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“It’s Murder!”: It’s the Sam Raimi Blueprint!

It's Murder!
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One of Sam Raimi’s early film-school shorts is a shaggy murder mystery soaked in future promise.

Tim Stevens Posted on October 3, 2020October 23, 2020

“Elephant” forced us to see the normal inside the horrific

Elephant
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Bringing the works of Tarr and Akerman to modern America, Gus Van Sant’s drama about student life around a school shooting remains a vital work.

Soham Gadre Posted on June 18, 2020June 18, 2020

Jeffrey McHale discusses his “Showgirls” documentary “You Don’t Nomi”

You Don't Nomi
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Director Jeffrey McHale talks about his latest documentary and his experiences with Paul Verhoeven’s cult classic Showgirls.

Theo Estes Posted on June 9, 2020July 2, 2020

You don’t know shit about “Showgirls” until you’ve seen “You Don’t Nomi”

You Don't Nomi
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Jeffrey McHale explores the circuitous route the NC-17 flop took from Razzie shame to midnight fame.

Theo Estes Posted on June 8, 2020July 2, 2020

“Driveways” is an achingly delicate cry for empathy

Driveways
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Andrew Ahn’s sophomore film is one of the year’s most understated masterworks, with a beautiful sendoff for Brian Dennehy.

Michael Snydel Posted on May 8, 2020May 8, 2020

“Clementine” is beautifully acted, but its execution is overripe

Clementine
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Lara Jean Gallagher’s fractured tale of female friendship stumbles once it falls into thriller territory.

Megan Sunday Posted on May 5, 2020May 5, 2020

“Bull” grabs its audiences by the horns and doesn’t let go

Bull
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Annie Silverstein’s delicate, uncompromising drama uses the subculture of Black rodeo to paint an aching picture of loss, time and poverty.

Clint Worthington Posted on May 3, 2020May 3, 2020

“Sophie Jones” Finds Truth in Adolescent Turmoil

Sophie Jones
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With a quietly assured lead and a keen sense of rhythm, Jessie Barr’s debut feature announces the writer/director as a talent to watch.

Ethan Warren Posted on March 15, 2020March 15, 2020

“Do the Right Thing” Remains Spike Lee’s Masterpiece

Do the Right Thing
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Black cinema (and American cinema as a whole) hasn’t been the same since the release of Spike Lee’s revolutionary New York drama.

Robert Daniels Posted on March 14, 2020March 14, 2020

Emily Ting on Family, Revisiting Home, and “Go Back to China”

Emily Ting Go Back to China
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The writer/director sits down to talk about indie filmmaking, the importance of Asian-American voices, and putting her life story on film.

Clint Worthington Posted on March 6, 2020March 6, 2020

Strong Women Bond at the Feet of “Saint Frances”

Saint Frances
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A sensitive, nuanced Chicago dramedy that dives into the emotional complexities of abortion.

B.L. Panther Posted on February 26, 2020February 27, 2020

In “Goldie”, Slick Woods Chases Fur and Fame

Goldie
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Sam de Jong’s vibrant, raw indie offers an effortlessly dynamic showcase for its model-turned-actress star.

Theo Estes Posted on February 20, 2020February 20, 2020

Sundance 2020: “Jumbo” Kisses a Tilt-A-Whirl and Likes It

Jumbo
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Portrait of a Lady on Fire’s Noémie Merlant gets sweet on a theme park ride in this charming, if conventionally quirky dramedy.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 25, 2020January 25, 2020

Sundance 2020: “Summertime” Is Hot Mess Worth Cherishing

Summertime
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Sandwiched between a rough start and too tidy of an ending, Carlos López Estrada’s latest finds love in its large ensemble.

Matt Cipolla Posted on January 24, 2020January 24, 2020

Time Waits for No Misfit: On “Down By Law”

Down By Law
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Time, ease, and the thrill of Americana rain down on Jim Jarmusch’s most intriguing early work, about a group of three escaped convicts.

Bill Arceneaux Posted on January 20, 2020January 20, 2020

Connection, Consumption and “Coffee and Cigarettes”

Coffee and Cigarettes
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Jim Jarmusch’s laidback anthology of fateful celebrity meetings lays bare the communal value of commodity.

B.L. Panther Posted on January 19, 2020January 18, 2020

“The Wave” Trips Over Its Own Bad Trip

The Wave
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Justin Long gets lost in a navel-gazing psychedelic stoner dramedy filled with sophomoric philosophizing.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 17, 2020January 17, 2020

10 Films We’re Excited to See at Sundance 2020

Sundance 2020
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New films by Julie Taymor, Dee Rees, and Justin Simien mix with fascinating new docs and debut features in our list of Sundance 2020 must-sees.

The Spool Staff Posted on January 15, 2020January 15, 2020

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