Justin Kurzel’s ‘Macbeth’ Is a Solid Enough Take on ‘The Scottish Play’
“Like its eponymous character, Justin Kurzel’s adaptation of Macbeth is a film pulled in myriad directions for a sense of purpose.”
Seminci 2015: No Scheherazade Story in Palestinian ‘3000 Nights’
Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid: Andreea Pătru on the recipient of the 2015 Meeting Point Audience Award.
Faith and Superstition: The Leftovers ‘Lens’ (Recap)
“I suppose it’s a testament to the quality of The Leftovers that a less than spectacular episode can feel like a letdown.”
Review: Lenny Abrahamson’s ‘Room’
“Lenny Abrahamson’s latest film, Room, has an incredibly unique script and one of the best performances of the year. So why is the film just good, and not great?”
Of Love and Other Demons: ‘Gilda’ (Charles Vidor, 1946)
“‘Gilda’ is one of the great examples of onscreen masochism.”
Seminci 2015: In the Female-Directed Debuts ‘Princess’ and ‘Flocking,’ Tainted Lolitas Struggle for Innocence
Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid: Andreea Pătru on Beata Gårdeler’s ‘Flocking” and Tali Shalom-Ezer’s ‘Princess’
Review: Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘The Lobster’
“A sharp, claustrophobic study of human relationships, The Lobster puts humanity’s obsession with coupling on full display before it is bloodily dissected and rendered horrifyingly unrecognizable.”
Out of Respect for the Dead: Fargo ‘Fear and Trembling’ (Recap)
“In Noah Hawley’s show inspired by the Coen brothers’ work, a high body count and a willingness to laugh at it have been no less a part of the universe, in some ways serving as the most direct connection between the series and the film.”
Seminci 2015: ‘Tikkun’ Director Avishai Sivan Is Drawn to Auteur Filmmaking
Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid: Andreea Pătru Interviews Israeli Filmmaker Avishai Sivan
The Book of Job: The Leftovers ‘No Room at the Inn’ (Recap)
“With The Leftovers being a show about faith and hope, and the desperation in holding onto such ideals, Matt deems Mary’s relapse into a comatose state as a test of his faith.”
SPECTRE: Where Can James Bond Go From Here?
“Regardless of what comes next for our beloved spy, let us never again speak of (or be subjected to) that opening montage with the trashy, tentacle-porn horror show.”
We Failed This Film: M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Unbreakable’
A Series by Dylan Moses Griffin
‘Spectre’ Is the ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ of the Bond Series
“If Skyfall was arguably about the James Bond character having an identity crisis, Spectre feels like the series having one.”
Of Love and Other Demons: ‘The Devils’ (Ken Russell, 1971)
A Weekly Column on Love and Erotica in Cinema by Justine A. Smith
Review: S. Craig Zahler’s ‘Bone Tomahawk’
“Meeting the specifications of both Western and Horror halfway, Bone Tomahawk gracefully undermines each in pursuit of lending credence to the other.”
Review: Guy Maddin’s ‘The Forbidden Room’
“Phantasmagoric and heady, The Forbidden Room is a film torn from the past, as Guy Maddin journeys even further into his own imagination, drawing out an original and enthralling journey through a kaleidoscope of different locales, time periods and genres.”
Pushing Boulders: Fargo ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’ (Recap)
“Gallows humor is a trademark of just about all of the Coens’ work (and Fargo in particular), and Noah Hawley and his writers have done a brilliant job of coming up with gags worthy of their show’s namesake.”
London Film Festival 2015 Review: Johnnie To’s ‘Office’
“Office makes you wonder if more thriller-leaning filmmakers should make a foray into the musical genre. Michael Mann’s Gypsy, anyone?”
No Miracles in Miracle: The Leftovers ‘Orange Sticker’ (Recap)
“Understandably, “Orange Sticker” sacrifices grand thematic focus in favor of pushing the story forward but still manages to meditate on a certain idea.”
His Blazing Automatics: The Postmodern Horror of Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s ‘The Town That Dreaded Sundown’
His Blazing Automatics is a Vague Visages column by Dylan Moses Griffin.