Independent Film

Editor’s note: A previous draft of this review for Mad Cats included the pun, “It’s not purrfect.” We apologize for even considering such a bad pun. We’ll do better in the future.   A movie…

It brings me no joy to report that an indie comedy film evidently made in earnest did not resonate or connect with me, but Parker Seaman and Devin Das’s debut feature, Wes Schlagenhauf Is Dying, is…

Generally, we all try and avoid uncomfortable situations. Whether it is trying to avoid someone, a confrontation, or any of the other myriad of possibilities, we don’t want any part of it. We will quickly…

Warning: this article contains more nuance than its title. Remember when Parasite won Best Picture? That was this year. It’s absurd to think how oblivious we all were then. Looking back on that night right…

Most of us have had this happen. You see an impressive trailer or hear people rave about how good a movie is. You have to see this movie! More often than not, when you finally do,…

As a critic, there is the rare occasion where you see a film and think “my god, this movie is going to be HUGE!” I speak in relative terms, of course, as Brittany Runs a…

Well, Midsommar was an experience, to say the least. Following up Hereditary, last year’s breakout indie hit, wasn’t going to be an easy task, mostly because you probably loved it and had your expectations very…

If you’re like most people, you have probably seen or are looking forward in seeing Shazam!, the heartwarming superhero romp that is delighting both young and old and putting DC on a necessary redemptive streak.…

Expectations are very interesting to examine when it comes to film. Seeing a filmmaker’s name attached to a movie often gives you an idea of what you’re in for. However, whenever you see the words…

I’ve always been a massive fan of the sci-fi genre. There are so many ways to tell wholly unique stories, whether they be on a massive scale like Inception or something that is the exact opposite,…

With Taika Waititi as Executive Producer, and a cast dotted with veterans of his movies, you’d expect this comedy farce to feel familiar. The Breaker Upperers has a good helping of the self-effacing awkward dialogue that…

With the rise in streaming companies and boutique distributors, we’re in the middle of a little boom for independent film. It’s pretty satisfying to see such an influx of smaller projects. The shear amount of…

I’m always looking for that little cinematic gem that hardly gets any notice. As time goes by, I’ve become continuously jaded about the Hollywood blockbuster — especially the kind produced by a certain corporate Mouse.…

Filth was released way back in 2013 but after completing my article on the top 10 James McAvoy performances, I decided to re-watch it. If you’ve read any of my posts before, you’ll know I…

With more filmmakers feeling empowered to share their distinct voices and sensibilities, the independent film landscape is becoming more interesting by the second. In the end, we as the consumers win. More interesting voices leads…

Although many look to cinema for pure escapism, it has the power to create profound statements that shed light on troubling circumstances. For Rosie, the focus is on the homeless epidemic in Ireland. And by remaining…

Chained for Life will be playing at the Denver Film Festival from October 31st to November 11th. Head over to the DFF’s website to purchase your tickets! Some movies get their word out through boasting their hundred million…

This is Part 2 of my mini reviews from the Melbourne International Film Festival. If you missed Part 1, read it here. Let’s jump right in! Wajib  Palestine’s official entry for Best Foreign language feature…

After delighting critics and fans at Sundance back in January, Hearts Beat Loud has finally come to theaters…and it probably deserves way more recognition from general audiences than it’s currently receiving.  With great performances and catchy songs, Hearts…

With every passing month, it seems like A24 adds another quality film to their library.  Focusing on smaller stories that capture livelihoods that are rarely given the chance on the big screen, A24 provides quality…

Every piece of content distributed by Netflix feels like a calculated ploy to get more subscribers these days, no matter how artistic or worthwhile the film is in the end.  Their latest release — Catching…

Hollywood is in a bit of a transitional period in the wake of the #MeToo movement that kicked many predators to the curb, creating the foundation for a proper environment for people to enjoy a…

After the Rodney King incident sent shock waves through Los Angeles, racial divide and tensions were at an all-time high in the area, especially between the police force and citizens.  The conflict boiled over into…

While Avengers: Infinity War is running roughshod through the world and taking all the box office money away from literally every other film that’s currently out in theaters, there’s definitely are some other fascinating, smaller…

Hyperlink cinema is an interesting subgenre that has entered the lexicon for films. It’s a term that was coined by journalist and poet Alissa Quart and popularized by Pulitzer prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert in his…

In the middle of large blockbusters released this month is a smaller, intimate film entitled Thoroughbreds.  With rising talent and a fascinating legacy that has already been formed before most people will get to see the…

As A24 continues to ramp up distribution on unique projects, another one of their properties, The Florida Project, continues to receive awards consideration from multiple governing bodies.  Whether it goes on to win countless awards remains…

At the Sundance Film Festival back in January of 2017, word quickly spread about a little film from Italy entitled Call Me by Your Name. Although its subject matter was controversial to some, it quickly became…

Although Robert Pattinson’s name still has somewhat of a stigma for casual moviegoers from his work in the Twilight series, those who have seen his recent work know that he is incredibly gifted as a performer.  Since…

It is with great pleasure that I had the opportunity to interview Issa-Jean Sarr of Hood River Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based production company that has some exciting new projects that are currently in development.  Sarr,…