Category: Film Analysis
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Beyond Wishing: An Examination of Raphael Sbarge’s Documentaries
When I first watched Only In Theaters the very first thing I wanted to do after it ended was go see a movie in a small, local theater and start to do so regularly. The urge sparked a bit of curiosity. Specifically, I wanted to know – how was the call to action so very…
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Mother of All Shows: Spoiler-Free Review
On its official website, Mother of All Shows is described as a Mother / Daughter Traumedy, and that’s a wonderful description for Melissa D’Agostino’s first feature. For those of us navigating the fraught waters of how to deal with narcissistic parents or negative body image, not only will this resonate, but there’s healing and redemption…
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Death to Smoochy
There are three types of people in the world: people who hate Death to Smoochy, people who love Death to Smoochy, and people who don’t care about it at all. I love Death to Smoochy. It’s a movie done with a lot of talent and care for the craft. It’s hilarious. Its themes of the…
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The Mysteries of a Harmless Room: Exploring Amir Motlagh’s Three Worlds.
Amir Motlagh has a knack for making films that leave me feeling moved and raw. They also challenge me to evaluate my connections – or lack thereof – quite keenly. When I sat down to rewatch Motlagh’s film “Three Worlds” so I could write something meaningful and cohesive about it, I had three questions written…
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Pondering Amir Motlagh’s 2018 MAN in 2021
Amir Motlagh’s MAN is a beautifully shot, prescient meditation on the nature of the human experience and of connectedness in increasingly disconnected times. The film moves through a mantra of daily activities before accelerating towards an emotionally impactful ending. I’m going to admit I wasn’t expecting to emotionally connect with this film the way I…
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My Dinner with Slow Romance
An Analysis of two Conversation-driven Films: My Dinner with Andre’ and The Secret Society For Slow Romance. I knew I’d have to watch My Dinner with Andre’ to understand all of the influences that went into making The Secret Society for Slow Romance. Sujewa Ekanayake, the auteur behind The Secret Society for Slow Romance, made…
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Lady Buds: A Documentary of the Trials, Triumphs, and Tribulations of Six Women in Cannabis
The scope of Lady Buds is deceptively simple — it is the story of six women entering the legal cannabis market. This thoughtful and beautifully-shot documentary uses that scope to reveal sweeping insights into the challenges, triumphs, and players within the cannabis industry. In her feature debut, director Chris J. Russo offers a compelling film…