Film
Are Superhero Movies 'Boring as Shit'?
Ridley Scott threw Twitter into disarray last month when he said superhero movies are “fucking boring as shit” and that their scripts “aren’t any fucking good.” However inflammatory it was, the tweet raises larger questions about the state of superhero films.
25 Years Later, Baz Luhrmann's ‘Romeo + Juliet’ Has Stood the Test of Time
Although his unabashed and reckless style occasionally clouds the purity of the original play, Luhrmann’s work has stood the test of time as a blazing, brilliant and vibrant love story whose actors and scenery bring the script to life.
‘House of Gucci’ Review: Lady Gaga Rises Above a Mediocre Script
Though featuring an ensemble cast of greats like Jeremy Irons and Al Pacino, it is Lady Gaga’s magnetic performance as the power hungry Patrizia that stands out and offsets some of the film’s flaws in pacing and character development.
‘Being the Ricardos’ Review: For Better or For Worse, Sorkin Returns
If it is possible to genetically engineer a film to win an Academy Award, it makes sense that Amazon is the studio attempting it — and with “Being the Ricardos,” they seem to have gotten quite close.
‘The Power of the Dog’ Review: Jane Campion’s Western Explores Suppression and Masculinity
“The Power of the Dog” thrives in its subtleties: the silence between words, a lingering stare, and subtle gestures.
Top 10 Films of 2021
The Crimson Arts Board presents its favorite films of the year, from "Encanto" to "Drive My Car."
‘West Side Story’ Review: Not Quite 'The Swingin’est Thing'
Though a fine revival, it does not look as though Spielberg’s “West Side Story” will replace the 1961 film, directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, in terms of cultural legacy anytime soon.
Revisiting ‘Spirited Away’: A Timeless Tale of Capitalism
“Spirited Away” is a meticulously-crafted criticism of Westernization and capitalism, a story advocating for a restoration of and respect for the traditional rather than being caught up in a, in contrast to the common modern blind dive for growth and advancement.
Disney Animators Discuss Familia and Latin American Culture in ‘Encanto’
In a virtual webinar on Friday, Nov. 12, animators Rebecca Perez Stodolny and Jorge E. Ruiz Cano, along with production manager Natalia Adame Mendoza, discussed their experience working at Walt Disney Animation Studios on their newest film, “Encanto.”
Woman Director Spotlight: Sofia Coppola
Though she boasts a diverse filmography, it is clear that Coppola’s upbringing defines her cinematic perspective, and her films explore shared themes: the mundane aspects of the celebrity, concurring feelings of isolation and invasiveness, and the relationship between father and daughter.
‘Licorice Pizza’ Review: A Delectable Serving of Nostalgia and Good Vibes
Equal parts funny and endearing, “Licorice Pizza” is about finding love in the unlikeliest of places.
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone’ at 20: A Complicated Legacy
The series is one of the best large-scale book-to-screen adaptations ever. But — and it’s a big but — in recent years the Harry Potter franchise has increasingly been used to perpetrate actual harm to real people.
Taylor Swift’s Short Film is a Masterpiece We’ll Remember ‘All Too Well’
The film satisfyingly aligns with the song’s lyrics without feeling like a traditional music video, all while carrying a storyline that explores the unbalanced power dynamics of a doomed relationship.
‘The Last Duel’ Review: A Muddled Mess of Narratives
Riddled with jarring contrasts in tone, dialogue, and character development between its first and second halves, the film clumsily clashes with itself.
‘The Harder They Fall’ Review: A Fun Retelling of a Western Falls A Little Flat in Execution
While his film doesn’t quite stick the landing, Samuel’s take on this classic genre is certainly a fun watch.
‘A Mouthful of Air’ Review: An Inadequate Look at Postpartum Depression
While Seyfried proves to be a phenomenal actress, “A Mouthful of Air” is underdeveloped in every aspect from storyline to character development, failing in its sincere attempt to raise awareness of postpartum depression.
‘Belfast’ Review: An Evocative, Sober Exploration of Family Struggles
Branagh’s film tells a touching, unabashedly human story of eerily normal family struggles in the midst of nightmarish circumstances.
‘The Souvenir Part II’ Review: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman.
Hogg creates a masterfully executed picture that elevates the prose of life into an emotive story about the making of a young director.
‘Last Night in Soho’ Review: An Alluring Trip to the Sixties
"Last Night in Soho" features an alluring original premise, immersive worldbuilding, and a surprising feminist slant, but sometimes falls short of expectations as the story develops.
‘Eternals’ Review: Chloé Zhao Injects the MCU with a Refreshing Dose of Humanity
Zhao’s latest isn’t exactly what Marvel fans expect — but by diminishing the action and doubling down on the characters, “Eternals” is more thought-provoking than many of its MCU peers.
‘The French Dispatch’ Proves Aesthetics are Important
"The French Dispatch" isn’t just witty and lovable because of its premise: Anderson pays undivided attention to costuming and set design, making “The French Dispatch” an unforgettable tribute.
‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ Review: A Thrillingly Dissonant Love Story
In not shying away from the weirdness of a comic book adaptation, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” manages to tell an engaging story about living and loving dysfunctionally.
‘The Electrical Life of Louis Wain’ Review: Cumberbatch Fails to Electrify as Overly-Quirky Artistic Genius
The director aspires to capture Wain’s spirit by mimicking his eccentric style –– a technique that may work for the cats Wain draws, but leads to a flat protagonist when applied to a human being.
‘Lamb’ Review: An Unsettling Portrait of Family Life
“Lamb” follows a couple as they take in a human-lamb hybrid to raise as their own child.
Retrospective: ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ Blurs the Line between Fantasy and Reality
“Pan’s Labyrinth” sticks with its viewers long after the credits run, and that illusory quality is enforced by intentional ambiguity. Del Toro does not explicitly answer whether Ophelia’s experiences are fantasy or reality and instead leaves it up to the viewer.