★★★★ Cryptozoo is a special brand of strange adult animation, the likes of which would find a perfect home at the doorstep of Adult Swim. Beautiful and trippy 2D animation feels like sketchy illustrations brought to life. The sheer scale they are able to achieve on a limited indie budget is jaw-dropping to behold. The … Continue reading Film Review: Cryptozoo
Fantasia 2021: Hayop-Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story
★★★★ Acting as my first review for 2021’s Fantasia International Film Festival, Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story (coming to Netflix later this year under the translated title, You Animal!) could not have been a better table-setter. A saucy and deeply horny animated love story that is decidedly not for younger viewers, this film took … Continue reading Fantasia 2021: Hayop-Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story
Film Review: Vivo
★★★★★ Despite a noticeable lack of advertising push, Sony Animation’s Vivo is a colorful, emotional, and utterly profound family film. When I started watching on Netflix, I figured I was essentially in store for an animated In the Heights—instead, Vivo feels much more Coco. I did not realize just how deeply I needed a feel-good … Continue reading Film Review: Vivo
2021 Midyear Favorites
Can you believe 2021 is already halfway over? I have watched almost 400 brand-new releases for the year, so I feel pretty confident in selecting a top 10 (and of course a few honorable mentions!) I have only included films here that are readily available or have shown in the theater first. Read on for … Continue reading 2021 Midyear Favorites
Film Review: The Boss Baby: Family Business
★★★★ I was very late to the party when it came to 2017’s The Boss Baby. Though it rather controversially was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Film, it was critically overlooked. When I watched it for the first time on Netflix, I was surprised at how harmonious the heart and humor work together. … Continue reading Film Review: The Boss Baby: Family Business
TV Review: Monsters at Work
Judging from the first two episodes (one of which I viewed at the in-person Tribeca Film Festival premiere), Monsters at Work has some work to do. A spin-off from the excellent, Oscar-nominated Disney/Pixar collaboration Monsters, Inc. and its highly entertaining prequel, Monsters University, this is the first time we are presented this world from a … Continue reading TV Review: Monsters at Work
Provincetown International Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
For this year's Provincetown International Film Festival, I caught a couple of great gems, with my favorite of the bunch being the absolutely phenomenal drama, CODA. A full listing of all the films covered, including recently-reviewed ones from previous festivals, is included below... Films BEANS Full review at the link. BEING BEBE Full review at … Continue reading Provincetown International Film Festival 2021 Wrap-Up
SIFF 2021 Festival Wrap-Up
This year, the Seattle International Film Festival went virtual! From April 8th - April 18th, I checked out 17 total films, and 3 short films. It was a pretty fascinating selection of unique (and often challenging) films. Anything not afforded full coverage is included here, as well as a personal top 5 favorites from the … Continue reading SIFF 2021 Festival Wrap-Up
Film Review: The Mitchells vs. The Machines
★★★★★ The Mitchells vs The Machines employs a successful formula right out of the gate: the new Sony Animation adventure/comedy is engaging and insightful well before the robots enter the picture. It molds a family unit that’s virtually impossible not to fall in love with. Moreover, its world is so energetic and colorful that The … Continue reading Film Review: The Mitchells vs. The Machines
SIFF 2021: The Legend of Hei
★★★★ The Legend of Hei, hailing from China where it struck box office gold, replicates a very smooth and specific style of 2D animation. Studio Ghibli would be proud of the lushness and splendid rendering that puts thrilling Chinese landmarks on full display, while centering solely on the richness of the characters and their relationships. … Continue reading SIFF 2021: The Legend of Hei