Visions of the Future from 1995: I Am the Law
“The capacity to dehumanize has always been present in cinema; to witness the vanquishing of enemies on the screen has served a cathartic function for every society in which cinema has taken hold.”
‘Elvis’: The Tale of a Southern Country Boy Who Crossed the Racial Divide
“Films today, likes films of yesterday, have great trouble dealing with the poor Southern white.”
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.”
Vagabond Noirs and Tramp Westerns: The Films of Hugo Fregonese at Il Cinema Ritrovato
“Hugo Fregonese is a director ripe for rediscovery.”
Il Cinema Ritrovato: ‘Tony Arzenta’ and Recanonizing Italian Genre Cinema
“Do some films get ignored because they are unavailable or do they get ignored because they aren’t that good to begin with? This is precisely where I stand with ‘Tony Arzenta.'”
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.”
Visions of the Future from 1995: The World Is Screwed
“‘Waterworld,’ ’12 Monkeys’ and ‘Tank Girl’ posit that when a civilization collapses, many of its customs will be upheld through authoritarian means…”
Femme Fatales in ‘Batman Returns’ and ‘Batman & Robin’
“With ‘Batman Returns’ and ‘Batman & Robin,’ Burton and Schumacher apply their collaborative and authorial sensibilities to iconic female villains.”
The Only Thing Real: Meaning and Maturity in Post-9/11 Cinema
“9/11 was a psychic wound that fostered a new relation to the world, and those who grew up in its aftermath struggled to digest its lessons; some fell back onto intransigence, while others internalized the damage.”
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.”
‘Stealing Rodin’ and Systems of Vulnerability
“‘Stealing Rodin’ is one of the most complex and narratively rich documentaries of its time.”
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.”
Death Is Not the End: Self-Destruction in the Films of David Cronenberg
“Perhaps David Cronenberg is owed another kind of reputation: that of a humanist filmmaker who observes and questions, who understands our pain and sorrow as well as our ambitions both intellectual and libidinous.”
Blonde Ambition: ‘Showgirls’ and ‘Mulholland Dr.’ as Two Sides of the Same Coin
“Nomi of ‘Showgirls’ and Betty of ‘Mulholland Dr.’ seem to be communicating with each other across space and time, from entirely different films yet resolutely from within the same universe.”
Gloves-On Storytelling in ’64 Day Hero’
“Despite its storytelling flaws and omissions, ’64 Day Hero’ is a must-watch for the boxing documentary completist.”
The Volume: The Final Stage
“The old silver screens have reached their limit, and even 4K will become passé. Perhaps it’s time for Hollywood and theater chains to up the ante by investing in venues and screens similar to the Volume.”
‘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.”