Not Forever on Earth: The Moving Image as Spiritual Medicine in Dario Guerrero’s ‘Rocío’
“‘Rocío’ is one of those special films that has the power to heal and calm the mind.”
Review: Seth Breedlove’s ‘American Werewolves’
“‘American Werewolves’ takes itself seriously but doesn’t fully engage with Western Kentucky prank lore or Native American traditions that could help explain Dogman sightings.”
Review: Charlotte Colbert’s ‘She Will’
“‘She Will’ is an impressive introduction to Colbert as a filmmaker, not to mention a great showcase for what Krige can do with a leading role.”
Review: Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes’ ‘The Janes’
“Lessin and Pildes smartly frame speakers in well-lit, detailed close-ups, often in the cozy surroundings of living spaces and kitchens. The approach underlines the common and the everyday without diminishing the legacies in action.”
Review: Josephine Decker’s ‘The Sky Is Everywhere’
“Decker is committed to immersiveness and immediacy. Her bold and passionate choices value and validate the subjective experiences of female artists/creators toiling to figure it all out.”
The Redemption of Sexual Reality
“‘A Sexplanation’ is both timely and hilarious, a big brain event.”
Kate Dolan Debuts with Effective ‘You Are Not My Mother’
“‘You Are Not My Mother’ lives at the fringes of folk horror, but the underlying family melodrama drives a story more interested in generational trauma than a supernatural fairytale.”
Alexandre O. Philippe Follows the Yellow Brick Road in Fascinating ‘Lynch/Oz’
“Come for Lynch and stay for the feverish celluloid love lessons that reach far beyond DKL’s oeuvre. ‘Lynch/Oz’ weaves together dozens of movies in an intertextual kaleidoscope.”
Talia Osteen’s Feature Debut ‘Sex Appeal’ Sends Positive Message
“‘Sex Appeal’ may lack the kind of nuance that powers ‘Booksmart,’ but the film deserves credit for sticking the landing.”
Review: Emily Branham’s ‘Being BeBe’
“‘Being BeBe’ is full of heart, soul and wit — much like the subject herself — and provides a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain for fans and curious newcomers alike; a joy-filled, life-affirming must-watch.”
A Sharp Scalpel: David Cronenberg Cuts ‘Crimes of the Future’
“‘Crimes of the Future’ doesn’t offer the same opportunities of mid-2000s highlights like ‘A History of Violence’ and ‘Eastern Promises,’ but Mortensen balances the ridiculous and the sublime like few others.”
Review: Chloe Okuno’s ‘Watcher’
“Okuno makes excellent use of text and subtext to explore a range of ideas that unmistakably double as commentary on the commonplace experiences of women everywhere.”
Review: Alex Garland’s ‘Men’
“‘Men,’ Garland’s latest, will draw the filmmaker’s faithful, but the modest environs, esoteric posture and open text most likely won’t translate to massive financial success.”
Review: Karim Aïnouz’s ‘Mariner of the Mountains’
“A sense of unfulfilled longing characterizes ‘Mariner of the Mountains,’ and results in a film in which everything is tantalizingly incomplete, the way many lives are.”
Review: Adrian Shergold’s ‘Cordelia’
“‘Cordelia’ is generally easier to appreciate for what it’s trying to do rather than what the film actually achieves.”
‘Once Upon a Time in Calcutta’: A Melancholy Tribute to a Disappearing City
“‘Once Upon a Time in Calcutta’ speaks to West Bengal’s eroding cultural and artistic history in the face of modernization, due to greed and a capitalist attitude of advancement at all costs.”
Mariama Diallo’s ‘Master’ Calls Out the Horrors of Racism
“‘Master’ certainly won’t be collecting an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, let alone a nomination. Even so, the film is worth a look.”
The Spirit of Su
“‘Big Crow’ doesn’t dwell on the past, but rather educates viewers about SuAnne’s spirit and worldview through home videos and archival footage from South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.”
Amy Poehler’s ‘Lucy and Desi’ Looks at the Love and Work of Hollywood Icons
“Poehler makes certain to strike a steady and careful balance between Ball and Arnaz in ‘Lucy and Desi,’ allowing them to share the spotlight in a meaningful way far more satisfying than any loose-with-the-facts biopic fictionalization.”
Good Faith and Simple Favors in ‘A Peloton of One’
“‘A Peloton of One’ celebrates the good faith of people who support/believe sexual assault survivors and give them space to find peace on their own terms.”