Sean Baker’s Anora left a lasting impact at the 2024 Fantastic Fest, quickly becoming a favorite among festival attendees, including myself. This 138-minute whirlwind of comedy, drama, and tension highlights Baker’s talent for bringing vibrant characters from society’s fringes into the spotlight. Anora demonstrates his ability to combine entertainment with emotional depth and social critique,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: Anora – what a RIDE!
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Movie Review: Killer Rental Screens at the debut of the Austin Horror Film Festival
Killer Rental, the feature film written and directed by Ben Hausdorff and Jonathan Kadin, had an exclusive screening at the first annual Austin Horror Film Festival this weekend. Killer Rental was among the films offered at the 25th edition of the Chicago Horror Film Festival in late September and was nominated for Best Feature. The… Continue reading Movie Review: Killer Rental Screens at the debut of the Austin Horror Film Festival
WE LIVE IN TIME Delivers A Relationship Drama That Feels Genuine And True
For cinephiles with soft spots in their hearts for romantic dramas like Love Story, We Live In Time is definitely for you. The film depicts an initially charming relationship between a man and woman whose meeting begins rather disturbingly. I will let my readers discover that on their own, but once the two connect, the… Continue reading WE LIVE IN TIME Delivers A Relationship Drama That Feels Genuine And True
SMILE 2 Is Actually More Entertaining Than Its Predecessor
I went into this film thinking this sequel would be another dour and sad extension of the first installment. Thankfully, that is not the case. Writer/director Parker Finn now has a sense of humor about his franchise, making this next chapter a more entertaining and fun experience, despite the film’s dark elements. Finn also wants… Continue reading SMILE 2 Is Actually More Entertaining Than Its Predecessor
Fantastic Fest 2024: MR. CROCKET
For the closing night film of this year’s Fantastic Fest, the programmers have chosen an unusual horror flick that offers up the premise, what if Mr. Rogers was a psychotic killer that preyed upon the parents of his most ardent fans, children? Writer/director Brandon Espy and co-writer Carl Reid have concocted an imaginative nightmare for… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: MR. CROCKET
Movie News: State of Silence – After Prestigious Film Festivals, View it on Netflix
State of Silence explores the challenges of freedom of the press in Mexico from the perspective of four journalists who courageously face them. The risks they face in reporting the truth are addressed through their personal accounts and appearances by other well-known media professionals. The documentary premiered this year at prestigious film festivals around the… Continue reading Movie News: State of Silence – After Prestigious Film Festivals, View it on Netflix
Movie Review: The Convert – A History of the Indigenous Māori and British Colonists: Drama and Action
The Convert is directed by Lee Tamahori (Next, xXx: State of the Nation, Once Were Warriors, Die Another Day). The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, screened in several countries, and now has a digital release. The director co-wrote the screenplay with Shane Danielson (The World Made Straight, Errors of the Human… Continue reading Movie Review: The Convert – A History of the Indigenous Māori and British Colonists: Drama and Action
Movie Review: PIECE BY PIECE Takes An Inventive Approach To Documentary/Biopic Filmmaking
Pharrell Williams has made a name for himself as a musical artist in his own right. Still, he is also a significant contributor to the advancement of the careers of other musical artists. His story is worth telling through film, and the artist himself wishes to reveal his story. However, Williams wants to tell his… Continue reading Movie Review: PIECE BY PIECE Takes An Inventive Approach To Documentary/Biopic Filmmaking
Fantastic Fest 2024 Movie Review: SATURDAY NIGHT
The programmers of this year’s film festival decided to up the ante by scheduling a record number of “Secret Screenings.” In past years, the festival usually only offered two or three of these mystery offerings, but this year, four was the magic number. The first of these was the new film by Jason Reitman, Saturday… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024 Movie Review: SATURDAY NIGHT
Movie News: The Wait (La Espera) Available in North America after Fantastic Fest 2023
The Wait (La Espera) had the North American premiere at Fantastic Fest 2023 in Austin, Texas, after world premiering at the Oldenburg Film Festival. It was on an award-winning festival tour that included Sitges, Shanghai, and Vancouver screenings. Film Movement has officially released The Wait (La Espera), the latest film from Spanish cult filmmaker F.… Continue reading Movie News: The Wait (La Espera) Available in North America after Fantastic Fest 2023