As its plot unfolds, Amsterdam treats us to a strangely magical form of visual and verbal storytelling, both humorous and hard-edged, by turns sweet and shocking, with richly curated frames and bright spirited dialogue.
Ezra Haber Glenn
Film Review: Wait for It… “Hold Your Fire”
At a time when the nation is taking stock of the failures of our history of urban policing and looking for some new approaches, the lessons of Hold Your Fire are needed more urgently than ever.
Film Review: “Barbarian” — Scarebnb
As with many horror and action films (and probably much of real life), the build-up is better than the eventual resolution/climax.
Film Commentary: Diamonds in the Rough — One Perfect Moment from “Infinite Storm”
Years from now, I’m sure I will have forgotten nearly everything about Infinite Storm, but this one scene will still stick with me.
Arts Feature: Best Movies (With Some Disappointments) of 2021
Our demanding critics choose the best films (along with some disappointments) of the year.
Film Review: “Encounter” — A Solid Genre-Spanner
This “father and sons on the lam” film adeptly blends genres (in this case: sci-fi plus thriller). It is well assembled, emotionally compelling, and beautifully shot.
Film Review: “Belfast’ — Black and White and Rosy All Over
Belfast is overly sentimental and drenched if not drowned in nostalgia, but it’s also very sweet, uplifting, well-paced, beautifully shot, and competently assembled.
Film Review: “Terra Femme” — Only Connect…
Collectively, Terra Femme’s footage provides a window — or really, a suite of windows — that allows us to view a bygone world through the eyes of silent female gazers.
Film Review: “Blue Bayou” — “I’m Going Back Someday…”
Blue Bayou’s story deserves to be told and heard. But rather than focus slowly and intently on its central crisis, the script kneads in a dizzying array of additional threads and sidelines.
Film Review: Interrogating Guilt — Paul Schrader’s “The Card Counter”
The Card Counter collapses under the weight of director Paul Schrader’s guilt complex.