Category: Uncategorized
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‘Nosferatu’ review: Robert Eggers, new master of the macabre, brings another twisted nightmare to life
By Ema Sasic Move over, Edgar Allan Poe, a new master of the macabre has emerged. American director Robert Eggers showed early on his love of all things dark and creepy, beginning with his deliciously sinister “The Witch,” and later pushing the psychological boundaries of his characters, like in the claustrophobic and maddening “The Lighthouse”…
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‘Anora’ review: Mikey Madison dazzles in ‘Cinderella’ meets ‘Uncut Gems’ heartbreaking comedy
By Ema Sasic If there’s one director who has made himself known by spotlighting the often marginalized and voiceless in his films, it’s Sean Baker. In a time when movies often want to glamorize the world around us and make us forget about our troubles, Baker is never one to shy away from showing the…
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‘Queer’ review: Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey take sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll to new psychedelic heights
By Ema Sasic This review originally appeared on Next Best Picture There’s no other director currently working who is more in love with showing burning desire, passion, and yearning than Luca Guadagnino. From the lustful “A Bigger Splash” to the tender “Call Me By Your Name” to his ultra sleek and sexy “Challengers,” this is…
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‘The Room Next Door’ review: Almodóvar teams up Moore, Swinton in most muted film yet
By Ema Sasic This review originally appeared on Next Best Picture. You know you’re watching a Pedro Almodóvar film from the very first shot. Vibrant colors will fill every corner of the screen, while a melodramatic story will keep you guessing what twists and turns the famed Spanish director has in store. His first feature-length…
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‘The Brutalist’ review: Brady Corbet delivers epic-scale immigrant tale with Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce
By Ema Sasic This review originally appeared on Next Best Picture If there’s one thing you can expect from director Brady Corbet, it’s that he’ll deliver something unexpected with his films. With “Vox Lux,” he managed to tell a story of a young girl surviving a school shooting and becoming a pop star in the…
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‘Babygirl’ review: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson get steamy in irresistible fantasy about control
By Ema Sasic This review originally appeared on Next Best Picture The year of older women getting it on continues with Halina Reijn’s highly sexual power fantasy “Babygirl,” starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in a forbidden boss-intern affair. It’s one of the most erotic and sensual entries in this niche genre, which recently has…
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‘Maria’ review: Angelina Jolie transforms into opera diva Maria Callas to close Pablo Larraín’s trilogy series
By Ema Sasic This review originally appeared on Next Best Picture Though Chilean director Pablo Larraín has covered several genres and stories with his films, one theme he goes back to is profiling iconic women during tumultuous moments in their lives. He kicked off this trilogy with the 2016 Natalie Portman-led film “Jackie,” which followed…
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‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ review: Sequel maturely explores anti-hero’s identity, though becomes overindulgent
By Ema Sasic This review originally appeared on Next Best Picture Whether you loved or hated Todd Phillips’ 2019 comic book drama “Joker,” there’s no denying it got people talking. The film, telling the disturbed life of Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian turned homicidal clown prince of Gotham, caused a stir among audiences due to…
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Local writers, actor talk Hollywood strikes; what it could mean for Palm Springs film fest
(Originally appeared on The Desert Sun on July 30, 2023) While Hollywood is feeling the bulk of the strain of actors and writers on strike, the Coachella Valley, home to many in the industry, isn’t immune to the impacts. On May 2, the Writers Guild of America — which has roughly 11,500 members — went…
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Actor Bill Nighy is not slowing down any time soon, just like his ‘Living’ character
(Originally appeared in The Desert Sun on Jan. 5, 2023) English actor Bill Nighy has been thinking a lot about procrastination thanks to his role in “Living.” In the film, Nighy plays Mr. Williams, the head of a bureaucratic department in a post-World War II England who is quite good at pushing papers, but not…
Ema Sasic 