Film & TV

‘Ted K’ Searches for the Disturbing Core of the Unabomber

D.M. Palmer

The film plays out like a twisted take on Walden, throwing Thoreau into the horror grinder. Tom Obzud’s sound design brings a visceral quality to Kaczynski’s activities – from the preparation of food to the construction of explosive devices, every action is imbued with a pungency that almost rises from the screen. Kaczynski is another of God’s lonely men, looking for solutions to his isolation in disturbing action, but there is no attempt to either valorize or condemn his choices.

Hulu’s ‘The Dropout’ Tells a Story of Lies, Blood, and Ambition

Ulises Duenas

The show takes a while to build up steam, but once it does, you can sense the tension in certain scenes -- thanks to the directing. Shots where the camera is following a character power-walking down a hallway or frantically looking for something capture the feeling of stress that comes from constantly flying around by the seat of your pants when the stakes are high. Holmes was like the blind leading the blind, and from the first episode, the show hints that it all comes crashing down  -- like watching a train accident in slow motion.

Conspiracies and Trauma Take Flight in 'Cosmic Dawn'

D.M. Palmer

The film’s fractured narrative structure increases a feeling of disorientation; past and present selves run parallel to underscore that these planes of existence are inextricable; this has all been preordained; the story has already been told, and Aurora is merely moving toward her fate. Dialogue is delivered with a consciously unnatural cadence, which brings tension to every exchange, as if there is a subtext to every word which has to be deciphered.

Adam Driver: A Force to Be Reckoned With

Ben Friedman

Driver’s success is predicated on his ability and willingness to portray emotionally vulnerable men. His career choices indicate his enjoyment of exploring the psychosis of flawed individuals. Take, for example, his Oscar-nominated performances in BlackkKlansman and Marriage Story. Spike Lee’s BlackkKlansman showcased Driver’s deadpan comedic timing, as well as his ability to subtly bring to life the character’s internal conflicts about racism. His character’s body language shifts from that of indifference to that of frustration as he witnesses racism and injustice.

‘Scream’ 2022 Is Frightfully Funny

Garrett Hartman

Gore can a powerful visual tool when employed properly. While I wouldn’t say its use of gore is great, Scream 2022 employs its violence competently – especially, for the typical horror film. Overall, Scream 2022 is a fun time, and a joy for pop culture aficionados. I wouldn’t say the film is brilliant, but it does have wit and charm in spades, and serves as an excellent critique of a subgenre that has only just started, and is already being overdone.

PBS’ ‘American Reckoning’ Focuses on the Necessary Quest for Civil Rights Justice

Barbara Noe Kennedy

A car bomb attached to his left-turn signal killed Wharlest Jackson Sr., on February 27, 1967, in Natchez, Mississippi. Despite evidence pointing to the inner circle of the KKK, no one was ever charged in the death of the civil rights activist and father of five. The new feature-length documentary, American Reckoning, from Frontline and Retro Report, with support from Chasing the Dream, follows Jackson’s cold case, including the events leading up to the murder and the ensuing investigation.

‘The Book of Boba Fett’ Seems Like a ‘Star Wars’ Filler

Ulises Duenas

Temuera Morrison plays Boba Fett, and while his voice is instantly recognizable to fans, he isn’t the best choice to play Fett. While Morrison is a good actor and his voice fits the character well, he’s around 20 years older than Fett would have been in the show. Seeing Morrison move slowly and struggle with action scenes pokes holes in the aura Fett had.

The Tragedy of Joel Coen’s ‘Macbeth’? It Wasn’t Necessary

Forrest Hartman

The Tragedy of Macbeth, as presented by Coen and company, is a worthy piece of art, but it’s a piece of art we have largely seen before. The cast – although star-studded – is relatively small, which – again – makes the movie feel like a play (minus the live energy). Bottom line: Those who have seen good stage adaptations have seen superior work, and those who have never seen the play should prioritize a theatrical experience over watching this film.

James Gunn Hits Another Homerun With ‘Peacemaker’ Series

Ulises Duenas

The comedy still comes first, and James Gunn seems to have hit a golden ratio when it comes to balancing the laughs and the drama.While this is part of the wider DC universe that has been building up for years now, the writers have done a good job of making this show feel more self-contained. Watching The Suicide Squad is necessary to understand the show’s characters, but beyond that, the viewer doesn’t have to do any background research to fully enjoy this show.

‘The Sleeping Negro’ Executes Important Themes With Lackluster Writing and Acting

Ulises Duenas

Throughout these scenes, you can see that while Myers is obviously passionate about the subject matter of the movie, his performance and writing don’t do it justice. At its worst, this movie feels like an edgy student film made by someone who was more focused on delivering a message than making a good movie. At its best, there are scenes heavy with drama and tension that help drive those messages home because they’re delivered by characters that seem like real people.

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