Maria Dragus on “Graduation” and “The White Ribbon”
When Cristian Mungiu wrote the script for his Cannes prize-winner, “Graduation,” he had only one person in mind for the film. It was Maria Dragus, an actress he had first […]
Tag Archives: Michael Haneke
Top 100 Favorite Films: 2017 Edition
A few years ago, I was asked by a friend to rank my Top Five Favorite Films. It was so daunting to limit my list to only five titles that […]
Top 20 Films of 2016: Part I
As we close the book on 2016, a year many of us would rather forget, it’s worth reflecting on the parts of it that are worth savoring—namely, the movies. This […]
Joost van Ginkel on “170 Hz,” “The Paradise Suite”
The structurally audacious, vividly nuanced work of Dutch filmmaker and playwright Joost van Ginkel has been one of my most cherished discoveries this year. His first feature, 2011’s “170 Hz,” […]
Sean J.S. Jourdan on “Teddy Boy”
There’s something a bit off about James (Joey Bicicchi) as soon as he appears in the couple’s driveway. He identifies himself as a tennis player in town for a tournament, […]
Christopher Jason Bell on “The Winds That Scatter”
Christopher Jason Bell’s feature directorial debut, “The Winds That Scatter,” is an independent film in the purest sense. It lacks the stars and derivative formulas that have caused so many […]
CIFF 2015: Eight Films to Remember
Jury duty is a term that has aggravated random citizens and demolished carefully coordinated schedules for generations. Yet in the case of my experience on the New Directors jury at […]
Dietrich Brüggemann on “Stations of the Cross”
How do you solve a problem like Maria’s? She’s a good-hearted girl who only wants to please her domineering mother, her church and, above all, her Lord. Yet Maria has […]
Slamdance Preview: “Little Hope Was Arson”
What causes faith to be snuffed out like a flickering flame? How do young minds morph into angry avengers, lashing out at a world seemingly indifferent to their needs? Is […]
Top Ten Most Anticipated Films of Fall/Winter 2012
Now that Batman has taken his final bow, there isn’t a whole lot left to look forward to this summer, unless you’re one of the eight people counting the days […]
Indie Outlook 