Tag: Drama
‘Omni Loop’ Film Review: Life, Love, and Time Travel
The great Mary-Louise Parker gets her own Groundhog Day, albeit with a Science Fiction slant in Bernardo Britto’s Omni Loop. Written by the director, this is a clever and heartfelt work full of interesting ideas, big emotion, and just the
‘His Three Daughters’ Film Review: A Moving Examination of Grief
Azazel Jacobs’ quietly moving chamber piece, His Three Daughters, begins with a monologue that will set the cadence of the film. Katie (Carrie Coon) is the oldest of three sisters who have convened in their dying father’s (Jay O. Sanders)
‘City of Dreams’ Film Review: True-Life Subject As Exploitation Film
Writer-director Mohit Ramchandani’s City of Dreams walks a less-than fine line between an urgent call for action and an exploitation picture. Sometimes the line becomes too blurred, as many moments go all in for cheap thriller tactics and melodrama. As
‘1992’ Film Review: A Tired Heist Movie Disguised as Something Important
In his excellent 2002 cop drama Dark Blue, director Ron Shelton weaved a powerful story of police corruption into the backdrop of the L.A. riots of 1992. The filmmaker didn’t use the incident as a prop, but a canvas to
‘You Gotta Believe’ Film Review: An Inspirational True Story
These days, there aren’t enough well done family friendly films. There are even less worthy sports pictures. Written by Lane Garrison and directed by Ty Roberts, You Gotta Believe doesn’t break new ground, but exists as a warm and inspirational
‘Sing Sing’ Film Review: A Profoundly Moving Work of American Cinema
Based on the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program (RTA) that began at New York’s maximum-security Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing is a powerful and important piece of American cinema. Mixing professional actors with the actual men who
‘Kneecap’ Film Review: An Irish Hip-Hop Group’s Origin Tale Has Troubles
Rich Peppiatt’s feature directing debut, Kneecap, tells the true story of how the titular group came to their fame amidst controversy and personal struggles. While there are a few moments that work, this is a film in search of its
Chantal Akerman: A Unique Visionary
In this male-dominated business women filmmakers have always been too small a minority. There is certainly progress being made, but women’s voices continue to deserve better recognition in the cinema communities. Filmmaker Chantal Akerman was one of the best at
‘Janet Planet’ Film Review: More Writer’s Workshop Than Real Film
It is a pleasure to experience a filmmaker who knows how to embrace silences. Some directors can find meaning underneath the quiet while others think filming something seemingly mundane makes their work “artsy”. Writer-director Annie Baker’s Janet Planet falls somewhere
Dances With Films Premiere: ‘All the Weekend’s Drama’ Film Review my
Infused with a raw honesty found in films such as Larry Clark’s Kids and Catherine Hardwicke’s Thirteen, the stunning new film, All the Weekend’s Drama, is a strong feature debut for writer-director John Robb Saunders. This is a well-written picture