Review: Mark Jenkin’s ‘Bait’
“The experimental nature of Jenkin’s production means it might take a few scenes to really get hooked. ‘Bait’ reels the audience in, however, by casting a uniquely strange line, capturing elements of old and new cinema.”
FrightFest Review: Abner Pastoll’s ‘A Good Woman Is Hard to Find’
“An efficient script and commanding central performance from Sarah Bolger produce a memorable film with mostly intelligently drawn characters.”
FrightFest Review: Pedro C. Alonso’s ‘Feedback’
“From a technical perspective, ‘Feedback’ is extremely potent for long stretches. However, in aspiring to be relevant to current affairs, the film eschews effective simplicity for confused complexity.”
FrightFest Review: Ant Timpson’s ‘Come to Daddy’
“Although ‘Come to Daddy’ slightly loses while accelerating to its conclusion, the splatter of dark comedy and dysfunctional father-son dynamics is always engaging and frequently smart.”
Abel Ferrara’s ‘Pasolini’: A Poetic Disruption with Great Desires
“By the final act, Ferrara has presented both the man and the legend, but can’t seem to decide which version he wants the audience to remember.”
Review: Andrea Berloff’s ‘The Kitchen’
“The Kitchen fares so much better when read as a kind of self-aware meta-narrative of the gangster film, and an examination of Berloff’s construction of the men is one argument for why this rare, female-helmed genre piece deserves a second look.”
Locarno Film Festival Review: Vesela Kazakova and Mina Mileva’s ‘Cat in the Wall’
“Refusing to look down on their characters, Kazakova and Mileva effectively portray disillusion by relying on familiarity and recognition to bring the marginalised closer.”
Locarno Film Festival Review: Eric Bergkraut and Ruth Schweikert’s ‘Parents – Wir Eltern’
“‘Parents – Wir Eltern’ is an imminently likeable movie, but frustrating for the insurmountable reach of its ambition.”
Locarno Film Festival Review: Kôji Fukada’s ‘A Girl Missing’
“While some metaphors seem rather self-explanatory, Fukada effectively develops a multifaceted character by transforming Ichiko from a collateral victim into an accomplice. ‘A Girl Missing’ highlights the importance of knowing when to speak up and when to stay silent.”
Locarno Film Festival Review: Tyler Taormina’s ‘Ham on Rye’
“‘Ham on Rye’ has an inescapably student film-y vibe, a bit like a wannabe Richard Linklater joint but without any of the ambition, grit or intelligence.”
Review: Lulu Wang’s ‘The Farewell’
“Writer-director Lulu Wang finds inventive ways to freshen up the terminal cancer tale in ‘The Farewell,’ a worthwhile diversion to so much summer blockbuster fare.”
Review: Issa López’s ‘Tigers Are Not Afraid’
“What ‘Tigers Are Not Afraid’ doesn’t contain in terms of deep characters and real-world specificity, it makes up for with its supernatural elements, allowing its allegory to resonate.”
Review: Tilman Singer’s ‘Luz’
“‘Luz’ may be a distancing film, but it’s ultimately a fascinating and genuinely creepy one, forging as it does a bold new vision for the tired old demon possession movie, taking a cue from the demons of the subgenre and putting new life into its subject.”
Review: Liza Mandelup’s ‘Jawline’
“As we careen further down the barrel of late-capitalism, it has become clear that the laborer is now the product.”
‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Is a Sun-Soaked Fairy Tale with Unexpected Heart
“‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ is not groundbreaking Tarantino, but it’s a fun trip back through time with real heart and likeable characters. Allow yourself to sink into its world and you’ll be rewarded with good tunes, laugh-out-loud jokes and moments of exhilaration.”
Punching with Your Feet: Riley Stearns Gets Dark in ‘The Art of Self-Defense’
“The close proximity of sudden, shocking violence to the humor challenges viewer expectations, and despite a few notable exceptions in the movie’s later sections, Stearns successfully pulls off his tricks.”
Review: Sanjoy Nag’s ‘Yours Truly’
“The 74-minute film fails to elicit any emotional depth and feels as if it’s going nowhere in no particular hurry. Even the cast’s controlled and consummate performances are unable to rescue the climax’s sustained mood.”
‘Maiden’ Doc Sails Around the World with Tracy Edwards and Her Crew
“Reflecting and refracting the ongoing conversations around everything from the salary inequity between male and female soccer players to the alleged child sex trafficking hellscape perpetuated by Jeffrey Epstein, ‘Maiden’ can be read as both time capsule and time bomb.”
VOD Review: Jason B. Kohl’s ‘New Money’
“The questions ‘New Money’ poses are numerous and mostly left unanswered. The film is scattershot at times and tonally inconsistent throughout, flirting with elements of a crime thriller and a goofy comedy.”
Edinburgh Film Festival Review: Emily Harris’ ‘Carmilla’
“‘Carmilla’ proves to be a successful adaptation that will appeal to anyone looking for some unearthly shivers, or a coming-of-age story where being conscious of one’s own sexuality takes centre stage.”