Snowden (2016)
“Traitor, or hero?” is the question posed by Snowden’s poster, though Oliver Stone’s retelling of its titular character’s story is so firmly in the Hero camp that you wonder why they bothered asking at all.
Weiner (2016)
A documentary centring on Anthony Weiner’s failed mayoral campaign cuts to the narcissistic root of its subject – and politicians in general.
Pete’s Dragon (2016)
The simplicity of Pete’s Dragon’s story and themes alike leaves it desperately reliant on fostering a sense of childlike wonder that it can’t hold onto.
Don’t Breathe Surveys the Wreckage of Modern America
Fede Alvarez and Jane Levy’s follow-up to Evil Dead offers scares, nasty twists and insight into the twisted underbelly of American in decline.
A Pigeon Sat On a Branch Reflecting on Existence (2014)
Roy Andersson’s absurdist, absurdly-named opus A Pigeon Sat On a Branch Reflecting on Existence (the third film in a loose trilogy) is the polar opposite of the Paul-Feig-inspired mode of filmmaking dominating Hollywood comedies.
Tokyo Ghoul: Visceral Queerness and Radical Vampirism
On anime, vampires, and the physicality of transgressive queerness (except, maybe, not).
David Brent: Life on the Road (2016)
In a belated effort to tap into the success of his hit TV show The Office, Ricky Gervais risks unflattering comparisons with his washed up titular character.
One Girl. One Night. One Take. One Waste of Time: Victoria’s Failed Experiment
There’s no particular reason why this generic German crime/romance-thriller needs to be executed in a single take, aside from it making good marketing copy. It sure doesn’t make for a good movie.
The Shallows: You Can Be a Hot Surfer Chick and a Hero Doctor. Just Watch Out for Sharks
The Shallows has a simple task: make sharks scary again. And it succeeds admirably, while offering (perhaps unintentionally) interesting commentary on sexualised heroines in horror movies.
Neruda (2016)
Pablo Larrain’s unconventional, dizzying portrait of Pablo Neruda is reminiscent of Luis Buñuel; that’s gotta be a good thing.
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