Portrait painter Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is commissioned to paint an extremely reluctant Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) for a prospective husband—an arrangement made by Héloïse’s mother (Valeria Golino), not by Héloïse herself. Written and directed by Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) unfolds as a slow-burning exploration of desire, passion, and love. The film … Read more

Before Sunset unfolds like a race against the clock on a flawless summer afternoon. The light is golden, the city feels wide open, and the entire film conveys the rare sensation that anything might still be possible. Released on February 10, 2004, Before Sunset is the middle chapter of Richard Linklater’s acclaimed Before Trilogy. It … Read more

Before Sunset is a race against the clock on a perfect summer afternoon. The light turns everything golden, and for a few hours it seems as if anything might be possible. Released February 10, 2004, Before Sunset is the second film in Richard Linklater’s acclaimed trilogy, following Before Sunrise (1995) and preceding Before Midnight (2013). … Read more

The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards, announced on 23 January 2024, sparked intense controversy. Much of the backlash focused on the perceived snubs of Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie for Barbie — notably in Best Actress and Best Director — even though Robbie received a Best Picture producer nomination and Gerwig landed a nomination … Read more

The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards were officially announced on 23 January 2024, sparking a wave of controversy. Much of the debate focused on perceived snubs involving Greta Gerwig’s Barbie — most notably the absence of a Best Actress nomination for Margot Robbie and the omission of Gerwig in Best Director. While Barbie did … Read more

Raging Bull (1980)Director: Martin ScorseseScreenwriters: Paul Schrader, Mardik MartinStarring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Frank Vincent A dimly lit ring, ropes in the foreground, and a lone boxer shadowboxing in the haze: that opening image sets the tone for Raging Bull. Camera flashes from the crowd record a career already becoming memory. In … Read more

Raging Bull (1980)Director: Martin ScorseseScreenwriter: Paul Schrader, Mardik MartinStarring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Frank Vincent In a dimly lit gym, ropes cut across the foreground and a solitary boxer moves through a silent ritual of shadowboxing. Flashes from cameras in the distance capture a public memory, a distilled nostalgia for a man … Read more

Achieving major critical acclaim early in a career creates high expectations for everything that follows. That was certainly true for Alexander Payne after Election and Sideways were hailed as among the best films of their decades and earned Academy Award recognition. A film school graduate who started by directing softcore shorts for Playboy, Payne quickly … Read more

Early critical success creates expectations that can be hard to meet. Alexander Payne faced that exact pressure when Election and Sideways were hailed as defining films of their decades and earned Academy Award recognition. A film school graduate who briefly cut his teeth directing softcore features for Playboy, Payne quickly made a name for himself … Read more

Society of the Snow / La Sociedad de la Nieve (2023)Director: J.A. BayonaScreenwriters: J.A. Bayona, Bernat Vilaplana, Jaime Marques, Nicolás CasariegoStarring: Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt, Esteban Bigliardi, Diego Vigezzi, Fernando Contingiani “This is a place where life is impossible. Out here, we are an anomaly.” On October 13, 1972, a plane carrying 45 … Read more