5
I’m loving the recent uptick in positive representation of indigenous peoples in the media, with films like Blood Quantum and shows like Reservation Dogs reminding us that the native plight is still very real and that those living on reservations are still
5.5
Shunji Iwai’s pseudo-kaiju film proves we still have yet to crack the enigma and nuances of pandemic filmmaking.
7.5
Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist offers an informed and affectionate tribute to one of anime’s overlooked masters.
5.5
If we peeled back some of the superficial aspects and shock value, maybe we would feel like we know Ema.
8.5
Edson Oda’s feature film debut is an arresting contemplation on life. One cannot sit through the film without questioning their values, prejudices and behavior, and reflecting on the triumphs and tribulations they have endured. Through content that incites introspection, Oda challenges the
4
Andrew Gaynord’s dark comedy about distrust and paranoia, All My Friends Hate Me, pits a birthday boy against his supposed friends as they gather for a weekend retreat in a posh manor. Unfortunately, the proceedings prove redundant as everyone involved is pretty
7
Playing out like the rowing equivalent of Whiplash, Lauren Hadaway’s intense, frantic and constantly energetic The Novice is an overwhelming but fascinating look at obsession. Isabelle Fuhrman plays Alex Dall, a college freshman who decides she wants to join the novice crew
4.5
Exuding the same artsy vibes of its recent indie folk horror brethren, Jonathan Cuartas’ My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To is an ultra lo-fi,slow-burn thriller that, while visually appealing, lacks a bit in its overall narrative.
7
Indie auteur Mickey Reece’s latest, and perhaps most ambitious project to date, Agnes, is at once a conventional, yet massively compelling possession film, as well as a subtle rumination on religion and acceptance of past traumas. It’s not something that will not
7.5
It was just a few short days ago that I was writing about the ’90s NYC skateboard scene in my review of The Kids, which takes a look at the individuals involved with Larry Clark’s seminal 1995 film, and now I’m back
5
I can’t remember exactly how old I was when I first saw Larry Clark’s film Kids, an unflinching look at urban youth in the ’90s, but I can say for certain that I was way too young. Released in the summer of
8
Undine is a moving romance that puts a fresh spin on a classic fairytale.
7
For all the familiar notes it hits, you can’t fault Blast Beat for it’s full-throated earnestness.
4.5
This is supposed to be a review about Spiral, the latest iteration of the Saw franchise, and I’ll get to that, but the more important item with this movie is that it’s the first thing I’ve seen in the theater in a
7
Riders of Justice takes the action-revenge flick to a hilariously dark place by having fun with mental health.
8.5
A title like The Killing of Two Lovers is more than just a punchy hook to draw in a receptive audience who aren’t looking for any surprises; it is a promise of payoff that will loom over the plot and threaten to
