CIFF Review: Asghar Farhadi’s ‘The Salesman’
“Farhadi’s films have sometimes been tricky for me as a Western viewer, as it’s difficult to know what’s considered conventional social perception and what’s considered political commentary. “
Of Love and Other Demons: ‘Prince of Darkness’ (John Carpenter, 1987)
“At the heart of ‘Prince of Darkness,’ the failures of religion and science reflect the limits of the human mind to grasp the immensity of the universe and our menial position within it.”
London Film Festival Review: Bavo Defurne’s ‘Souvenir’
“The plot of ‘Souvenir’ can certainly raise eyebrows, but it is this very absurd quality that adds to the film’s tongue-in-cheek charm.”
London Film Festival Review: Olivier Assayas’ ‘Personal Shopper’
“To say that ‘Personal Shopper’ unveils Stewart giving the best performance so far in her career is scarcely a hyperbolic claim.”
Why Criticism: The Tale of the Festival Film
A Column on Film Criticism by Justine A. Smith
Two Drink Minimum: ‘Iliza Shlesinger: Confirmed Kills’
“It’s a savvy marketing strategy for extremely capitalist comedy, but the Shlesinger routine never amounts to anything more pleasant than being stuck sharing a cab with someone that seemed much more interesting several hours and drinks ago.”
NYFF Review: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s ‘The Unknown Girl’
New York Film Festival 2016
Of Love and Other Demons: ‘In the Mouth of Madness’ (John Carpenter, 1994)
“In John Carpenter’s ‘In the Mouth of Madness,’ the delicate reality in which we live exists only as far we as believe it.”
NYFF Review: Pablo Larraín’s ‘Neruda’
“Neruda’s shining star is Luis Gnecco, who brings the poet back to life.”
Why Criticism: Writing About What You Don’t Know
A Column on Film Criticism by Justine A. Smith
Review: Sang-ho Yeon’s ‘Train to Busan’
“‘Train to Busan’ becomes obsessed with how its characters will face the various obstacles thrown at them, but the film does not operate with a human desire for justice.
Of Love and Other Demons: ‘Auto Focus’ (Paul Schrader, 2002)
A Weekly Column on Love and Erotica in Cinema by Justine A. Smith
Fantastic Fest 2016: Cannibalism and Competition – On ‘Toni Erdmann’ and ‘Raw’
“At Fantastic Fest, that hard truth can be funny or frightening depending on which auditorium you enter.”
Why Criticism: Umberto Eco and ‘The Infinity of Lists’
A Column on Film Criticism by Justine A. Smith
Fantastic Fest 2016: A Talk with Director Ana Lily Amirpour on Inspiration and ‘The Bad Batch’
Marshall Shaffer Interviews Ana Lily Amirpour
Love and Death: The Romantic Sorrow of Fritz Lang’s ‘Destiny’
“‘Destiny’ arrives at its final satisfying destination as a poetic and deeply affecting film, an ethereal meditation from a now legendary filmmaker…”
Two Drink Minimum: ‘Cedric the Entertainer: Live from the Ville’
“For all Cedric’s struggling against modernity, I can’t help but think Harambe would’ve improved this bit.”
Binge Moviegoing: An 18 Hour Day at Fantastic Fest 2016
Marshall Shaffer on Fantastic Fest 2016
At the Cinémathèque: ‘The Leopard’ (Luchino Visconti, 1963)
“Much of Luchino Visconti’s ‘The Leopard’ has a labored energy of theoretical dramaturgy.”
Of Love and Other Demons: ‘Patty Hearst’ (Paul Schrader, 1988)
A Weekly Column on Love and Erotica in Cinema by Justine A. Smith