★★ Heist films and television are some of my favorites to watch, mainly because if genuinely well-executed, they are pulse-pounding and suspenseful. Peak television has gifted viewers with enthralling heists as featured in hits Breaking Bad, Animal Kingdom, and Mr. Robot, whilst cinematically, modern-day gems that include American Animals, Inception, and Baby Driver subvert expectations … Continue reading Film Review: How to Blow Up a Pipeline
BFI Flare 2023: Lie With Me
★★★★ Based on the novel by Philippe Besson, Lie with Me is a passionate, delectable queer drama that blends coming-of-age romance with poignant messaging about adulthood. Paramount at the center of its two converging timelines are themes of love and longing. A rich script penned by writer/director Olivier Peyon weaves a poignant longing and rich … Continue reading BFI Flare 2023: Lie With Me
Retro Review: Sparkler
★★★★ At long last, Jawbreaker writer/director Darren Stein’s debut feature Sparkler is finally available after fading to time! Look no further than the stunning cast roster (which includes 90s favorites like Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jamie Kennedy, as well as seasoned gems such as Veronica Cartwright and Glenn Shadix) with Stein behind the camera to … Continue reading Retro Review: Sparkler
SXSW 2023: Beef
A24 and Netflix finely season their newest collaboration: dark dramedy Beef, a searing depiction of road rage taken to its most outrageous extreme. Showrunner/writer/creator Lee Sung Jin wrings masterful performances from both Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, both of whom have never been better. Throughout a ten-episode run, Beef builds up an increasingly tense atmosphere, … Continue reading SXSW 2023: Beef
Film Review: Boston Strangler
★★★ Who doesn’t love a good true crime story? Writer/director Matt Ruskin certainly adheres to the formula in Boston Strangler, based on the true proceedings. More than anything else, this thrilling drama exposes the truth behind the phantom specter that haunted the streets of Massachusetts as the body count of murdered women continued to rise. … Continue reading Film Review: Boston Strangler
Film Review: Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
★★★★ Everyone knows the game of pinball, but how many are truly aware of the storied tale behind its origins, or the fact that it was literally criminalized and banned in New York City for over three decades? The endlessly charming, super sweet semi-biopic Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is here to answer … Continue reading Film Review: Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
SXSW 2023: Tetris
★★★★ Taron Egerton could read the phone book, and the project would be a must-see for this viewer. After first catching my eye in subversive spy comedy Kingsman: The Secret Service, Egerton has continued to deliver phenomenal performances. He was particularly show-stopping as Elton John in 2019’s phenomenal musical, Rocketman. Now, Egerton plays video game … Continue reading SXSW 2023: Tetris
SXSW 2023: I Used to Be Funny
★★ One of the more anticipated entries at this year’s SXSW Film Festival was I Used to Be Funny, the newest Rachel Sennott vehicle that I assumed would be a dramedy/mystery mixture. I loved Rachel in Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, where her awkward humor blended perfectly into her ditzy, self-obsessed character’s personality. Hoping for more range … Continue reading SXSW 2023: I Used to Be Funny
SXSW 2023: Pure O
★★ (Written by Allison Brown) Dillon Tucker’s directorial feature debut Pure O is a miss, both in storytelling and visual execution. The bloated two-hour runtime will leave one checking the time far too often, hoping to be closer to the end. As someone who suffers from mild OCD, I was particularly eager to check out … Continue reading SXSW 2023: Pure O
Film Review: Moving On
★★★ (Written by Intern, Wyatt Frantz) After watching 80 for Brady or Netflix’s Grace and Frankie, one would not want to miss Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin’s Moving On as the unstoppable duo continue to steamroll through the box office. This time, they conspire in a comedic murder conspiracy in hopes of rectifying their characters’ … Continue reading Film Review: Moving On