2010s

THE SONATA: A Sharp Concept Played Flat
THE SONATA: A Sharp Concept Played Flat

The Sonata attempts to be moody, brooding, and dark, only to come off as predictable, cliched, and silly.

THE LEUNIG FRAGMENTS: The Product Of A Reluctant Subject
THE LEUNIG FRAGMENTS: The Product Of A Reluctant Subject

The concept of a documentary feature exploring Michael Leuni, such an eminent figure of Australian culture, was promising, but eventually disappoints.

DARK WATERS: A Gritty Look At Corporate Greed And Deception
DARK WATERS: A Gritty Look At Corporate Greed & Deception

Dark Waters is poignant, infuriating, and anxiety-inducing in the best possible way, and serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion and responsibility — now more than ever.

SYNONYMS: Farewell to Language
SYNONYMS: Farewell To Language

The conflicts at the heart of Synonyms will resonate deeply, thanks to Lapid’s deeply personal storytelling and Mercier’s fiery performance.

HONEYLAND: Crucial & Universal Documentary Filmmaking
HONEYLAND: Crucial & Universal Documentary Filmmaking

Honeyland proves to be an immensely intimate look at the life of a woman whilst also remaining completely universal.

Queerly Ever After #21: ROMEOS (2011)
Queerly Ever After #21: ROMEOS (2011)

Romeos gets points for being one of the few films out there about a trans-man who gets a happy ending, but it is mired in unlikable characters who run the gamut of stereotypes.

WHITE SNAKE: The Classic Myth + A Mesh of Hollywood Ideas
WHITE SNAKE 白蛇:緣起: The Classic Myth + A Mesh Of Hollywood Ideas

This telling of White Snake adds an action-fantasy plot to its romance story, and feels like a mesh of other fantasy films you’ve seen before.

THE LODGE: A Fun, Subversive Horror Hit
THE LODGE: A Fun, Subversive Horror Hit

The Lodge is inventive, it’s clever and it’s pretty damn spooky. If you’re a horror fan, don’t let this one slip under the radar.

THE WILD GOOSE LAKE: Bleak, Restrained & Sensuous Film Noir
THE WILD GOOSE LAKE: Bleak, Restrained & Sensuous Film Noir

The Wild Goose Lake’s glaring missteps aren’t enough to sink the film and its overall affect, which remains consistent and engaging throughout.

Berlinale Film Festival 2020: THE ASSISTANT
Berlinale 2020: THE ASSISTANT

For such a quietly paced film, The Assistant certainly tackles a very serious topic through an intensely contemplative lens.

GRIM WOODS: A Grim Fairy Tale Of Its Own
GRIM WOODS: A Grim Fairy Tale Of Its Own

Each of these stories featured an intriguing idea with theirr own successes, yet the compilation of Grim Woods leaves much to be desired.

MANARA: Highlights Lebanon’s Increasing Mental Health Crisis
MANARA: Highlights Lebanon’s Increasing Mental Health Crisis

Manara is a thoughtful and quietly powerful short film, and feels particularly timely, deserving to be a part of the conversation

DEAD SOUND: Do Not Let This One Go Quietly Into the Night
DEAD SOUND: Do Not Let This One Go Quietly Into The Night

Coupled with skill in front and behind the camera, It is not gore or a body count but pure tension that pulsates through Dead Sound, pushing it forward.

THE WHISTLERS: Labyrinthine Crime Saga Is Stoic, Efficient & Strangely Poignant
THE WHISTLERS: Labyrinthine Crime Saga Is Stoic, Efficient & Strangely Poignant

Pivoting from steely resolve to emotional profundity, the brilliant evolution in its final moments cements The Whistlers as an unconventionally thoughtful experience.

FLINT: THE POISONING OF AN AMERICAN CITY: Unraveling an American Crime
FLINT: THE POISONING OF AN AMERICAN CITY: Unraveling An American Crime

It has been all too easy for many to forget about what happened and is still happening in Flint. That alone should make this documentary essential viewing.