In Rich Peppiatt’s absolute blast of a film KNEECAP, members of the Irish rap group are playing themselves with help from Michael Fassbender and a stellar Irish cast. Aside from 8 Mile, the most obvious influence is Trainspotting, which you get reminded of every time the electronic music kicks in. Sony Pictures Classics will release […]
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino’s CHALLENGERS with Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist was supposed to open the Venice Film Festival last year. Its release got postponed during the SAG-AFTRA strike, and it is finally in theaters. A cleverly constructed script, three skilled actors bursting with chemistry, the high energy score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and […]
Wicked Little Letters
Set in 1920’s Britain, Thea Sharrock’s comedy mystery Wicked Little Letters follows the scandal that erupts in a seaside town when residents start receiving letters full of profanities. It has some fantastic British swearing, which cracked me up the whole time. Jessie Buckley is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. Her and Olivia Colman […]
Immaculate
Catholic horror Immaculate from South By Southwest Film Festival is director Michael Mohan’s second collaboration with Sydney Sweeney. From the great looking cinematography by Elisha Christian to Will Bates’ score, it wears its giallo influences on its sleeve. There are many effective jump scares. While the pace could use some improvement, the third act and […]
Origin
Ava DuVernay explores the universality of caste in the always compelling and beautifully shot ORIGIN, which had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is spectacular as the grief-stricken Isabel. It’s impossible to hold back the tears during several gorgeous looking scenes. The dramatic elements might be distracting for those who prefer a […]
Bottoms
Director Emma Seligman at AMC Lincoln Square Q&A for BOTTOMS, her follow-up to Shiva Baby starring Ayo Edebiri and co-writer Rachel Sennott. The laugh a minute high school comedy is the funniest film of the year. While it is built upon an established formula, the characters and the story are refreshingly original and the comedy […]
Talk To Me
Talk To Me from Australian twin filmmaker brothers Michael and Danny Philippou will be the horror movie of the summer. The film, which just had its Canadian Premiere at Fantasia Festival, is fun, old fashioned teenage horror constructed exceptionally well. It has lots of gore and body horror. A star in the making, Sophie Wilde’s […]
Passages
Even though most of it is in English, Ira Sachs’ Outfest LA Centerpiece selection PASSAGES is a very French relationship drama. Franz Rogowski completely embodies his despicable character and his chemistry with both Adele Exarchopoulos and Ben Whishaw is off the charts. Passages received an NC-17 rating from MPAA, which resulted in MUBI deciding to […]
The Miracle Club in theaters
Irish period dramedy THE MIRACLE CLUB is a perfect fit for Sony Pictures Classics, which is releasing it in theaters this weekend. If the trailer interests you, go see it. It is funny and, as you can expect from that cast, well-acted. Especially Kathy Bates is a joy to watch.
Theater Camp
Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s THEATER CAMP is like a Christopher Guest mockumentary for theater people and they will love it. There are many inside jokes, which might prevent it from having universal appeal, but it definitely entertained me. It had premiered at this year’s Sundance and it is in theaters now.