In their fourth collaboration, director Kelly Reichardt and Michelle Williams reunite to bring a sensitively-rendered portrait of a working artist to the screen. Cinema is typically more interested in depictions of budding geniuses, dramatically troubled, foolishly unrecognized who go on to break history with blockbuster shows, but that’s never been Reichardt’s territory. Instead, working from a script written with frequent collaborator Jon Raymond, she centers the narrative in present-day Portland in the week leading up to a working ceramicist’s show at a neighborhood gallery show. What the film eschews in terms of fireworks are easily lifted by the rich textures that it observes.
Author: Josh
John Wick: Chapter 4 finds John Wick back on his John Wickiest business (with a vengeance, again)
One might worry that so many postponements portend disappointment, but set those trepidations aside. Like their dark hero, director Chad Stahelski and his indefatigable star Keanu Reeves are incredibly good at what they do: conducting symphonies of stylized violence and making it look so awesome that the near three-hour run time flies by.
One Fine Morning finds the profound in pedestrian rhythms of life
One Fine Morning witnesses a key disappearance play out in the the grinding rhythms of real life.
Michael B. Jordan gets back into the ring with Creed III
The only bad part about heading into a new installation of the reliably entertaining Creed movie franchise is the grim realization that you’re about to watch some big dudes mess up Michael B. Jordan. It’s the cost of doing business in a boxing drama, but he has such a nice mug it’s a shame to see it smashed up. Stepping behind the camera to take over the series from Ryan Coogler, though, Jordan gives himself more of a break from the pummeling of the ring while giving his audience another compelling chapter in a big-hearted boxing saga.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania dutifully ushers in a new villain for Marvel’s next phase
I’d found myself pretty gloomy about the state of Marvel over the recent muddle of Phase Four, particularly with the soggy storytelling of Thor, Doctor Strange, and even Wakanda Forever. The latest Ant-Man installation makes small gestures toward levity and a modest leap toward introducing the Next Big Threat for earth’s mightiest heroes to assemble around.
Oscar-nominated Close is a tragedy of teenage masculinity
In his follow-up to Girl, Lukas Dhont presents a tragedy of toxic masculinity and its insidious effects on a teenage friendship in rural Belgium.
Sundance 2023 Notebook: Updating Throughout the Festival
Capsule reviews, quick thoughts, and instant reactions on this year’s festival films.
Sundance 2023: Passages
Ira Sachs goes to Paris
Sundance 2023 Notebook: Infinity Pool
Some sicko gave Brandon Cronenberg the keys to the White Lotus and this is what happened.
Sundance 2023 Notebook: Eileen
Dispatches from Sundance: a twisty literary adaptation.