Review: Rafaël Ouellet’s ‘Gurov and Anna’
“‘Gurov and Anna’ toys with perceptions and ultimately gives into both cynicism and brutality. While not for the faint of heart, Ouellet’s film offers a pointed portrait of obsession and ego…”
The Moreau Files: ‘The Bride Wore Black’
“‘The Bride Wore Black’ has a rather deft sense of humor that raises it above many of the other brightly-lit neo-noirs of the 1960s.”
Too Many Questions: ‘The Jinx’ and the ‘Big Reveal’
“The big reveal in The Jinx was our unending appetite for information.”
The Moreau Files: ‘The Lovers’
“It is incredible to think that Malle was only 25 years old when he made ‘The Lovers,’ as it seems to hold the wisdom and erotic impulses of a much older man.”
The Moreau Files: ‘Elevator to the Gallows’
“A feeling of powerlessness is no doubt at the heart of Moreau’s possessed performance in ‘Elevator to the Gallows.'”
Review: David Cronenberg’s ‘Maps to the Stars’
“While Cronenberg’s visuals and Bruce Wagner’s dialogue left me speechless early on, the pacing and tone of the final half inspired a couple face-palms. Even so, Cronenberg has plenty to say with Maps to the Stars, and the film’s best moments are powerful.”
The Moreau Files: ‘Diary of a Chambermaid’
“A sex comedy rooted in inequality, ‘Diary of a Chambermaid’ trades in traditional ideas about power dynamics for a twisted take on the absurdity of desire.”
The Moreau Files: ‘La Notte’
“‘La Notte’ is a film very much about resignation — resigning to the fate of the monogamy and perhaps the inevitability of death.”
Fargo Film Festival Review: David Zellner’s ‘Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter’
“Heart-warming and often hilarious, ‘Kumiko the Treasure Hunter’ reminds that individuality may take one a long way given the right conditions. Chase your treasures with confidence and be prepared.”
The Moreau Files: ‘Jules and Jim’
“In the male dominated world of the French New Wave, Catherine in François Truffaut’s ‘Jules and Jim’ stands out as a mysterious and particularly beguiling female presence.”
Review: François Delisle’s ‘Chorus’
“Almost violently textured, ‘Chorus’ evokes the works of Ingmar Bergman as it contrasts the spiritual qualities of the mind and the body.”
Fargo Film Festival Review: David Robert Mitchell’s ‘It Follows’
“By excluding grown ups from the narrative, ‘It Follows’ highlights the perseverance of young adults and their reliance on each other for a shared vision.”
Recap: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ‘Kimmy Goes Outside!’
“Kemper’s a joy to watch, and ‘Kimmy Goes Outside!’ establishes the framework for a potentially iconic character.”
Fargo Film Festival Review: Aaron and Austin Keeling’s ‘The House on Pine Street’
“Incredibly polished and finely acted, ‘The House on Pine Street’ will surely become a hit on the film festival circuit.”
Fargo Film Festival Review: Jesse Moss’ ‘The Overnighters’
“Moss highlights the personal struggles of many who find themselves re-awakened in northwestern North Dakota, and others who simply fade in and fade out.”
Criticwire Survey: My First ‘Inappropriate’ Movie
Criticwire Survey: My First ‘Inappropriate’ Movie
Final Oscar Predictions
Q.V. Hough’s 2015 Oscar Picks
Concealed Fury: Hélier Cisterne’s ‘Vandal’
“Cisterne poses important questions about adolescent identity and touches on the blossoming of artistic expression in ‘Vandal,’ but the concealed fury of each character ultimately remains an enigma (along with their understanding of the real world).”
Truffaut with a Shade of Demy: Axelle Ropert’s ‘Miss and the Doctors’
“‘Miss and the Doctors’ reminds of François Truffaut with a shade of Demy; ‘Jules et Jim’ holding ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.'”
Review: Mélanie Laurent’s ‘Breathe’
“‘Breathe’ works on various levels thanks to Arnaud Potier’s cinematography, Laurent’s polished direction and the magnetic charisma of the leads.”