Teaching audiences to view films actively
By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: John MacLean
Starring: Andrew Robertt | Ben Mendelsohn | Caren Pistorius | Kodi Smit-McPhee | Michael Fassbender
Jason says: “I am not sure whether John Maclean narrowly misses the tone he’s going for with SLOW WEST or hits it dead-on; even considering that westerns are relatively rare these days, this one feels a little different. I consider
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.25
Director: Hong Seok-Jae
Starring: Byeon Yo-han | Jeon Sin-hwan | Lee Ju-seung | Park Keun-Rok | Yoo-ram Bae
Jason says: “The inciting incident of SOCIALPHOBIA is never shown on-screen, just the social-media reaction to it, and that sort of feels right. It’s easy to get caught up in something online without having been there at the start, or
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Leslye Headland
Starring: Adam Scott | Alison Brie | Andrea Savage | Billy Eichner | Jason Mantzoukas | Jason Sudeikis | Jordan Carlos
Jason says: “The romantic comedy genre has felt a little tapped out lately; the big American studios barely produce them anymore and the independent productions like SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE are oddly self-aware. The trick that a filmmaker is trying
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Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Sion Sono
Starring: Erika Sawajiri | Gou Ayano | Nobuaki Kaneko | Takayuki Yamada | Yusuke Iseya
Jason says: “Like a lot of movies adapted from long-running manga, SHINJUKU SWAN shows a lot of telltale signs of screenwriters Rikiya Mizushima and OsamuSuzuki trying to cram a lot of storylines and fan-favorite characters into a couple hours. It’s
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Adam Wong
Starring: ‘Neo’ Yau Hawk-sau | Ceilia So | Jan Lamb Hoi-fung | Miriam Yeung Chin-wah | Ng Siu-hin | Ranya Lee
Jason says: “The recent influx of Chinese movies directly into American theaters has been an exciting development, although sometimes the variety has been wanting: Not only have almost all of the movies been Mandarin-language selections from Taiwan and the mainland,
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Kenneth Kainz
Starring: Allan Hyde | Jakob Oftebro | Laura Bro | Maria Bonnevie | Rebecca Emily Sattrup | Søren Malling
Jason says: “The concept behind Lene Kaaberbøl’s Shamer Chronicles book series is an interesting one, positing a woman and her daughter with the ability to look into a person’s soul and pull out what they are ashamed of. What kinds
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Rating: 3 cats
Director: Susanne Bier
Kyle says: “First name SERENA, married name Pemberton. Serena Pemberton: Is there a more perfect name for a character from 1929 played by Jennifer Lawrence? The man who proposes to her within moments of seeing her for the first time,
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2 cats
Director: Benjamin Carland
Jason says: “There’s a vibe to SHADOWS ON THE WALL that suggests filmmaker Benjamin Carland is trying to make a PRIMER not just something with big ideas but a small cast and budget, but a tactile feel. Something where all
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Director: John Madden
Thom says: “Almost everyone saw the delightful, life-affirming THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL & this sequel is more of the same; yet, with a disparaging finale. But the abundant treasures of the film just keep streaming along. Personally, I adore
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Rating: 5 cats
Director: Ian Cheney
Kyle says: “Anyone who dines on Chinese cuisine with any regularity has sampled General Tso’s Chicken. In fact, writer/director Ian Cheney of THE SEARCH FOR GENERAL TSO suggests it is the single most popular ethnic cuisine item in America aside
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