dramas

‘Gladiator II’ Fails to Live Up to the Brilliance of the Original Film

Ulises Duenas

While the spectacle of the arena scenes is entertaining, there are several moments when the CG effects are distracting due to their unconvincing nature. Beyond the spectacle of combat is the story of political unrest as Rome suffers under twin emperors who are cartoonishly wacky and so idiotic that their downfall could be seen from a mile away.

Cillian Murphy and Emily Watson Will Impress (and Depress) the Hell Out of You in ‘Small Things Like These’

Ulises Duenas

Cillian Murphy's performance as Bill is great. Similar to Oppenheimer, it relies on Murphy’s facial expressions to show the inner turmoil his character experiences. Early hints suggest that Bill’s reaction to seeing the truth behind the Magdelene Laundries is also fueled by past traumas.

Poignant ‘Memoir of a Snail’ Shows Mishaps and Misfortunes Plaguing Its Heroine

Ben Friedman

Snook’s deadpan delivery is wonderfully offputting while still maintaining an endearing quality. Her unique, eccentric comic sensibilities allow the character to maintain the innocence of childhood while delivering heart-wrenching dialogue.

‘The Line’ Shows a Realistic Fraternity Story That Lacks Necessary Edge

Ulises Duenas

This isn’t a raunchy comedy about college hijinks and no happy ending. It’s a grounded portrayal of what can go wrong with the indoctrination and extreme traditions in which some fraternities participate.

‘The Punishment’ Delivers a Compelling Drama With a Grounded Approach

Ulises Duenas

The Punishment does a lot with a simple premise, a small cast, and no real sets. It shows that you can make a good movie out of the simplest premise with the right combination of fine writing, cinematography, and acting.

‘Ghostlight’ Executes a Grounded Story of Family, Tragedy, and Levity

Ulises Duenas

The performances of the cast keep things interesting, and the writer does a good job of mixing in some humor, so that the film doesn’t feel overly dramatic. It all pays off with some very emotional and even cathartic moments by the end.


 

Not Even the Great J.K. Simmons Can Save ‘You Can’t Run Forever’

Ulises Duenas

Simmons opens the film by gassing up his motorcycle in a rural area and shooting three people there for no reason. Even though his character is a psychotic killer, Simmons is charming in this role -- too charming in fact. His casual attitude towards his actions is funny and takes away from any feeling of dread that a thriller needs in order to be compelling.

‘Adios Buenos Aires’ Is Another Poignant, Notable Film From Argentina

Tara Taghizadeh

John Lennon once said: Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans. And Adios Buenos Aires captures this sentiment perfectly.  As Julio dreams of abandoning Buenos Aires in favor of a fresh start, he is forced to reckon with the people and events that hold him back.

From Cinequest 2024: Four Films About Successfully Beating the Odds

Ben Friedman

In curating this lineup, I selected four films that all share one specific point of commonality: flawed people trying to make it through their day despite the odds being stacked against them. Some stories are more successful than others, yet these four films demonstrate a unique perspective in their search to make sense of our current American lifestyles.

‘Under the Bridge’ Adapts a Lesser-Known True Crime Story Into a Great Drama

Ulises Duenas

Godfrey was returning to the area at the time to find inspiration for a book about the lives of the girls who live in a group home since they have nowhere else to go. There, she meets Josephine Bell, the de facto leader of the girls. Godfrey quickly learns of their harsh lifestyle and the fact that the city sees them as disposable.

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