‘Sleepy Hollow’ (1999), a feature film adaption directed by Tim Burton, is based on Washington Irving’s classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Tim Burton brought this timeless classic to life! ’Sleepy Hollow’ is one of my favorite spooky films- with horrific delights, a touch of romance, and humor. The setting for this legend is…
‘Eleanor the Great’ is Scarlett Johansson’s feature directorial debut, starring June Squibb as a 94-year-old woman navigating grief, memory, and new connections after the loss of her best friend. The film shines most in Squibb’s performance, which is heartfelt, witty, and deeply moving, and in its quiet exploration of intergenerational bonds, particularly with a young…
Luca Guadagnino has always been drawn to the slippery edges of human desire and morality, and in ‘After the Hunt’, he turns his gaze toward academia. The result is a slow-burn psychological thriller that wants to interrogate truth, power, and complicity, though not always with the sharpness it promises. Set at Yale, the story follows…
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is one of his most ambitious works to date, both narratively and visually. Shot on 35mm film using VistaVision cameras, the cinematography by Michael Bauman gives the film a sweeping, old-Hollywood texture while capturing the chaos of its modern, politically charged story. The wide frames bring a sense…
‘Padre Pio’ is a visually striking and deeply contemplative film that explores faith, mysticism, and personal sacrifice against the backdrop of post-World War I Italy. Shia LaBeouf delivers a brooding, intense performance as the legendary friar, capturing both his spiritual fervor and inner conflict, though at times his portrayal dominates the screen, making the narrative…
Watching ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ felt like stepping into a dream meticulously stitched together by Kogonada. The film opens with Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) at a seemingly ordinary wedding, yet every frame pulses with possibility. The cinematography immediately draws you in—wide, sweeping shots of neon-lit streets blend seamlessly with intimate close-ups,…
The Roses, directed by Jay Roach and written by Tony McNamara, reimagines The War of the Roses with a modern twist, starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch as Ivy and Theo Rose. The film benefits from its leads’ nuanced performances and sharp flashes of dark humor, with role-reversals that reflect contemporary discussions of ambition and…
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is a masterclass in atmospheric horror, blending the series’ signature jump scares with a deeper exploration of grief, faith, and human vulnerability. While it doesn’t drastically reinvent the franchise, it refines the elements that have made the previous installments compelling. The cinematography is one of the film’s strongest assets as it…
I just saw ‘Caught Stealing’, Darren Aronofsky’s wild new crime thriller, and I have to say—it was a ride. The movie is gritty, fast, and chaotic. Austin Butler plays Hank Thompson, a washed-up baseball player working as a bartender whose life spins out of control after he agrees to cat-sit for a neighbor. What seems…
Adapting Richard Osman’s bestseller was always going to be a challenge, but Chris Columbus manages to bring ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ to life with warmth, humor, and just enough intrigue to keep things ticking along. Watching it, I felt less like I was diving into a twisty whodunit and more like I was curling up…