Navigating the emotions of a person who either lacks self-awareness or the tools to articulate their experiences has often proved a captivating exploration in cinematic storytelling. I think of such films as far back as 1973’s Badlands to the more recent Never Rarely Sometimes Always from 2020 as examples of such tellings in which we... Continue Reading →
Haneke Comes Early – Film Review: Speak No Evil ★★★★1/2
A short time ago, I was coming home from dinner with a friend when a young man with a pronounced limp walked towards us, his little dog in tow. Just as he drew close, he dropped his phone on the sidewalk. With my natural instincts kicking in, I picked up his phone, returned it and... Continue Reading →
Who-Dumb-It? – Film Review: Bodies Bodies Bodies ★★1/2
Have you ever wanted to rate a movie using Olympics guidelines? I thought of that while watching Bodies Bodies Bodies from director Halina Reijn. Instead of a detailed review, mustering up all my skills as a film critic, I just wanted to say, Concept: 10, Execution: 2 and leave it at that. Alas, I have... Continue Reading →
Outfest LA 2022 Film Review: Maybe Someday ★★★★
I’ve always enjoyed Michelle Ehlen’s films, such as Butch Jamie, Heterosexual Jill, and S&M Sally, and consider them a maverick in that they write, direct, produce, edit and star in their own films. Full disclosure: Michelle wore many hats on my feature debut, Eating Out: All You Can Eat, and our pre-existing relationship scared me... Continue Reading →
Outfest LA 2022 Film Review: Unidentified Objects ★★★★
If you enjoyed Take Shelter, Midnight Special, Bug, and Safety Not Guaranteed, four films which had you wondering if the sci-fi events depicted were real or a result of of a mental break, then you may respond to director Juan Felipe Zuleta and writer Leland Frankel’s Unidentified Objects, Outfest LA’s U.S. Centerpiece. Otherwise, your mileage... Continue Reading →
Outfest LA 2022 Film Reviews: Chrissy Judy ★★★★ / Please Baby Please ★★★1/2
Outfest LA is back and in hybrid form once again, offering audiences in-person and virtual screenings. With a daunting 200+ selections, it’s impossible to see everything and sometimes decisions as to what to watch come down to educated guesses, coin flips, or a provocative still. I’ll end up watching way more movies than I end... Continue Reading →
Yeoh, Man! – Film Review: Everything Everywhere All At Once ★★★★1/2
Have you ever felt that the films of Baz Luhrmann and Michael Bay dragged a little? Do you need more edits? Faster action? More kablooey and kablam? Well, to paraphrase SNL’s Stefon, “America’s hottest movie, Everything Everywhere All At Once has everything! Talking Rocks! Hot dog fingers! Backwards whooshing office chairs! A Sharpie wielding Halloween... Continue Reading →
The Queer Review 2021 – LGBTQ+ highlights of the year
With the end of this challenging year in sight, we asked some friends of The Queer Review, including prominent creators, performers, artists, and activists to share the LGBTQ+ culture or events that sustained, stimulated, or inspired them in 2021. The eclectic list features two deserving mentions for a Spanish-language limited TV series that was released... Continue Reading →
Western Side Story – Film Review: The Power Of The Dog ★★★★1/2
Injecting homoeroticism into the Western genre is nothing new, with The Sisters Brothers and Brokeback Mountain being just a couple of somewhat recent examples, but the great Jane Campion’s long-awaited return to features, The Power Of The Dog, feels fresh due to its fascinating tone and examination of today’s hot button issue of toxic masculinity.... Continue Reading →
The Windsor Knot – Film Review: Spencer ★★★★1/2
With so much attention paid to the late Diana Spencer in recent times, with the most current season of The Crown and the Broadway musical among the high profile endeavors, it may seem a film entry would not have anything new to say on the subject. Luckily, with Pablo Larraín (Jackie) directing Steven Knight’s (Locke,... Continue Reading →