‘Cosmic Dawn,’ Supernovas and the Dangers of Homage
“‘Cosmic Dawn’ isn’t a bad film, it’s just not better than anything that’s already been made by the filmmaking team of Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (‘Sound of My Voice’, ‘The East,’ ‘The OA’).”
“‘Cosmic Dawn’ isn’t a bad film, it’s just not better than anything that’s already been made by the filmmaking team of Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (‘Sound of My Voice’, ‘The East,’ ‘The OA’).”
“The lighthearted slice-of-life storytelling in ‘Girl Picture’ gives viewers a healthy sampling of what Haapasalo has to offer and, ultimately, a fulfilling and effervescent exploration of teenage sexuality.”
“Stigter’s direction transforms ‘Three Minutes: A Lengthening’ into so much more than a historical lesson on atrocity and genocide.”
“‘Ferroequinology’ is a magical piece of self-reflexive work that arguably reveals more about the documentarian than its subjects.”
“Cruz has forged a lasting partnership with Pedro Almodóvar, and ‘Parallel Mothers’ — their seventh movie together — is arguably the most satisfying collaboration.”
“More moralistic viewers might question if ‘The Last Ride of the Wolves’ is in reality glamorizing these men, but I think Di Michele is a couple of steps ahead, both embracing that glamorization and distancing the audience from it.”
“‘Emily the Criminal’ is the most vibrant crime movie to come along since 2019’s ‘Uncut Gems.'”
“An old-fashioned tale given a wonderfully disgusting makeover, ‘Hatching’ is a promising feature debut from Bergholm.”
“While Stearns’ comedy is frequently dark and sardonic, ‘Dual’ is a bit warmer and more spiritual than the average satire, which is surprising given its subject matter.”
“‘The Last Tycoons’ is a helpful guide for the multi-tasking cinephile who wants to better understand French cinematic movements, such as La Nouvelle Vague, and the industry as a whole.”
“‘Living’ translates wonderfully to post-war Britain, but it never gives the audience time to explore the full depths of sadness like Kurosawa’s source material.”
“Dosa, like Wes Anderson in ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,’ seizes on the stylish allure of entrepreneurship in ‘Fire of Love.'”
“Considering that religious fundamentalists continue to persecute gay people, it’s shortsighted to present a story like ‘The Last Thing Mary Saw’ with such little concern for the current real-life ramifications of being queer.”
“‘Scream’ conjures up a fast-moving, razor-sharp, viciously violent and sufficiently surprising modern slasher of which Craven himself would be proud.”
“Baker’s appreciation for even the smallest roles is a chief delight of ‘Red Rocket.'”
“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 Worst Person in the World’ shows off the filmmaker’s command of rhythm and his affinity for the perfectly placed pop song.”
“For all the viewers who give themselves over to Hamaguchi’s meticulous attention to detail and powerful expression of character, the entire movie flies.”
“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.”
“In a time when filmmakers get hung out to dry for depicting problematic characters, why is it still OK to mock Italian culture every time a big Italian-themed movie releases?”