Heidi Shepler | Film Festival Today

Tribeca Review: We Needed “Stockholm Syndrome,” for the Information, If Not the Art
By Adam Vaughn
June 16, 2021
Stockholm Syndrome (The Architects, 2021) 2½ out of 4 stars. Stockholm Syndrome unpacks the story of rapper A$AP Rocky’s journey through the highly controversial events that took place in Sweden in 2019. While I enjoyed the film, I also thought its overall story structure jumped around in ideas and structure, making the documentary, itself, a little too “rocky.” It starts with its subject’s upbringing as a child in Harlem, with interviews from ... >>
Film Review: “Souad” Showcases the Complex Lives of Young Egyptian Women
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 15, 2021
Souad (Ayten Amin, 2021) 3½ out of 4 stars. Egyptian college student Souad, when first we meet her, rides a city bus in in the city of Zagazig, cell phone in hand, chatting with an older woman about both her medical studies and fiancé serving in the army in Sinai. She paints a charming picture of a young woman in the prime of young adulthood, excited about the future. A quick cut, though, places Souad next to a new stranger, and this time she ... >>
Tribeca Review: “a-ha: the Movie” Is a Delight for Casual and Diehard Fans Alike
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 15, 2021
a-ha: the Movie (Thomas Robsahm, 2021) 3 out of 4 stars. Norwegian musicians Morten Harket, Pål Waaktaar (now Waaktaar-Savoy) and Magne Furuholmen – born in 1959, 1961 and 1962, respectively – joined forces in 1982 as the pop band a-ha, and after three years of struggle released the chart-topping global hit “Take on Me,” the video for which proved as popular as the song. Though their fame and fortune have waxed and waned since then, they have, ... >>
Tribeca Review: “Mark, Mary & Some Other People” Get It On, Get Off and Get Lost
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 10, 2021
Mark, Mary & Some Other People (Hannah Marks, 2021) 3 out of 4 stars. Twentysomething sexual freedom sounds like a great idea. On some level, most people probably think a little bit about what it would be like to experiment, while those who are older and never did wish they had. But what if you wed early on? Ethical non-monogamy offers married couples the chance to fool around with partners outside their primary relationship without ... >>
Film Review: The Young Cast of “Skater Girl” Shines Despite a Disjointed Script
By Robin C. Farrell
June 10, 2021
Skater Girl (Manjari Makijany, 2021) 2½ out of 4 stars. Skater Girl treats both the titular character and her sport with a lot of heart. Beautiful intentions are on display here, between some gorgeous, energetic cinematography and a few stellar performances by young and relatively unknown actors. The downsides are an inconsistent tone and a plot that builds to an abrupt and limited ending, dulling the many other elements of this story ... >>

Victoria Reviews “In the Heights”
June 8, 2021
Broadway behemoth Hamilton must have been a fluke. This is a musical without songs. And the ...>>
Film Review: “Those Who Wish Me Dead”
May 22, 2021
It’s best seen at a movie theater. It’s Angelina Jolie’s return to films, though she has not been ...>>
Film Review: “Spiral, from the Book of Saw”
May 18, 2021
Chris Rock has reached the apex of Hollywood stardom. He has a sure hit franchise. In a wacky Good ...>>
Film Review: “The Odds”
March 8, 2021
Bravo! A Herculean effort to deliver a highly original two-character horror movie. You want to ...>>

Film Review: “High Ground” Is Exquisite and Devastating

Series Review: “The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness” Offers a Solid Exploration of a Conspiracy

Film Review: “The Virtuoso” Is Strong in Atmosphere and Weak in Plot

Film Review: “We Broke Up” Is Caught Between Tenderness and Capriciousness

Film Review: “Long Weekend” Is a Fun, Unexpected Romcom with One Weak Twist