extraordinaire, but Daley’s $POSITIONS is wholly his vision, as manic and alarming as that may be.
“Love Letter” 4K Restoration Brings Memories to Focus
Love Letter is sweepingly romantic, but not in the way one might expect. It’s not a film about falling in love in the traditional sense, but the quiet comfort of the moments that linger and the ways they shape the rest of our lives.
“The Headless Woman” 4K Restoration Revives this Twisty Tale
The Headless Woman puts the viewer into the headspace of a woman imprisoned by her own paranoia and mirrors the constricting reality of Argentina’s political atmosphere at the time.
“This is Not a Drill” is a Call for Community Action
This Is Not a Drill is timely, urgent, and a reminder that we may have inherited these problems, but we can also find solutions.
Max Aruj Reignites the Sounds of John Creasy in “Man on Fire”
Composer Max Aruj is no stranger to action and danger. He’s learned from the legendary Lorne Balfe and Hans Zimmer, composers of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, and now has the distinct honor of writing the music for the newly released Man on Fire Netflix series.
“The Python Hunt” Slithers to Something Deeper
The Python Hunt is thrilling and weird, but what remains is a reminder of how easily we humans can carelessly and devastatingly alter the world around us.
CMU Student Takes on Role of Anthony Bourdain in "Tony" First Trailer
While shooting The Holdovers, Dominic Sessa was accepted and admitted to the prestigious drama program at Carnegie Mellon University. He’s currently on a leave of absence. You would be too if you were cast as the lead in the upcoming A24 Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony.
Have You Seen This PGH-Made Film? - “Cha Cha Real Smooth”
While Shithouse was shot in LA, Cooper Raiff’s second film, Cha Cha Real Smooth, would bring him to Pittsburgh.
“Screams from the Tower” is for the ’90s Weirdos
Screams from the Tower is a love letter to the analog days of radio and a sweet little flick about weirdos finding a wavelength all their own.
“The King of the Internet” is Frenetic Madness in the Early Digital Age
The King of the Internet wholly puts the audience in Daniel’s seat. It’s a sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes freeing place, sometimes criminal place to be.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” is Well-Worn, but Not in a Good Way
The Devil Wears Prada 2 brings back all your old favorites, but a quote from Miranda in the original floats to mind. “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” Simplified nostalgia? For moviegoers? Groundbreaking.
“Between Two Waves” is Not Your Average Haunted House Flick
Between Two Waves is a familial drama sifted through a psychological thriller and it’s through this combination that the film is able to reach new heights.