romance

HERE AND NOW: A Tone Deaf Homage
HERE AND NOW: A Tone Deaf Homage

Clunky and at times, confusing, Here and Now fails to give Sarah Jessica Parker the chance to dive deep into herself and give the emotional performance she was hoping for.

Tokyo International Film Festival 2018: Retrospective On SOME LIKE IT HOT
Tokyo International Film Festival 2018: Retrospective On SOME LIKE IT HOT

In part three of our Tokyo International Film Festival coverage, we discuss a retrospective on the comedy classic Some Like it Hot.

A STAR IS BORN (1937): The Origin of A Star is Born
A STAR IS BORN (1937): The Birth Of A Star

The original A Star is Born remains a triumph, a powerful romance and an engaging look at the Hollywood of the era.

Tokyo International Film Festival 2018: Love & Friendship With CHAOTIC LOVE POEMS & RENT A FRIEND
Tokyo International Film Festival 2018: Love & Friendship With CHAOTIC LOVE POEMS & RENT A FRIEND

In part 1 of our Tokyo International Film Festival coverage, Tynan Yanaga reviews Chaotic Love Poems and Rent A Friend.

MARIO: A Powerful Kick to the Heart
MARIO: A Powerful Kick To The Heart

Mario tackles the stigma of being a gay man in professional soccer with remarkable realism and heart, with what could have been excessively melodramatic or exploitative.

RODIN: Another Genius Antihero Biopic Lacking the Imagination Of Its Subject

Rodin portrays its titular character as a fiery genius who is much better interacting with lumps of clay than he is with human beings. For an artist biopic, this is both predictable and exhausting.

HAPPY AS LAZZARO: A Thought-Provoking, If Elusive Elegy For Agricultural Life

Though easily levelling with The Wonders in terms of visual quality, the lack of investment leaves Happy as Lazzaro a rather transitory collection of charming anecdotes.

Anarchic Cinema: Jean Vigo's ZERO FOR CONDUCT
Anarchic Cinema: Jean Vigo’s ZERO FOR CONDUCT

On numerous conscious and subconscious levels, Jean Vigo’s Zero for Conduct is one of the most honest examinations of humanity and human society yet made in cinematic form. That is Anarchic Cinema.

SAY YOU WILL: A New Approach to Grief and Romance
SAY YOU WILL: A New Approach To Grief & Romance

Avoiding the classic cliches of a grieving teenager, Nick Naveda’s debut Say You Will will pleasantly surprise any movie lover, perfectly capturing the feeling of loss and romantic confusion.

LIFE ITSELF: Elevated Love Story Through The Ages Falls Flat

Dan Fogelman’s Life Itself has heart, but it’s ultimately too shallow in execution to support his grander ambitions. 

Much Ado About Nothing Twice Over
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Twice Over

Kenneth Branagh and Joss Whedon have each put their unique stamp on Shakespeare’s classic Much Ado About Nothing, and both are essential to the canon.

NAPPILY EVER AFTER: An Exploration of Beauty That’s Shallow and Often Judgmental
NAPPILY EVER AFTER: An Exploration Of Beauty That’s Shallow & Judgmental

Though Nappily Ever After begins as encouragement that Black women embrace their natural beauty, it soon feels like a judgment of women who put effort into their appearance.

THE ESCORT: A Failed Experiment In Philosophical Filmmaking

With an interesting premise not given the correct treatment, The Escort stands as a cinematic experiment that didn’t quite work out.

DESTINATION WEDDING: This Talent-Filled Ride Turns Bumpy
DESTINATION WEDDING: This Talent-Filled Ride Turns Bumpy

With two likable stars playing unlikable characters, some witty repartee that borders on being too wordy, and an overuse of its finer points, Destination Wedding ends up getting lost in execution.

A STORY FROM CHIKAMATSU: Love and Punishment
A STORY FROM CHIKAMATSU: Love & Punishment

In anticipation of its induction into the Criterion Collection, we look back on A Story From Chikamatsu, a film with with a sharp focus on the social phenomenons of 18th century Japan.