Gabriele Mainetti’s The Forbidden City was one of the most distinctive films I saw at this year’s Fantastic Fest, a sharp and confident entry that blends multiple genres into something strikingly original. Best described as a “spaghetti martial arts” film, it combines the choreography and intensity of classic kung fu cinema with the grit and atmosphere of… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: The Forbidden City – an excellent “spaghetti” martial arts film
Category: Reviews
London Calling -part buddy comedy, part coming-of-age story, and part slapstick shoot-’em-up
Sometimes a movie doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, and that’s both the strength and weakness of Allan Ungar’s latest film, London Calling. On paper, it’s a crime story about a burned-out hitman who flees the UK after a job gone wrong, only to end up working for a new crime boss. His… Continue reading London Calling -part buddy comedy, part coming-of-age story, and part slapstick shoot-’em-up
A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY Takes A Novel Approach To Relationships With Baggage
Romantic relationships are challenging. When emotional baggage is involved, this further complicates matters. Writer Seth Reiss and director Kogonada (Columbus, After Yang) tackle this problem with a film that uses surreal fantasy to pair a couple of people who have struggled to have a good, solid, romantic relationship. The movie has many inspired ideas that,… Continue reading A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY Takes A Novel Approach To Relationships With Baggage
HIM: The Devil Wants A Star Football Quarterback, Apparently
I caught the trailer for Him when I went to the movies for a film that wasn’t screened for press. The trailer had me instantly intrigued and hopeful for an incredible horror experience that takes place in the world of professional sports. Though the visuals are often striking, the editing, the writing, and sometimes the… Continue reading HIM: The Devil Wants A Star Football Quarterback, Apparently
THE LONG WALK: A Bleak, But Emotional Stephen King Story Realized Superbly For Cinema
Violence begets violence is the big takeaway from The Long Walk, a film adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name by director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter JT Moliner. The Long Walk is the very first novel he wrote as a professional writer, but it would not be published until later, under the pseudonym… Continue reading THE LONG WALK: A Bleak, But Emotional Stephen King Story Realized Superbly For Cinema
Pools – TIFF Next Wave/ SXSW Sydney Film Now in Theaters
Sam Haye’s directorial debut feature, Pools, is the 2024 SXSW Sydney Audience Award Winner and had the North American Premiere at TIFF Next Wave. Pools had a sold-out screening at the festival that features a breakout performance from Odessa A’zion (Until Dawn, “Ghosts” TV series, Sitting in Bars with Cake, Hellraiser, “Nashville” TV series) as… Continue reading Pools – TIFF Next Wave/ SXSW Sydney Film Now in Theaters
TWINLESS: A Poignant, And Often Hilarious Film
James Sweeney is a filmmaker with whom I am not at all familiar. However, after watching Twinless, I would love to see what this talented filmmaker and actor have to offer. This movie boldly combines awkward, dark humor with just the right amount of humanity, examining how some people can connect in profound ways, despite… Continue reading TWINLESS: A Poignant, And Often Hilarious Film
Filmmaker Oanh-Nhi Nguyen has Two Standout Films at the Hollyshorts Film Festival
The Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival recently wrapped this month, and two films that I viewed from filmmaker Oanh-Nhi Nguyen are awe-inspiring. She is an AFI Conservatory MFA graduate. Both of her films were screened at the TCL Chinese Theater earlier this month. With the actions seen in the news and on social media platforms regarding… Continue reading Filmmaker Oanh-Nhi Nguyen has Two Standout Films at the Hollyshorts Film Festival
Checkpoint Zoo – a tribute to human bravery, compassion, and sacrifice amid chaos
As a lifelong animal lover and advocate for their protection, I found Joshua Zeman’s Checkpoint Zoo to be one of the most impactful documentaries I’ve watched in years. The film highlights the incredible efforts of Feldman Ecopark’s owner, staff, and volunteers to rescue nearly 5,000 animals trapped in Kharkiv, Ukraine, when the Russian invasion turned… Continue reading Checkpoint Zoo – a tribute to human bravery, compassion, and sacrifice amid chaos
CAUGHT STEALING: A Movie That Brings Back Late 1990s And Early 2000s Pulp Cinema
Even though filmmaker Darren Aronofsky achieved recognition during the late 1990s and early 2000s as a movie director, he never attempted to capitalize on the success of pulpy criminal films that resulted from the pop cultural impact of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, which often permeated cinema during this era. However, in 2025, Aronofsky, captivated by… Continue reading CAUGHT STEALING: A Movie That Brings Back Late 1990s And Early 2000s Pulp Cinema