review
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“Deadpool & Wolverine” is a Worrisome Reflection of a Risky Future (Review)
Even if you don’t take into account its lack of rewatch value, “Deadpool & Wolverine” will not stand the test of time. Continue reading
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Sean Wang Strikes Gold with Poignant Coming-of-Age Triumph “Dìdi” (Review)
“Dìdi” is a perfectly preserved time capsule of a movie, executed with the care and precision that imbues it with an instantly authentic feel. Continue reading
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“The Acolyte” is a Breath of Fresh Air for the “Star Wars” Universe (Review)
The new series seems to be designed to intentionally anger bigots while being refreshingly unashamed about putting necessary representation on-screen, a step most “Star Wars” media has been hesitant to take. Continue reading
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“MaXXXine” Blends Sex, Violence, and Hollywood in Ti West’s Trilogy Capper (Review)
Despite some very clunky plotting, West’s homages are so well done that I ultimately find myself coming down in their favor. Continue reading
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The 10 Best Films of 2024, So Far: A Midyear Report
Whether or not 2024 will outlast 2023 in terms of beloved classics, there’s still plenty of time for the new releases to surprise us. Continue reading
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“Kinds of Kindness” is Lanthrimos’ Ode to Desire and Control (Review)
Lanthimos wants his films to get back to what works best about his filmmaking style and language: the acknowledgment that there’s inherent absurdity to the natural depravity behind our desire for control, and to be controlled. Continue reading
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“The Exorcism” is the Poster Child of Squandered Potential (Review)
Conceptually, it could be brilliant – but how does one pull it off? Continue reading
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“The Watchers” is a Convincing Argument for a Career (Review)
Shyamalan’s debut is clearly inspired by her father’s thriller and horror work, but forges a path all its own by way of presentation. Continue reading
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Revenge Comedy “Thelma” Takes a Cleverly Pleasant Approach to Aging
“Thelma” is not the first of its kind – revenge movies starring elderly folks – but it’s certainly the best. Continue reading
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The Sweet, Unconventional Love of “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person” (Review)
Despite the delicious tease of the title, there’s a deliberate play on expectations – instead of a morose meditation on the inevitability of death, “Humanist Vampire” is a black comedy about morality and obligation that asks us to confront the… Continue reading
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The Tortured Poets Department: Taylor Swift’s Messiest, Sexiest, and Most Honest Album Suffers Under the Weight of the Singer Herself
Taylor Swift is inescapable. Those who hate her find constant fuel for their rage within her cultural and media overexposure, and those who love her have more to latch on to than ever. Continue reading
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The Unexpected Humanity of “Sasquatch Sunset” (Review)
On the surface, a wonderfully ridiculous comedy about the life of a Sasquatch family over the course of a year, “Sasquatch Sunset” quickly reveals itself to be something else entirely. Continue reading
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Bloody Romp “Abigail” is Another Win for Radio Silence (Review)
“Abigail” falls directly in the Radio Silence wheelhouse – limited locations, a horrific twist or two, with a few exploding blood splatters thrown in for good measure. Continue reading
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Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon” Universe Hits Another Roadblock with “The Scargiver” (Review)
The way that Zack Snyder makes movies now is incredibly frustrating. Continue reading
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“Civil War” is a Timely, Apolitical Vision of Disaster (Review)
While the film takes place during a fictional near-future civil war in the United States, it doesn’t have much interest in engaging with the war itself, or its causes. Continue reading
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“The Great Gatsby” Dazzles Superficially on the Broadway Stage
Like so many works of art that have entered the public domain, in 2021, Gatsby came back. And now the story has found its way to the Broadway stage. Continue reading
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The Wasteland Spotlight: 7th Annual Animation First Film Festival
If you’re looking for new outlets for checking out films, this article series is a perfect way to seek out new channels to dive into. For this edition, I highlight some of the films premiering at France’s 7th Annual Animation… Continue reading
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The Wasteland Spotlight: 2024 Sundance Short Films
If you’re looking for new outlets for checking out films, this article series is a perfect way to seek out new channels for new films to dive into. For this edition, I highlight some of the short films premiering at… Continue reading
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William Friedkin’s “Sorcerer” Deserves Your Attention
William Friedkin’s forgotten 1977 thriller “Sorcerer” deserves a renaissance. Here’s why. Continue reading
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“Wonka” Beats the Odds with a Magical Spoonful of Sugar
We could argue all day about whether a movie’s existence is “necessary” or “worthwhile,” and I will admit to being dubious about whether “Wonka” could actually work as a piece of art unto itself. Continue reading
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Examining “The Boy and the Heron” as Miyazaki’s True Masterpiece
In the complete picture that is the Ghibli pantheon, “The Boy and the Heron” is a culmination of Miyazaki’s works and the themes that have proliferated each one. Continue reading
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“Napoleon” Has a Complex
Whatever your opinions are about historical epics, overlong movies, and surrealist performances that clash with the film’s tone, “Napoleon” will get you thinking, for better or for worse, about what you just saw. Continue reading
Knock on Wood 