film commentary Archives | Page 13 of 55

The Great Missed Opportunity of Michael Moore in TrumpLand

By Sierra Pettengill | October 31, 2016

The Great Missed Opportunity of Michael Moore in TrumpLand

Sierra Pettengill on Moore's October surprise doc, and its failure to do what would have truly given it value: connect with Trump supporters.

13th Gives America a Much-Needed History Lesson

Film

By Adam Bhala Lough | October 28, 2016

13th Gives America a Much-Needed History Lesson

Adam Bhala Lough on Ava DuVernay's powerful doc on the roots of African-American mass incarceration – and also on what it leaves out.

Barry Jenkins and the Fearless, Heartbreaking Honesty of Moonlight

Film

By Aaron Stewart-Ahn | October 24, 2016

Barry Jenkins and the Fearless, Heartbreaking Honesty of Moonlight

Aaron Stewart-Ahn's deeply personal take on one of the most moving and important American films of recent years.

Why The Larry Sanders Show is the Greatest Comedy TV Series Ever

Film

By Daniel Schechter | October 11, 2016

Why The Larry Sanders Show is the Greatest Comedy TV Series Ever

Daniel Schechter on the late Garry Shandling's innovative, iconoclastic sitcom and its special place in television history.

Queen of Katwe Is a Movie You Should Be Supporting. Why Are People Not Seeing It?

Film

By Terence Nance | October 10, 2016

Queen of Katwe Is a Movie You Should Be Supporting. Why Are People Not Seeing It?

Terence Nance on Mira Nair's Disney movie about a young Ugandan chess prodigy, a film that's as uplifting as it promises to be.

Some Spoken Word Poetry and General Euphorics in Praise of Issa Rae and Insecure

Film

By Stephen Winter | October 6, 2016

Some Spoken Word Poetry and General Euphorics in Praise of Issa Rae and Insecure

Stephen Winter waxes lyrical about the brilliant young comedic voice and her new HBO show, the first ever to be fronted by an African-American woman.

American Honey, a Rare Film That Makes You Ask, “How’d They Do That?”

Film

By Ryan Fleck | September 28, 2016

American Honey, a Rare Film That Makes You Ask, “How’d They Do That?”

Ryan Fleck, the director of Half Nelson and Mississippi Grind, on the ineffable magic of Andrea Arnold's first Stateside feature.

Why Paul Schrader Is Wrong and Hardcore Is, in Fact, a Major Movie

Film

By Jim Hemphill | September 15, 2016

Why Paul Schrader Is Wrong and Hardcore Is, in Fact, a Major Movie

Jim Hemphill makes the case that, despite what Schrader himself may say, one of the director's most personal films is also one of his best.

In Praise of Late Woody: Darkness, Lightness and Other Anxieties of Influence

Film

By Matthew Wilder | August 29, 2016

In Praise of Late Woody: Darkness, Lightness and Other Anxieties of Influence

It's very unfashionable to like Woody Allen's recent movies, but screenwriter Matthew Wilder finds their exquisite mastery irresistible.

I Wasn’t Hired to Direct Into the Forest – Here’s What I Thought of the Film

Film

By Megan Griffiths | August 25, 2016

I Wasn’t Hired to Direct Into the Forest – Here’s What I Thought of the Film

Writer-director Megan Griffiths shares a unique perspective on the experience of watching a film you were considered for, but did not get.