been here stay here

I've been really impressed by two thoroughly American climate change-minded documentaries from this year so far: the Tangier Island-set Been Here Stay Here, and the roaming rumination of Humboldt USA.

My Film-Forward reviews are here:

Been Here Stay Here

Humboldt USA

the christophers

 

My review of The Christophers, starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, here at Film-Forward.

epic: elvis presley in concert

My review of Baz Luhrmann's bombastic, fairly dazzling concert doc EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, here at Film-Forward.

 

kokuho

I was moved by Lee Sang-il's sprawling Kokuho. The kabuki theater sequences are absolutely stunning.

My Film-Forward review here.

nuremberg

 

My review of James Vanderbilt's Nuremberg is now up at Film-Forward.

I thought the cast overall was good, particularly Russell Crowe (his best performance in quite some time), Michael Shannon, and Richard E. Grant.

The epic-scope approach is quite overcooked and overlong, with simplistic subplots, but the main story between Douglas Kelley and Hermann Göring is fascinating. 

via Sony Pictures Classics

die my love

 

My review of the much-anticipated (and divisive!) Lynne Ramsay film, Die My Love, is now up at Film-Forward.

via Mubi

pillion

Pillion plays like a fizzy romcom, except with deep dramatic undertones.

"While quietly composed, Alexander Skarsgård is doing tricky, believable work—sometimes a seemingly empty pain behind Ray’s eyes and an occasional inner wrestling feels tangible."

My New York Film Festival review of Pillion is now up at Film-Forward.

via A24

urchin

 

My review of Harris Dickinson's impressive directorial debut, Urchin, is now up at Film-Forward.

nyff review: blue moon

I was thoroughly engaged with Richard Linklater's bittersweet Blue Moon.

My New York Film Festival review is now up at Film-Forward.

nyff review: after the hunt

Luca Guadagnino's After the Hunt was the opening night selection at this year's New York Film Festival.

I enjoyed the film and its aesthetics (those oversized blazers!), but all of its elements don't gel, and there are weird point-of-view shifts that leave its side characters, especially Ayo Edebiri's, in the dust. 

Still worth watching for a vigorous performance from Julia Roberts. Always a treat to see her tackle brittle characters.

My Film-Forward review is here.

griffin in summer

An imperfect film, but Everett Blunck's performance is terrific as a tween with a die hard focus on mounting his artistic vision.

My review of Griffin in Summer here at Film-Forward.

 

via Vertical

taxi zum klo

I was invigorated by Frank Ripploh’s raw 1980 queer film, Taxi zum Klo. 

My Film-Forward review here. 

via Altered Innocence

folktales

My review of the beautiful, coming-of-age documentary of a Norwegian gap-year program, Folktales, from directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, is here at Film-Forward.

via Loki Films / Magnolia Pictures