“Overall, ‘The Legend of Mad Max’ offers an in-depth discussion of the franchise’s memorable elements and provides a new perspective that will enrich re-watchings.”
“At six episodes, ‘Parish’ isn’t quite satisfying. It’s hard to say if it’s too long or not long enough. Maybe it’s the muggy American gothic New Orleans locations that made me err on the side of wishing it were longer.”
“Older readers will appreciate Palmer’s deep dive into the history of Black television sitcoms, while younger folks just might find the most value in the author’s cultural breakdowns.”
“I’m thankful to Stevens for her ‘unsnobbish enthusiasm’ in ‘Camera Man,’ just as I’m thankful to Patrick Somerville and his ‘Station Eleven’ co-writers for their story about second chances and art therapy.”
“‘The Mysteries of Cinema’ is not really an argument about film’s essential qualities, but a collage of similarities, preoccupations and obsessions that drive not just its filmmakers, but seem to consume the medium itself.”
“Stanton may not have wanted to talk about his past, but Atkins’ book will appeal to both fans and Hollywood aficionados alike, as there aren’t many performances that the biography doesn’t cover.”
“There’s a sense of magical realism that shines through in ‘Reckless Abandon,’ almost like the protagonist Duggan could be roaming about 1984 Manhattan in a dream state.”
“‘Picturing Peter Bogdanovich’ is a passionate, engaging and thoroughly insightful volume of film history.”
“‘Advice for Taxidermists and Amateur Beekeepers’ succeeds not only as a realist narrative about family, loss, sex and death, but also as a quietly reflexive genre piece.”
“A few of the tales are a bit of a stretch, but the scope of the ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ universe comes out feeling much larger than ever before.”
Yoana Pavlova on William Brown’s ‘Non-Cinema: Global Digital Film-making and the Multitude’
“‘Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror On Film And Television’ provides insights not only on genre cinema, but on origins and aspects of the holiday season itself.”
“By constantly re-emphasizing Jacalyn’s inability to confront the undeniable horror of the unfolding scenario, Rocksteady achieves a powerfully oneiric tone throughout.”
“On the levels of craft and form, this is undoubtedly the work of a skilled writer.”
“Above all, it’s about style. LaValley plays fast and loose with grammar and punctuation, paying mind to cadence and tone.”
“‘Total Chaos’ is that rare thing: a good idea whose final product far eclipses its original premise.”
A Column on Film Criticism by Justine A. Smith
The Fifth Installment of Jaime Grijalba’s Series on Patrick Modiano
“In every novel (and in the movie), there’s a moment in which the deep feeling of love wakes up the protagonist from the slumber of servile conditioning. They have turned into little monsters, but in the end they will find their freedom, even if it kills them or makes them insane.”
Part 3 of Jaime Grijalba’s Series on Patrick Modiano