“Nap Eyes’ ‘Snapshot of a Beginner’ Won’t Put You to Sleep”

Look, it was between this title and a play on “bedroom eyes,” and I think I ultimately went with the lesser of two evils here. Continue reading →

“Moaning Through the ‘Uneasy Laughter'”

For those who like their 80s nostalgia post-punk style, and by “those” I do not mean “me.” Continue reading →

“‘Come to Daddy’ For Violence, Humor And A Lesson In Male Abandonment Issues”

Spoiler alert: Don’t actually come to daddy, he’s going to try to kill you with a meat cleaver. It’s not his fault; he’s very, very drunk, and he’s also Stephen McHattie. (Or IS HE?!) Continue reading →

“The Roads Not Taken Is a Plea for Compassion”

There’s the Sally Potter we need, the Sally Potter we deserve, and, here, the Sally Potter we’re all very, very puzzled by. Continue reading →

“Kelly Reichardt Is Doing What She Can To Get Through The Moment”

My second piece about “First Cow.” You could call it: “Second ‘First Cow’ Piece.” Continue reading →

“‘Westworld’ Season 3 Finally Lets Us In On What It All Means”

If it’s HBO and I’m writing about it, it’s probably “Westworld.” Continue reading →

“Kitty Green Discusses Complicity and Loneliness in ‘The Assistant'”

The director of one of the best movies of the year was kind enough to talk to me about making a “timely” movie that’s actually timeless. Continue reading →

“‘First Cow’ Is A Necessary Portrait Of Platonic Male Affection”

The start of a new franchise. Better get a ticket now before “Second Cow” and “Third Cow” go into production. Continue reading →

“‘Onward’: Pixar Takes A Step Backward In A Film Rife With Fantasy Clichés”

Onward, but not upward, or forward, just mostly backward. Continue reading →

“‘Young Ahmed’ Needs Time To Grow Up”

Hey, did you know that a new Dardennes movie just came out less than a month ago? Bet you didn’t. I bet even the Dardennes didn’t! Continue reading →

“Ratboys’ ‘Printer’s Devil’ Sounds Unlike the Ratboys You Know, and That’s a Good Thing”

Oh man, if you want indie rock musical reference points, have I EVER got indie rock musical reference points for you! Continue reading →

“‘Saint Frances’ Casts Aside Judgment for Compassion”

Andy makes a crediting boo-boo, but it’s okay. Continue reading →

“Lilies that Fester: Autumn de Wilde and Anya Taylor-Joy Discuss ‘Emma.’ and How Easy It Is to Slip into Cruelty”

Handsome, clever, rich, and also so unpleasant in such fundamental ways that the person portraying her doesn’t even like her. Continue reading →

“Bacurau Is The Best John Carpenter Movie Carpenter Didn’t Actually Make”

If John Carpenter ever sees this movie, he will have to watch it through the tears in his eyes. Continue reading →

“‘VFW’ Salutes the Troops with More Blood Than Brains”

So far, when it comes to Joe Begos and the movies that Joe Begos makes, I’m 2 for 4; I like Bliss, I like VFW (though I like it less than Bliss), and I remember liking Almost Human, but it’s been almost a decade so I might need to revisit. I also never saw Mind’s Eye. Sorry Joe!  There’s … Continue reading →

“Hop Farms & How to Grow Hops in New England”

Hop, hop, hop, all day long / hop, hop, hop, while I sing this song Continue reading →

“Letitia VanSant’s Mighty Heart Keeps a ‘Circadian’ Rhythm”

If you need another definition for “badass,” try listening to this record. Continue reading →

“Rashaad Ernesto Green’s ‘Premature’ Is Right on Time”

Sometimes love finds people too young. Sometimes bad, punny headers find unprepared readers. It happens. Continue reading →

“‘Portrait Of A Lady On Fire’ Is About Truly Being Seen By Another”

One of the “best films of 2019” is now actually opening in theaters, so really it’s one of the best films of 2020, but really it’s a great movie in any year and you should see it. Continue reading →