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Venice 2021- The Glorious Performance Paradox of “Official Competition”: Film Review
In Official Competition, a hedge fund millionaire wants to create something that will outlast his mortal body. He wants to be remembered and revered like Rockefeller or Carnegie. Instead of choosing a physical structure like a concert hall or a stadium though, he decides that he wants his legacy etched onto the silver screen. The […]
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Venice 2021- “The Power of the Dog” is Hollywood’s Best Take on Toxic Masculinity: Film Review
For most of cinematic history, femininity has generally been depicted directly opposite masculinity. As in, the description of females has always been a lack of something masculine: A lack of strength, smarts, or status. In The Power of the Dog, director Jane Campion takes this concept and applies it instead to toxic masculinity. She allows […]
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Venice 2021- “Last Night in Soho” and the Dangers of Nostalgia: Film Review
When you’re alone and life is making you lonely, You can always go downtown… “Downtown” by Petula Clark Sandie’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) version of “Downtown” is a siren’s call, luring Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) and the audience to join her in metropolitan nirvana. But what happens when night falls and the bright lights begin to dim? That […]
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Venice 2021- Life Through The Looking Glass in “Amira”: Film Review
Half an inch of ballistic glass is all that separates Nuwar (Ali Suliman), a Palestinian political prisoner, from his family and everything life has to offer. Nuwar has spent his entire married life in a 10×10 prison cell. His ceremony to Warda (Saba Mubarak) took place via camcorder nearly 18 years ago, and yet he […]
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Venice 2021- “True Things” is an Exploration of the Social Media Mirage: Film Review
At one time or another, we’ve all been envious of those who seem to have it better than us on social media. With a beautiful spouse on a magical vacation, it seems that these Instagram influencers have found the true things in life. At least Kate (Ruth Wilson) from True Things seems to think so. […]
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Venice 2021- The Oppulent Haunted House of Pablo Larraín’s “Spencer”: Film Review
“Where the f**k am I going?” Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) Those are the first words uttered by Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) in the royal psychological biopic Spencer. While the Princess is literally trying to navigate her way to the royal house for christmas, the phrase also describes her metaphorical state of being. The Princess of […]
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Venice 2021- “Full Time (A Plein Temps)” Is the Suspenseful Surprise of the Festival: Film Review
It makes sense that the only person who could match Howard Ratner’s (Adam Sandler) sheer chaos from Uncut Gems would be a single working mother. Full Time (A Plein Temps) captures the tense and unbearably delicate structure of single parenthood and how one slight mishap can cause the whole system to collapse. Julie (Laure Calamy) […]
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Venice 2021- “The Card Counter” is a Cinematic Dead Man’s Hand : Film Review
After the acclaim of director Paul Schrader’s last feature, First Reformed, many likely would bet that his next film would be a success, especially with Oscar Isaac as its leading man. Those individuals would have lost out on a lot of cash as The Card Counter is the first major flop at the Venice Film […]
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Venice 2021- “Trenches (Tranchees)” is an Unflinching Look at the Ukrainian Front Line: Film Review
The flickering of a nearly burnt out light bulb. The “Fatality!” sound effect from playing Mortal Kombat on a dusty Nintendo Switch. The soft glow of an old smartphone. Besides these few modern images, Trenches could have been depicting the life of a soldier during World War 1. The haunting black and white visuals of […]
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