Mystical Ennui: Peter Cook at a Distance
“Peter Cook was never able to bridge the distance between his personal world and his many creations, and one gets the impression that he derived a certain satisfaction from keeping people guessing.”
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.”
Tearing ‘Hellraiser’ Apart to Its Artistic Core
“Hellraiser’s creators channel the works of Francis Bacon, Walter Sickert, Allen Jones and Zdzisław Beksiński. These impressionist and surrealist craftsmen, like Barker and Randel, expose the horrors of their lifetime to the populace at large.”
‘Both Sides of the Blade’: Claire Denis and Juliette Binoche Team Again in Silver Bear Winner
“Be it film, novel, poem or song, the triangle is one of the most frequent tropes in storytelling. Denis is such a gifted moviemaker, though, that cliche is absent from the precise and specific moments inside her intelligently constructed universe.”
Back and Forth and All Around Through Hell and Rain: Nicolette Krebitz’s ‘Wild’
“‘Wild’ is a strong showcase for Stangenberg, an actress who embodies a specific kind of sorrow.”
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.”
How to Cannonball an Aquarium
“‘Tales from the Gimli Hospital’ is an accessible and logical entry point for Maddin-curious cinephiles.”
‘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.”
The Irresistible Bulldozer: Judy Holliday’s Brief Comic Swing
“Holliday’s persona is one of shrewdness in the face of unrelenting condescension; she perfected the art of playing the outwardly ditzy blonde who lulls those around her into taking her lightly.”
Making Sense of the Bullocks: Examining the Punk Unpleasantries of ‘Pistol’ and ‘Sid and Nancy’
“FX’s ‘Pistol’ stays true to the chaotic nature of the Sex Pistols and manages to sprinkle in some of that Boyle pop energy.”
Dissecting Toxic Masculinity in Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s Cinema
“With contemporary independent filmmakers like Sanal Kumar Sasidharan and his lot who stay true to their singular vision and distinctive voice, the rising new wave of Indian cinema looks set to grow bigger and stronger in the near future.”
‘Neptune Frost’: Anisia Uzeyman and Saul Williams Project the Future
“‘Neptune Frost’ challenges and frustrates, and often leaves one wishing for more clarity. But it is filled with poetry, and it understands the importance of projecting an alternative to our reality.”
Rich Man, Poor Man: Keith Maitland’s ‘Dear Mr. Brody’
“Maitland’s sense of graphic design and visual organization are chief pleasures of ‘Dear Mr. Brody.'”
I Love You, Man: Celebrating ‘Superbad’ and Its Embrace of Male Friendship
“‘Superbad’ has stood the test of time, and will continue to do so, because there are so few movies that tackle male friendships in such a brutally honest manner, with care and attention, and without falling back on sarcasm once all is said and done.”
Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’: Redefining the Superstar Through the Impersonator
“‘Elvis’ isn’t a biopic — it’s a testament to the power of fandom, stardom and art.”
In a State of Exile: ‘The Last of England’ in 1987
“If ‘The Angelic Conversation’ portrays a time where loving affection could be found amongst the rubble of industrialization, then ‘The Last of England’ shows how affection, love and hope are lost qualities of a paradisal past.”
A Film Arising from the Sea and the Sand: ‘Araya’ at Cinema Rediscovered
“Given Araya’s small-scale origins in a country without a major film industry, it remains a fascinating testament to both the lives of the peninsula’s inhabitants and the film’s own creation.”
Visions of the Future from 1995: Touching with Synthetic Hands
Visions of the Future from 1995: Touching with Synthetic Hands by D.M. Palmer: “These films posited that to dream in public, to build new worlds on this freshly privatized terrain, was to risk new and previously inconceivable forms of personal ruin.”
Pre-Code Prime Cuts: Women-Led Films at Cinema Rediscovered
Cinema Rediscovered Essay by Fedor Tot | Women-Led Films of the 1930s | Jewel Robbery (1932) | Red-Headed Woman (1932) | Baby Face (1933)
‘Nope’: Jordan Peele Goes West in Imaginative Genre Mash-Up
“One of the most refreshing dimensions of ‘Nope’ resides in Peele’s willingness to trust viewers to follow him into unexpected territory.”