The biography of writer/director of Memoria, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, gives clues as to what his films will be about. Born in Thailand (and still residing there) as the son of two doctors, he studied at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, worked as an architect and multimedia artist, and is now known as a creator of experimental […]
“Children are a crushing responsibility,” Olivia Colman’s character says to a young mother. How “The Lost Daughter” came to be a motion picture is almost as fascinating as the film itself. The mysterious author, Elena Ferrante, is anonymous (her identity and location are unknown). She emailed actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, giving her the rights to turn
Why 20th Century Studios is releasing the prequel “The King’s Man” amid the awards films and a dominating superhero film is anyone’s guess. Director Matthew Vaughn’s prequel to “Kingsman,” however, is quite impressive in the second half. Vaughn, who wrote the screenplay and directed the franchise’s previous films, assembles an impressive cast that includes Ralph
It’s somewhat curious to me that the famed director Joel Coen (usually with his brother Ethan, but not this time) would choose to film a Shakespeare play. We don’t seem to be in the right climate for that now, but I read that his wife Frances McDormand had for some time wanted him to direct the
This is a really fine production from script to actors, music, cinematography, and production design. The dialog is entertaining and smartly—but not too smartly—crafted. Everyone converses in ways people normally talk to one another without artifice, which sometimes happens with clever scriptwriters. This was penned by its director Paul Thomas Anderson and reflects his usual number of characters’ insights while
Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (“Green Book,” “Moonlight”) turns in another impressive performance as a man looking to clone his dying body so his family can survive in “Swan Song.” The most important aspect of “Swan Song” is Ali is in it. Garnering a Golden Globe nomination for his performance this week, Apple TV+ continues
Arguably another remake, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” marks the third solo film for Tom Holland and the franchise’s most complex plot to date. Ironically, the most simplistic new release this week is the one film that focuses on the future instead of the past. For years, this critic has delivered harsh criticism toward Marvel and
Normally, Oscar-winning Director Guillermo del Toro would release something like “The Shape of Water,” “Pan’s Labyrinth” or even “Hellboy” during October, but his star-studded remake of “Nightmare Alley” has its eyes on prestige. For del Toro fans, his latest “Nightmare Alley” doesn’t include as much disturbing content, gore or monsters featured in previous films like
Adam McKay has become an auteur in the worst way. His films, boasting large casts and “important issues”, talk down to the viewer, patronizing his audience under the veil of entertainment. His latest “Don’t Look Up” for Netflix is the least articulate of his recent best picture nominated films (“Vice”, “The Big Short”). Early scenes
“Being the Ricardos” almost had a casting issue. After Cate Blanchett dropped out of playing Lucille Ball, fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman stepped in. If you go into Sorkin’s flick with the understanding that Kidman isn’t trying to embody Ball, everything makes more sense. In fact, you could totally ignore who Kidman and Bardem are playing