Written by Eric Zhu ""The Phoenician Scheme" is at its best when it takes advantage of the relationship between Anderson’s meticulous, dioramic frames and the weight of a guilty conscience. This is Anderson’s most self-critical film in..."… Continue reading.
Author: Drink in the Movies
Caught by the Tides
Written by Eric Zhu "Structurally, “Tides” takes the format of Jia’s recent melodramas “Mountains May Depart” and “Ash is Purest White.” Split into three sections, each set during a different time period and typified by a different era of Jia’s … Continue reading.
Alien
Written by Nick McCann "Alien" is deceptively simple. Unknown creature. Trapped crew. Perfect organism. Yet decades later, nothing touches its legacy. The creature design, the characters, the world – all untouchable. This isn't just a horror film; it's THE benchmark … Continue reading.
Shadow Force
Written by Nick McCann "Omar Sy and Kerry Washington do what they can with the material, occasionally finding moments to shine. But the script can't figure out how to balance their dual lives as reformed killers and devoted parents, leaving … Continue reading.
Cleaner
Written by Nick McCann ""Die Hard" didn't just spawn sequels—it birthed an entire subgenre. For decades, studios have been chasing that Nakatomi Plaza lightning in a bottle, with results ranging from memorable to instantly forgettable. Even today, the formula's persistence … Continue reading.
A Minecraft Movie
Written by Nick McCann "I haven't touched "Minecraft" in at least a decade, which makes seeing its current upswing in popularity baffle my mind. Yet its importance and continued appeal as one of history's most successful video games is..."… Continue reading.
Bring Them Down
Written by Taylor Baker "Christopher Andrews' directorial debut "Bring Them Down" opens with deliberate simplicity—a vehicle navigating a gravel path, dust billowing in its wake as it traverses a seemingly endless driveway in rural Ireland. By the film's conclusion, we've … Continue reading.
Fight or Flight
Written by Nick McCann "The action walks that fine line between ultraviolence and zaniness, delivering D.I.Y. barbarism with creative flair. Cinematography wisely favors wide shots despite the cramped quarters, while the editing..."… Continue reading.
SIFF 2025: Invention
Written by Taylor Baker "What emerges is neither purely documentary nor entirely fictional but, as its title suggests, an invention unto itself. It's a film about the descendants of snake oil salesmen and big dreamers, about the complicated inheritances we … Continue reading.
SIFF 2025: Sorry, Baby
Written by Taylor Baker "Eva's sincerity and genuineness allow this material to be repurposed in a way that is not only sincere but feels original. You can sense her authorship creating this project, and that vision allows the cohesion of … Continue reading.
