Cold Pizza on Desolation Row
“When depression hits, it’s just there. With ‘Crimson Gold,’ Panahi demonstrates this concept while informing viewers about the nuances of Hussein’s life.”
Sean Baker’s ‘Red Rocket’ Is Go for Launch
“Baker’s appreciation for even the smallest roles is a chief delight of ‘Red Rocket.'”
‘Cheap Thrills’ and the Desperation of the Working-Class Man
“‘Cheap Thrills’ is a cautionary tale of the snake hidden in the grass, not of the lions fighting for a scrap of meat.”
Hey, Don’t Write Yourself Off Yet: ‘Orange County’ At 20
“‘Orange County’ is inarguably a product of its time, but the movie is also timeless in its exploration of how writing requires us to look inward as well as outward — and be just as merciless in the process.”
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.'”
The Light of Human Love and Community: On ‘Moontide’ and ‘Port of Shadows’
“‘Moontide’ and ‘Port of Shadows’ offer a fascinating study into key differences in Hollywood and European filmmaking and storytelling during the 1930s and early 1940s, a time when the studio system reigned supreme…”
‘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.”
Guilty or Not Guilty: On Mrinal Sen’s ‘Kharij’
“‘Kharij’ is a scathing expose of societal problems that — truth be told — aren’t exclusive to Indian society.”
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.”
A Yearning for Selfhood in Anup Singh’s ‘Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost’
“By grounding ‘Qissa’ in naturalism and avoiding melodramatic tropes, Singh creates a uniquely beguiling viewing experience.”
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.”
Buried Secrets and Hidden Lies: On Prithvi Konanur’s ‘Where Is Pinki?’
“‘Where Is Pinki?’ speaks to the soul with its incessant probes into the human spirit and the degradations brought by unforeseen circumstances.”
No Future for You: The Cinematic Image of 70s Britain
“The 70s were a tumultuous and often bleak decade for the British film industry, and this pessimism bled into its output.”
The World Is Working: Michael Glawogger’s Trilogy on Poverty and Labor
“The real horrors of Glawogger’s films are the moments when people, having been given an opportunity to open up, are crushed by their own words.”
Embracing the New Normal: ‘The Addams Family’ Is Timeless at 30
“‘The Addams Family’ is a beacon of hope for weird kids everywhere, since Wednesday and Pugsley are never forced to change who they are to fit in, nor do they care what anyone thinks.”
Julia Ducournau’s ‘Titane’: Influence, (Sur)Realism and the Avant-Garde
“Ducournau’s approach to cinematic lineage and influence in ‘Titane’ is a complicated one, as she develops her singular filmmaking style into something even more evasive and intricate than in ‘Raw.'”
A Star Is Torn: ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ at 10
“‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ opines that it’s sometimes better to give up trying to fix somebody, rather than forcing them into a breakdown, particularly in instances when the source of their trauma isn’t completely clear.”
On ‘The Guard’ and the Built-In Charisma of Brendan Gleeson
“There is no analytical framework to guide audiences towards a hollow understanding of raw talent. Gleeson’s charisma is built-in, like all legendary performers, and this is most evident when his characters behave despicably.”
The Grit of an Underdog: On Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’
“‘Gully Boy’ has as much heart as it does energy, and skillfully manages to avoid being a formulaic tearjerker about a poor boy from the slums.”
Fear God: Kevin Smith’s ‘Red State’ Hits Even Harder at 10
“‘Red State’ boasts a starry cast, but Smith’s story is ruthlessly contained, captured with a grainy texture, and presented like a true no-budget indie horror, with bursts of shocking violence punctuating the tense atmosphere.”