Film-Forward

Comedy

Fort Tilden

Written and Directed by Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers Released by Orion Releasing USA. 95 min. Rated R With Bridey Elliott, Clare McNulty, Neil Casey, Reggie Watts, Peter Vack, Jeffrey Scaperrotta, Griffin Newman, Desireé Nash, and Becky Yamamoto First-time directors Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers take a biting look at the Millennial Generation, using a […]

Dope

Written and Directed by Rick Famuyiwa Produced by Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi Released by Open Road Films USA. 105 min. Rated R With Shameik Moore, Kimberly Elise, Chanel Iman, Diggy, Jib, Roger Guenveur Smith, Forest Whitaker, Blake Anderson, Quincy Brown, Zoë Kravitz, and ASAP Rocky This Sundance darling is being praised as fresh […]

The Overnight

Written and Directed by Patrick Brice Produced by Naomi Scott Released by the Orchard USA. 80 min. Rated R With Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godrèche A downright hysterical entry in brothers Jay and Mark Duplass’s production canon, The Overnight constructs a recoiling depiction of thirtysomething frustrations by mixing R-rated hijinks with […]

A Merry Friggin’ Christmas

Directed by Tristam Shapeero Produced by Tom Rice and Ben Nearn Written by Michael Brown Released by eOne Entertainment USA. 87 min. Rated PG-13 With Joel McHale, Lauren Graham, Clark Duke, Oliver Platt, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Tim Heidecker, Candice Bergen and Robin Williams One has hope that when a Christmas movie comes out, it can be […]

Dear White People

Written and Directed by Justin Simien Produced by Mr. Simien, Effie Brown, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez, Ann Le and Lena Waithe Released by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions USA. 108 min. Rated R With Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Kyle Gallner, Teyonah Parris, Brandon Bell, Dennis Haysbert, Brittany Curran, Peter Syvertsen, Marque Richardson and Malcolm Barrett […]

Toronto Highs & Lows | TIFF

After more than a week seeing 41 movies (in addition to the 21 seen earlier), I found few obvious outstanding discoveries at the Toronto International Film Festival compared with last year, whose standouts included the beautifully made Ida, the raucous We Are the Best!, and a stronger sampling of art films. Overall, the best selections […]

The Skeleton Twins

Directed by Craig Johnson Produced by Stephanie Langhoff, Jennifer Lee and Jacob Pechenik Written by Johnson and Mark Heyman Released by Roadside Attractions USA. 92 min. Rated R With Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook and Joanna Gleason Actors Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader have habitually epitomized the lofty standards of […]

The One I Love

Directed by Charlie McDowell Produced by Mel Eslyn Written by Justin Lader Released by Radius/TWC USA. 91 min. Rated R With Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss and Ted Danson This comedy, with a couple of couples who are easily confused in their mixed-up match-ups, owes something to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. To its great credit, it […]

Life After Beth

Written and Directed by Jeff Baena Produced by Michael Zakin, Liz Destro Released by A24 USA. 91 min. Rated R With Dane DeHaan, Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser, Matthew Gray Gubler, Anna Kendrick, and Jim O’Heir Aubrey Plaza is an actor that has recently flourished, thanks to her procurement […]