Category: independent drama

The Cathedral: Brilliant, Haunting and Heady

Deciding to shift down from the Thanksgiving/Birthday Go Go Go, I decided to take in an at home film nominated for the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards. After all, these are the folks that acknowledged Uncut Gems, Red Rocket and Zola. The Cathedral, written and directed by Ricky D’Ambrose is a former winner at the Sarasota… Continue reading The Cathedral: Brilliant, Haunting and Heady

The Banshees of Inisherin: Location, Location, Loc-

Sometimes your location really matters when it comes to where one views a movie. If I had seen The Banshees of Inisherin in my new hometown of Sarasota, the sultry outside may have been too much of a mismatch for me to enjoy the film as thoroughly as I did. But in my OLD hometown… Continue reading The Banshees of Inisherin: Location, Location, Loc-

Decision to Leave…This One Off the Awards List

I have no poker face, so I’ll say it upfront. Despite what the poster quoted “Most Romantic Movie of the Year”, I beg to differ. Not that Decision to Leave didn’t have a few moments of flickering heat or a spritz of emotion, Park Chan-wook’s written and directed film smacks more of Deep Water (though… Continue reading Decision to Leave…This One Off the Awards List

Two Peas (or Indies) in a Pod: “The Comedy” and “Holy Motors”

Before I do my deep dive into the meaning and reviews of these two independent films (The Comedy and Holy Motors both from 2012), let me take a crack at the meaning of each. To preface though, it’s pretty coincidental that they came out the same year though that may be where the similarities end.… Continue reading Two Peas (or Indies) in a Pod: “The Comedy” and “Holy Motors”

A “Pig”‘s Pulchritude

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the adage applies to not only a person’s love for their pet as in Nicolas Cage’s syncopation with his truffle pig, but also my adoration for Cage’s acting career. Sure, his choices haven’t been ‘pretty’ at times, yet when he delivers a performance such as Pig… Continue reading A “Pig”‘s Pulchritude

Limbo: an eye opening look at refugees

Limbo, written and directed by Ben Sharrock, is a BAFTA nominated and even more importantly, one of the first films debuted in the post Covid, reopened Burns Court Cinema! Limbo takes a granular look at individuals in refugee crisis, specifically four men stuck in limbo on a Scottish island awaiting asylum approval. The four men… Continue reading Limbo: an eye opening look at refugees

Nomadland, Important Social Cause, Mildly Impactful Flick

Somewhere along the way Frances McDormand got sucked in. Sucked into the anger and melancholia of social causes. Mind you, in a thin photo finish rival with environmental problems, displaced and disregarded, homelessness is a major problem…but I digress. I guess my main question is: if an actress continues to portray characters of real life… Continue reading Nomadland, Important Social Cause, Mildly Impactful Flick

Malcolm & Marie, Ladies Before Gentlemen

Ok, I made a choice this weekend to avoid cancer (as in Our Friend) and instead chose a Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf one percenter first world problems debate in Malcom and Marie. Why you ask? Sam Levinson, who produced Pieces of a Woman, wrote and directed Malcolm & Marie, that’s why. And I both… Continue reading Malcolm & Marie, Ladies Before Gentlemen

Eternal Beauty, Talented Writer/Director

Craig Roberts wrote and directed Eternal Beauty starring the incandescent Sally Hawkins. She could make almost any script look good, but all she had to do was bring her A game given the poignant, well drawn dysfunctional family comedy/drama. With the help of another new, dare I predict future Oscar nominated, actor David Thewlis (Golden… Continue reading Eternal Beauty, Talented Writer/Director