Review: Drew Hancock’s ‘Companion’
“‘Companion’ is fiercely, unabashedly feminist.”
Animation First 2025 Review: Michel Hazanavicius’ ‘The Most Precious of Cargoes’
“‘The Most Precious of Cargoes’ may be illuminating for younger viewers at face value for how it doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war from a survivor’s perspective…”
Review: Kyle Mooney’s ‘Y2K’
“I imagine that Mooney most likely pitched ‘Y2K’ as a mash-up of ‘Superbad’ and current trends, and that’s exactly how it goes down — a bunch of derivative gags in a feature film format for nostalgic pop culture consumers.”
Review: Andy Crane and Nathan Shepka’s ‘Dead Before They Wake’
“Crane and Shepka’s exploration of the human condition in ‘Dead Before They Wake’ justifies a second watch, though their cinematography could use some work the next time around, in terms of establishing a specific style.”
Review: Jeff Celentano’s ‘Blackwater Lane’
“‘Blackwater Lane’ suffers mightily from pacing issues, uninspired acting and a flimsy screenplay.”
Review: Bruce David Klein’s ‘Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story’
“Even though ‘Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story’ might leave fans wanting more, Klein’s documentary will presumably be the go-to Minnelli doc for years to come, based on the subject’s participation and an interview cast of high-profile names.”
Review: Kaveh Daneshmand’s ‘Endless Summer Syndrome’
“The narrative truth in ‘Endless Summer Syndrome’ lies in what goes unsaid and what’s just outside the frame.”
Review: Thordur Palsson’s ‘The Damned’
“‘The Damned’ is a cerebral film that should be analyzed in film theory courses.”
Review: Whitney Horn and Lev Kalman’s ‘Dream Team’
“I don’t need ‘Dream Team’ to make sense; it’s an art film with relevant sociopolitical themes and accessible humor. But I do want to see technical filmmaking improvements — better editing, better acting — from one movie to the next…”
Review: Steffen Haars’ ‘Get Away’
“‘Get Away’ takes a significant amount of time to set up a payoff that isn’t given the requisite space to breathe once the big moment arrives.”
Review: Vincent Vittorio’s ‘Going Viral’
“Aside from its off-kilter science fiction elements and generational confusion, ‘Going Viral’ is an amusing and playful romp that will remind viewers of everything wonderful about the 1980s.”