At once an abstract exploration of mental health and a potent political piece, Action Item is a fine mid-length essay doc from Paula Ďurinová.
Action Item. Individual Anxiety Meets Collective Rage.
Redmond Bacon
Redmond is the editor-in-chief of Journey Into Cinema.
Out Of Love. Elevated Social Realism.
While the story of Out of Love is nothing new, Nathan Ambriosioni’s carefully-measured style shows him off as a director of great techincal talent.
The Luminous Life. Love Under Capitalism.
The spirit of Éric Rohmer lives on in João Rosas excellent Crystal Globe entry The Luminuous Life, capturing the perils of love under capitalism.
Trains, Closely Observed
With no voiceover used, Maciej J. Drygas relies entirely on montage, music and sound design to use trains to tell the story of the twentieth century.
Jurassic World Rebirth Puts the Awe Back in Dinosaur
Jurassic World Rebirth is a welcome return to form for a franchise that had severely lost its way, even if the final screenplay is somewhat wanting.
Gatsby with the Dad Jokes
Tim Key provides a masterclass of tragicomic acting in the subtle yet often hilarious The Ballad of Wallis Island, replete with brilliant folk songs.
The Salt Path Takes a Hike
Despite its beautiful scenery and excellent performances, coastal drama The Salt Path can’t walk its way into a compelling storyline.
Breathless (1983) — Don’t Respect the Original!
With 1983’s Breathless, we see the key bridge between Godard’s playfulness and Taratino’s particularly American postmodernism. Available on Tubi!
Ride or Die. Love, Fight, Cry.
A lesbian relationship is put to the ultimate test in Josalynn Smith’s debut feature, the tenderhearted and politically resonant road movie Ride or Die.
It’s a Wonderful Dog!
A great canine acting talent is wasted in The Friend, a tale of Naomi Watts adopting a Great Dane that is heavy on the schmaltz, but lacking in punch.