We are subtly drawn into the world of director Robert Machoian’s characters and their emotional honesty.
Review
Film Review: “Spiral” — One More Spin of the “Saw”
Spiral is content to be a satisfying thriller that mechanically delivers as its murderous pace picks up.
Book Review: “Shooting Midnight Cowboy” — A Very Good Read
What motivated me to read this book? Not for a special love of Midnight Cowboy, a movie which I like but isn’t ultimately important to me. It was to learn about James Leo Herlihy, who has interested me since I was an adolescent.
Book Review: “Roundabout of Death” — No Safe Havens
The strength of Roundabout of Death lies in its credibility, and in a specificity that defies detail.
Film Review: The Ventures and The Shadows — Guitar-Driven Instrumental Bands Get the Documentary Treatment
A pair of documentaries about the most popular guitar-driven instrumental bands of all time.
Television Review: “Monster” — An Adaptation That Shouldn’t Have Happened
It is sad Monster is such a botched effort, given that this is an important and timely story.
Film Review: “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” — The New Flesh
You’re never quite sure what you’re watching but you can feel yourself going down the creepypasta rabbit-hole with protagonist Casey nonetheless.
Film Review: “Last Night in Rozzie” — Troubled Youth, Forgotten Truth
There’s a powerful sense of place built into Last Night in Rozzie: the direction and acting evoke the feeling that inevitably comes when we return to our childhood neighborhood.
Rock Album Review: Van Morrison’s Latest — A Boatload of Rockers and Bellyaching
Prickly and polemical tunes are surrounded by some of the most enjoyable music Van Morrison has made in years.
Film Review: “Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché” — Courage and Artistry Relevant to Our Moment
The documentary strikes a remarkably rich vein, covering not only music, fashion and a late-1970s social critique, but also matters of race, class, gender, mental health and spirituality.