What went into the creation of this list? Mostly strong first impressions, followed by second (or third or fourth opinions) and a second viewing, confirming that there is some “there” there. Because this compilation is made right at the end of the year, it’s a judgment of its time made under at least condition since […]
Written and Directed by J.C. Chandor Produced by Neal Dodson, Anna Gerb, and Chandor Released by A24 USA. 124 min. Rated R With Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola, Elyes Gabel, Albert Brooks, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Peter Gerety, and Christopher Abbott A Most Violent Man is not particularly violent, and it only takes […]
Directed by Sam Fleischner Produced by Andrew Neel, Veronica Nickel, Dave Saltzman and Craig Shilowich Written by Rose Lichter-Marck and Micah Bloomberg, based on a story by Lichter-Marck Released by Oscilloscope Laboratories. USA. 100 min. Not rated With Andrea Suarez Paz, Jesus Sanchez-Velez, Azul Zorrilla, Tenoch Huerta Mejía and Marsha Stephanie Blake Director Sam Fleischner […]
Written and Directed by Damiel Chazelle Produced by Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, and Michel Litvak Released by Sony Pictures Classics USA. 105 min. Rated R With Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, and Paul Reiser Possibly the most intense/best film of the year, Whiplash appears to have been made for a niche audience. […]
Written, Produced, and Directed by Scott Cohen USA/Antarctica/Argentina. 80 min. Not rated With Olivia Thirlby, Vincent Kartheiser, Billy Campbell, Larry Pine, Lisa Harrow, Roger Payne, Garth Stevenson, and Matt Drennan At the end of Red Knot, director Scott Cohen dedicates the film to his wife. It’s a personal touch to what feels like a very […]
Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée Written by Nick Hornby, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed Produced by Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea and Bill Pohlad Released by Fox Searchlight Pictures USA. 119 min. Not rated With Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Michiel Huisman, Gaby Hoffmann, Kevin Rankin, W. Earl Brown, Mo McRae, and Keene McRae […]
Directed by Adrián García Bogliano Produced by Larry Fessenden, Brent Kunkle, Greg Newman, Zak Zeman Written by Eric Stolze Released by Dark Sky Films USA. 95 min. Rated R With Nick Damici, Ethan Embry, Lance Guest, Tina Louise, Rutanya Alda, Caitlin O’Heaney, Tom Noonan, Larry Fessenden, and Erin Cummings The setup of this werewolf movie […]
Written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour Produced by Sina Sayyah, Justin Begnaud and Amirpour Released by Kino Lorber/Vice Films Farsi with English subtitles USA. 107 min. Not rated With Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Mozhan Marno, Dominic Rains, Milad Eghbali, Rome Shadanloo, Marshall Manesh and Reza Sixo Safai A chador-wearing vampire stalks the sleazy men […]
Butter on the Latch Thous Wast Mild & Lovely Director and writer Josephine Decker’s first two feature-length films complement each other well, while revealing a diverse and unique approach to contemporary filmmaking. Both contain a central, if loose, narrative dream sequence, hallucinations, and odd camera movements and sounds to create completely distinct visions. Butter on […]