As a preface for this review of Martin McDonagh's fourth feature, The Banshees of Inisherin, I'd like to share a brief anecdote from my teenage years. The summer after eighth grade, my family moved from suburban Delaware to rural upstate New York, the starting and ending points being two towns with the same name - … Continue reading Fingering Your Friends – The Banshees of Inisherin
The murder of Emmett Till is one of the most tragic and important moments in American history. Even when I was a kid, it was learning about his lynching that crystallized the idea of racism in my mind. I had been taught about things like slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, and how great people … Continue reading August 1955 and Everything After – Till
Before I get started, a brief programming note. I've been playing catch-up for the past couple of weeks after catching a cold that turned into COVID. Thankfully I had no serious symptoms and the virus is already out of my system, but it definitely had the unwanted effect of fucking with my schedule for a … Continue reading Open Your Eyes – Decision to Leave
It amazes me that Todd Field has only directed three feature films in his career to date, because he has a truly unique ability to draw out some of the best performances from his actors. This is especially impressive because in his films, the characters themselves are either deeply flawed, or at the very least … Continue reading Damage, Control – Tár
When it's at its best, satire derives humor from skewering the powerful and playing into the inherent absurdity of those with nothing better to do in their lives than maintain a status quo that continually privileges them. It's an artistic form that has been mastered many times over the years, from Jonathan Swift's "Modest Proposal" … Continue reading The Depths of Shallowness – Triangle of Sadness
When I randomly saw Clifford the Big Red Dog last year, I remarked that the film was incredibly flawed, especially in the CGI design of the titular giant cuddle pup, but that none of it really mattered because the little children in the audience were enraptured the entire way. The movie didn't offer anything beyond … Continue reading Musical Scales – Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
There's something to be said for sticking to a successful formula. When certain elements work, it's natural to want to go back to the well and try it again. I totally get that. And there are plenty of filmmakers who've relied on tried and true methods to come up with an entertaining product, be it … Continue reading The Department of Redundancy Department – Amsterdam
You know, sometimes I really do second guess myself on this blog. I'll post a review and think maybe I've been too harsh or missed an important detail. I'll link to my YouTube videos and honestly wonder if I'm crossing the line into shameless self-promotion. And this year, I can say with no reservation that … Continue reading Good Riddance, Norma Jeane – Blonde
Awards Season is officially underway. The studios are already initiating their campaigns for various films and performers, the festival circuit has become a contest of one-upmanship to see which upcoming movies can have the longest standing ovation to generate buzz, and yesterday was the first major deadline for the Oscars, including for countries submitting an … Continue reading Bending Towards Justice – Argentina, 1985
Earlier this year, Alex Garland's Men gave audiences a thoughtful, layered, and visionary approach to the concept of toxic masculinity, creating a story that blurred the lines of horror, fantasy, and reality, led by absolutely deft performances from Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear. It wasn't perfect, but it was a raw, visceral depiction of how … Continue reading Significantly Less Pleasantville – Don’t Worry Darling
I Actually Paid To See This 