Damon Maulucci and Keir Politz on “Detonator”
Nothing shatters the dreams of youth quite like the inescapable march of adulthood. As soon as there are mouths to feed apart from one’s own, the days of uncertainty and […]
Author Archives: Indie Outlook
Indie Double Bill: “Short Term 12” and “Monsieur Lazhar”
Some movies are made to come in first at the box office or win overhyped accolades. Others are made because the filmmakers had to make them, not because of a […]
Six Reasons Why Emmanuel Lubezki Should’ve Won an Oscar by Now
There are many gifted cinematographers in modern cinema—Roger Deakins, Janusz Kaminski, Christopher Doyle, Robert Richardson, John Toll, to name a few—yet none have caused my jaw to routinely drop to […]
Gabe Klinger on “Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater”
Cinephiles in Chicago are in for a mightily enticing feast as the 25th Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival comes to a close this weekend. A special sneak preview […]
Darren Orange and Lucas Thompson on “InSpectres”
Supernatural exterminators have rarely resorted to scrappier methods than in Darren Orange’s new horror satire, “InSpectres.” It’s an indie production bursting with ambition that has been made to fill a […]
“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” Casts Haunting Spell
Claiming that David Lowery’s exquisitely accomplished feature, “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” is a mere imitation of Terrence Malick is about as shallow as labeling “There Will Be Blood” as a […]
Top 5 Worst Songs in Great Musicals
Flawless musicals are harder to find than you think. There always seems to be a song or two that isn’t quite up to par with the others. Everyone loves “Singin’ […]
Joe Swanberg Preserves Style on Bigger Budget in “Drinking Buddies”
I’m always perplexed by critics who complain that nothing happens in Joe Swanberg’s films, as if a more straightforward plot structure would serve as an improvement. Swanberg’s films don’t have […]
Doug Walker on The Nostalgia Critic
Long before video essays were in vogue, there was the Nostalgia Critic. Portrayed by online satirist Doug Walker on the hit Channel Awesome site, ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com, the character delivered scathing reviews […]
The Dark Side of Michael Cera
It’s become a routine practice of casual moviegoers to criticize Michael Cera for offering the same brand of neurotic sweetness in picture after picture, as if mastering a comic persona […]
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