Review: “Blink Twice”

When we first meet Frida (Naomi Ackie), she’s squatting on the toilet in the bathroom of the dingy apartment she shares with her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat), compulsively scrolling through Instagram on her phone. She’s sent down an exposition-heavy rabbit hole after landing on a video apology from billionaire tech mogul Slater King (Channing […]

Review: “Sing Sing”

Sing Sing opens on a darkened stage, a sole figure in its center bathed in glowing blue light as he delivers a powerful, Shakespearean monologue. He closes the scene to thunderous applause and walks backstage, chatting and congratulating his castmates. As they remove their regal costumes, they all don the same neutral green jumpsuits and […]

Review: “Dìdi”

It would be all too easy to dismiss Sean Wang’s Dìdi as the exact sort of semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age comedy/drama that seems to become the Sundance darling on an annual basis. In fact, when Dìdi premiered at the festival earlier this year, it won the Audience Award, cementing its position as a sturdy crowdpleaser. Sure, in […]

Review: Caligula: The Ulimate Cut

It only takes a mere skimming of the original theatrical cut of Caligula to realize that the new Ultimate Cut is quite a different movie— at least, in the details. A lengthy series of title cards that kick off the film— which runs around 20 minutes longer than the previously available version— details the production’s […]

Review: “Crumb Catcher”

Crumb Catcher opens with a sensory assault that sets the tone for the film’s all style, no little substance (or at least, confounding substance) approach: Leah (Ella Ray Peck) and Shane (Rigo Garay) stand in front of a backdrop, taking post-wedding photos in their dress and tux. Flashbulbs fire as chaotically as the photographer issues […]