“Seldom more than a vehicle for Pacino to exercise his considerable (and still active) talents, Manglehorn is a string of engaging and breathtaking images that, when strung together, become a subdued meandering plot devoid of any real meaning.”
“Hannibal’s origins become comparable to the Joker in The Dark Knight: there are possible explanations for why he is the way he is, but none of them seem to be wholly accurate…”
“The film is nothing if not an audacious directorial debut; a grand, horrifying cinematic mission statement that might particularly appeal to the likes of Michael Haneke and, especially, Gaspar Noé.”
An Essay by Phuong Le
“Game of Thrones may disappear from the conversation for brief lulls, but it always returns with full force — it is doing something right.”
“It’s going to be a #NoirSummer, and hopefully some of the world’s filmmakers are paying attention to the simple yet effective methods of their predecessors.”
“After the intense aesthetic focus of last week’s “Antipasto,” Hannibal’s shift in character focal point for this week’s “Primavera” brings with it a different thematic center: religion.”
We Failed This Film is a series about various films that simply didn’t get the love that they deserved upon initial release.
“Through a series of seemingly sensual vignettes, the director hides the passion that her protagonist so desperately wants, and its this absence of feeling that unveils a misguided and disillusioned woman.”
“Now in its fifth season, Game of Thrones has long settled in the category of dread built on anticipation.”
“Throughout ‘Opening Night,’ reality and make-believe are interwoven into a mass of chaos.”
“The latest Netflix original series, Sense8, throws a lot at the viewer in its premiere episode with an overarching science fiction arc and eight powerful human stories, but somehow the Wachowskis pull it off.”
“Without a definite timeline to hold onto, we’re left to focus on the visual minutiae, and, as always, this might be the most fascinating aspect of Hannibal.”
“Change doesn’t always have to be monumental, and small films like Tu dors Nicole can still be great without high stakes.”
“The shell of Gemma Bovery makes it seem like there might be something weighty within, but it’s too empty an affair.”
Max Bledstein on the ‘Louie’ Season 5 Finale
An Essay by Kyle Turner
“A plethora of heart-pounding footage (race and off-track) is at the heart and soul of Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman.”
“The threat of rape hangs over all the women of Game of Thrones, and it is beginning to weigh on the audience.”
“This Poltergeist is an efficient, amiably entertaining riff on an established thrill ride, but the film does little to spook long-term.”