Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment 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.
Read More »Movie Review: Punk Is Alive in ‘The Icarus Line Must Die’
Independent Cinema
Interview: Alicia Slimmer on Taking ‘Creedmoria’ from Idea to Distribution — Cannoli, Rejections and Dreams
I see so many great films at festivals that then disappear from the radar, I was delighted to find out that 'Creedmoria' was coming out on VOD on May 15, 2018. I spoke with writer/producer/director Alicia Slimmer about the filmmaker journey from random thought to available on everybody’s iPhone.
Read More »Tribeca Film Festival Review: ‘Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie’
In her film Nivens underscores that Barbie's tiny shoulders perhaps unfairly carry the symbolic aspirations of women and young girls.
Read More »Movie Review: ‘AVA’ – Directed by Sadaf Foroughi
'AVA' is a beautiful and sensitive look at the life of one teenage woman on the verge of adulthood in modern Iran.
Read More »Tribeca Film Festival World Premiere ‘Momentum Generation’
A compelling story about a great sport before commercialism completely took over.
Read More »Tribeca Film Festival Documentary World Premiere ‘General Magic’
Never underestimate opportunity and the vision of innovative genius.
Read More »SXSW Film Favorite: ‘First Reformed,’ Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried
First Reformed screened as a “Festival Favorite at SXSW. Paul Schrader’s film presents conundrum after conundrum, slippery slope after slippery slope. This drama as a twisting, stark thriller strikes at the heart of our questions about purpose, consequence and soul strength. When one has nothing to live for, does redemption …
Read More »SXSW Review: ‘Blindspotting’ Starring Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal
"Blindspotting" is an homage to Oakland, its vital neighborhoods, and street lifestyles. On the other hand, the storyline echoes warnings about race, class and social inequality that characterize yet move beyond Oakland, California.
Read More »SXSW Film World Premiere: ‘Weed the People’ Abby Epstein, Ricki Lake
Opioids jeopardize the immune system and addict the patient. Cannabis alleviates pain and inflammation and promotes healing. Why can't citizens choose life and healing with a nontoxic herbal over chemical toxins which addict the user and destroy the liver and kidneys? This becomes one of the film's main themes. The desperate parents profiled in it chose life for their children. Cannabis oil was there for them. What if it wasn't?
Read More »SXSW Movie Review: ‘Outside In’ Starring Edie Falco, Jay Duplass
Outside In screened its U.S. Premiere at SXSW Film Festival in the "Narrative Spotlight." Directed by Lynn Shelton, written by Lynn Shelton and Jay Duplass, the quiet drama/romance uplifts.
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