Netflix updates Cyrano de Bergerac for the social media era in this clunky teen rom-com, which distastefully hinges on a young girl’s perceived unattractiveness. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Now that they have a smash hit in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Netflix needs to up its game in providing youth-oriented ... Film Review: Sierra Burgess Is a Loser Mistakes Frumpy for Failure
Mateo Gil’s Spanish rom-com mockumentary tumbles toward entropy with beautiful visuals, but a scattered story and weak protagonist. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood As any science fiction nerd can tell you, people can be rudimentarily broken down into either Kirks or Spocks. One uses cold logic to solve situations, while the other acts ... Film Review: Netflix Explores the Metaphysics of Love with The Laws of Thermodynamics
While trying to chase both sentimentality and laughs, Ken Marino’s ensemble canine comedy ends up barking up the wrong tree. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood If you knew Ken Marino from his roles in cult comedy TV shows and movies (The State, Wet Hot American Summer, Party Down), you might go into his ... Ken Marino’s Canine Comedy Dog Days is Ruff Around the Edges
Despite a charismatic performance by Vincent Cassel, this meditative biopic of the French painter fails to match the vibrancy of the artist’s work. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Often, in biographical films, we are given glimpses of the subject’s genius, while supporting characters wait on deck to expound on the profundity of his ... Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti is a Meditative Portrait of Depression and Obsession
Hausu’s Nobuhiko Obayashi starts wrapping up his 60-year career in filmmaking with a deeply weird, compellingly stream-of-consciousness wartime drama. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Nobuhiko Obayashi is one of Japan’s veteran suppliers of the weird and fantastical – despite a career spanning nearly forty films, his most famous international export is 1977’s kaleidoscopic, ... Fantasia 2018: Hanagatami Review – The Director of Hausu Confuses and Delights in His Final Epic
Dominic Cooke’s sumptuous adaptation of the Ian McEwan novel tells the tale of a marriage doomed from the start, using luscious photography and brilliant performances from Saiorse Ronan and Billy Howle. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood This film played at the 6th annual Chicago Critics Film Festival – read our capsule review here. ... On Chesil Beach Review: A Picturesque Tale of a Broken Honeymoon
Now that the 6th annual Chicago Critics Film Festival has closed, it’s time to look back on some other highlights we loved this year. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The 6th annual Chicago Critics Film Festival has come to a close, and what a year it was! Curated by the Chicago Film Critics ... Chicago Critics Film Festival 2018: Capsule Reviews (Part 3)
This over-the-top throwback to exploitation and queer films from the 60s and 70s revels in its tastelessness, delivering an edgy yet affectionate ode to its fruity forebears. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The last few decades have seen a significant change in the way GLBTQ people are perceived by the general public. In ... Fags in the Fast Lane Review: A Madcap Race to Campy Bad Taste
The Chicago Film Critics Association’s 6th annual film festival (May 4-10) features some of the year’s best films that might otherwise fly under your radar. This piece originally posted at Alcohollywood For the past six years, the Chicago Critics Film Festival has been a brilliant showcase for some of the year’s most intriguing, bewildering and ... A Preview of the 2018 Chicago Critics Film Festival
Sebastian Lelio’s sensitive, multifaceted adaptation of Naomi Alderman’s novel is a beautiful exploration of the restrictive nature of traditional communities, anchored by a trio of heart-stopping performances. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Chilean director Sebastián Lelio is a master of arthouse empathy – his Oscar-winning film A Fantastic Woman, about the struggles of a ... Disobedience Review: A Mesmerizing Tale of Religion and Forbidden Love