“The Truman Show” is a psychological comedy-drama film released in 1998 that explored many themes that have since blossomed into today’s society. Directed by Peter Weir, the film gained much success on its debut and earned several award nominations. “The Truman Show” has become a classic among fans, creating a legacy that will stand the test of time for...
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“Evil Does Not Exist” opens with a lengthy, unbroken shot of snow capped trees from below, an intimidating angle diminishing us against the leafless branches. Arresting, yet discordant strings from musician Eiko Ishibashi accompany the scene. The shot ends abruptly and we’re introduced to an eight-year-old Hana (Ryô Nishikawa), who is observing something in the forest. We then follow...
The informal fan-made holiday, “Star Wars Day” is celebrated annually on May 4. The date centers around a pun on the commonly used phrase in the franchise, “May the force be with you.” The wide fictional universe created by George Lucas has become one of the highest-grossing franchises with a dedicated fan base. “Star Wars” has expanded to various...
“Decision To Leave” (2022)
Investigating the death of a man, detective Hae-jun (Park Hae-il) monitors the primary suspect Seo-rae (Tang Wei) in what could be a black widow case. Seo-rae’s beauty seduces Hae-jun through her seeming compassion for him, putting him in a stupor as the detective is in a committed but loveless marriage. Apart from the possible manipulation at...
Directed by Hannah Marks, “Turtles All the Way Down” is a faithful adaptation of John Green’s 2017 novel about a teen with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In the movie’s emotionally charged opening sequence, Aza (Isabella Merced) informs her therapist that she’d “kill to be like normal people.” Already, we’ve gotten a glimpse into Aza’s mind, her intense fixation on bacteria...
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Loosely inspired by the 1936 film “Dracula’s Daughter,” “Abigail” was theatrically released on April 19. The horror-comedy film follows a group of six criminals who kidnap the daughter of a man from whom they demand 50 million dollars in exchange for the 12-year-old girl, Abigail (Alisha Weir). The group is initially unaware of Abigail’s father’s identity and has to...
In “Challengers,” Luca Guadagnino takes the competitive nature of tennis and charges it with eroticism. Every swing of the racket is punctuated with heavy grunts and every drip of sweat feels intimate. Operating within the rules of tennis, the main three characters of “Challengers,” pent up with passion and sexual tension, express everything they need to on the court....
Alex Garland’s “Civil War,” released on April 12, 2024, takes place in a near-future America where the nation is factionalized and eating itself alive. Bearing a two-starred flag, California and Texas formed an alliance known as the Western Forces in hopes of usurping the President (Nick Offerman) while other states vowed allegiance to him. The President is a dictator,...
From Director Chris Renaud, known for “Despicable Me” and “The Secret Life of Pets,” the 2012 feature film adaptation of Dr. Suess’ beloved children’s story, “The Lorax,” presents a sickening view of a future devoid of nature. The film opens in Thneedville, a fictional town in which grass and trees are made of plastic, and atmospheric pollution is so...
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the seminal classic film “Shrek 2” was re-released in theaters on April 12, 2024. Known as a record of success, “Shrek 2” was the highest-grossing DreamWorks film, making upwards of $440 million domestically and $950 million internationally during its 2004 release. The iconic film continued this successful path and even outweighed all expectations when the...