NOSFERATU (2024) (R) Dir. Robert Eggers The sensual, sinful, suspenseful remake amps up the disturbingly romantic and rotting underbelly of the vampire sub-genre, cementing Eggers as a horror maestro and expert filmmaker and Lily-Rose Depp as an elevated scream queen. Grade (5.0/ 5.0) Sometimes, there is a simple convergence of many elements that lead […]
December 25, 2024 —If you choose Bob Dylan for Christmas this year, you will find an unconventional musical biopic showcasing Timothee Chalamet‘s musical and acting range. The sounds coming from the non-family-friendly “Babygirl” are a different kind of noise. Director James Mangold mastered the musical biopic back in 2005 with “Walk the Line.” Award-winning performances
A Complete Unknown and Babygirl: Very different sounds coming from Chalamet and Kidman Read More »
December 25, 2024 —It’s that time of year when candles flicker in windows, and snow falls quietly on the distant castle as we all give thanks for…. Vampires? Focus Features cleverly picked Christmas Day to release the highly anticipated “Nosferatu” by Robert Eggers for some dark counter-programming. You don’t have to look far on Film-Twitter
Nosferatu: Gothic Beauty Meets Mundane Storytelling Read More »
“Maria” will complete director Pablo Larraín‘s “Women in Heels“ trilogy, as it’s been called. “Jackie“ and “Spencer“ found their respective leads, Natalie Portman and Kristen Stewart, Oscar-nominated. That will repeat for Oscar winner Angelina Jolie (“Girl Interrupted,” “The Changeling”) portraying famed opera singer Maria Calles. Larraín implores the same tactics from the previous two films:
QUEER (R) Dir. Luca Guadagnino Trippy, boozy, and devastating trip into a very gay ‘heart of darkness’ that shines a light on what it means to find acceptance from within. Grade (4.0/ 5.0) Luca Guadagnino’s Queer dives into the semi-autobiographical material of William S. Burroughs’ novella of the same name by introducing us to
November 20, 2024 —The last time we saw Sean Baker, he was in Galveston filming “Red Rocket,” starring Simon Rex as a washed-up porn star. Baker returns to the world of adult entertainment with “Anora,” the first American Palme d’Or winner since “The Tree of Life” (also shot partially in Galveston). Baker has built a
GLADIATOR II (R) Dir. Ridley Scott Twenty years later, there is still plenty of strength and honor in the Roman Empire to fight for, only with more special effects and a more powerful focus on the need for a free Republic…and Paul Mescal’s neck muscles. Grade (3.5 / 5.0) Ask anyone who is a
A transgressive icon strides into Houston’s cinematic heart on an unassuming evening. The storied John Waters—dubbed the “Pope of Trash” with more pride than irony—brings his most enduring creation, Hairspray, to life again, this time with a devilishly delightful twist. For one night only, Waters will deliver his first-ever live director’s commentary for his 1988
John Waters: A Singular, Sublime Outing with the Pope of Trash Read More »
Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winning film Anora emerges as a bawdy yet profound fable of modern survival, imbued with the filmmaker’s gritty realism and compassionate lens. The story follows Anora, played with unflinching honesty by Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood), a dancer at a New York strip club. From the outset, it’s clear
A Real Pain Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey Director: Jesse Eisenberg Running Time 90 min Rated R Grade A- In his sophomore feature as a director, Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg delivers an appropriate film for the Thanksgiving holiday. “A Real Pain” was a hit and an award contender right out of