From its beginning, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has been defined by its darkness. Where Marvel—after some early tonal wobbling—settled into the bright, self-aware, and ultimately optimistic sensibility associated with directors like Joss Whedon, the DCEU largely embraced a grimmer approach. That aesthetic was most visible when Zack Snyder was given free rein to explore … Read more

This article was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Cole Clark. Cherry (2021) Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Screenwriters: Angela Russo-Otstet, Jessica Goldberg, Nico Walker Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor, Forrest Goodluck, Michael Rispoli, Jeff Wahlberg Prologue – A New Cinema Cherry presents itself as a contemporary American drama filtered through blockbuster … Read more

2021 César Awards: Winners and Highlights The Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma announced the winners of the 2021 César Awards live from L’Olympia Bruno Coquatrix in Paris. The ceremony was a scaled-down, in-person event that honored the best of French and international cinema from 2020. The evening’s biggest winner was Albert Dupontel’s dark … Read more

Why Many Netflix Originals Fade from View Quickly At the start of the year, Netflix announced it would release a new original film every Friday, and its upcoming slate includes genuine Hollywood names. Big-budget titles such as Red Notice, starring Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot, and the news that Noah Baumbach, director of Marriage Story, … Read more

This article was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Margaret Roarty of the Just My Thoughts on It podcast. The Moscow Film School opened its doors in 1919, shortly after the First World War. Initially an institution that aided the Soviet state’s propaganda efforts, the school also became a laboratory for film theory. Lev … Read more

The Witch (2015) Director: Robert Eggers Screenwriter: Robert Eggers Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, Lucas Dawson Even years after its release, The Witch remains a landmark in modern historical horror, an unsettling portrait of faith, family and female agency. As a debut feature from Robert Eggers, the film established … Read more

This article was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Kevin Woodley. The Winter Lake (2021) Director: Phil Sheerin Screenwriter: David Turpin Starring: Charlie Murphy, Anson Boom, Emma Mackey, Michael McElhatton, Mark McKenna The turlough, a seasonal lake that disappears and returns, provides the central metaphor for Phil Sheerin’s debut feature, The Winter Lake. Like … Read more

Get Carter (1971) Director: Mike Hodges Screenwriter: Mike Hodges Starring: Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, Britt Ekland, John Osborne, Geraldine Moffat, Dorothy White, Bryan Mosley, Alun Armstrong, Petra Markham Released in 1971, Get Carter remains a raw, uncompromising entry in British crime cinema. Far from losing its edge over time, the film maintains a chilling potency: … Read more

Moxie (2021) Director: Amy Poehler Screenwriters: Tamara Chestna, Dylan Meyer Starring: Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Alycia Pascual-Peña, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Nico Hiraga, Josephine Langford, Ike Barinholtz, Amy Poehler, Marcia Gay Harden Moxie is set at East Rockport High, a school where misogyny is not only tolerated but woven into everyday life. The film opens by making … Read more

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Directors: Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Paul Briggs, John Ripa Screenwriters: Qui Nguyen, Adele Lim Starring: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang, Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Alan Tudyk Raya and the Last Dragon arrived as a refreshing original feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios … Read more