Tag: Independent Films

Holy Spider is a Thought Provoking, Topical, and Multifaceted Critique of Iran’s Theocracy

The fall of 2022 saw civil unrest and protest erupt in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was accused of violating the country’s law regarding the proper wearing of hijabs. The nationwide uprising of…

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The Whale’s Ensemble Powers Its Emotional Themes Past an Okay Story (Middleburg Film Festival)

The Whale is a simple story packed with no simple emotions and social commentary. Charlie (Brendan Fraser) is a depressed, reclusive, online English professor who is slowly dying from obesity and resigned to his fate. As he prepares…

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Triangle of Sadness Hilariously Shines a Light on Social Inequality, Power, and Human Nature

Satire is one of the best ways to deeply examine aspects of society and a new release in theaters does just that. Triangle of Sadness begins with male model Carl (Harris Dickinson) and his model/social media influencer girlfriend Yaya (Charlbi…

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No One Makes Movies Like You Anymore: Decision to Leave Review

Sometimes, you don’t know how much you’ve missed something until you encounter it again. As the American cinematic landscape continues to become saturated with sameness, bombastic CGI slugfests featuring spandex and capes or indies that feel more like…

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Breaking Gives Light to Veterans’ Struggles in John Boyega’s Best Performance (Sundance Film Festival)

Everyone has their breaking point. We all have experienced feeling unappreciated and put upon by someone or something, especially when it comes to bureaucracies or other systems nationwide. Perhaps no group feels this more than America’s veterans, people…

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Both Sides of the Blade Has Good Performances But Still Feels Slightly Disappointing

“When you love someone it never really goes away.” Another collaboration between director Claire Denis and Juliette Binochet, with 2021 sensation Titane’s Vincent Lindon added to the mix, sounds enticing enough for any film fanatic to give a…

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Resurrection Has Decent Psychological Thrills, but Rebecca Hall is the Clear Raison d’Etre (Sundance Film Festival)

Unresolved trauma can have an indelible effect on someone’s life even if they appear to have it all together on the surface. A new film starring Rebecca Hall uses the psychological thriller to examine just how extensively our…

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Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack Charm in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (Sundance Film Festival)

Self-discovery is usually something that we associate with young adulthood, a time for exploration and finding out what makes us tick and what we like. But certain cultural mores and life’s roadblocks bring some to this point later…

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Men Has Something to Say Without Saying Anything New at All

Director Alex Garland has quickly established himself as a skillful writer/director of science fiction with films such as Ex Machina and Annihilation. He makes his anticipated return to the big screen, this time returning to the horror genre….

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On The Count of Three Melds Humor and a Serious Examination of Depression and Hopelessness in Thrilling Fashion (Sundance Film Festival)

We currently live in a time where people nationwide are struggling through a myriad of problems, from financial to mental to a combination of many issues. These hard times are leading many on a path toward self destruction…

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