Conjuring something between Hogwarts and Kingsman, Kobi Libii imagines an “American Society of Magical Negroes” as a real world organization behind the “supportive black friend” trope.
Month: January 2024
Sundance 2024 Notebook: Stress Positions
Remember 2020? Theda Hammel’s period piece finds John Early as Terry Goon (lol), a harried, incompetent, Covid-conscious caretaker for his exoticized model nephew who’s recovering in isolation from a broken leg.
Sundance 2024 Notebook: Veni Vidi Vici
Opening with an Ayn Rand quote, Daniel Hoesl and Julia Niemann’s family portrait of ultra-rich Austrian Psychos who quite literally get away with murder is almost too severe to be considered satire.
Sundance Film Festival kicks off in Utah Tomorrow, Online next week
Celebrating its 40th edition, Sundance Film Festival is back with a full slate of in-person programming in the resort town of Park City with a full slate of screenings in Salt Lake City. Once again film lovers, journalists, and critics are flocking to the mountain ski area to kick the year off with a huge array of new feature films from a diverse set of veteran filmmakers and emerging directors.
Glazer’s The Zone of Interest oozed apathy amidst horror
The commandant of the Nazi encampment Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, along with his wife and children live idealistic lives. They reside in a sweetly comfortable home surrounded by a beautiful flower garden, a dog always running underfoot and a swimming hole within walking distance.
Tony’s Favorite Films of 2023
In 2022 it felt like moviegoing came (almost) all the way back (for the seemingly dwindling number of people who were willing to go into the theaters). As the year winds to a close, we’re sharing lists of our favorite films we’ve seen (so far).
Seattle Film Critics name Past Lives the Best Picture of 2023
Following a member’s only party at the Rendezvous Jewel Box on Saturday night, the Seattle Film Critics Society announced their [our] awards …
American Fiction is the satire American liberals need right now
Cord Jefferson’s wildly entertaining, and biting, satire American Fiction will probably make any white person who has ever taken a selfie with a Toni Morrison or bell hooks book at least a little squeamish. This movie deals with race, identity, agency, who has control over their own stories. It’s an absorbing movie that never feels heavy handed and has one of the most memorable lead characters I’ve seen in quite a while.
Meet Rose Kreider, possibly Seattle’s most do-it-yourself filmmaker
When Seattle indie filmmaker Rose Kreider asked me to check out her 2022 debut film The Woman, I was thoroughly impressed. It …