★★ A Nicolas Cage movie at this point in his career can go wildly in any direction. The unpredictable nature of the roles he chooses still manages to cement Cage as one of the few must-see performers of our time. In Aussie-driven The Surfer, Cage comes in somewhere around a 5.5 or 6 out of … Continue reading Film Review: The Surfer
SFFILM 2025: The Last First Time
★★★★ Erotically charged and rippling with unspoken subtext, The Last First Time is one of the year's best queer festival surprises. Hailing from Mexican director Rafael Ruiz Espejo, Alejandro Quintana plays eighteen-year-old Eduardo in a rather unflinching character study. LGBT+ audiences will no doubt relate to the simplicity of this feature more than others. It … Continue reading SFFILM 2025: The Last First Time
TV Review: You – Season 5
Goodbye, you. After seven seasons and serial killer hopping from New York to Los Angeles to Paris and back to the streets of NYC once more, Joe Goldberg’s whirlwind story of obsession finally comes to a satisfying close. Chasing a neverending fairytale woman, Joe may have his biggest safety blanket yet in the form of … Continue reading TV Review: You – Season 5
Film Review: On Swift Horses
★★★★★ Jacob Elordi and Diego Calva starring in a gay film together was enough to set the internet ablaze. Would this decade-spanning drama be worth the wait? Thankfully, there is much more depth to On Swift Horses than just saucy screenshots. Director Daniel Minahan (Netflix's Hollywood, Showtime's Fellow Travelers) and screenwriter Bryce Kass (Lizzie) adapt … Continue reading Film Review: On Swift Horses
TIFF Next Wave 2025: Pools
★★★★ Writer/director Sam Hayes dives right into the stylized vibes of Pools, a gripping character study that makes quite a splash. Anyone who has ever felt adrift looking for their purpose in life will find relatable meaning in the surprisingly emotional subtext. Odessa A’zion (Hellraiser, The Inhabitant) leads a cast of up-and-coming young talent, including … Continue reading TIFF Next Wave 2025: Pools
Film Review: The Uninvited
★★ Some films are made with the best of intentions, collecting an excellent cast of game actors, yet still come up short. Meet The Uninvited, a meandering, single-setting dramedy set in the Hollywood Hills. Fueled by a sweet performance from renowned film and stage actress Lois Smith, there is sadly little else to recommend. The … Continue reading Film Review: The Uninvited
Film Review: The Italians
★★★★ Filmmaker Michelle Danner makes her imprint on the dysfunctional family dramedy, homespun with plenty of Italian flavor. Clearly inspired by bold studio films like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Italians wears its cheesy ricotta heart on its sleeve. Lighthearted and over-the-top, screenwriter Lisa Phillips Visca leans into Italian-American stereotypes in a gleeful sendup … Continue reading Film Review: The Italians
Film Review: Freaky Tales
★★★★ Will the 80s ever die? If the grungy aesthetic of Freaky Tales can be believed, the answer is an emphatic no. This stylish indie debuted at the Sundance Film Festival last year, and the ridiculously fun vision of producing/writing/directing duo Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden has finally emerged for audiences everywhere in all its … Continue reading Film Review: Freaky Tales
Film Review: The Penguin Lessons
★★★★ (Written by Intern, Miranda Zampogna) Director Peter Cattaneo’s The Penguin Lessons adapts Tom Michell's memoir of penguin hijinks, set against Argentina's impending military coup in 1976. With understated charm, Steve Coogan stars apathetic expat Michell, navigating his new role teaching English for the fascist regime’s wealthy children inside their gated academy. After reluctantly crossing … Continue reading Film Review: The Penguin Lessons
Blu-Ray Film Review: Babygirl
★★★★ Babygirl, A24's take on the 90s erotic thriller definitely did not get the love it deserved during a hectic awards season. Writer/director/producer Halina Reijn and megastar Nicole Kidman crafted a fascinating film that made a perfect foil to the themes of body image and ageism present in Oscar-winning masterpiece, The Substance. Despite nabbing a … Continue reading Blu-Ray Film Review: Babygirl