The lineup for the 34th edition of the Virginia Film Festival is stacked with movies that are already getting Oscar buzz, like The French Dispatch, The Power of the Dog, Spencer, and Belfast. These films are bound to do big box office business for weeks to come, but this year’s fest also features several less-hyped […]
The lineup for the 34th edition of the Virginia Film Festival is stacked with movies that are already getting Oscar buzz, like The French Dispatch, The Power of the Dog, Spencer, and Belfast. These films are bound to do big box office business for weeks to come, but this year’s fest also features several less-hyped […]
Early on in Yakuza Princess, it becomes clear that crafting a story around generations of warring crime bosses, an amnesiac hitman, and a mourning granddaughter is a little too much for co-writer/director Vicente Amorim to juggle. There’s plenty of good here in the new film, but not enough awareness of what that good stuff is. […]
Swan Song R, 105 minutesViolet Crown Cinema Debating answers to thought experiments is only frustrating when you need an answer: If a tree falls in the forest, do you feel stonewalled discussing the answer? Todd Stephens’ Swan Song is based on a similar riddle. Stephens wants us to enjoy the journey, allowing only one question: […]
Pig R, 92 minutesViolet Crown Cinema Sometimes the beauty of a film lies in its simplicity. When character development and atmosphere are allowed to be front and center, the strength of cinema as an art comes into focus. With a few missteps, Pig is a beautiful example of earnest filmmaking. In short, the film, written […]
By Deirdre Crimmins When a documentary falls flat, it can be hard to pinpoint the weak link in its cinematic chain. Is it a boring subject, unengaging speakers, poor editing, or an entirely different set of missteps? The Hidden Life of Trees is not an outright failure, but its shortcomings in direction and assembly add […]
Combining a classic whodunit with werewolves may seem like an awkward fit. But in Werewolves Within, the two elements complement each other, resulting in a hilarious, bloody blend that avoids feeling bloated or tonally confused. The second feature from actor-turned-director Josh Ruben, Werewolves Within comes hot on the heels of his directorial debut Scare Me, […]
There is no keener view into family and friendship than a road trip movie. The Blues Brothers were on a mission from god, Thelma and Louise were running from the law, and the Griswold family just wanted to meet Marty Moose—but whatever the quest, there’s a unique bond that comes from spending many days together […]
Satire feeds on the contemporary. As new social issues and interests arise, satire helps us inspect them and make sense of their value in our changing world. Satire can disarm or emasculate through humor, but it can also be twisted into horror and used to heighten danger. The Columnist does both. First, the film makes […]
Blending folk horror, environmental anxiety, and good old-fashioned psychopathy, In the Earth is not your everyday horror film. It’s a steady exercise in suspense, filled with slowly growing doom and unforeseeable instability. Written and directed by Ben Wheatley, the movie is a return to the British filmmaker’s roots. It’s difficult to summarize the career of […]
When it comes to monster movies, the bigger the better. The monsters should be huge, the action fantastic, the budgets sky-high, and the melodrama immeasurable. Godzilla vs. Kong steps into the colossal shadow cast by the cinematic history of both titular creatures, and leaves its own gargantuan mark on the franchises. Taking the helm to […]