Teaching audiences to view films actively
By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Ken Kwek
Starring: Adrian Pang | Janice Koh | Pam Oei | Shu Yi Ching | Yao
Michael says: “Well-meaning, with some powerful moments, this dark tale of homophobia in Singapore hits pretty hard, but also veers a little too far into melodrama, making a few bad missteps that undercut it’s power. Tonally it’s all over the
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Nida Manzoor
Starring: Rekha John-Cheriyan | Renu Brindle | Ritu Arya | riya Kansara | Seraphina Beh
Diane says: “A colorful mashup of Jane Austen, martial arts, horror, and more, which for me failed. “High schooler Ria, an aspiring stuntwoman, is upset—very upset—when her older sister/bf Lena gives up on an art career and decides to marry
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Jeff Silva | Ramona Badescu
Chris says: “Watch repair requires a steady hand and infinitesimal patience; this documentary exudes the latter in spades and also requires it from the viewer. Alexandru, a 90-year-old Romanian clock maker, recalls his time as a political prisoner in forced
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Charlotte Vandermeersch | Felix Van Groeningen
Starring: Alessandro Borghi | Cristiano Sassella | Elisabetta Mazzullo | Luca Marinelli | Lupo Barbiero
Michael says: “While initially appearing as something of a leap for filmmaker Felix von Groeninger, known for his Buried Treasure winning film THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN from 2014, some similar free-spirited, living off-the-grid vibes translate over to his new film,
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Davis Guggenheim
Michael says: “When I think of successful documentaries, they fall into two categories. Docs where the subject matter is of great interest to me, or so wild that they can’t help but be entertaining, and docs that are creative and
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Charlotte Gainsbourg
Chris says: “As a fan of both Jane (Birkin) and her daughter Charlotte (Gainsbourg), I appreciated the intent and how it explored their relationship at its current state; for nearly everyone else, however, there’s a frustrating lack of context that
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Cate Blanchett | Jennifer Lawrence | Jonah Hill | Leonardo DiCaprio | Mark Rylance | Meryl Streep | Rob Morgan | Timothée Chalamet | Tyler Perry
Michael says: “This much-hyped, shot in Boston film with big, big names is a little controversial and divisive in its fans and detractors. Count me strongly on the detractor side. It’s click, it’s glossy, it tries so hard, but satire
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Gitta Gsell
Starring: Beren Tuna | Burak Ates | Dimitri Stapfer | Ecem Aydin | Müjdat Albak | Serkan Tastemur | Zeki Bulgurcu
Michael says: “BEYTO makes a worthy attempt at exploring the challenges and complexities of a gay immigrant from a conservative, homophobic culture. Beyto is a handsome and talented swimmer whose life seems charmed, with supportive parents who own a bakery.
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Kieran Mulcare | Matthew Fifer
Starring: Colbie Smulders | Jazmin Grace Grimaldi | Matthew Fifer | Michael Potts | Sandra Bauleo | Scott Adsit | Sheldon D. Brown
Michael says: “I was excited. It looked like there was going to be one of those rare American-made, gay-themed films that I might actually like in CICADA. It had a 93% Tomatometer, critics approval rating, and it just looked kind-of
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Atom Egoyan
Starring: Alexia Fast | Jason Blicker | Mireille Enos | Rosario Dawson | Ryan Reynolds | Scott Speedman
Michael says: “Sadly, despite some strong performances by Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman, and Mireille Enos, Egoyan’s latest film THE CAPTIVE, became the first of his films to disappoint me. Billed as a psychological thriller, had it stayed in that realm it
Read the review...