REVIEW: “Light of My Life” (2019)

REVIEW: “Light of My Life” (2019)

I’m always drawn to movies that highlight fathers and daughters and explore the dynamics that often define their relationships. You can probably guess why, but movies that do it well really speak to me. Last year it was Debra Granik’s brilliant “Leave No Trace”. This year Casey Affleck’s “Light of My Life” strikes many of … Continue reading

REVIEW: “The Farewell” (2019)

REVIEW: “The Farewell” (2019)

Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival to a ton of buzz. It has taken some time, but the movie is slowly making its way into more theaters across the country and the critical praise has steadily grown. Wang’s intensely personal family dramedy pulls from her own life experiences with her ailing … Continue reading

REVIEW: “Pet Sematary” (2019)

REVIEW: “Pet Sematary” (2019)

It has been 30 years since the original movie adaptation of Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary”. It was a peculiar slice of genre entertainment that was essentially a twisted horror fable on death and loss. And even with King writing the screenplay himself, it never quite overcame the goofiness of its concept to be a truly effective horror … Continue reading

REVIEW: “Ash is Purest White”

REVIEW: “Ash is Purest White”

In Jia Zhangke’s three-chapter drama “Ash is Purest White” our focus is placed on a woman named Qiao (Tao Zhao). We observe as she navigates three very different phases of her life, all to a shifting Chinese landscape. It’s a cynical yet strikingly realistic portrayal of love, devotion, and the consequences that can come with … Continue reading

First Glance: “Harriet”

First Glance: “Harriet”

A biography of abolitionist Harriet Tubman has been in the works for several years and for good reason. It’s one of several stories from America’s history that is both incredible and inspiring. We’re finally getting one just in time for an already crowded Awards Season. The first trailer for “Harriet” has dropped and it looks … Continue reading