The title of episode three of Severance season two, Who Is Alive?, is a question. In a show that is constantly asking questions, this is only the second instance of the title itself existing as a question. The first was in season one, with the episode What’s For Dinner? which …
Brazilian cinema has always been known for exploring the country’s turbulent history and coming forward with hard-hitting stories. Be it the City of God or Four Days in September, cinema has been one of the most powerful mediums for shedding light on Brazil’s socio-political struggles, unearthing raw, unfiltered narratives that …
Death to Smoochy came out in 2002 when I had three kids under three and was expecting my fourth. I was in the thick of parenting little kids, which meant I was at my most familiar with children’s television programming. Danny DeVito’s dark look at the seedy underbelly of that industry seemed …
In 2014, I lost my mother to ALS. It was difficult because the disease caused us to lose her bit by bit and then all at once. In his documentary Time Passages, Kyle Henry charts the story of his mother’s decline into dementia during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But more …
“Torture Porn” — a term used to describe a particularly unsettling subgenre of horror — was made popular in the early 2000s through films like Hostel and Saw. Terrifier 3 doesn’t quite fall into that category, but it comes pretty dang close. Through the use of gruesome practical effects and …
At the beginning of Parthenope, the protagonist reflects on the concept of beauty, saying that it lasts only for 10 minutes and all that is left after that is just boredom. Interestingly enough, that is exactly how I ended up feeling about the entire film after the first few scenes. …
Winning an award is always an achievement worthy of noting. The first season of Severance, the superb Apple TV+ thriller where characters sever their brains to become two people (an Innie for work life, and an Outie for home life) earned several but the one that feels most salient to …
The art of cinema has room for all kinds of experiences, whether unusual blends of genres, unorthodox storytelling methods, or unique filming techniques. Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) is a pioneer of modern independent cinema, and his movies are often acclaimed precisely for their inventive or distinct perspective. Presence fits into the …
Unless covering a film festival, January is usually not a particularly memorable or busy month. On one hand, it’s a pity not to attend the always interesting week or so of the Sundance Film Festival, but on the other hand, there’s more time to watch films that often go unnoticed …
There will be no chicanery in this review about what Companion is about, even if the film spends a minor chunk of time attempting to shroud the obvious in double entendres. This obviousness, shall it not be devised from the opening few minutes, the revealing trailer – or from the …
Several factors build anticipation for a film. Whether it’s the cast, genre, franchise, or director, the reasons why viewers feel more or less excited about a new cinematic release are endless. Personally, my expectations for Wolf Man were naturally high simply because it’s the newest movie by Leigh Whannell, the …
When Apple announced their appearance on the streaming market, there was palpable excitement amongst media fans. Allowing filmmakers and creatives to play with big budgets to create vibrant, energetic stories nearly totally liberated from network executives was a concept unfamiliar within the media zeitgeist. That excitement soon deflated after AppleTV+ …
Starting a new cinephile year is always exciting, even knowing that January is far from being a particularly memorable month. In fact, even today, the first month of the year is often dubbed “dump January” precisely because it consists of 31 days studios don’t consider appealing or important for their …
In the song Yin Yang from their acclaimed project BRIME, the Brazilian trio Febem, Fleezus, and CESRV analyze the uncertainty of life and how things can change abruptly. In one of the lines, Febem says, Even Superman fell from the horse, comparing how everything transforms in a fraction of a …
When Doctor Who Christmas specials first began with the 2005 revival, they often existed lateral to main storylines bar the occasional outlier (such as The Time of the Doctor). With The Church on Ruby Road last year, though, Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure as The Doctor began with an episode that sparked …
Pierce Brosnan became an action icon when he portrayed the most iconic secret agent, James Bond. Throughout his four films with the franchise, he appeared in some of the most popular films of the recent era, including Goldeneye. Lately, Brosnan has engaged in action flicks as an experienced agent who …
I was a freshman in high school when Baywatch debuted, so I have always had a very particular view of who Pamela Anderson is as an actor. She was the Playgirl with the most covers on Playboy, the object of Borat’s lust, and the unfortunate victim of a leaked sex tape. Gia Coppola clearly knows Anderson’s background and used that …
Chasing Liberty is a romantic comedy set largely in Europe, starring Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode. Directed by Andy Cadith and written by Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman, it came out in 2004. Moore plays Anna Foster, the first daughter (not to be confused with Katie Holmes’ First Daughter) of …
To watch The Quick and the Dead is to embrace in pure pulp from one of Hollywood’s greatest pulp veterans, Sam Raimi – switching gears for the Western with an all-star cast. Sharon Stone, young Leonardo DiCaprio, it’s a black comedy that benefits entirely from director of photography, Dante Spinotti, …
Netflix’s Our Little Secret, starring Lindsay Lohan, is the latest Christmas movie from the streaming giant. Although the story is quite predictable, the film perfectly captures what the holiday season is all about. The film chronicles the journey of Avery (played by Lohan) and Logan (played by Ian Harding) who …