Review: Bill Fishman’s ‘Waltzing with Brando’
“‘Waltzing with Brando’ suffers from a sluggish rhythm and lack of narrative drive because it focuses on the wrong character and the wrong aspect of the subject’s life.”
Caroline Madden
Review: Sara Zandieh’s ‘Doin’ It’
“‘Doin’ It’ is caught in the bind of being too obnoxious for adults and too unrelatable for younger viewers.”
Review: Cazzie David and Elisa Kalani’s ‘I Love You Forever’
“In ‘I Love You Forever,’ David and Kalani have their fingers firmly on the pulse of the current zeitgeist, injecting a much-needed youthful zest into a well-worn genre with an artful eye and incisive wit.”
Review: Michael Casey and Paddy Murphy’s ‘Lulu and the Electric Dreamboat’
“Michael Casey and Paddy Murphy’s ‘Lulu and the Electric Dreamboat’ is a winsome coming-of-age film with surgical wit.”
Review: Ben Petrie’s ‘The Heirloom’
“‘The Heirloom’ doesn’t follow a conventional climactic structure, and its brittle, dry humor and abstract tone may not appeal to everyone. However, Petrie’s inventive vision is admirable…”
Review: Vincent Vittorio’s ‘Going Viral’
“Aside from its off-kilter science fiction elements and generational confusion, ‘Going Viral’ is an amusing and playful romp that will remind viewers of everything wonderful about the 1980s.”
Review: Thom Zimny’s ‘Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’
“‘Road Diary’ is intimate and illuminating, revealing the E Street Band’s brilliance and how they function like a well-oiled machine, with Springsteen as the engine that guides them.”
Review: John McDermott’s ‘Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision’
“With ‘Electric Lady Studios,’ McDermott artfully explores intriguing stories about hard-working music professionals who experienced first-hand what it was like to make a dream come true.”
Review: Jason Miller’s ‘Not Not Jazz’
“Miller’s documentary will likely bore viewers who are unfamiliar with Medeski Martin & Wood, but ‘Not Not Jazz’ is still a worthy tribute to what makes the band members such singular musicians.”
Review: Jonathan Smith’s ‘Guy Friends’
“The main issue with ‘Guy Friends’ is that the film hinges on Jariwala’s performance, which is heavy on histrionics and lacking in truth.”
Review: Antonia Bogdanovich’s ‘Sleep No More’
“‘Sleep No More’ remains a mishmash of clichés, genres and lackluster ideas.”
Review: Brendan Walsh’s ‘I’ll Be Right There’
“Through well-defined performances and character dynamics, ‘I’ll Be Right There’ presents heartwarming ideas about personal growth with a genuine thoughtfulness and clever humor, resulting a a beguiling viewing experience.”
Grief Is the Key to Getting ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’
“Grief is a quiet but unrelenting presence within ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ that gradually reveals itself the more viewers learn about the death of Mike Timlin, the protagonist’s friend and singing partner.”
‘Mean Streets’ Establishes Martin Scorsese as a Soundtrack Virtuoso
“With its uneven pace and fragmented narrative, ‘Mean Streets’ would not have nearly the same impact without its soundtrack.”
TIFF Review: Luàna Bajrami’s ‘The Hill Where Lionesses Roar’
“At just 20 years old, Luàna Bajrami has an assured artistic vision that makes ‘The Hill Where Lionesses Roar’ a stunning debut feature.”
Disney Dreams in Sean Baker’s ‘The Florida Project’
“‘The Florida Project’ is a marvelous portrait of childhood that depicts how it feels to live on the fringes and just out of reach from The Happiest Place on Earth.”