drama

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING: Not Exactly Everything, But Almost
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING: Not Exactly Everything, But Almost

Everything, Everything follows Maddy, who has spent her entire life confined to her home due to an illness, but falls for the boy next door.

CATFIGHT: Both Physically & Verbally Bruising
CATFIGHT: Both Physically & Verbally Bruising

With fine performances and biting humor, Catfight is an interesting satire, delving into power struggles and the human condition.

PAINT IT BLACK: A Brash & Beautiful Meditation On Grief
PAINT IT BLACK: A Brash & Beautiful Meditation On Grief

Paint it Black is an impressive debut from director Amber Tamblyn, with strong performances shining brighter than the visual quirks.

OLD ENOUGH: A Girlhood Cult Classic Tragically Lost in Coming-of-Age Canon
OLD ENOUGH: A Girlhood Cult Classic Tragically Lost In Coming-Of-Age Canon

Old Enough is an affectionately accurate depiction of how it feels to grow into an age when the opinions of friends are all that matters.

SPEECH & DEBATE: Teen Film Lacks Focus
SPEECH & DEBATE: Teen Film Lacks Focus

Speech & Debate isn’t great, but is enjoyable despite its plot holes, and features a great performance from Sarah Steele.

BEFORE THE FALL: Lost In Adaptation
BEFORE THE FALL: Lost In Adaptation

Although the idea of reimagining Pride & Prejudice with a same-sex couple, Before The Fall lacks the fiery spirit of the source material.

The Beginner's Guide: Derek Cianfrance, Director
The Beginner’s Guide: Derek Cianfrance, Director

Music, improvisation and intimacy: these are the ingredients that have made Derek Cianfrance’s films such emotionally-satisfying treats.

THE WIZARD OF LIES: Though Nothing Profound, De Niro Astounds
THE WIZARD OF LIES: Though Nothing Profound, De Niro Astounds

While The Wizard of Lies is overly long and brings nothing new to Bernie Madoff’s story, Robert De Niro’s performance more than makes up for it.

STEFAN ZWEIG: FAREWELL TO EUROPE: Beautiful & Smart, But Still Lacking
STEFAN ZWEIG: FAREWELL TO EUROPE: Beautiful & Smart, But Still Lacking

Stefan Zweig: Farewell To Europe is a fine display of craftsmanship, but it’s far too infatuated with its own beauty to engage on the level to which it aspires.

PICKPOCKET: Crime & Punishment Of The Mundane
PICKPOCKET: Crime & Punishment Of The Mundane

Pickpocket (1959) is an intricately staged, intimate character study from Robert Bresson – solidifying itself as one of his greatest works.

RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO At 30: Strange Bedfellows In '80s Britain
RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO At 30: Strange Bedfellows In ’80s Britain

Thirty years on, Alan Clarke’s fitfully funny film, Rita, Sue and Bob Too, still holds up as a first-rate character study and resonant critique of the Thatcher era.

WAKEFIELD: A Man Plays Voyeur To His Own Failures
WAKEFIELD: A Man Plays Voyeur To His Own Failures

Wakefield is an introspective and interesting examination into a man who willingly decides to isolate himself from his family and the world.

CHUCK: Another Requiem for a Heavyweight
CHUCK: Another Requiem For A Heavyweight

Chuck is the story of boxing legend Chuck Wepner, yet never quite manages to match the outsized metaphoric grandeur of the film it inspired.

PEOPLE: An Intense And Profound Character Dissection
PEOPLE: An Intense & Profound Character Dissection

People is a profoundly packed indie, with the intricacies of the human condition and relationships manifesting into a well-realized film.

THE LEVELLING: An Emotional Rollercoaster Of A Debut
THE LEVELLING: An Emotional Rollercoaster Of A Debut

Hope Dickson Leach’s debut The Levelling is a familiar story of grief, told with an emotional incisiveness by brand new talent, and reminds us the British film industry is alive and well.