Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Lensed in attractive widescreen around the suburbs of Melbourne, 'West of Sunshine' is the assured feature debut of writer/director Jason Raftopolous
Read More »Movie Review: Australian Drama ‘West of Sunshine’
Independent Cinema
Interview: Actor Johnny Alonso on ‘Gotham,’ His Horror Films, Westerns and More
'Back in the day, outlaws of the west were glorified in the east coast. People love the stories about Billy the Kid and Jesse James even though they were nothing but criminals. That's what this film is showing. The whole thing turns into chaos.'
Read More »Indie Filmmaking: Getting the Cart Before the ‘Black Sheep’
“Getting the cart before the horse” is an English idiom dating back to the 16th Century. It means to do things in the wrong order. In the independent filmmaking world, however, this might be a good idea. In the case I’m considering, two highly creative filmmakers put the cart before …
Read More »Movie Review: Comedy-Drama ‘Welcome to the Men’s Group’
At first a bit talky and a bit long, 'Welcome to the Men's Group' manages to develop into a powerful statement about the role of men in today's society.
Read More »Movie Review: ‘Regarding the Case of Joan of Arc’
'Regarding the Case of Joan of Arc' works out to be a metaphor for the current radicalization of Republican Christians in the USA, especially their hardcore faction and those advocating the use of violence to restore their alleged supremacy.
Read More »Movie Review: Yen Tan’s Moving ‘1985’
Yen Tan's drama tells the moving story of a young gay man's life in a small town during the 1980s.
Read More »HIFF 2018 Coverage and Film Review: ‘Border,’ Special Jury Prize For Acting
Once again the 26th Hamptons International Film Festival sparked interest and traffic during Columbus Day weekend. Crowds lined up in East Hampton, Southampton and Sag Harbor for film screenings, celebrity talks and special events. The 126 films hailed from around the world. And a number of them had previously won …
Read More »Movie Review: ‘One Act Play’ Plays with Your Expectations at the Austin Revolution Film Festival
"One Act Play" premiering at the Austin Revolution Film Festival, an unexpectedly good documentary.
Read More »ARFF Review: Opening Night with ‘A Chance of Snow’
The Austin Revolution Film Festival (ARFF) kicked off the 2018 edition on September 18, with a chance of snow. No, it didn’t snow in Austin, but after a networking event and a series of mind-bending shorts, the filmmaker-heavy audience watched the feature, A Chance of Snow. ARFF has been honored …
Read More »Movie Review: Punk Is Alive in ‘The Icarus Line Must Die’
Michael Grodner's documentary-tinged drama starring The Icarus Line frontman Joe Cardamone is an intriguing love letter to L.A.'s punk rock scene.
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