It is at once an intimate portrait as well as a loose exploration of the real costs of the passage of time. We can feel the weight of the story applied to our own lives and wonder what we would do if faced with the same set of circumstances.
All tagged Sundance
Good Point - Bad Hair
For all of its manic hilarity, the film is actually a fairly nuanced take on the ways in which Black women’s choices are constrained by their daily circumstances. But it definitely has a point of view about how Black women should approach those choices and it is not clear Simien has a right to comment.
How to Find a Happy Place - Palm Springs
What does your perfect day entail? Would you want it to be a special day or a more mundane one? Would you do the same thing every day or switch it up? Is there someone you would want to go through those repetitive days with? These are the questions the film tries to grapple with and once it finds its footing, it reaches some surprisingly deep conclusions.
Tight - Luce
The plain message is maybe we never know anyone. The deeper message is maybe you never even know yourself.
Lived In - The Last Black Man In San Francisco
Everyone involved has lived with this story and this city long enough to know every bit of it. The result is a film that feels familiar from the first frame because it knows itself.
When You Don't Know What You Don't Know - Searching
This is not the first time we have seen this technique, of course, as the Unfriended franchise relies on the same method. The difference here is that it never feels like a gimmick.
It Ain't Easy - Eighth Grade
It's a movie about the hardest of years in the easiest of lives.
In The Eyes of the Beholder - Blindspotting
Daveed Diggs, of Hamilton fame, goes all-in with the entertainment capital he’s earned thus far to make this passion project that he and his longtime friend, Rafael Casal, started working on almost a decade ago. It is at once timely and timeless, as it tackles issues that have bubbled under the surface for years and are now staples in the nightly news.
It's Not - Sorry To Bother You
The funny thing about Sorry to Bother You is that it's not. It is happy to bother you. Its off-kilter vibe pops like nothing else you'll see this year and if that's not for you, there's nothing that suggests they care.
More Than Decent - Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Telling a story about a man who seemingly had no inner demons or notable conflicts leaves you with very little tension, unless you manage to introduce an outside element he fought against. In this case, it was us.
The Darkness We Inherit - Hereditary
Hereditary is a brooding horror showcase that is equal parts manic and stoic. For every bout of frenzy, there is an equal measure of deliberation. The end result is one that will ultimately stick with you much longer than you may want.
Just Don't - Call Me By Your Name
I can't say I don't understand what they were trying to do here, but I can say that it didn't quite work for me.
Down Here Together - Mudbound
These characters circle one another on rails; their orbits well-defined by centuries of oppression. Rees manages to beautifully capture both the broad strokes and small contours that take shape when people fail to realize we are down here together.
Review: Patti Cake$
What is the opposite of woke? Mayonnaise? This is mayonnaise. A pale, bland option that makes everything worse because it is relying on fat content and not flavor.
Review: Wilson
This film is a haphazard meditation on the difficulty of life for people whose lives really aren't all that difficult. So self-absorbed, mostly joyless and ultimately not very poignant, I walked away feeling like my time was wasted. There are unending annoyances ingrained throughout, but more than anything, it is just a bore.
Review: Get Out
"Yooooooooooooo!" is basically the only acceptable response to most of this movie.
Review: Captain Fantastic
In the end, the film tackles a few very challenging themes with good-natured humor and a certain timeless irreverence.
Review: OJ: Made In America
At bottom, it shows us why the story of O.J. Simpson is the story of O.J., and us.