Tag: cinema
Review: ‘Downsizing’ Goes Big with Ideas But Stays Small in Execution
Alexander Payne’s 2017 science-fiction picture Downsizing is so cleverly conceived you might forget how poorly made it is. Undoubtedly, it’s not a horrible movie. In fact, it’s quite watchable, though it drags at certain points and has its share of frustrating moments. The problem is that it should have been better, given the talent behind…
American Film Institute: 2018 European Union Film Showcase
The American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre held the 30th edition of its European Union Film Showcase this December. Always a highlight, the 2017 Showcase screened 44 new movies from the 28 EU member nations. Here is a brief recap of this year’s Showcase. THE SUBLIME The Workshop (Laurent Cantet, France) On Body and Soul (Ildiko…
Review: The Florida Project finds sunshine in the rain
At numerous times in Sean Baker’s The Florida Project, the director and co-writer splices together two starkly different realities. One – the city of dreams, where tucked between the highways and residential Orlando lies Disney World, the other happiest place on Earth, where people take family vacation, spend honeymoons and anniversaries, ride roller coasters, stay…
Review: La fille inconnue (The Unknown Girl)
You know that old saying “Lesser Dardennes is still better than most anything else?” OK, it’s not an old saying because I just made it up. But it should be. Because with Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardennes, movies that fall several notches down on their list of achievements are significantly better than the vast bulk of…
Movie Review: Darren Aronofsky’s Mother!
About ten years back, I went to a play at one of my local rep theatres. If I remember right, it was an American premiere, but I suppose that doesn’t really figure into the story. The next day, I was inspired to send a $100 contribution to the theatre, with the accompanying note. “I saw…