Written by Taylor Baker "Much like the robots we see on cutaways moving boxes and bins up and down the distribution line, the characters function as caricatures that move the plot down the manufacturing line..."… Continue reading.
Babygirl
Category: New Releases
Alexander Reams’ Favorite Films of 2024: A Video Countdown
The trilogy is complete. But I’ll keep doing this until I’m 90, so here we are, year four. The year itself was a strange year for film watching; my priorities evolved, life happened, yet film remained a constant. Here’s my … Continue reading.
It! The Terror from Beyond Space
Written by Nick McCann "“It! The Terror From Beyond Space” is one of the more cut-and-dry genre films of the era. It wastes no time launching the spaceship and saying there's something not human on board. Though there is a … Continue reading.
VIFF 2024: Presence
Written by Taylor Baker "A whodunit can rarely refrain from giving itself away entirely in its opening moments, and it is even rarer for one to be presented with such experimentation. This is not a haunted house story. “Presence” is … Continue reading.
The Brutalist
Written by Taylor Baker "In his best performance since “The Pianist” or “The Predator”–though the latter has just a few less fans than the former–Adrien Brody plays László Tóth, a Hungarian immigrant who seeks a future for himself and his..."… Continue reading.
Gladiator II
Written by Taylor Baker "The narrative and presentation of “Gladiator II” has an uncanny valley quality. It seems like an imitation of what a “Gladiator” sequel should be. It seemingly accounts for the mechanics and narrative details of..."… Continue reading.
VIFF 2024: The Girl with the Needle
Written by Taylor Baker "Cinematographer Michal Dymek deftly frames interiors and captures exquisite light and shadow work to accentuate the increasingly hellish Copenhagen that Karoline scrapes by in. Puce Mary’s score haunts, chills, and soars along with every choice and … Continue reading.
Megalopolis
Written by Taylor Baker "...we may need to hope for a director’s cut of “Megalopolis” to fully appreciate the sprawling fable of a falling civilization and how love, honesty, and a little magical plot device could help save us all. … Continue reading.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Written by Anna Harrison "In the golden age of sequels, prequels, spinoffs, and reboots, who better to return than the undead? After all, if you make your movie about the afterlife, it’s no big deal to kill off actors who … Continue reading.
Last Summer
Written by Michael Clawson "In her first film since 2014’s “Abuse of Weakness,” French director Catherine Breillat largely forgoes the graphic extremes of her most scandalous inquiries into female sexuality and desire. In other words, there’s..."… Continue reading.