Michael says: “Jeffrey Wright plays Thelonius ‘Monk’ Ellison, a distinguished academic and writer of literary fiction who decries the popular trend of best-selling books about the black experience – usually involving single moms, gangs, and police shootings – in Cord
Diane says: “The latest from Cristian Mungiu, of 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS, R.M.N. Is like the titular MRI of the (diseased?) mind of Transylvania. In a small town, a flourishing industrial bakery has to import and house
Diane says: “Kelly Reichardt’s latest, starring Michelle Williams as a closed-up ceramic artist, satirizes the art school scene perfectly, from funky clothing and cheese-heavy gallery openings to parent-child competition and every kind of crafts class. (I saw it with my
Chris says: “Cheerfully billed as ‘A Saturday Night Television Special’ starring Sissy St. Claire (Sophie von Haselberg), writer/director Amanda Kramer’s film may feel as if it’s beaming in from another planet to those unfamiliar with 1970s/80s variety shows. Devotees of
Michael says: “This is one of those documentaries that I can only imagine started out with a particular premise, and as filming commenced, more and more was unearthed around this story that it turned into something so much more. Ostensibly
Chris says: “Both the camerawork and editing go a long way towards transforming what is at its core a standard romantic thriller Hitchcock could’ve eked out sixty years ago (or Wong Kar-wai in the 1990s.) As others have said, it
Michael says: “Completing (perhaps?) the unplanned trilogy begun with THE SOUVENIR and THE SOUVENIR PART II, Joann Hogg’s take on the gothic ghost story, THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER becomes my favorite of her films since ARCHIPELAGO. In a genius casting move,
Michael says: “This hard-hitting examination of how children learn the harsh realities of adulthood is a tough watch, but the astounding performance that director Wandel reveals by child-actor Maya Vanderbeque is riveting. Nora and her older brother Abel, go to
Michael says: “This assured directorial debut from actor Rebecca Hall reveals a practice that many people will be unaware. Set in 1920’s Harlem, a chance reunion of two high school friends poses moral and ethical challenges to a black woman
Diane says: “In Joachim Trier’s latest film, the lead from his OSLO AUGUST 31ST (2011), Anders Danielsen Lie, almost steals the show from the main character. But I’m not complaining. Lie plays comic book author Aksel, the first serious relationship