Living on an isolated tropical island, Baker Dill (Matthew McConaughey) is a fishing boat captain who lives a peaceful life on Plymouth Island, an isolated island in the Carribbean. However, his world is soon shattered when his ex-wife Karen (Anne Hathaway) tracks him down and, desperate for help, begs Baker to rescue her and their… [Read More]
Everybody Knows – Disclosing Open Secrets
In Everybody Knows, director Asghar Farhadi leaves Iranian stresses behind (cf., A Separation, The Past, and The Salesman) for a more Eurocentric story.
Widows: When Lionesses Roar
What happens when those that are left behind are forced to clean up the mess of those that have left us? Directed by Steve McQueen, Widows tells the story of a police shootout that leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows — Veronica (Viola Davis), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez), Alice… [Read More]
Searching: Life and Death Online
Where this becomes more than just a gimmick is how the film serves to reflect our culture and the way we live so much of our lives—whether actively or passively—online.
Operation Finale – Capturing a War Criminal
“We’re all animals fighting for scraps on the Serengeti.” One of the most celebrated trials of the twentieth century was when Israel put Adolph Eichmann on trial. Eichmann headed the SS Office for Jewish Affairs and was one of the key architects of the Holocaust. But before they could put him on trial, they had… [Read More]
Traffik: Blinded by the Light
“We have a moral obligation to tell the whole story.” – Brea (TRAFFIK) Written and directed by Deon Taylor, Traffik tells the story of Brea (Paula Patton), a struggling journalist looking for a big story. When she and her boyfriend John (Omar Epps) travel to the mountains for a romantic weekend, they are confronted by a… [Read More]
Stopping TRAFFIK: 1on1 with Deon Taylor (writer/director, TRAFFIK)
In his latest film, Traffik, writer/director Deon Taylor tells the story of Brea (Paula Patton), a struggling journalist looking for a big story. When she and her boyfriend John (Omar Epps) travel to the mountains for a romantic weekend, they are confronted by a group of men on motorcycles. When they reach their destination, they… [Read More]
Unlocked: Whom Do You Trust?
Who can you trust? That concept is central in the new spy thriller from Michael Apted, Unlocked. The story focuses on Alice Racine (Noomi Rapace), who we first see working as a social worker in London. But she used to be one of the CIA’s top interrogators. Her job was to “unlock” the information in… [Read More]
The Belko Experiment – Kill or Be Killed
Just as people are settling into work, an announcement come over the speakers. In the next half hour, two of the people in the building must be murdered, or four random people will be killed. The building is completely sealed off. There is no escape.
SUNDANCE 2017: Killing Ground (dir. Damien Power)
Debuting at Sundance this weekend, Killing Ground tells the story of Ian and Samantha, a young couple who arrive at an isolated campsite for a weekend getaway, only to find an abandoned SUV and an abandoned tent. As night falls and the campers fail to return, Ian and Sam grow increasingly uneasy. When they discover… [Read More]
