Film Reviews | Film Festival Today - Part 2

“The Featherweight” Breaks No New Ground

September 19, 2024

TIFF Review: “The Wolves Always Come at Night”

September 13, 2024

“Subservience” Replicates

September 12, 2024

“Speak No Evil” Mixes Fright and Fun

September 12, 2024

TIFF Review: “Santosh”

September 12, 2024

McKellen and Arterton Save “The Critic”

September 12, 2024

“Girls Will Be Girls” Finds Honesty in Uncomfortable Moments

September 12, 2024

“Here After” Intrigues a Bit Too Late

September 11, 2024

TIFF Review: “The Wild Robot”

September 10, 2024

TIFF Review: “I’m Still Here”

September 9, 2024

TIFF Review: “Temporary Shelter”

September 7, 2024

In “Bad Genius,” Smart Teens Break Bad
By George W. Campbell
October 9, 2024
Bad Genius (J.C. Lee, 2024) 3½ out of 5 stars For many first-generation American teenagers, following their dreams can feel like a privilege. Parents leave everything they know behind to give their children a better life, so they are under increased pressure to succeed. But what would happen if one of these teens decided to break the rules? What if they were offered a chance to get what they want while still supporting their family? Therein lies ... >>
“The Veil” Embraces Enigma
By Hannah Tran
October 4, 2024
The Veil (Cameron Beyl, 2023) 3 out of 5 stars Despite its brief length, Cameron Beyl’s The Veil makes a distinct impression. This tale of fate and redemption follows retired priest Douglas as he tries to atone for a moment in his youth when he abandoned a terrified Amish woman on the roadside. Now, while a solar storm brews overhead, another Amish woman named Hannah arrives at his door, trembling with a familiar fear, and the mystery begins to ... >>
“Leap of Faith” Is Visually Bold
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
October 3, 2024
Leap of Faith (Nicholas Ma, 2024) 3½ out of 5 stars I grew up in the Episcopal Church, attending services every Sunday as a member of the St. David’s boys’ choir in Baltimore, MD. I loved following the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) system and singing the anthems, hymns, and more complex liturgical compositions, which provided me with a strong background in music theory plus training in how to use my voice. As time wore on, however, I ... >>
“Notice to Quit” Blends Chaos, Intrigue, and Family Drama
By Robin C. Farrell
September 26, 2024
Notice to Quit (Simon Hacker, 2024) 3 out of 5 stars In his feature film debut, Notice to Quit, director and writer Simon Hacker offers up the story of a particularly hot and stifling day in New York City. Andy (Michael Zegen, The Stand In), a harried and not-so-talented real-estate agent, feebly attempts to climb the ladder to success, having dug himself into a hole sometime prior. He’s taken to casing the empty properties he can’t rent, ... >>
TIFF Interview: Anastasiia Bortuali and Dmitrii Novoseltsev of “Temporary Shelter”
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
September 19, 2024
First-time filmmaker Anastasiia Bortuali just premiered her documentary Temporary Shelter at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival—aka TIFF—where I reviewed it. The movie follows her journey out of Ukraine after Russia invaded her homeland in early 2022. She, along with family members and compatriots, chose the island nation of Iceland as their destination, finding a strange—but, overall, welcoming—shelter from the ravages of war. ... >>

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That’s a Wrap at DC/DOX 2024
June 19, 2024
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Five Films to See at Tribeca 2024
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In Memoriam: Morgan Spurlock
May 27, 2024
When I heard about the passing of documentarian Morgan ...>>