“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“Mother Mary” Thrums with Potential
Mother Mary may lose itself in the spotlight, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a film that delivers such a wallop in the form of Coel and Hathway.
“Basic Psych” is No Basic Morality Play
When Basic Psych is mining the moral conflict this predicament presents, it’s at its most compelling.
“Buffet Infinity” is 3am Channel Surfing at its Finest
As much as it is a movie, Buffet Infinity is also an experience in the charming, analog oddities of yesteryear.
“Over Your Dead Body” Needs Resuscitating
Over Your Dead Body has too much dead weight to make for a dark look at a romantic relationship.
“Broken Bird” Has Some Wings
For a first-time feature director, Broken Bird is quite the introduction. Mitchell has an eye for performance and design that are excitingly fresh.
“Mārama” is a Gothic, Colonialist Nightmare
Mārama is a revenge tale, but simply calling it that would ignore the fuel that keeps the story running at full force until its final moments. Mārama is retribution.
“Michael” Misses a Note
Michael is another entry in the genre of biopics that doesn’t want to handle the reality of the person they’re shining the spotlight on.
“Erupcja” Puts Charli XCX in a Raw, New Light
Erupcja is an encapsulation of the magic, pain, and lingering loss of a person who has changed.
“Lee Cronin’s The Mummy” Has No Thrills Under its Wrapping
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy lacks that bite in its evil entity, and if the film isn’t fueled by a millennia-long sense of ire, there’s not much that separates it from the standard horror of a popcorn flick.