THE ASCENT Criterion Review: A Flawless Work Of Soviet Cinema

THE ASCENT Criterion Review: A Flawless Work Of Soviet Cinema

Nearly four and a half decades since its release, Larisa Shepitko’s 1977 film The Ascent remains a crowning achievement like no other. Shepitko additionally helmed the films Wings (1966), Beginnings of an Unknown Era (1967), In the 13th Hour of the Night (1969), and You and Me (1971), but the Soviet director’s career was tragically cut short in a…

Film About A Father Who

Film About A Father Who

Every father is a bundle of contradictions. But in Ira Sachs, Sr.’s case, the contradictions are more extreme than most. Filmmaker Lynne Sachs tries to make sense of them—up to a point—in “A Film About a Father Who,” an unraveling of her family’s complicated history, drawn from footage that she’s been gathering between 1984 and the…

Watch: Evil Toaster Horror Comedy Short ‘Burnt’ by Danny Morgan

Watch: Evil Toaster Horror Comedy Short ‘Burnt’ by Danny Morgan

“So we did it – actually moved in together… Scary, isn’t it?” “Terrifying.” Indeed it is… Strain Pictures has debuted this “fun little horror short film” titled Burnt, both written and directed by British actor Danny Morgan. A young couple move into a new home and find a little gift leftover by the previous tenants….

Full Trailer for Schizophrenia Film ‘Fear of Rain’ with Madison Iseman

Full Trailer for Schizophrenia Film ‘Fear of Rain’ with Madison Iseman

“There’s no one up there… Your mind is just playing tricks on you.” Lionsgate has revealed a second trailer for the indie psychological thriller Fear of Rain by filmmaker Castille Landon. A girl with schizophrenia struggles with the terrifying hallucinations as she begins to suspect her neighbor has kidnapped a child. The only person who…

Shuttlecock Short Film Review

Shuttlecock Short Film Review

★★★ Directed and Written by: #TommyGillard Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonStarring: #TomGreaves, #NiallKiely Film Review by: Alex Matraxia Read moreRobert Stack Finally Solves a Mystery in ‘The Strange and Deadly Occurrence’From the opening shot, Shuttlecock is about much more than badminton: the sound and sight of sweat dripping from the tip…

GUN AND A HOTEL BIBLE: A Christian Film Without Easy Answers

GUN AND A HOTEL BIBLE: A Christian Film Without Easy Answers

In The Simpsons Movie, there is a funny and profound moment when Grandpa Simpson has a frantic and prophetic religious experience, and Homer is asked to do something about it. He flips through the pages of the Bible and says, “This book doesn’t have any answers.” For people who read the Bible as a straightforward…

Rio Shipwreck in Russia

Rio Shipwreck in Russia

In December 2018, the Black Sea was experiencing a pattern of various storms. The Rio cargo ship was navigating the waters when the crew encountered one of these massive storms. Calls for assistance were made to port in nearby Novorossiysk. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonHowever, due to the weather conditions, the rescue…

Why Longtime Alaska Residents Are Called ‘Sourdoughs’

Why Longtime Alaska Residents Are Called ‘Sourdoughs’

When Trisha Costello bought the Talkeetna Roadhouse 25 years ago, she was given three things: the deed, a set of keys, and a sourdough starter that the previous owner said dated back to 1902. The year-round population of Talkeetna, Alaska, hovers around 900 people, but in a normal year, Costello’s crew churns out hundreds of…

‘One Night in Miami’ Captures Race Relations Then, but Not Now

‘One Night in Miami’ Captures Race Relations Then, but Not Now

The “inspired by true events” label on a film should give audiences pause. It usually means a heaping helping of fiction along with a smattering of truth. Yet the core of “One Night in Miami” actually happened. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonThat in and of itself is remarkable. Sam Cooke, Jim…

St. Mary’s Well, Jesmond in Newcastle upon Tyne, England

St. Mary’s Well, Jesmond in Newcastle upon Tyne, England

St. Mary’s Well is a quiet and hidden place of sanctity, right in the middle of a busy suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne. Unless visitors know exactly where to look, it’s easy to miss the unassuming footpath that serves as a short-cut between The Grove and Reid Park Road. That’s where visitors will see the…

Huang Kuan Statue in Edinburgh, Scotland

Huang Kuan Statue in Edinburgh, Scotland

For the more than two million people that visit Edinburgh every year, it’s an opportunity to explore the many historical sites the city has to offer. Others come for business, while some reunite with friends and family. There are also around 35,000 students who arrive in Edinburgh every year to attend the half dozen universities…

TEENAGE BOUNTY HUNTERS: A Delightful First Season Shot Down by Netflix

TEENAGE BOUNTY HUNTERS: A Delightful First Season Shot Down by Netflix

With a title like a pulpy crime novel and characters reminiscent of Sex Education, Teenage Bounty Hunters isn’t far off from the “high school drama with higher stakes” TV trend. Its protagonists, teenage twin girls who act their age and almost look it, fall into bounty hunting by accident. They quickly find that they’re pretty…

Novis Mortem Collective in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Novis Mortem Collective in Colorado Springs, Colorado

When visitors enter this shop, they are immediately greeted by the owner and the brilliant mind behind Novis Mortem Collective. Novis Mortem is a curiosity shop filled with natural history. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonInside the shop is a wide selection of pinned insects such as beetles, jeweled flower mantis, bright…

Januš Parulis Museum of Life and History of Hrodna in Hrodna, Belarus

Januš Parulis Museum of Life and History of Hrodna in Hrodna, Belarus

The owner and curator of this private collection, Janusz Parulis amassed this amazing ensemble of everyday items now crammed into this tight space. The collection contains around 20,000 items, which are displayed haphazardly across the museum. However, this unique display adds to the museum’s charm.  Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonParulis has a…

‘WandaVision’ Is a Wacky Work in Progress

‘WandaVision’ Is a Wacky Work in Progress

Those teaser images from “WandaVision” weren’t lying. The Disney+ series is the classic sitcom we never saw, a loving ode to TV’s past that suggests a very different MCU future. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonConfused? You won’t be alone after sampling the show’s first three episodes. What happens next is anyone’s…

Brooklyn’s Putrid, Beloved Gowanus Canal Has Been a Horror for Centuries

Brooklyn’s Putrid, Beloved Gowanus Canal Has Been a Horror for Centuries

In the late 19th century, life along the shore of Brooklyn’s fetid Gowanus Canal was the stuff of nightmares. The stench emanating from the 1.8-mile-long slash of stagnant water was awful enough to penetrate people’s dreams. Take Stephen Mooney. In 1889, the unwelcome smell shook him from sleep, and compelled him to shut his window…

Saving the Songs of South Korea’s Female Divers

Saving the Songs of South Korea’s Female Divers

Kang Kyung-ja opens the door of her home on the island province of Jeju, South Korea, with a smile on her face. After offering me a cup of barley tea, she unfolds a piece of paper to sing me a song she’s written. Ieodo sana, ieodo sana, ieodo sana Read moreA Guide to The Perfect…

Rock Camp: The Movie film review

Rock Camp: The Movie film review

★★★ Directed by #ReneeBarron #DouglasBlush Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonWritten by #ReneeBarron #DouglasBlush #KimberleyFurst Starring #SammyHagar #GeneSimmons #MeatLoaf Read moreRobert Stack Finally Solves a Mystery in ‘The Strange and Deadly Occurrence’Film Review by George Wolf “Thanks for coming out tonight, we’re Motley Jüe..oy!” Yes, Motley Jüe was a real band, at…

Once A Cop: The End Of Identity In THE PLEDGE

Once A Cop: The End Of Identity In THE PLEDGE

On his last day as a detective before retiring, grizzled veteran Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) trudges aimlessly around his now-featureless office, looks out of his window, and notices an old man on the street using a walking frame. It’s not a sight that he wants to see — it’s a harbinger of the frailty that’s…

The 50 Best Movies of 2020

The 50 Best Movies of 2020

This article is part of our 2020 Rewind. Follow along as we explore the best and most interesting movies, shows, performances, and more from this very strange year. In this entry, our team counts down the 50 best movies of 2020. In the year 2019, which now feels like a lifetime ago, Box Office Mojo tracked…