Film-Forward

Smoothly entertaining and fast-paced, Lisa Cortés’s documentary thrives on her quotable and boisterous subject.

What might be the most shocking and refreshing thing about this movie, particularly for its director, is how straightforward it feels.

A newborn crashes into its mother’s well-constructed world, and the new parent goes from sleep-deprived and exhausted to something darker.

A droll comedy/drama of an Arab village in Israel stuck in limbo.

The film nimbly becomes a thriller without shedding its established rhythm. Before you know it, the tone has turned uncomfortably ominous. 

The austere setting of the Icelandic tundra gives Godland the visual trappings of a man vs. nature story. However, it is more complex than that.

This frenetic and nerve-wracking movie makes the point that for many, it’s worse than a jungle out there.

Performances by Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, and Mia Goth stood out at Sundance this year. 

Writer/director Raven Jackson’s debut feature reveals a perceptive and immensely talented filmmaker. The pleasures here are mainly mined from the visual and aural details.