Since the 1920s, monsters on the big screen have stood in for more complex ideas. That trend continues today, with powerful films like Nope and Barbarian utilizing their creatures in unique ways. In that sense, It Lives Inside comes from a long lineage of horror stories. Yet the specificity present within It Lives Inside helps … Continue reading Fantasia 2023: ‘It Lives Inside’ – A Stunning Monster Movie
Review: ‘Passages’ Digs Into the Complexities of Sexuality and Lust
Few directors find their way into unique human conditions like Ira Sachs. He's made a name for himself over the past decade as a humanist director, and as he explores the complexities of relationships, he finds incredible nuance. Coming off consecutive triumphs, Sachs once again digs into the inner workings of complicated people, allowing Franz … Continue reading Review: ‘Passages’ Digs Into the Complexities of Sexuality and Lust
Fantasia 2023: ‘Mami Wata’ Delivers Gorgeous Visuals and Brilliant Heartbreak
Clashes between modernity and established ways of life rarely end happily. While some will always push progress, others will find comfort in tradition. Most films that tackle this divide focus on the dangers of holding onto custom and a life beyond what was known. Yet Mami Wata, a stunning return for C.J. “Fiery” Obasi, proves … Continue reading Fantasia 2023: ‘Mami Wata’ Delivers Gorgeous Visuals and Brilliant Heartbreak
Review: ‘Rye Lane’ Charms Your Pants Off as the Rom-Com Returns
The rom-com, as we once knew it, died years ago. Now every version seems to embrace the meta-storytelling of women who know they’re in a rom-com. In many other cases, they’re relegated to romance novels, which have delightfully found a resurgence in recent years. Yet while we wait for the IP-inspired rom-com revolution, viewers disappeared … Continue reading Review: ‘Rye Lane’ Charms Your Pants Off as the Rom-Com Returns
SXSW 2023: ‘Fancy Dance’ Kicks Off The Year of Lily Gladstone
Few actresses have found so much critical acclaim but remain outside the mainstream. Lily Gladstone emerged in Certain Woman, stealing a film from some of the most famous actresses alive. When she did, the critical and indie communities took notice. Yet it’s been more than 7 years since that film’s debut, and she’s yet to … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Fancy Dance’ Kicks Off The Year of Lily Gladstone
Review: ‘Blueback’ Showcases Important Ecological Messages But Drags
Films with strong messages walk a fine line. When you have an idea that pushes action or activism, it needs to be fully explained. Yet, for movies, that can be difficult for dramatic storytellers to accomplish. Oftentimes, this leaves actors scrambling to communicate rather than perform, and the balance can tip the wrong way. In … Continue reading Review: ‘Blueback’ Showcases Important Ecological Messages But Drags
Sundance 2023: ‘When It Melts’ Challenges the Audience and Reflects on Trauma
Reflecting on our past life can yield troubling memories. However, those who suffered as children are unlikely to see their lives through a positive lens. Even when we try to overcome these obstacles, the world rarely lets us move on in productive ways. First-time director Veerle Baetens uses her debut When It Melts to showcase … Continue reading Sundance 2023: ‘When It Melts’ Challenges the Audience and Reflects on Trauma
Sundance 2023: ‘The Tuba Thieves’ Explores the Fallible Reliance on Sound
For non-d/deaf audience members, we often take the presence of sound for granted. It is not until it is stripped away that we find our lives disoriented by its presence (or lack thereof). Yet as d/deaf and hard-of-hearing artists have grown their representation in the film and television world, an inclusive cinematic approach has spawned. … Continue reading Sundance 2023: ‘The Tuba Thieves’ Explores the Fallible Reliance on Sound
Sundance 2023 – Shorts: ‘Christopher at Sea’ Is a Stunning Visual Explosion
Finding ourselves in unique settings can alter our understanding of self. Sometimes, the mere shift to another environment allows us to become different people. After all, society may define us one way, but a different culture and perspective may view us in a completely different light. While onboard a transatlantic cargo ship, Christopher lets his … Continue reading Sundance 2023 – Shorts: ‘Christopher at Sea’ Is a Stunning Visual Explosion
Sundance 2023: ‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’ – The Women are Talking
Sometimes it's odd when works of art feel as if they were made to co-exist. The 2022-2023 Oscar season featured continual discussions of Sarah Polley's Women Talking, a film where women discussed the harms men do to them. While it was a fictional tale, the stories are too common to ignore. Meanwhile, thousands of miles … Continue reading Sundance 2023: ‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’ – The Women are Talking