Film Reviews & Insights
First Cow
Unique in narrative structure, poetic in tone, evocative of American history, and substantial as a retelling of America's capitalistic nature and quest for prosperity, Kelly Reichardt's "First Cow" is nothing [...]
The Truth
The estranged mother-daughter movie is often explored in indie cinema (Recently: The exceptional "Miss Juneteenth.") Rare is the masterwork, like Bergman's "Autumn Sonata," that depicts a mother and daughter who [...]
Miss Juneteenth
Just when you thought filmmaking needed stronger and more diverse voices, both in Hollywood and indie cinema, along comes the perfect timing of "Miss Juneteenth", an enormously enjoyable celebration about [...]
Babyteeth
The first thing to be said about “Babyteeth” is that newcomer Shannon Murphy has crafted a very impressive feature film debut, after a decade of directing mostly TV shows and [...]
Da 5 Bloods
“Da 5 Bloods,” Spike Lee's follow-up to his Oscar adaptation of “BlacKkKlansman,” is another impassioned and timely rendition of the challenges of our modern era. Top-lined by Delroy Lindo, who [...]
Buffalo ’66 (Spotlight Review)
“We’re taking pictures for my parents… Do you understand that? We’re taking pictures like we’re a couple. Like, we like each other. Like, we’re husband and wife, and we span [...]
Essential Civil Rights Movies
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution put an end to slavery and involuntary servitude in 1865, but it didn't put an end to social injustices and inequality. The recent [...]
Shirley
Elisabeth Moss is on a streak of many first-rate performances as of late. See her in "The Invisible Man," "Her Smell," and "Queen of Earth." She once again delivers another [...]
End of Sentence
It has taken the newcomer producer-turned-director Elfar Adalsteins eight years to get his debut feature film off the ground, aptly titled "End of Sentence."His first feature is an overly familiar but multi-nuanced melodrama about the fragile relationship between a father and son (superbly played by John Hawkes and Logan Lerman), whose vulnerabilities and dynamics go through transitions and reconciliation upon their trip from [...]
The Lovebirds
In an alternate reality, The Lovebirds would have opened in theaters nationwide the first week of April. However, we don't live in that world and after the pandemic delayed every [...]
The Painter and the Thief
The documentary film "The Painter and the Thief" revisits familiar ideas about unconventional love that has been explored in numerous indie films. The central premise of director Benjamin Ree's second [...]