Film-Forward

Crime

Wild Canaries

Written and Directed by Lawrence Michael Levine Produced by Kim Sherman Released by Sundance Selects USA. 90 min. Not rated With Sophia Takal, Lawrence Michael Levine, Alia Shawkat, Annie Parisse, Jason Ritter, and Kevin Corrigan Helmed by writer, producer, director, and star Lawrence Michael Levine, this caper-comedy has a refreshing cast of young actors assembled […]

Everly

Directed by Joe Lynch Produced by Adam Ripp, Rob Paris, Luke Rivett, and Andrew Pfeffer. Written by Yale Hannon Released by the Radius-TWC USA. 92 min. Rated R With Salma Hayek, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Laura Cepeda, Togo Igawa, Akie Kotabe, Gabriella Wright, Caroline Chikezie, Jennifer Blanc, Jelena Gavrilovic, and Aisha Ayamah Rarely does a film leaving […]

French Films in Toronto | TIFF14

With 41 French (co-)productions debuting at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the event has evolved into an important platform for the country’s film industry, offering premieres that outnumber French debuts at Cannes. Just as Toronto kicks off the awards season in North America, it also serves the same purpose for the French films. Many […]

A Most Violent Year

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 […]

To Kill a Man

Written and Directed by Alejandro Fernández Almendras Produced by Eduardo Villalobos Pino, Guillaume de Seille Released by Film Movement Spanish with English subtitles Chile/France. 81 min. Not rated With Daniel Candia, Alexandra Yanez, Daniel Antivilo, Ariel Mateluna, and Jennifer Salas Inspired by real-life events, To Kill a Man has honorable intent. It wants to put […]

Starred Up

Directed by David Mackenzie Written by Jonathan Asser Produced by Gillian Berrie Released by Tribeca Film UK. 106 min. Not rated With Jack O’Connell, Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend, Sam Spruell, Anthony Welsh, David Ajala and Peter Ferdinando Starred Up, written by real-life prison psychiatrist Jonathan Asser, feels like necessary corrective medicine for our cultural obsession […]

Bad Turn Worse

Directed by Zeke Hawkins and Simon Hawkins Produced by Justin X. Duprie and Brian Udovich Written by Dutch Southern Released by Starz Digital USA. 91 min. Not rated With Jeremy Allen White, Logan Huffman, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Pellegrino, William Devane, and Jon Gries Bad Turn Worse begins with an act of great hubris when a […]

Why Don’t You Play in Hell?

Written and Directed by Sion Sono Produced by:Takeshi Suzuki, Takuyuki Matsuno, Sadai Yuji Released by Drafthouse Films Japanese with English subtitles Japan. 130 min.  Not rated With Jun Kunimura, Fumi Nikaido, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Hiroki Hasegawa, and Gen Hoshino Right away you know that Sion Sono—previously of Love Exposure and Cold Fish—isn’t going to play it […]

Foxcatcher

Directed by Bennett Miller Produced by Megan Ellison, Miller, Jon Kilik and Anthony Bregman Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman Released by Sony Pictures Classics USA. 134 min. Rated R With Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave, and Sienna Miller The American entry in this year’s Cannes Film Festival competition, Foxcatcher, […]