Review: Brady Corbet’s ‘The Brutalist’
“‘The Brutalist’ may appear like an inaccessible art picture from the outside, but it moves with an energy that ensures the casual viewer will never be daunted by its epic stature…”
I Am of Mud and Flame: Landscapes as Conjurors in British Folk Horror
“Whether it’s Holkham Wood or the stone circle at Avebury, British folk horror frequently uses the eeriness of empty, liminal spaces to evoke a sense of psychological unease.”
Review: Tim Hautekiet’s ‘Me, Myself & the Void’
“‘Me, Myself & the Void’ was clearly made with passion and enthusiasm, but none of Hautekiet’s efforts can stop the mystery from feeling like it’s dragging its heels towards an obvious conclusion…”
An Interview with ‘Poem of the Wind’ Filmmaker Ramakaushalyan Ramakrishnan
‘Poem of the Wind’ Interview: Dipankar Sarkar discusses the 2024 movie with filmmaker Ramakaushalyan Ramakrishnan.
Review: Taku Aoyagi’s ‘Tokyo Uber Blues’
“‘Tokyo Uber Blues’ is best when it works as a borderline psychodramatic character study…”
The Perennial Schmuck: Elaine May’s Disappointing Men
“May was banished at a time when male auteurs were granted an unprecedented amount of latitude. She was treated as a liability rather than a maverick, and it’s difficult not to read that assessment as gendered.”
New Italy, Old Attitudes: Michelangelo Antonioni’s ‘Il Grido’
“‘Il Grido’ is about a man’s utter inability to comprehend the modern world and adapt to it. The end result is a hopeless, pitiful film, and that’s meant as a compliment.”
Review: Mary Dauterman’s ‘Booger’
“‘Booger’ is a surprisingly poignant and sensitive meditation on grief that utilizes a truly wild metaphor.”
Review: Benjamin Ree’s ‘The Remarkable Life of Ibelin’
“There are moments of richness in ‘The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,’ but they only materialize when Ree allows his tale to be told from the only truly lived-in perspective.”
Review: Zach Clark’s ‘The Becomers’
“With ‘The Becomers,’ Clark frequently barrels all the way to the edge of the line but rarely puts anything more than a toe across it.”
Review: Parker Finn’s ‘Smile 2’
“While there’s a great movie hiding inside a solid one, ‘Smile 2’ remains one of the most demonically entertaining horror films of the year through Finn’s twisted and refreshing style.”
Review: Jason Reitman’s ‘Saturday Night’
“‘Saturday Night’ punctuates each act with impressive editing. It’s a big exclamation point — an ode to the original cast and crew, a celebration of comedic camaraderie and the creative process.”
An Interview with ‘In the Name of Fire’ Filmmaker Abhilash Sharma
‘In the Name of Fire’ Interview: Dipankar Sarkar discusses the 2024 movie with filmmaker Abhilash Sharma.
Review: Clint Eastwood’s ‘Juror #2’
“‘Juror #2’ is one of the finer cinematic works of 2024.”
Review: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ ‘Heretic’
“‘Heretic’ is the thinking man’s dumb horror movie of the year.”
Review: Thom Zimny’s ‘Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’
“‘Road Diary’ is intimate and illuminating, revealing the E Street Band’s brilliance and how they function like a well-oiled machine, with Springsteen as the engine that guides them.”
An Interview with ‘In Retreat’ Filmmaker Maisam Ali
‘In Retreat’ Interview: Dipankar Sarkar discusses the 2024 movie with filmmaker Maisam Ali.
London Film Festival Review: Andrea Arnold’s ‘Bird’
“There is an intriguing idea that Arnold weaves throughout ‘Bird,’ one that flows naturally from Bailey’s isolation.”
London Film Festival Review: Marielle Heller’s ‘Nightbitch’
“‘Nightbitch’ is all empty message and no provocation, its few shots of a fully transformed protagonist shocking only because of how little effort was made beyond giving Adams some contact lenses…”
London Film Festival Review: Mike Leigh’s ‘Hard Truths’
“For my money, Jean-Baptiste gives one of the strongest performances in Leigh’s oeuvre, afforded the space to go ‘big’ in ‘Hard Truths’ without ever feeling like she’s commanding a self-aggrandizing actor’s showcase.”