SXSW 2019: WELL GROOMED Review
While the community it focuses on takes niche to its most extreme lengths, Well Groomed is a refreshingly even-handed journey through the beyond-strange world of creative dog grooming.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
Cinequest 2019: AUGGIE Review
Auggie broaches the issue of A.I. relationships with the diminutive, surface-level approach of a bad “Black Mirror” episode.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS Review
Cradle of Champions offers an intimate yet unfocused look into the New York Golden Gloves competition that underlines the tradition and spectacle of the event
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
PROSECUTING EVIL: THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF BEN FERENCZ Review
Prosecuting Evil proves to be an engrossing, if shallow, portrait of one the most significant figures in international criminal law.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2019: DOCUMENTARY Review
The nominees this time around confront enduring stigmas, draw parallels to our political climate from history, surmise personal and global crises, and collectively challenge their audiences’ worldview.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2019: ANIMATION Review
Their brevity aside, the assembled nominees for this year’s Academy Awards demonstrate the benefits of working with condensed production cycles based on the timeliness of their selected subjects.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2019: LIVE ACTION Review
This year’s live-action shorts make a case that they have something to say even if the Oscar telecast doesn’t want to give them the time.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN Review
Who Killed Cock Robin is an overwrought mystery on a threadbare premise that can’t find a way to string along its audience.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
THE IMAGE BOOK Review
Jean-luc Godard’s The Image Book continues his late-career trip through evocative and enigmatic video essays with a horrific search for truth in cinema.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
ALL THESE SMALL MOMENTS Review
A strong cast and unique approach can’t outweigh the safe predictability of Melissa Miller Costanzo’s coming-of-age drama, All these Small Moments.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
JOBE’Z WORLD Review
Somewhat functioning as a journey film and sightseeing tour where the script constantly hops between some of the most “groovy” weirdos New York’s outsider culture can offer up, we bear witness to their inane (possibly improvised) rantings without the film deciding if they are objects of mockery, endearment, fascination or otherwise.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
Chris’ Top 20 Films of 2018
Continuing our year-end list extravaganza is Chris Luciantonio‘s top 20 films of 2018.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
BIRD BOX Review
Release Date: December 21, 2018 (Netflix)
Director: Susanne Bier
MPAA Rating: R
Run Time: 124 minutes
Although this particular review will fail it, I call on all future reviewers to attempt the “Bird Box Challenge” when breaking down the
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
TIME SHARE Review
So masterfully directed is Time Share that its tale of wolfish sales tactics crosses over from petty satire and enters into emphatic human drama.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
BURNING Review
Chang-dong’s technique of the aloof and mysterious slow-burn, buttressed by moments of poetic and moving expression, make his latest a must-see.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS Review
Buster Scruggs finds a way to bridge the jocular nostalgia of a Hawks Western with the sobering realities of an Eastwood joint in an impressive feat of tonal flip-flopping.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
