Oscar Predictions 2021

Happy Oscar weekend movie friends—we made it! This awards season and this year has been so different, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve had some trouble keeping up, from the lack of theatrical releases to virtual film festivals to the extended eligibility for this awards season to the postponement of the 93rd […]

Review: “Test Pattern”

What begins as a light romance quickly turns into a nightmare in “Test Pattern,” the debut film from writer and director Shatara Michelle Ford. While in recent years the #MeToo movement has created more widespread awareness of sexual harassment and abuse that women regularly face and has encouraged support for women who speak up, the […]

Kino Lorber Mini Reviews

In January I had the opportunity to catch up on some of Kino Lorber’s 2020 releases in time for awards season, and wow, some of these films really knocked me out. A few of these were among the best films I watched from last year, so I wanted to take the opportunity to briefly review […]

Review: “Standing Up, Falling Down”

Sometimes, a cast’s chemistry is the main thing driving a movie forward, and such is the case with “Standing Up, Falling Down,” a familiar story made memorable and entertaining by a sharp script and the lead performances from Billy Crystal and Ben Schwartz. Directed by Matt Ratner, “Standing Up, Falling, Down” opens with Scott (Schwartz) […]

Review: “Kindred”

“Kindred” is a horror movie that isn’t scary in a very obvious way. Rather, there’s a feeling of unease that permeates the film and gets under your skin, staying there long after the credits roll. Director and co-writer Joe Marcantonio’s debut feature may draw comparisons to other films such as “Rosemary’s Baby,” but he takes […]

Review: “The Dissident”

On October 2, 2018, Washington Post journalist and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and never left. Over two years later, Khashoggi’s loved ones are still seeking justice for his murder, a premeditated crime committed by Saudi officials—and largely believed to have been ordered by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin […]

Review: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always”

Imagine being faced with a medical crisis with no one to turn to for help. It’s a sad reality for so many Americans, and especially for women trying to obtain an abortion. Writer and director Eliza Hittman portrays this struggle in her devastating film “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” which follows Autumn Callahan (Sidney Flanigan), a […]

Streaming Movie Reviews: December, Part 3

Here’s the last round of my mini-reviews for December (coming to you almost halfway through January, I know I know). Read on for reviews of “The Midnight Sky,” “Safety,” “I’m Your Woman,” “We Can Be Heroes,” and “The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.” “THE MIDNIGHT SKY” (Netflix) There is little hope […]

Review: “The Croods: A New Age”

I’m not sure why I expected “The Croods: A New Age” to be at least a little bit more than, well, crude. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen its 2013 predecessor, but I do remember being pleasantly surprised by it. And there are some things to love in its new sequel, but it’s largely […]

Streaming Movie Reviews: December, Part 2

Here’s part two of my mini reviews for movies released on streaming services this past December, featuring “A California Christmas, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Sylvie’s Love,” and the final three films in Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology. “A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS” (Netflix) Maybe I’d feel a little bit warmer toward this film if it hadn’t misled […]