film commentary Archives

My Problems with Picard

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.

Underrated/Overlooked: Nick Simon on Crawl

Film

By Nick Simon | January 31, 2020

Underrated/Overlooked: Nick Simon on Crawl

Horror director Simon addresses the alligator in the room: how Alexandre Aja's movie is a creature feature for the ages.

Underrated/Overlooked: Stephen Winter on Clara’s Ghost

Film

By Stephen Winter | January 29, 2020

Underrated/Overlooked: Stephen Winter on Clara’s Ghost

Jason and Shirley's director on his favorite film of 2019, Bridey Elliott's unconventional comedy drama starring her own family.

Underrated/Overlooked: Joel Potrykus on Dragged Across Concrete

Film

By Joel Potrykus | January 28, 2020

Underrated/Overlooked: Joel Potrykus on Dragged Across Concrete

It's not exactly fashionable to love S. Craig Zahler's movies, but dammit if Joel Potrykus doesn't walk to the beat of his own drum.

Underrated/Overlooked: Rodney Ascher on Nicolas Winding Refn’s Too Old to Die Young

Film

By Rodney Ascher | January 27, 2020

Underrated/Overlooked: Rodney Ascher on Nicolas Winding Refn’s Too Old to Die Young

Seemingly not very many people saw Nicolas Winding Refn’s noirish Amazon Prime series, but Rodney Ascher did and has a whole lot to say about it.

Best of 2019: Aisha Tyler on Julius Onah’s Luce

Film

By Aisha Tyler | January 16, 2020

Best of 2019: Aisha Tyler on Julius Onah’s Luce

The actress-writer-director spotlights one of the movies that stood out during a particularly strong year for cinema.

Best of 2019: Trey Edward Shults on Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse

Film

By Trey Edward Shults | January 15, 2020

Best of 2019: Trey Edward Shults on Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse

The writer-director of Waves on his favorite movie of the year (which just happens to be by a friend of his!).

Underrated/Overlooked: Katherine Dieckmann on Give Me Liberty

Film

By Katherine Dieckmann | January 14, 2020

Underrated/Overlooked: Katherine Dieckmann on Give Me Liberty

The writer-director of Strange Weather on Kirill Mikhanovsky's comedy drama, one of her favorite movies of 2019.

Underrated/Overlooked: SJ Chiro on Atlantics

Film

By SJ Chiro | January 13, 2020

Underrated/Overlooked: SJ Chiro on Atlantics

The writer-director makes the case for Mati Diop's unique Cannes-winning debut feature being among the very best movies of the year.

Catharsis in Disaster: A Spiritual Defense of Cats

Film

By Benjamin Shearn | January 9, 2020

Catharsis in Disaster: A Spiritual Defense of Cats

Screenwriter and editor Benjamin Shearn on why we should all appreciate the rare, unifying glory that is a bad movie of this magnitude.