Andrew Emerson reports from the Chicago International Film Festival with seven reviews of big international festival hits and some smaller, indie gems.
Knives Out will appeal to fans of the detective mystery genre, fans of the astounding cast, or those who love Johnson’s subversively entertaining films.
The Last Jedi is a polarizing film, but looking deeper into Rian Johnson’s vision you will find some potent themes, including the failures of masculinity.
With unflinching backlash and polarizing reviews between fans and critics, Star Wars: The Last Jedi has found little favor among the masses – but was this the fault of the storyteller or the company behind the film who always plays it safe.
The word “gritty” is often used by reviewers to describe films which portray graphic physical violence, lone wolf characters, and probably a line of coke or two. While I feel that’s accurate, my own personal definition for a gritty film differs slightly. If I describe a film as gritty, expect it to be both emotionally and physically violent and draining.