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Toronto International Film Festival Review – ‘Triangle of Sadness’ is Ruben Östlund’s Latest Biting Social Critique

Filmmaker Ruben Östlund has no problem making audiences uncomfortable. His film Force Majeure looks at the aftermath of an apparent avalanche when one husband and father’s gut reaction is to grab his phone and keys and run rather than protect his family. The Square, in addition to tackling the often pretentious nature of art, examines…

Toronto International Film Festival Review – ‘The Fabelmans’ is a Winning Personal Film from Steven Spielberg

It should be assumed that those who make films have a strong passion for the medium. Yet there are many different ways that filmmakers can come to that love, and in some cases, it can happen later in life and after time spent later in a career. But for many, and likely most, that key…

Toronto International Film Festival Review – ‘Decision to Leave’ is an Engrossing Romantic Mystery

The detective mystery is a particular genre that has evolved over time, adding new dimensions and scaling back certain elements as society changes and the nature of how crimes are committed looks very different from the way it used to years ago. But any good investigative drama should feel timeless to a degree, focused on…

Toronto International Film Festival Review – Class, Excess, and Revenge Are on Searchlight’s ‘The Menu’

Revenge is a dish best served cold is an expression that’s not often meant literally. But the idea of servers and cooks spitting in the food of customers who complain or are ungrateful is one that exists, even if diners would like to hope that it doesn’t actually happen all that often. Fine dining can…

Toronto International Film Festival Review – ‘Bros’ is a Thoroughly Enjoyable and Genuinely Funny Gay Romantic Comedy

Our society has evolved to a point of aiming for inclusion, seeking to serve underrepresented audiences and tell their stories in a way that the world can see. Yet such efforts, while typically well-intentioned, don’t always achieve what they mean to be, and often end up undercutting the very populations they aim to showcase in…

Review : Toronto International Film Festival Opener ‘The Swimmers’ Showcases an Astounding Story of Survival and Perseverance

Training for the Olympics is no small feat, and even the most committed and talented athletes face stiff competition and daunting odds to be selected. Anyone who makes it to the games deserves commendation, particularly those who have had to endure unimaginable circumstances that made the idea of that endgame seem all but impossible. One…

Film Review: ‘Barbarian’ is a Socially Conscious and Visually Stunning Instant Modern Horror Classic

Horror movies often thrive on the commentary they offer about modern culture’s most harrowing social concerns. The upcoming thriller, Barbarian, is one such genre feature that fearlessly explores some of contemporary America’s leading troubles, notably women often feeling as though they have to be guarded around, and fight back against, strangers who may wish harm…

Pinocchio, Zemeckis Reprises The Classic To Present An Allegory Of Modern Society

In the small Tuscan town of Pescia, at end of the 19th century, a writer called Carlo Collodi published the story about a marionette, in serial form for the Giornale per i bambini. This story eventually became a book: The Adventures of Pinocchio. Little did this Italian author foresee that his fairytale would become the…

Film Review: Sometimes, You Need to Just “See How They Run”

While it never went away, the Whodunit genre is having a bit of a resurgence. The Kenneth Branagh helmed Poirot outings followed by the popularity of Knives Out and the fervor for its upcoming sequel, Glass Onion, are just a few signs that people are ready to head to the theater for a good mystery….

TV Review: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a Visually Magnificent, Character-Driven Prequel Series

Some of the most engaging, satisfying origin stories are those that showcase how history often repeats itself in cycles, especially when they mirror conflicts involving the same or similar locations, people and conflicts. Amazon Studios proves that idea with its stunning eight-episode first season of a five season production commitment for its new prequel television…

Monthly Anime at Japan Society: Angel’s Egg Is Still Compelling In Ruminating On Humanity’s Belief System

Japan Society’s Monthly Anime line-up includes Mamoru Oshii’s rarely-screened 1985 ethereal masterpiece Angel’s Egg. This animation marked a wondrous collaboration between two anime legends: Yoshitaka Amano’s fantastical Neo-Gothic-Art Nouveau style breathes new life into Mamoru Oshii’s existential reflections revolving around faith, theology and evolution. This original video animation (OVA) is set in a primordial dystopian…