As American as Apple Pie: The Contemporary Applicability of Jacques Tourneur’s ‘Cat People’
“In regards to modern day politics, ‘Cat People’ captures the anti-immigration fervor of the 2016 American presidential campaign and election.”
Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’ and the Need for Humane Media
“Love can be what survives if we show up to do the work.”
A Mother’s Twisted Love: Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s ‘Evolution’
“Elliptical and predominantly visual, ‘Evolution’ will frustrate any viewer unwilling to let go of common sense.”
Streamless – Off the Subscription Grid: ‘Heavy Metal Parking Lot’
“This is L-I-V-I-N in the moment at its best.”
Los Cabos IFF Review: Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester by the Sea’
“‘Manchester by the Sea’ advocates for change in a movie where nobody can.”
Los Cabos IFF Review: Pablo Larraín’s ‘Jackie’
“Portman’s vivid portrayal is the film’s greatest strength, coasting through woebegone New England accents and the script’s on-the-nose airing of themes in the final act.”
RIDM 2016 Review: Mehrdad Oskouei’s ‘Starless Dreams’
“In some ways, Oskouei’s involvement can be construed as invasive, but it feels integral.”
RIDM 2016 Review: Claire Simon’s ‘Le concours’
“What makes someone a great artist before they’ve made any great works of art? That becomes the central question and object of scrutiny at the heart of ‘Le concours,’ making it one of the most compelling examinations of auteur driven cinema.”
RIDM 2016 Review: Patric Chiha’s ‘Brothers of the Night’
“‘Brothers of the Night’ takes an unexpected approach and reveals hidden parts of life amongst Bulgarian male hustlers in Vienna.”
Krzysztof Kieślowski’s ‘Dekalog’: Putting Faith in the Everyday
Jeremy Carr on Krzysztof Kieślowski’s ‘Dekalog’
The Importance of Babak Anvari’s ‘Under the Shadow’
“Anvari proves himself capable of creating a film with style, substance and importance.”
Why Criticism: Defining New Cinema at FNC 2016
“In search of new worlds and experiences, this year’s FNC has been a journey from the physical world to the metaphysical.”
Two Drink Minimum: Christopher Guest’s ‘Mascots’
“Jamming its artistic support into the final few moments, ‘Mascots’ just checks off boxes.”
Review: Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh’s ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’
“The divine spirit of fools run deep within a film too relatively light and inconsequential to have too much staying power, but as an artistically rich Saturday morning puff piece, you could do far worse.”
Lust, Caution: Paul Morrissey’s ‘Women in Revolt’
Lust, Caution is a monthly series of essays by Willow Maclay that examine films within the label of “queer cinema.”
Of Love and Other Demons: ‘The One I Love’ (Charlie McDowell, 2014)
“The characters play games, they play with toys — these tangents feel directionless but thematically resonate as a wandering need to reaffirm identity.”
Review: Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s ‘Mustang’
“A film full of warmth and dread in equal measure, Mustang serves as a reminder of the power of siblinghood in the face of adversity.”