film commentary Archives

On Ham on Rye and Smoking Bowls

By Jenny Gage | January 11, 2021

On Ham on Rye and Smoking Bowls

Filmmaker Jenny Gage on Tyler Taormina's unconventional coming-of-age movie, a film which perfectly captures the feeling of being a teenager.

Home Alone is the Greatest Christmas Movie of All, Especially During a Pandemic

Film

By Anna Roisman | December 15, 2020

Home Alone is the Greatest Christmas Movie of All, Especially During a Pandemic

Anna Roisman digs into a large pizza as she pays tribute to the Macaulay Culkin classic, which oddly feels even more relevant on its 30th anniversary.

Horrors Far Beyond Mere Violence: On Schalcken the Painter

Film

By Graham Swon | October 29, 2020

Horrors Far Beyond Mere Violence: On Schalcken the Painter

Writer-director Graham Swon shines a light on Leslie Megahey's vastly underseen "indirect horror" movie, a lost BBC gem from 1979.

George Pelecanos on the Genius of The Twilight Zone’s “Walking Distance”

Film

By George Pelecanos | August 24, 2020

George Pelecanos on the Genius of The Twilight Zone’s “Walking Distance”

The crime novelist and TV writer, whose anthology crime film D.C. Noir is out now, on his favorite episode of Rod Serling's iconic show.

On the Ross Brothers’ Second Star to the Right and Straight on ’Til Morning

Film

By Braden King | June 18, 2020

On the Ross Brothers’ Second Star to the Right and Straight on ’Til Morning

Director Braden King chats with Bill and Turner Ross about their under-the-radar doc, which captures the making of Benh Zeitlin's Wendy.

Am I the Only One Who Loves … It’s Complicated?

Film

By Anna Roisman | May 11, 2020

Am I the Only One Who Loves … It’s Complicated?

Comedian Anna Roisman bravely makes her case for Nancy Meyers' 2009 rom-com. You know, the one that's not Something's Gotta Give?

If It’s the End of the World, I Guess I’ll Finally Watch the Star Wars Trilogy (Part Two)

Film

By Anna Roisman | April 23, 2020

If It’s the End of the World, I Guess I’ll Finally Watch the Star Wars Trilogy (Part Two)

After quarantine-watching Episode IV, comedian Anna Roisman braces herself for an even bigger step into the unknown: the sequels.

If It’s the End of the World, I Guess I’ll Finally Watch the Star Wars Trilogy (Part One)

Film

By Anna Roisman | March 31, 2020

If It’s the End of the World, I Guess I’ll Finally Watch the Star Wars Trilogy (Part One)

Locked down in NYC, comedian Anna Roisman finally addresses a glaring omission in her cinematic viewing history.

How Portrait of a Lady on Fire Radically Reimagines the Past

Film

By Collins Salovaara | February 26, 2020

How Portrait of a Lady on Fire Radically Reimagines the Past

Filmmaker Sarah Salovaara on Céline Sciamma's revolutionary lesbian period piece, which presents a very contemporary take on the 18th century.

My Problems with Picard

Film

By Aaron Katz | February 19, 2020

My Problems with Picard

Director and longtime Star Trek fan Aaron Katz struggles with the sci-fi franchise's latest offering, but isn’t ready to give up on it yet.