CRUEL INTENTIONS at 25 remains indulgent and playful
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Kimble’s film proves that a contemporary reworking of Choderlos de Laclos’ novel lends itself quite well to the teen film genre.
MIGHTNIGHT PEEPSHOW focuses more on bloodshed than erotic thrills
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Midnight Peepshow may suggest a thriller filled with deep, dark, dirty sexual fantasies, but this anthology film delivers more violence than sex.
Interview: Diego Tinoco on BAD HOMBRES, making indies, and Latino representation
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
In a recent interview, the up-and-coming actor, who appeared in the TV series On My Block, and in the film Knights of the Zodiac, spoke with MovieJawn about making Bad Hombres.
21 POSITIONS examines the sex life of a couple over time
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Director Néster Ruiz Medina, who cowrote the script with his two leads, creates an almost documentary-like approach here, observing this couple in their environment with 21 single-take sequences.
Gary's Best of 2023
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
The films that impressed me most this year were ones that made me think and get emotional. Here is a rundown, in alphabetical order of my favorite films of the year.
RUTHLESS is an enjoyable, low-rent version of NOBODY
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Mulroney is the key reason to see Ruthless because he plays Harry with grit and a scrappy determination that belies his characters’ polite demeanor.
SHARE? is a stripped down thriller about our social media dystopia
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Director Ira Rosensweig uses a fixed camera for the duration of Share?, an absorbing, intriguing drama that questions our social need to be online all the time.
THE BIG CLOCK mixes "wrong man" thrills with noir nihilism
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
The Big Clock, from 1948, opens as a quintessential noir. There is a city skyline seen at night, with black smoke drifting through the frame as the camera pans towards a mid-Century office building.
BLACK NOISE is an underwhelming sci-fi slasher
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Had the characters worked through their guilt and traumas, Black Noise might have been more compelling.
THE DELINQUENTS invites the audience to spend time with its characters
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
The Delinquents is full of lovely little scenes to be appreciated, but after three hours the payoff may not be satisfying. However, for some, the film will continue in one’s head, and that makes it worth watching.
Read MoreMoving MORE THAN EVER tenderly dramatizes coping with death
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
More Than Ever is a thoughtful examination of how a young French couple grapples with life when one has a terminal illness.
SHE CAME TO ME is lackluster and offers little sense of romance or insight
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Dinklage is always enjoyable to watch, especially when he is moping, but this role does not ask much more from him than that.
BARBER is a subdued thriller, but a shrewd character study
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Call Barber a soft-boiled detective drama, rather than one those hard-boiled noirs it pays homage to.
TIFF 2023: HUMANIST VAMPIRE, NOT A WORD, THE TUNDRA WITHIN ME, ARTHUR&DIANA, A RAVAGING WIND, THE UMBRELLA MEN 2
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
The Toronto International Film Festival premieres hundreds of features, documentaries, shorts, and series this month.
Star of the Month: Audrey Hepburn enchants in ROMAN HOLIDAY
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
My favorite Hepburn performance will always be her first leading role: Princess Ann in Roman Holiday.
Mixed bag THE GOOD MOTHER offers some thrills with a opioid crisis backdrop
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
The trouble with The Good Mother is that it tends to overdo things.
BETWEEN TWO WORLDS works on the personal level, but avoids deeper issues
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Between Two Worlds is very much about the work, but it is also about the workers.
6 recommended short films from this year's HollyShorts Film Festival
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
The HollyShorts Film Festival, August 10-20 in Los Angeles, showcases dozens of short films in various programs. Here is a rundown of a half dozen strong selections from this year’s fest.
Flop and Fizzle #6: SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Scott Pilgrim likely didn’t connect with audiences because it was a mashup of too many genres. But this is precisely why the film is so great.
FINAL CUT lacks bite, but feels like a fun community production
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Final Cut is a mess, but it charms in its last act which creates a strong sense of community amid all of the chaos, actor tantrums, spilled bodily fluids, and copious fake blood.