Robert Eggers has carved out a formidable task for himself in his violent epic, “The Northman”. The film reaches back into our love of myth as a key to understanding the origins of culture, and it does this by steeping us into barbaric, pre-literate tribal life in a hardship environment. Naturally, raw masculine power will […]
Review of several engaging films about artists, ranging from Michelangelo to Jackson Pollack.
I usually see the latest Coen brothers movie as soon as it comes out. It’s like a food craving; I can’t wait for the next one. “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is their latest. It’s six separate stories about the Old West. Well, the meal was a little unsatisfying this time. Still, one of the […]
Veteran filmmaker Paul Schrader’s latest film, “First Reformed”, is clearly a very personal statement. While dramatically bumpy, it is an ultimately persuasive story of a Christian reverand’s crisis of faith in a world seemingly intent on destroying itself. Ethan Hawke gives a fully committed performance – certainly a career peak – that firmly holds an […]
Expectations were high for this festival, now in its sixth year, which is why increased attention is being paid by the public and distributors. It doesn’t hurt that Ethan Hawke is one of the judges this year. Running from June 9th through the 16th, it showcased 5 features, 16 short films, and a special midnight […]
It’s a little mystifying why the cumulative impact of the film is so much less than what we thought it would be at the beginning. There is pleasure in observing a young person growing up in America in the millenium’s first decade. Alongside that, we have the fresh experience of seeing the effects of time, […]
There are a number of questions concerning how we are supposed to enjoy this film. It seems to be a straightforward story about a small boy, his parents and a slightly older sister. But from the title alone, we sense that it will take place over a number of years, culminating in that moment when […]
This film has received the best reviews of the year. There is much speculation about its Oscar chances, and many consider it the “popular” breakthrough that its writer-director, Richard Linklater, has been waiting for after over twenty years as an obscure independent, albeit with an international reputation. As most indie followers know by now, it […]
