Film

Technique trumps story in disappointing Presence Steven Soderbergh has always struck me as an artist who’s easily bored. His latest, Presence, is a Jekyll-and-Hyde exercise, an initially intriguing take on the ghost story genre that ultimately falls victim to its clichés. Shot with one camera, the perspective of the entire movie is seen through that […]

Nightbitch too simple for its own good Getting off to a fast, rousing start, Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch falls into a numbing, repetitive pattern that beats the viewer over the head with its obvious message. Adapted from the novel by Rachel Yoder, the best part of this primal scream for recognition is an inspired performance by […]

Cutting edge tech elevates Better Man In researching British pop star Robbie Williams for a potential biopic, director Michael Gracey noticed that in numerous interviews, the singer referred to himself as a monkey being dragged onto the stage, forced to perform. The seed of the idea of portraying the performer as a simian took root […]

Movies are about moments – big moments that erase our cynicism about cinema and remind us of its capacity to dazzle as well as touch us. This happens in a way only possible with a medium that seamlessly combines so many other art forms. These are instances that prompt us to consider things in a […]

Complex Juror an intriguing morality tale Clint Eastwood is on firm ground with his latest fim, Juror #2, a film that requires a huge leap of faith, but once it’s established, the drama that plays out is on par with its most obvious antecedent, 12 Angry Men. Nicholas Hoult takes on the titular role as […]

Jolie’s powerhouse performance allows Maria to sing A bracing reminder of the power she brings to the screen, Angelina Jolie delivers a deeply moving performance in Pablo Larrain’s Maria, the director’s third biopic focused on a significant female figure of the 20th century. Much like Jackie and Spencer, this feature examines the withering effects of being […]

Emilia Perez: A fierce, distinctive vision of independence A vital, vibrant piece of cinema, Jacques Audard’s Emilia Perez is a gleeful mashup of a variety of genres that, much like its titular character, creates its own proud identity. And while the title refers to a single character, three women drive the story, each blazing their […]

Murphy devastating in year’s best Small Things Though is seems more pressing now than usual, the question regarding adhering to one’s personal principles in the face of differing societal beliefs and institutional oppression has always been with us. Right or wrong, each of us will eventually be faced with the choice of mindlessly going with […]