Know the Cast: ‘Beckett’
‘Beckett’: Check out Vague Visages’ cast and character guide for Ferdinando Cito Filomarino’s 2021 Netflix movie starring John David Washington.
Know the Cast: ‘The Losers’
‘The Losers’ Cast: A Vague Visages Guide for Sylvain White’s 2010 Film Starring Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans and Idris Elba
Know the Cast: ‘Outer Banks’
‘Outer Banks’ Cast: A Vague Visages guide for every actor and character in Josh Pate, Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke Netflix’s series.
Trailer Detective: ‘Kate’
Kate: Q.V. Hough lists five key observations about the trailer for Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s 2021 Netflix film starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Review: Tom McCarthy’s ‘Stillwater’
“By wrestling with questions of identity, politics and home in a bewitching fashion, ‘Stillwater’ refuses to belittle and judge its characters, and challenges viewers to do the same.”
A Quest for Happiness: On Neil Jordan’s ‘Mona Lisa’
“‘Mona Lisa’ was ahead of its time, a precursor of urban fairy tales in late 90s British cinema.”
‘That Sinking Feeling’ and a Very Scottish Heist
“At a time when on-screen Scotland was mostly shown to be either Ken Loach or ‘Brigadoon,’ ‘That Sinking Feeling’ manages to be its own thing…”
‘Cotton Comes to Harlem’ – The Neo-Noir That Black America Needed
“At first blush, ‘Cotton Comes to Harlem’ may not seem like a traditional noir production. But over time, the 1970 film has become one of the most vivid examples of the genre being inclusive.”
Mannhunting: Exploring Masculinity in the Films of Michael Mann – Part Four
“Masculinity in Mann’s world is its own prison, a conundrum of duality, a question of what someone will stand for and the masks they may wear while striving for an identity.”
Review: Janicza Bravo’s ‘Zola’
“‘Zola’ is riveting, and the film’s rich array of cinematic techniques and performances upend convention, even if its narrative and story tend to falter.”
Janicza Bravo Takes ‘Zola’ on the Road
“‘Zola’ is a star-making opportunity that Paige owns with every raised eyebrow and skeptical look.”
Smoke ‘Em: ‘The Fast and the Furious’ at 20
Joey Keogh on the 20th Anniversary of ‘The Fast and the Furious’
Insinuendos in the Hacienda: ‘Sexy Beast’ at 20
“Beautifully shot, wildly inventive and devilishly unpredictable – and with a swooning, dead-cool soundtrack to match – ‘Sexy Beast’ is well worth celebrating on its 20th anniversary.”
The Unfashionable: Thomas Bezucha’s ‘Let Him Go’
“Unlike many neo-westerns, which bandy hollow notions of ‘civilization’ that play out on the film’s surface, ‘Let Him Go’ runs a classical plot through a refined image of modern society.”
Trash, Trauma and Revenge in Matthew Bright’s ‘Freeway’
“In ‘Freeway,’ Vanessa isn’t a girl who has won a battle, but one who has lost a war.”
Mannhunting: Exploring Masculinity in the Films of Michael Mann – Part Three
Mannhunting #3 by Bill Bria (‘Ali,’ ‘The Insider’ and ‘Collateral’)
The Art of the Score: David Mamet’s ‘Heist’
The Art of the Score #1: Blake Howard on David Mamet’s ‘Heist’
Review: Robert Connolly’s ‘The Dry’
“‘The elements of ‘The Dry’ may be conventional, but the presentation, as well as Connolly’s attunement to very real concerns, still burns.”
Netflix Review: Zack Snyder’s ‘Army of the Dead’
“‘Army of the Dead’ is an algorithmic cleansing exhale in the wake of a whirlwind period in Snyder’s career. As a zombie movie, it’s a shallow, scattershot effort with interesting mythology ideas that don’t really go anywhere…”
Review: Julia von Heinz’s ‘And Tomorrow the Entire World’
“For all the activists’ fevered activity, ‘And Tomorrow the Entire World’ completely sidesteps the exploration of political ideas and ideology beyond the simple urge to thump Nazis or argue with racists.”