Flashback to fun
With the current glut of superheroes, franchises, and remakes at movie theaters, a film like Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza stands out by default simply for being low-key, unpredictable, and […]
Ones to watch
Reviewing 2021’s cinematic output is different from years past. Not only were more movies watched at home this year, but there are no clearly defined trends to speak of. (Showing […]
Sit and stay
While most traditional westerns take place around 1890 or so (when the American frontier was officially no longer deemed unsettled), Jane Campion’s gripping, brilliantly acted The Power of the Dog […]
Playing for keeps
There is a certain charm to an actor who doesn’t shy away from playing the fool, especially when that actor is also the writer, director, and producer of the film. […]
Picture this
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, […]
Plot plummet
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 […]
Finding fabulous
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 […]
Swine time
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 […]
Truncated intentions
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, […]
Howling and howling
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 […]