★★★★★ A pure coming-of-age queer delight, National Anthem cements Charlie Plummer as a fiercely talented indie darling. Co-writer/director Luke Gilford brings a unique visual style to an intimate story: a veritable showcase of gorgeous cinematography, and breathtaking New Mexico scenery. This is a decidedly different take on the American dream. Sometimes, finding one’s tribe could … Continue reading NewFest 2023: National Anthem
NYF 2023: The Holdovers
★★★★ (Written by Allison Brown) Emerging as if it were a lost film recovered from a bygone time, The Holdovers finally makes its way to a New York festival. In the Q&A afterward, director Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt, Election) described his intention to “make a contemporary film for 1970,” rather just a period piece, … Continue reading NYF 2023: The Holdovers
Film Review: Haunted Mansion
★★★★ I will never forget the first time I rode The Haunted Mansion at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Between the eerie atmosphere waiting in line by a cemetery to the carefully constructed storyline, the immersive ghostly terrors were an instant case of love at first sight. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for 2003’s … Continue reading Film Review: Haunted Mansion
Woodstock 2023: Parachute
★★★★ Brittany Snow’s feature directorial debut arrives at the Woodstock Film Festival, in the form of captivating drama, Parachute. For anyone who has ever suffered from body image issues or the horrors of eating disorders, Parachute may be particularly triggering. Its lead character frustrates almost as frequently as she garners empathy. Parachute is so much … Continue reading Woodstock 2023: Parachute
Woodstock 2023: Irena’s Vow
(Written by Allison Brown) ★★★★ National Geographic’s incredible show, A Small Light, set the standard for quality Holocaust material early in the year at SXSW, but as a late arrival at TIFF and now Woodstock, Irena’s Vow puts up a fair fight in comparison. I was not previously familiar with Irene Gut Opdyke’s story, but … Continue reading Woodstock 2023: Irena’s Vow
Woodstock 2023: Fair Play
★★★ Alden Ehrenreich is perhaps one of the most underrated actors working today. First discovered by Steven Spielberg at a bar mitzvah, Ehrenreich has been consistently churning out intriguing fare, and discovering his niche as a character actor for years. From Beautiful Creatures to Stoker to Solo: A Star Wars Story and everything in between, … Continue reading Woodstock 2023: Fair Play
TV Review: Gen V – Season 1
Welcome freshman class to year one at Godolkin University, where the best and brightest superheroes have trained since 1965! In this spin-off of Prime Video’s chaotic gem The Boys, the catty, often sociopathic world of teenagers mixes its dose of potency with the same dark humor and ultra-gory mayhem we have come to love from … Continue reading TV Review: Gen V – Season 1
Fantastic Fest 2023: The Fall of the House of Usher
Mike Flanagan, creator of two of the all-time greatest Netflix miniseries in The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, dips back into the murky waters of gothic horror in an eerie, atmospheric masterpiece dedicated to Edgar Allen Poe. The aptly-named The Fall of the House of Usher weaves Poe’s prose, themes, and melancholy into … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: The Fall of the House of Usher
Fantastic Fest 2023: The Animal Kingdom
★★★★★ A grounded, frequently disturbing sci-fi/fantasy drama, The Animal Kingdom tears into chilling body horror elements and complex commentary about embracing the animal inside. Set in the near future, a “disease” characterized by physical, animalistic transformations has spread across the world. Those infected face intense outward discrimination, not to mention asylum experimentation. Embracing the obvious … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: The Animal Kingdom
Interview: Actress Amrit Kaur
Putting the Toronto International Film Festival in our rearview, Allison sat down to chat over Zoom with The Queen of My Dreams actress Amrit Kaur about her cultural and cinematic influences, the complicated nature of arranged marriage, and using film to inspire conversation. In this unique film, when Azra’s mother, Mariam (Nimra Buch, Polite Society), discovers … Continue reading Interview: Actress Amrit Kaur