drama

AMUNDSEN: THE GREATEST EXPEDITION: Not So Great After All
AMUNDSEN: THE GREATEST EXPEDITION: Not So Great After All

Attempting to fit a lifetime of legendary adventure into a two-hour film, Amundsen: The Greatest Expedition doesn’t manage to tell us that much at all.

SXSW 2021: THE FALLOUT: A Tale of Grief And Starting Over
SXSW 2021: THE FALLOUT: A Tale of Grief And Starting Over

From its terrifying opening all the way to its devastating ending, The Fallout deserves immediate attention.

Bigotry And Hypocrisy In John Abraham's DONKEY IN A BRAHMIN VILLAGE
Bigotry And Hypocrisy In John Abraham’s DONKEY IN A BRAHMIN VILLAGE

Donkey in a Brahmin Village is deserving of its cult status in Indian cinema as it dared to expose the hideous aspects of religion and society.

WATCHMEN, The Movie: Why, God, Why?
WATCHMEN, The Movie: Why, God, Why?

Whether you’re looking for ethical complexity or fascinating character studies, you won’t find it in Watchmen.

STALKER: From USSR With...
STALKER: From USSR With…

The 1979 film Stalker is a road movie where characters go deeper into their own minds and what worries the deepest hidden corners of their body and soul.

Berlinale 2021: Writer And Director Ignacio Ceroi On WHAT WILL SUMMER BRING
Berlinale 2021: Writer And Director Ignacio Ceroi On WHAT WILL SUMMER BRING

Rafaela Sales Ross spoke with writer and director Ignacio Ceroi about his film What Will Summer Bring, film’s exploration of diaspora and more!

SIX MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT: A Solid Yet Unremarkable Spy Thriller
SIX MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT: A Solid Yet Unremarkable Spy Thriller

While Six Minutes to Midnight does tell a story about life on the cusp of World War II, it still doesn’t stand out.

SXSW 2021 Review: R#J: A Horribly Misguided Experiment
SXSW 2021 Review: R#J: A Horribly Misguided Experiment

Even though I can feel everything is well-intentioned, little to none of it resonated. Thy movie is amiss.

NOBODY: Maybe It's Time To Let The Old Ways Die
NOBODY: Maybe It’s Time To Let The Old Ways Die

A sturdy but familiar entry, Nobody hews so close to standards that it brings the whole genre into question.

SXSW Dispatch #1: I'M FINE (THANKS FOR ASKING), LANGUAGE LESSONS, & ISLANDS
SXSW Dispatch #1: I’M FINE (THANKS FOR ASKING), LANGUAGE LESSONS, & ISLANDS

In his first report from SXSW Film Festival, Soham reviews I’m Fine (Thanks For Asking), Language Lessons and Islands!

LISTEN TO THE UNIVERSE: A Traditional Competition Film, With Something Extra
LISTEN TO THE UNIVERSE: A Traditional Competition Film, With Something Extra

In its styles, structures, and personal relationships, Listen to the Universe does the rare feat of turning a competition against itself.

THE WINTER LAKE: A Grim, Well-Acted Irish Thriller
THE WINTER LAKE: A Grim, Well-Acted Irish Thriller

While underdeveloped and sluggish in approach, Phil Sheerin’s The Winter Lake is a sedate, rustic thriller examining familial complexities.

The film has a vibrant authenticity to it, and not just in the casting and locations — cinematographer Katelin Arizmendi gives Baltimore’s streets an oceanic sway and the conversations a realistic rhythm. And when we follow the Clique, engines rev, the riders lean back and lift, and we see them silhouetted against the sun, arms extended toward us, totally in the moment. Both Pug and Mouse talk about “going 12” like it’s the greatest sense of freedom you could achieve. It’s just you, the bike, and the road, and the only thing keeping you airborne is your innate talent and will to stay upright. The more expressionistic elements of Charm City Kings recall Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, a film that similarly blends realistic characters and dialogue with neon lighting, Nicholas Britell’s otherworldly music, and emotionally motivated camera movements and editing. That’s not accidental — Jenkins, alongside Kirk Sullivan and Chris Boyd, developed the story for Charm City Kings, while Sherman Payne, a TV writer known for his work on Shameless and Scream, wrote the script. The result is a story soaked with realism and augmented by stylistic flourishes and a poignant, subversive orchestral score from Alex Somers.
CHARM CITY KINGS: A Powerful Black Coming-of-Age Story

Charm City Kings is an expressionistic, powerful look at a neglected community that gets little attention on-screen.

Satyajit Ray - THE HERO at Berlinale
Satyajit Ray – THE HERO at Berlinale

Legend of the Berlindale Film Festival, Satyajit Ray’s award-winning 1966 Indian drama The Hero (Nayak) showcases the filmmaker’s talents.

WILDFIRE: Irish Eyes No Longer Smile In Affecting Sibling Drama
WILDFIRE: Irish Eyes No Longer Smile In Affecting Sibling Drama

Wildfire is a commanding calling card for Brady, showcasing kitchen-sink realism and a powerful portrayal of sibling heartbreak.