Month: September 2022

Festivals Interviews

Orcas Island Film Festival Co-directors on returning to semi-normalcy to share exceptional moviegoing experiences

by Josh

We were thrilled to see that the Orcas Island Film Festival was planning a big return for 2022 after a slightly-subdued 2021. Since then, they’ve released their full lineup — a jaw-dropping collection of some of the top prize-winners and most buzzworthy titles from many of the year’s most prestigious festivals. Along with potentially Oscar-bound international films and heart-stirring documentaries, the re-expanded program will pose scheduling conundrums for attendees trying to decide how to best plan a weekend of seeing some of the year’s best films well in advance of their neighbors. For lovers of first-look films, it’s among the best kinds of problem to have!

Reviews

Silent Twins reveals a painful story of co-dependence and psychosis

by Morgen Schuler

Twins with such a tight relationship from birth they spoke their own language… that is, when they spoke at all. After making a pact at around age 6, June (Letitia Wright) and Jennifer (Tamara Lawrence) Gibbons remained silent for years. Much later they admitted it was meant as a fun prank in the beginning but after a while, it just became a part of life. They forgot how to socialize with anyone outside of each other so in their silence they created an entire world where the two of them could experience reality on their own terms.

Reviews

Kevin Smith brings together his Extended Cinematic Universe for Clerks III

by Chris Burlingame

Some twenty-eight years later, Kevin Smith has brought the characters of Randal and Dante back for a third movie. They now own the convenience store but look mostly the same. They still play hockey on the roof and still have signs up assuring you they’re open and asking to be alerted if you plan on shoplifting. Jay and Silent Bob are still hanging out in front of the video store (they run) but now they sell weed from it, with only slightly more legitimacy. The movie is, like a bag of Cheetos or a can of Red Bull or a lukewarm flauta, empty calories, unnecessary but completely comforting. 

Reviews

See How They Run Fell Achingly Short of a Hit

by Morgen Schuler

A play within a film within a story within a farce, this whodunnit is a maze of silliness and murder. Set in London’s West End in the 50’s, Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap has just hit its 100th stage performance and a film deal is solidly in the works. It’s these actors, writers, directors and film folks that attend the post-performance party in appreciation for the milestone. Narrated in the words of the future film director Leo Köpernick (Adrien Brody) who is most hated by all guests in attendance and who also happens to be the victim, the scene is set for a murder most foul. Soon Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and rookie Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) are on the case and their investigation goes sideways, upside down, and backwards with bouts of insanity, slapstick, and confusing murder mystery shenanigans. In the end, we find ourselves at the Christie residence a la Clue as all are gathered to reveal the identity of the murderer.