I was skeptical about Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. That was probably unwise. Although he has his fair share of missteps in his filmography, Spielberg has an almost unparalleled mastery of the traditional film narrative structure, and the famed musical … Continue reading Now Playing — West Side Story
Shiva Baby (Emma Seligman, 2021). Written and directed by Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby locks its gaze on Danielle (Rachel Sennott), an emotionally careening college student whose various tribulations converge at a shiva observance she attends with her parents (Polly Draper … Continue reading Then Playing — Shiva Baby; The Velvet Underground; Nightmare Alley
Moana (Ron Clements and John Musker, 2016). Nearly thirty years after Ron Clements and John Musker were centrally involved in the rescue of Walt Disney Animation Studios by directing The Little Mermaid, they go back to the place where it’s … Continue reading Then Playing — Moana; Adrienne; The Last Duel
It’s been more than ten years since Jane Campion directed a feature film. That gap is, of course, not a sign of her creative lassitude but instead an indictment of a broken film culture that has dwindling space for adult-minded … Continue reading Now Playing — The Power of the Dog
An illuminating comparison can be made between new film The Humans and recent drama The Father. Like the Oscar-winning film from director Florian Zeller, The Humans is based on a celebrated stage work, and its screen adaptation is written and … Continue reading Now Playing — The Humans
We Need to Talk About Kevin (Lynne Ramsay, 2011). This pummeling drama was adapted from a 2003 Lionel Shriver novel about the heavy toll a troubled boy exacts on his family, particularly his mother. Tilda Swinton plays the beleaguered parent … Continue reading Then Playing — We Need to Talk About Kevin; The French Dispatch; Luca
My first instinct is that the framing of the new film King Richard is off in a way that’s all too common. In telling the tale of two incredible female athletes — one of whom can make a legitimate claim … Continue reading Now Playing — King Richard
I have little doubt that Lin-Manuel Miranda relates mightily to the agonizing tale of creation related in Tick, Tick… Boom! Sure, Miranda is now an entertainment world titan with a trio of Tonys, a Pulitzer Prize, and wider name recognition … Continue reading Now Playing — Tick, Tick… Boom!
Those Who Wish Me Dead (Taylor Sheridan, 2021). Taylor Sheridan’s second feature as a director builds on his oeuvre of Mountain West thrillers. In Those Who Wish Me Dead, Angelina Jolie plays Hannah Faber, a plays-by-her-own-rules somkejumper who’s been given … Continue reading Then Playing — Those Who Wish Me Dead; The Hunt; Repast
For a variety of reasons, it was probably inevitable that Eternals would be the most ambitious film released to date under the Marvel Entertainment banner. While director Chloé Zhao hasn’t shown a penchant for David Lean–style epics to this point … Continue reading Now Playing — Eternals
Coffee for Two 