Using Priscilla Presley’s autobiography Elvis and Me (co-written with Sandra Harmon) as structure, Sofia Coppola presents her life as a series of baubles strung across a gossamer thread that spans the vast lonely gulf between a soda counter on an Army base in Germany in 1959 and a Las Vegas hotel in 1973.
Roundtable: Killers of the Flower Moon
In his review of Killers of the Flower Moon, Chris called Martin Scorsese’s three and a half hour historical film a masterpiece and one of the best movies of 2023. Josh saw it over the weekend and immediately wanted to talk about it, so we fired up a SunBreak Roundtable to hash out some thoughts and feelings about this epic movie. Spoilers, such as they are for a century’s old well-reported true story, follow.
Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon continues a long career of exceptional filmmaking
The Osage Nation, after being expelled and moved across the country a few times already, without choice, became the richest people per capita in the world when oil was found on their land. And it leads to one of the oldest and most American of stories: the white man’s coveting of anything of value that belongs to people they see as lesser.
Orcas Island Film Festival pulls out all the stops (again)
Every autumn, locals and visitors alike flock to the quaint town of Eastsound on Orcas Island to celebrate much of the year’s …
Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman is your next favorite adventure movie
Dr. Cheon (Gang Dong-won) has a long history with the supernatural, magic and shamanism, but as of now he’s a huxter that uses his studies in psychology, keen eye and sparkling whit to help those tormented by supposed ghosts. With the help of his “assistant” and technical whiz In-bae (Lee Dong-hwi) creating quite a show so every customer is thoroughly convinced of their abilities. Along comes Yoo-gyong (Esom) with a bit more than just a hunch of a haunting as her sister is in mortal danger. The situation quickly devolves into an all-out battle not only for both Yoo-gyong and her sister’s lives, but for revenge of Cheon’s family lost years ago in a clash with the same supernatural powers.
Chloe Domont’s Sundance smash Fair Play hits Netflix
Dispatches from Sundance: a mixed bag of a modern erotic psychodrama, a revisitation of recent political events, and a herculean performance from one of our great actors.
Mill Valley Film Fest, maybe not a household name, but a heck of lineup
n 2021, in the heat of the pandemic, I was looking for anything to keep my mind busy and find new films that deserve attention. Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF), was more than happy to help me on this venture and I had an incredible time even if just from my living room. While, once again, I’m not able to head down to California to catch it in person, they’re still offering virtual viewing options not only for press but more importantly, you the viewing audience!
It is once again time for SIFF DocFest
The time is nigh for SIFF to kick off its third(!) DocFest, a festival of many of the most interesting documentaries around the world. It all goes down starting tonight and running through next Wednesday at the Uptown. I’m most interested in catching two documentaries about two very different writers: John LeCarre and Tom Wolfe. But there’s a lot more to catch the attention of us documentary lovers.
Strange Way of Life, a short, sweet and dusty Western
Set in the old west, a small and somewhat peaceful town sees a stranger walk straight down Main and into the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke) hesitates only a moment before granting a warm greeting to his old friend Silva (Pedro Pascal). The energy between them becomes more intense and while the old friends reminisce, the Sheriff knows there’s more to this reunion than a wish to see each other again after so many years. Emotional and physical chaos brings things to a head, and you wonder if their relationship can survive it.
Hercule Poirot, Ghost Hunter
It’s probably not a coincidence that A Haunting in Venice is my favorite of Kenneth Branagh’s three Agatha Christie/Hercule Poirot movies when it was the only one whose book I hadn’t read prior to seeing the film.