Review: Kevin Abrams’ ‘I Got a Monster’
“‘I Got a Monster’ is incredibly evocative, the dissonance between the harshness of Baltimore’s architecture and old school activities providing yet another layer to the devastating story.”
Collecting Movies with ‘JessZilla’ Filmmaker Emily Sheskin
Emily Sheskin Interview: Greg Carlson and the filmmaker discuss ‘JessZilla’ and movie collecting.
Review: Devorah Baum and Josh Appignanesi’s ‘Husband’
“‘Husband’ is a gentle manipulation of reality, a declaration of the focal couple’s intent to produce familiar yet innovative work.”
Anna Hints Receives Sundance Directing Award for ‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’
“Like so many of the best movies, ‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’ captures the universal in the specific.”
Review: Smriti Mundhra’s Starry-Eyed ‘The Romantics’
“At a time when some of the most inventive image-making is happening in Indian documentaries, ‘The Romantics’ sticks out for its unimaginative glossiness.”
An Interview with ‘Against the Tide’ Filmmaker Sarvnik Kaur
‘Against the Tide’ Interview: Dipankar Sarkar discusses the 2023 documentary with filmmaker Sarvnik Kaur.
Video Sleuths Press Rewind in ‘Kim’s Video’
“‘Kim’s Video’ reminds viewers that there was something very special about browsing the shelves of shops both large and small.”
‘Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché’ Considers the Punk Legend from Her Daughter’s Perspective
“‘Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché’ is not a critical deconstruction of X-Ray Spex’s music, but enough time is spent and enough awesome performance footage is included to send newcomers in search of ‘Germfree Adolescents’ (1978) and more.”
An Interview with ‘Urf’ Director Geetika Narang Abbasi
‘Urf’ Interview: Dipankar Sarkar discusses the 2022 documentary with director Geetika Narang Abbasi.
Drop Around When You Need a Friend: ‘Ronnie’s’
“‘Ronnie’s’ takes me back to my early days in Hollywood, before I had Facebook and an iPhone, before I began forcing experiences and friendships rather than just letting them happen. What a feeling to transcend above what brings you down… to feel at home.”
An Interview with ‘Shesh Pata’ Filmmaker Atanu Ghosh
‘Shesh Pata’ Interview: Dipankar Sarkar discusses the 2022 movie with filmmaker Atanu Ghosh.
Review: Elvis Mitchell’s ‘Is That Black Enough for You?!?’
“If you can’t live without the movies, ‘Is That Black Enough for You?!?’ is one of the year’s essential experiences.”
A Portrait of the Portrait Artist: Laura Poitras and Nan Goldin Get Together for ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’
“Goldin’s openness and forthrightness extends to her advocacy on behalf of so many others who, like herself, struggled or continue to struggle with opioid addiction.”
Review: Jon Michael Simpson’s ‘Hi I’m Blake’
“‘Hi I’m Blake’ has a profound, encouraging lifeforce, especially when Jeff McQuitty and Hanan Townshend’s hard-hitting crescendos complement the subject’s perseverance.”
Review: Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel’s ‘The Pez Outlaw’
“In ‘The Pez Outlaw,’ the Storkels include enough material centered on the durable and enchanting romance between Glew and wife Kathy to keep viewers firmly on his side.”
Marc Shaffer Explores the Legend of Helios in ‘Exposing Muybridge’
“At just under 90 minutes, ‘Exposing Muybridge’ doesn’t wear out its welcome, but there are a few aspects of the subject’s colorful legacy that could have used more detail and consideration.”
A Reductive Montage of Love: ‘Meet Me in the Bathroom’
“‘Meet Me in the Bathroom’ succeeds when viewed as a celebratory snapshot of the Big Apple’s pre-9/11 rock youth. Still, the overall approach feels off and somewhat uninspired.”
London Film Festival Review: Laura Poitras’ ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’
“Poitras avoids melodrama, catharsis and sensationalism in ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.’ The result is acutely devastating.”
Brett Morgen Keeps His ‘Lectric Eye on the Iconic David Bowie in ‘Moonage Daydream’
“‘Moonage Daydream’ is committed to art and artist. With few exceptions, like the acknowledgement of Bowie’s love for Iman, private life stays private.”
‘Nothing Compares’: Kathryn Ferguson Covers Sinéad O’Connor in Strong Music Doc
“Ferguson applies remarkable editorial skill to make judicious choices regarding what to keep in ‘Nothing Compares’ and what to omit.”