top of page
All Articles
Trembling Before G-d
What stands out first about Trembling Before G d is the confidence with which Sandi Simcha Dubowski establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Trembling Before G d asks Shlomo Ashkinazy and Steve Greenberg to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Trembling Before G d is established with useful clarity: A cinematic portrait of various gay Orthodox Jews who struggle to reconcile their faith and their sexual orientation. Tha
Aug 153 min read
An American Rhapsody
What stands out first about An American Rhapsody is the confidence with which Éva Gárdos establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, An American Rhapsody asks Nastassja Kinski and Scarlett Johansson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of An American Rhapsody is established with useful clarity: A young Hungarian girl struggles to find her place in the world when she's reunited with her parents in the USA years after she was lef
Aug 153 min read
Brigham City
What stands out first about Brigham City is the confidence with which Richard Dutcher establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Brigham City asks Richard Dutcher and Wilford Brimley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Brigham City is established with useful clarity: The sheriff of a small Utah community searches for a serial killer. That direct approach lets Brigham City use its 1h 59m running time for character, at
Aug 153 min read
Who Knows?
What stands out first about Who Knows? is the confidence with which Jacques Rivette establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Who Knows? asks Jeanne Balibar and Sergio Castellitto to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Who Knows? is established with useful clarity: Quick witted, well read cultured types revolve around each other in a delightful potpourri of theatre, romanticism and theft. That direct approach lets Who Knows
Aug 152 min read
American Desi
What stands out first about American Desi is the confidence with which Piyush Dinker Pandya establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, American Desi asks Deep Katdare and Ronobir Lahiri to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of American Desi is established with useful clarity: College freshman Krishna Reddy, who has never cared for his Indian American cultural heritage, looks forward to a new life on campus but is surprised to
Aug 153 min read
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
What stands out first about Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India is the confidence with which Ashutosh Gowariker establishes its music drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India asks Aamir Khan and Raghubir Yadav to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India is established with useful clarity: The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket aga
Aug 153 min read
Storytelling
What stands out first about Storytelling is the confidence with which Todd Solondz establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Storytelling asks Selma Blair and Leo Fitzpatrick to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Storytelling is established with useful clarity: College and high school serve as the backdrop for two stories about dysfunction and personal turmoil. That direct approach lets Storytelling use its 1h 27m running
Aug 152 min read
All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live!
What stands out first about All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live! is the confidence with which Martyn Atkins establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live! asks Trey Anastasio and Carter Beauford to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live! is established with useful clarity: A superstar driven IMAX® film that gives viewers an exclusive, behind the
Aug 153 min read
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
What stands out first about Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is the confidence with which Shin'ichirô Watanabe establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie asks Beau Billingslea and Melissa Fahn to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is established with useful clarity: A terrorist explosion releases a deadly virus on the masses, and it's up to the bounty hunting Bebop crew to
Aug 153 min read
Yaadein...
What stands out first about Yaadein... is the confidence with which Subhash Ghai establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Yaadein... asks Hrithik Roshan and Jackie Shroff to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Yaadein... is established with useful clarity: Raj is against love marriages and when his daughter Isha falls in love with Ronit Malhotra, he opposes their relationship. That direct approach lets Yaadein... use its
Aug 152 min read
The Piano Teacher
What stands out first about The Piano Teacher is the confidence with which Michael Haneke establishes its music drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Piano Teacher asks Isabelle Huppert and Annie Girardot to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Piano Teacher is established with useful clarity: A young man romantically pursues his masochistic piano teacher. That direct approach lets The Piano Teacher use its 2h 11m running time fo
Aug 153 min read
No Man's Land
What stands out first about No Man's Land is the confidence with which Danis Tanovic establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, No Man's Land asks Branko Djuric and Rene Bitorajac to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of No Man's Land is established with useful clarity: Bosnia and Herzegovina during 1993 at the time of the heaviest fighting between the two warring sides. That direct approach lets No Man's Land use its 1h 38m r
Aug 153 min read
bottom of page