Sean Baker’s ‘Red Rocket’ Is Go for Launch
“Baker’s appreciation for even the smallest roles is a chief delight of ‘Red Rocket.'”
Greg Carlson
Céline Sciamma Finds Magic in ‘Petite Maman’
“Sciamma’s handling of the interactions between the kids is as confident and as beautifully realized as the depiction of relationships in ‘Water Lilies,’ ‘Tomboy’ and ‘Girlhood.'”
Review: Joachim Trier’s ‘The Worst Person in the World’
“‘The Worst Person in the World’ shows off the filmmaker’s command of rhythm and his affinity for the perfectly placed pop song.”
‘Drive My Car’: Hamaguchi Takes the Wheel
“For all the viewers who give themselves over to Hamaguchi’s meticulous attention to detail and powerful expression of character, the entire movie flies.”
This Is the Sound: Apichatpong Weerasethakul Contemplates ‘Memoria’
“Reading ‘Memoria’ as metanarrative unlocks only one layer of joy — Weerasethakul treats Jessica’s quest with complete respect. The source of the sound is eventually revealed. And with that revelation, the filmmaker just GOES FOR IT.”
Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘Licorice Pizza’ Has All the Best Toppings
“Both ‘Licorice Pizza’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ nail the anything-is-possible look and feel of Southern California dreaming.”
Review: Jane Campion’s ‘The Power of the Dog’
“It is surely a disservice to reduce Campion’s filmography to a study in gender, despite the longstanding focus of so much scholarship.”
Review: Peter Middleton and James Spinney’s ‘The Real Charlie Chaplin’
“With almost surgical precision, filmmakers Peter Middleton and James Spinney dissect the life and work of a legend in ‘The Real Charlie Chaplin,’ a worthwhile addition to the many studies of one of the most recognizable screen performers in cinema history.”
Collecting Movies with Kathleen Loock
Kathleen Loock Interview: A conversation about movie collecting with Vague Visages contributor Greg Carlson.
Review: Penny Lane’s ‘Listening to Kenny G’
“With ‘Listening to Kenny G,’ Lane affirms her status as one of the most talented nonfiction storytellers working today.”
Review: Mia Hansen-Løve’s ‘Bergman Island’
“The Fårö setting in ‘Bergman Island’ provides Hansen-Løve with a treasure chest of opportunities to indulge and explore cinephilia, reflexivity, homage and intertext, but the potential autobiographical interpretations are equally enticing.”
Review: Wes Anderson’s ‘The French Dispatch’
“‘Like the very best of Wes Anderson, ‘The French Dispatch’ is large and contains multitudes.”
The Spice Must Flow – Review: Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’
“Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part One’ is a worthy addition to the collection, besting the Lynch film in certain ways but still flummoxed and frustrated by the source material’s conversation-heavy downside.”
Review: Maureen Bharoocha’s ‘Golden Arm’
“Holland and Sodaro are so effortlessly good together, their characters evoking the kind of visual contrast unforgettably rendered by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy…”
Collecting Movies with Anthony Strand
Anthony Strand Interview: A conversation about movie collecting with Vague Visages contributor Greg Carlson.
Review: Alan Taylor’s ‘The Many Saints of Newark’
“Despite a variety of shortcomings that encompass eye-rolling fan-service lollipops and unresolved narrative threads, there is much to savor in ‘The Many Saints of Newark.'”
Review: Ting Poo and Leo Scott’s ‘Val’
“Kilmer’s personal observations and insights are always engaging in ‘Val’ and occasionally yield details and particulars that allow viewers to peek behind the curtain of fame.”
Review: Soleil Moon Frye’s ‘Kid 90’
“‘Kid 90’ is a story that could have used more unguarded introspection.”
Remembering Matt Myers
Matt Myers In Memoriam: Vague Visages’ Greg Carlson remembers the Fargo native and Hollywoood film producer.
Review: Heather Ross’ ‘For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close’
“‘For Madmen Only’ is essential viewing for comedy and improvisation hounds, but Ross must be praised for her ability to appeal to general audiences as well as hardcore scholars.”