by Byron BixlerLike the best animated fantasies, Song of the Sea comes at the viewer with the kind of serenely poetic energy often only reserved for lullabies. Its world is expansive—seemingly pre-formed from Celtic mythologies. Humans tell stories of ancient spirits while unknowingly rubbing shoulders with the very entities they speak of and the painterly … Continue reading
by Austin GoldQuentin Tarantino has always made films for one person and one person only: himself. But since his tastes run from the highest of art to the lowest of exploitation, he’s found an audience that’s just as broad. However, The Hateful Eight may be the first movie he’s made for his audience, or rather … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler From the December 2015 IssueWhen I think of Studio Ghibli, I think of the magic its stories evoke. I think of the wondrous worlds its directors create and the deep, emotional wells they draw from. I think of its uniquely youthful perspective and the delicate earnestness with which it expresses its truths. … Continue reading
by Justin MadoreThe title of Bone Tomahawk should’ve been a warning to me. The name suggests something brutal and animalistic. Instead, I ventured forth naively, expecting the standard western fare of Mexican standoffs with gruff men. However, what is delivered by S. Craig Zahler’s directorial debut is so much more. Although it takes a little … Continue reading
by Justin Madore From the December 2015 IssueIn 2012, director Sam Mendes did the impossible for the 23rd entry in one of cinema’s most iconic franchises. With Skyfall, he proved that interesting and innovative stories could be told in the Bond universe, beautifully presenting a surprisingly human narrative with the perfect mixture of action, humor … Continue reading
by Jacob Sullivan From the December 2015 IssueMontage of Heck could have easily been a hagiography, furthering the idealizing and canonizing of Kurt Cobain. Arguably, no musician has been more romanticized in the past thirty years than the Nirvana frontman. Cobain, through the media and other films about his life, has been elevated to a … Continue reading
by Haley GoetzBased on the 2010 novel by Emma Donoghue, Room is an emotionally-charged film that is sure to leave an imprint. Director Lenny Abrahamson really excels at bringing a great source-to-screen adaptation to life. The film carries with it an intrinsic weight, as its central topic is a rather dark thing to grapple with. … Continue reading
by Byron BixlerStar Wars means a great deal to me – I suppose that’s as good a place to start as any. Perhaps it’s a frivolous aside to make, but when confronting the long awaited seventh installment of the most widely beloved franchise out there, I think you should know where I’m coming from. I … Continue reading
by Jacob SullivanIf one was to marathon all the Hunger Games films in order, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 would come off as a fitting and exciting finale to the saga, but on its own, the franchise finale is poorly paced, boring and overwhelmingly mediocre. With the exception of a few decently exciting … Continue reading
by Elizabeth EstenIn 2001, The Boston Globe‘s “Spotlight” team was given the task of investigating further into a story about a local priest accused of abusing children. The team, led by Walter Robertson (Michael Keaton), ended up uncovering a pattern in how the Boston Archdiocese deals with priests who have molested children, revealing a greater … Continue reading
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