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The 2019 Spirit and Razzie Awards

Josh Zyber — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 13:00:33 +0000

Wrapping up the awards season hoopla, the Independent Spirit Awards and the Razzies both also handed out trophies this weekend. The Spirits did a decent job of offering concession prizes to movies that Oscar would pass over, while the Razzies remain difficult to care much about. Spirit Awards I think the assumption that Roma would...

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Juliet, Naked Review: Barely a Romance

Deirdre Crimmins — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:00:58 +0000

A sleepy, seaside British village might not be the most universally relatable location for a film, but even within the picturesque setting there’s room for personal disappointment. In Juliet, Naked we see that relationships are not always what they seem, even by the beach. In a very Nick Horby-esque plot (based on a Hornby novel),...

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IFFBoston Journal: ‘First Reformed’

Jason Gorber — Mon, 07 May 2018 15:00:31 +0000

It’s been a long road for Paul Schrader to get to ‘First Reformed’, a work that even he admits may not be his last but may well serve as a culmination of his craft. From his earliest days as a seminarian through his screenwriting for the likes of ‘Taxi Driver’ and onto his own long...

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Weekend Roundtable: Cast the Next Batman

Josh Zyber — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 20:00:48 +0000

Even as his gargantuan ‘Justice League’ movie hits theaters, rumors abound that Ben Affleck wants out of his contract playing Batman in future DC Comics movies. If he leaves, what currently working actor should don the cape and cowl next? Shannon Nutt Before DC rebooted its superhero universe with our current cast of characters, there...

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‘Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets’ Review: The Fifth and a Half Element

Philip Brown — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 19:00:23 +0000

There used to be a thriving market of European filmmakers who made trashy exploitation movies for a global market. Sadly, Luc Besson is essentially the last man standing in this genre movie tradition. But he’s also one of the most successful of all time, producing and writing delightfully trashy action flicks like the ‘Transporter’ and...

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‘Maudie’ Review: Heartfelt but Oddly Uncomfortable

Philip Brown — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 16:00:53 +0000

For a film about a beloved artist whose work is singularly sweet, ‘Maudie’ has an unexpected amount of stark reality. Although the actors’ showcase ultimately falls into the comfy confines of feel-good entertainment, it takes a surprisingly harsh road to get there. The almost impossibly lovable Sally Hawkins stars as Maud Lewis, a Canadian artist...

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‘The Magnificent Seven’ (2016) Review: The “Seven” Part Is Accurate

Philip Brown — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 19:00:42 +0000

No one ever asked for a remake of ‘The Magnificent Seven’. Quite apart from the fact that the original movie is a product of its time, the thing was already a remake of ‘Seven Samurai’. Remaking a remake sounds more like a parody of Hollywood unoriginality than a real project. Yet somehow here we are....

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‘Maggie’s Plan’ Review: Not Every Plan Comes Together

Philip Brown — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 19:00:41 +0000

Rebecca Miller’s latest feature, ‘Maggie’s Plan’, is one of those awkward romantic comedies. Although new to the filmmaker, whose somewhat sporadic career has typically been defined by drama, it certainly won’t feel unfamiliar to audiences. It’s the sort of neurotic Manhattan rom-com that Woody Allen invented and the likes of Noah Baumbach have continued for...

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‘Born to Be Blue’ Review: The Thrill Is Gone

Philip Brown — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:00:25 +0000

‘Born to Be Blue’ is the inevitable Chet Baker bio-pic that was destined to happen. Thankfully, it’s well-cast and even rather creatively structured. In fact, for the first 20 minutes or so, you might even think you’re watching a film as free-form, unpredictable and distinct as the legendary jazz artist. Unfortunately, at a certain point...

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TIFF Journal: ‘Born to Be Blue’

Philip Brown — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:00:20 +0000

‘Born to Be Blue is a perfectly decent bio-pic of the late, great jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. The film serves up some clever reinventions of overly familiar bio-pic forms in the hopes of reinventing the genre. For a while, it’s a rather clever take on an old standard, but unfortunately the movie eventually reverts to...

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‘Good Kill’ Review: Good Idea, Disappointing Movie

Philip Brown — Fri, 15 May 2015 13:00:00 +0000

At a certain point, I need to stop falling for the Andrew Niccol trap. Every time I hear about a new movie from the director, I think the concept is brilliant. Then, every time I see the movie, I’m inevitably disappointed. The guy clearly has a genius for premises, but he can never quite seem...

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‘Seymour: An Introduction’ Review: Inspiring Docu-Fluff

Philip Brown — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 14:00:43 +0000

Ethan Hawke’s directorial debut as an unlikely documentarian is the cinematic equivalent of a warm hug. It clearly comes from a personal place for Hawke and showcases a gentle soul who almost feels like a living Buddha with a knack for the piano. It’s impossible to feel anything but warm feelings when wandering out of...

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