Mountain documentary review: the philosophy of peak adventure
Dizzying and dazzling, this is a stirring meditation on the allure, the mystery, and the danger of the world’s highest summits, as places but also as ideas.
reviews
The Unseen (aka Amaurosis) movie review: when the see it/skip it recommendation is right in the title
A portrait of grief and guilt that’s only mildly engaging, until it morphs into a wannabe psychological thriller and turns limp, laughable, and just plain icky.
I, Tonya movie review: a woman at war with herself
A black comedy about domestic violence, parental abuse, and low self-esteem (and it works!), one that challenges our appreciation of how true based-on-fact might be.
Menashe movie review: the unhappy nonconformist
A bittersweet, deeply human tale, one with a documentary sense of discovery to its setting: a little seen, highly insular ultraorthodox Jewish community.
Ferdinand movie review: no bull, it’s wonderful
Goofy, charming, faithful to its sweet source material, and all while advancing the standard “Be yourself” message with fresh challenges to gender expectations.
The Rape of Recy Taylor documentary review: meet the unheralded badass Black women of recent American history
Enraging, and eye-opening, the beginning of the antidote for how Black women’s lives get erased in America. Tells a story that we should recognize as epic.
A Matter of Life and Death (aka Stairway to Heaven) (4K restoration) movie review: paradise on Earth
One of the most beloved British films ever is now even more lush, more gorgeous, more humanist in a glorious new restored edition.
11/8/16 (aka November 8th) documentary review: too soon, too soon
An important portrait of America on the day that changed it for the worse… but difficult to watch, with the impact of the election still spiraling out of control.
The Disaster Artist movie review: a view on ‘The Room’
A hilarious ode to talentless passion. James Franco gives the bizarre Tommy Wiseau depth without solving his mystery, but skips a deserved zing at Hollywood.
Love Is Thicker Than Water movie review: so, love is a sludge, then?
This would-be modern Romeo-and-Juliet tale is little more than a pile-on of class stereotypes, contrived dialogue, and one whopper of a coincidence.
