The intersection of the haves and have-nots is the world of Parasite, for which director Bong Joon-ho won the Palme d?Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Set in South Korea, where I?m told the difference of economic divisions is very real, the story also taps into a more universal understanding of the disdain…
More from Slamdance, the film festival ?By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers? currently taking place in Park City, Utah, down the street from the more well known Sundance Film Festival. On September 11, 2015, Iraq War vet Jon Hancock, set out from his home in Maryland to walk to Camp Pendleton in California. But it was not…
More from Slamdance, the film festival ?By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers? currently taking place in Park City, Utah, down the street from the more well known Sundance Film Festival. Is Falun Gong a peaceful religion or a dangerous cult? The Chinese government would like us to believe the latter. Ask No Questions, from Jason Loftus and…
Welcome to Slamdance. While most of the world is familiar with the Sundance Film Festival, they may not have heard of Slamdance, a renegade festival also held in Park City, Utah, the same week. Slamdance?s mantra is ?By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers?. The Slamdance Festival seeks to highlight ?raw and innovative filmmaking.? Among filmmakers who showed…
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature, For Sama brings a personal perspective to the Syrian conflict. The conflict in Syria has been fertile ground for documentary films. Two years ago The Last Men in Aleppo was among the doc nominees. This year The Cave is also nominated in this category. The war going on in that…
?God showed me the way.? Harriet Tubman was given a boost into the national consciousness when she was chosen to be put onto the $20 bill (a plan that has been put on hold by the Trump Administration). But being on money is not all we need to know about her. Kasi Lemmon?s biopic Harriet…
The myth of Diana and Actaeon is the underlying basis for Redoubt from avant-garde filmmaker Matthew Barney. I know that I lost a good number of readers with the word ?avant-garde?, but I hope you?ll stay with me a bit longer, because this film really is an experience that transcends the story itself. Set in…
?Each of us is a priest of Christ. Me, you. Each and every one of you.? Oscar-nominated Corpus Christi (for Best International Feature Film) explores what it means to be a priest of Christ. But it does so through the story of an imposter who finds a community in need. The story is inspired by…
Workplace sexual harassment and abuse doesn?t qualify as ?man bites dog? news. But in recent years it has become news because of the rich and powerful people involved. #MeToo has become the catchall term for such abuse, especially in the entertainment industry. Bombshell is based on the 2016 scandal that led to the ouster of…
It?s time for me to put up my favorite movies of the last year. So here?s Darrel?s Dozen for 2019 (with a few bonuses at the end). This year I?ll only rank the top film; all the rest will be alphabetical. Links are to my reviews, unless noted.) The #1 film for 2019 (according to…
