Vivarium: How Passive Characters Frustrate and Reveal the Horror of Suburbia I saw Vivarium at Abertoir Festival 2019 and left divided about the film’s choices—some viewers complained it was slow and evasive, while others (myself included) appreciated it for exactly those qualities. Now that the film has had an online release, I want to examine … Read more
True History of the Kelly Gang (2019)Director: Justin KurzelScreenwriter: Shaun GrantStarring: George MacKay, Essie Davis, Nicholas Hoult, Russell Crowe, Thomasin McKenzie, Charlie Hunnam, Earl Cave, Sean Keenan, Orlando Schwerdt Justin Kurzel’s films rarely offer a comfortable viewing experience. From the relentless atmosphere of Macbeth to the harrowing Snowtown and the divisive Assassin’s Creed, Kurzel favors … Read more
The High School Musical franchise defined the tween years for many millennials. When Disney Channel released the first film in 2006, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon — the franchise generated impressive revenue, with Disney earning more than $100 million from DVD sales alone. Two sequels and several spin-offs followed, and in 2019 Disney+ revived … Read more
2020 has been a year of extremes. With headlines often heavy and attention stretched thin, many people are seeking comfort and escape through cinema. Musicals, classic adventure films and reliable comedies have seen renewed interest as viewers look for films that lift the mood and offer a few hours of distraction. To help you find … Read more
Dark Waters (2020) Director: Todd Haynes Screenwriter: Mario Correa, Matthew Michael Carnahan Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham, Bill Pullman Dark Waters follows Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo), an unassuming corporate defense attorney who becomes the unlikely advocate for a community facing severe environmental contamination. Directed by Todd Haynes … Read more
Arrietty (2010) Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi Screenwriters: Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa Starring: Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Shinobu Otake, Tomokazu Miura, Kirin Kiki, Keiko Takeshita Studio Ghibli’s Arrietty (released as The Secret World of Arrietty in the United States) is a visual delight that balances a faithful adaptation of Mary Norton’s classic novel The Borrowers with the … Read more
Film lovers often polarize over Quentin Tarantino, but few dispute the enormous influence his films have had on modern cinema and popular culture over the past three decades. Tarantino rose to prominence by blending nonlinear storytelling, carefully curated soundtracks, and strikingly stylized violence into films that have become both commercially successful and culturally resonant. He … Read more
The Truth (2019)Director: Hirokazu KoreedaScreenwriter: Hirokazu KoreedaStarring: Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, Ethan Hawke, Clémentine Grenier, Alain Libolt, Manon Clavel, Christian Crahay, Roger Van Hool Hirokazu Koreeda, the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker known for his intimate family dramas, makes a deliberate and affecting departure from his previous work with The Truth, his first film made outside Japan … Read more
Today I want to invite you to look at windows. Before you scroll on, hear me out — in Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning 2020 film Parasite, windows are far more than set dressing. They are deliberate stylistic choices that reinforce the film’s concerns about class, separation, and perception. When we focus on how Bong uses panes … Read more
Porco Rosso (1992) Director: Hayao Miyazaki Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki Starring: Shūichirō Moriyama, Akio Ōtsuka, Tokiko Kato, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Sanshi Katsura, Akemi Okamura Porco Rosso is an unusual and quietly enchanting film from Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. It imagines an inter-war Mediterranean populated by colorful pilots, sky pirates, privateers and freelance mercenaries, all flying charming, … Read more