The Readiness Is All: True Detective ‘Night Finds You’ (Recap)
“As a creative whole, the second episode of True Detective was darker than its predecessor, and Nic Pizzolatto’s blatant dialogue ensured that casual viewers would get the hint.”
Q.V. Hough
Q.V. (Quinn) Hough is Vague Visages’ founding editor.
Intimate Observations: True Detective ‘The Western Book of the Dead’ (Recap)
“This is Los Angeles pulp fiction — not a mystical world of sky monsters and poetic speeches.”
Summer of Darkness: Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ (1931)
“It’s going to be a #NoirSummer, and hopefully some of the world’s filmmakers are paying attention to the simple yet effective methods of their predecessors.”
Review: Sylvia Borges’ ‘Rendezvous’
“Through a series of seemingly sensual vignettes, the director hides the passion that her protagonist so desperately wants, and its this absence of feeling that unveils a misguided and disillusioned woman.”
Recap: Mad Men ‘Lost Horizon’
“Don Draper is clearly experiencing some type of reawakening, and he can’t jump from a New York City skyscraper if he doesn’t go back. Next week’s episode of Mad Men is titled ‘The Milk and Honey Route’ — a reference to life as a hobo.”
Magical Mojo: Lee Toland Krieger’s ‘The Age of Adaline’
“Filled with sappy moments but fueled by Lively’s classical mojo, The Age of Adaline holds back just enough to capitalize on its magical realism.”
Channeling Chekhov and Cassavetes: Chris Messina’s ‘Alex of Venice’
“From the fluid cinematography of Doug Emmett to Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s obvious transition into an undeniable star, the directorial debut of Chris Messina, Alex of Venice, contains a natural honesty that simply feels right.”
The Act of Clicking: Levan Gabriadze’s ‘Unfriended’
“Unfriended intelligently explores the act of clicking and how those split-second decisions can change everything.”
A Hero of Our Time: Mad Men ‘The Forecast’ (Precap)
“The end is coming for both Mad Men and its anti-hero, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Don’s final breath comes during a heroic moment.”
A Man Alone: Mad Men ‘Severance’ (Recap)
“The beginning of Mad Men’s final flight enforced the idea that individuals may physically change but outward appearances don’t always reflect the inner-self.”
After the Darkness: Jean Rollin’s ‘The Iron Rose’ (1973)
“Tastefully erotic and mystical in tone, The Iron Rose shines a light on youthful arrogance that often blinds us from darker realities.”
Ambitious and Flawed: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s ‘Spring’
“At a certain point, and you’ll know when, the dialogue takes a dramatic turn; it’s almost as if Benson decided to use every pre-production joke centered around a most obvious plot point.”
Review: Riley Stearns’ ‘Faults’
“Surprisingly, director Stearns spends little time navigating the physical world of ‘Faults’; he takes a minimalist approach and produces a game of psychological chess.”
Review: David Cronenberg’s ‘Maps to the Stars’
“While Cronenberg’s visuals and Bruce Wagner’s dialogue left me speechless early on, the pacing and tone of the final half inspired a couple face-palms. Even so, Cronenberg has plenty to say with Maps to the Stars, and the film’s best moments are powerful.”
Fargo Film Festival Review: David Zellner’s ‘Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter’
“Heart-warming and often hilarious, ‘Kumiko the Treasure Hunter’ reminds that individuality may take one a long way given the right conditions. Chase your treasures with confidence and be prepared.”
Fargo Film Festival Review: David Robert Mitchell’s ‘It Follows’
“By excluding grown ups from the narrative, ‘It Follows’ highlights the perseverance of young adults and their reliance on each other for a shared vision.”
Recap: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ‘Kimmy Goes Outside!’
“Kemper’s a joy to watch, and ‘Kimmy Goes Outside!’ establishes the framework for a potentially iconic character.”
Fargo Film Festival Review: Aaron and Austin Keeling’s ‘The House on Pine Street’
“Incredibly polished and finely acted, ‘The House on Pine Street’ will surely become a hit on the film festival circuit.”
Fargo Film Festival Review: Jesse Moss’ ‘The Overnighters’
“Moss highlights the personal struggles of many who find themselves re-awakened in northwestern North Dakota, and others who simply fade in and fade out.”
Criticwire Survey: My First ‘Inappropriate’ Movie
Criticwire Survey: My First ‘Inappropriate’ Movie