Kate Winslet and Toni Collette in a still from ‘Goodbye June’ courtesy of Netflix
And somehow, coming from such illustrious parents, it should be no surprise Anders came up with such a touching, beautiful script — yet incredible talent at such a young age still remains the stuff of legends for me.
Read More
When people say, or write, things like “what has become of America?” pointing to our current leadership and our contemporary USA, I always think, we’ve been there all along — because America was built on slavery, and the kind of human/civil rights abuses that never let up.
Read More
Fiona Shaw and Katherine Waterston in a still from ‘Park Avenue’, used with permission
With its heart clearly in the right place, Dellal’s film mixes what I love most in life — fashion and cinema.
Read More
Why is it that films like Dolores Fonzi’s wondrous directorial venture always remind us about the forgotten history, and how condemned we remain as a human race to repeat our mistakes in the future if we don’t come to terms with our past?
Read More
While the Iranian helmer’s latest film may not be his best, it has turned out to be his most crucial to date — all because Panahi is finally able to promote it.
Read More
Turns out you do. And Cooper is both funny in it, and wondrous behind the camera. In a few words, it’s a film you won’t want to miss.
Read More
Dhafer L’Abidine and Yasmine Al Massri in a still from ‘Palestine 36’ courtesy of Philistine Films
Why, you ask? Because if we are ever to understand the Palestinian/Israeli issues of the present, we need to go back nearly a century and wrap our heads around the crimes, struggles and mistakes of the past.
Read More
Tessa Thompson in ‘Hedda’ by Nia DaCosta, photo courtesy of Amazon
The film, directed and written by Nia DaCosta based on the play by Henrik Ibsen, transports the story to 1950s England, with all its class issues and gender bias, and adds into the mix an LGBTQ twist that transforms what could be a dated narrative into one for the here and now.
Read More
Banin Ahmad Nayef in a still from ‘The President’s Cake’ courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
The Iraqi helmer’s film premiered in Cannes this year and suddenly, I couldn’t imagine a world without its presence. But it was as if one day, Hasan Hadi’s presence and talent exploded onto our consciousness, ready to take his place in the world of cinema greats.
Read More
Úrsula Corberó Delgado and Nahuel Pérez Biscayart in a still from ‘Kill the Jockey’, used with permission
While Luis Ortega’s stunning 2024 film may be primarily an Argentinian title, as a Spanish co-production jury members Vincent Jaskowski-Prowse, Leigh Singer and I were able to celebrate the title in style at this year’s festival. And, in the process, we discovered a film that has filled our dreams ever since.
Read More
Two wondrous filmmakers, two outstanding actors and one musical legend come together to recount an icon and set the record straight. In more ways than one.
Read More
A still from ‘Cotton Queen’, courtesy of Strange Bird
Behind what could be a simple tale of a young girl coming of age in Sudan, filmmaker Suzannah Mirghani’s debut feature weaves an extraordinary and cautionary tale of respect for one’s self and for the environment around us, which are always crucially, and importantly intertwined.
Read More
A still from ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ courtesy of Focus Features
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes a perfect “franchise” film and the Simon Curtis-directed 2025 gem, in theaters on Friday, September 12th, may just end up winning the prize.
Read More
Yile Vianello in a still from ‘AGON’ by Giulio Bertelli, photo courtesy of The Match Factory
This stunning film, which packs a punch and relentlessly holds on to the viewer, until you realize you may have just run out of breath, world premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival in the 40th edition of Critics’ Week, one of the festival’s parallel section.
Read More
Toni Servillo in Paolo Sorrentino’s ‘La Grazia’, image courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
The Neapolitan Maestro’s perfect, awards-worthy Venice opener sees Toni Servillo playing an out-going Italian President of the Republic who, faced with several life-changing choices, allows us, the audience, to discover through him the true meaning of the word “grace”.
Read More
Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal in Ari Aster’s ‘Eddington’ now in theaters
In spreading his message of lives often lived in shades of grey — not just good vs. bad — the American filmmaker enlists a quartet of actors who are redefining cinema as we know it.
Read More
The iconic film has never looked so good or sounded so hauntingly modern and this remastered version, courtesy of the Deutsche Kinemathek, will be in UK cinemas starting August 22nd. Why watch it, you may ask? Because the 1925 film has never been so bang on, filled with actuality and gravitas.
Read More
A still from ‘Cotton Queen’ by Suzannah Mirghani, which will screen in Critics’ Week in Venice
Other titles supported by the respected Qatari cinematic organization include Jihan K’s personal doc on the disappearance of her father during the Qaddafi regime, Cyril Aris’ ‘A Sad and Beautiful World’ starring Mounia Akl, which will be screening in the Official Selection and Giornate degli Autori lineups, respectively, along with Sofia Alaoui’s sci-fi fable ‘Tarfaya’ which participates in the Venice Production Bridge.
Read More
If I have anything to do with it, Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius’ animated masterpiece will soon come to US cinemas so that you too can experience this gem in all its actuality, poignancy and beauty.
Read More
Harvey Schein, photo courtesy of the Schein family archives
And this documentary proves one to be watched, if you find yourself in NYC starting July 18th and LA from July 25th.
Read More