Some films don’t just unfold before you — they draw you in and refuse to let go. Premiering at Fantastic Fest 2025, Sirāt, the latest from director Óliver Laxe, is one of those rare, compelling cinematic experiences. Shot with hypnotic beauty by cinematographer Mauro Herce, the film follows Luis (Sergi López, in one of his… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Sirāt – draws you in and refuses to let go
Category: MAIN
Fantastic Fest 2025: Sirāt Delivers Breathtaking Tension
I was not at all prepared for this movie. I was offered a guaranteed ticket and reserved seat, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to experience a film that would absolutely blow my mind. Though I read the synopsis offered by Fantastic Fest, I had no idea what kind of experience I would have.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: Sirāt Delivers Breathtaking Tension
HOW TO MAKE A KILLING Has A Wickedly Fun Premise That Lacks Swagger And Attitude
A dark comedy featuring gallows humor is totally my jam, and after reading the synopsis of How to Make a Killing, I was excited for a wild, possibly absurd ride. Inspired by the film, Kind Hearts and Coronets, which is based on the novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman, writer/director John… Continue reading HOW TO MAKE A KILLING Has A Wickedly Fun Premise That Lacks Swagger And Attitude
Movie Review: Becoming Vera Receives Theatrical Release After Festival Run
The feature film Becoming Vera, written and directed by Spanish filmmaker Sergio Vizuete, premiered at several film festivals and won several awards. The drama and coming-of-age story explore identity, resilience, and self-discovery through the journey of a young Latin jazz prodigy searching for her voice and roots. The film is set in Miami. About: Becoming… Continue reading Movie Review: Becoming Vera Receives Theatrical Release After Festival Run
Wuthering Heights: visually sumptuous, boldly acted, yet deeply disappointing
As a retired literature teacher who read and later introduced students to Emily Brontë’s only novel, I approached the 2026 adaptation of Wuthering Heights with anticipation—and, I admit, protectiveness. Directed and written by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie as Catherine and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, the adaptation is visually sumptuous and boldly acted. Yet… Continue reading Wuthering Heights: visually sumptuous, boldly acted, yet deeply disappointing
WUTHERING HEIGHTS: This Is Not Your Mother’s, Grandmother’s, Or Great-Grandmother’s Adaptation
Ever since Emily Brontë’s novel was published in 1847, there have been multiple adaptations of the story. Provocative filmmaker Emerald Fennell (Saltburn, Promising Young Woman) now takes a turn with a version of the “love story” that is bold, passionate, and also hilarious and quite naughty. I have watched only the 1939 version starring Laurence… Continue reading WUTHERING HEIGHTS: This Is Not Your Mother’s, Grandmother’s, Or Great-Grandmother’s Adaptation
Film Review: Crime 101
High Stakes, Low Originality There is a specific kind of disappointment that comes with a “pre-release” screening. You walk in hoping to be the first to see a modern classic, especially with a heavy-hitting Don Winslow adaptation and an epic cast like this. Unfortunately, Crime 101 is a movie that spends so much time trying… Continue reading Film Review: Crime 101
Fantastic Fest 2025: GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE
One of the secret screenings of Fantastic Fest came as a complete surprise to me. I had never heard of the movie, so when the title leaked before the screening, all I could do was shrug. I knew it was the newest movie from director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaker behind the first three Pirates of… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2025: GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE
CRIME 101: A Solid And Often Intriguing Crime Thriller
Based on the novel of the same name by Don Winslow, Crime 101 comes across as a Michael Mann crime thriller copycat. It is not a bad imitation, but it doesn’t achieve the same level of quality in storytelling and filmmaking that makes its inspirations, like Mann’s Heat, seminal classics. Writer/director Bart Layton and team… Continue reading CRIME 101: A Solid And Often Intriguing Crime Thriller
Solo Mio: warm, funny, sad, and uplifting all at once
I didn’t expect to fall for Solo Mio, but I did. Kevin James is the first reason—it’s hard not to carry the shadow of Paul Blart, and yet he’s fully human, fully charming, and quietly heartbreaking. He plays Matt, a grade school art teacher whose carefully planned wedding in Rome… well, let’s just say life… Continue reading Solo Mio: warm, funny, sad, and uplifting all at once