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MOVIE REVIEW: “CHURCH & STATE”
“Church & State” examines the remarkable true story of an inexperienced gay activist who, in partnership with a Salt Lake City law firm and members of the local LGBTQ community, successfully ended Utah’s ban on gay marriage.
Mark Lawrence, a middle-aged gay man, led the charge for gay marriage equality in Utah. He’s a bit of an acquired taste (he’s so off-putting to some that it made him more >
NEWS
OPINION: What happened to chronology?
Introducing in a narrative flashbacks, fragments of dreams, partially remembered scenes has always been part and parcel of cinema. Examples abound. Look at classic films. The ... more >
FESTIVAL NEWS: SBIFF35 will open with the Shelly Love-directed “A bump along the way”
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) earlier this week announced the lineup for the 35th edition, which will run January 15 to 25, 2020. The festival will feature ... more >
BEST OF 2019: Anthony Francis presents his favorite movies
2019 started out as a bumpy road. By summer I worried that I wouldn’t be able to make a full top ten. By year’s end, however, some fine work started to shine. 1. (an absolute ... more >
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
MOVIE REVIEW: “CHURCH & STATE”
“Church & State” examines the remarkable true story of an inexperienced gay activist who, in partnership with a Salt Lake City law firm and members of the local LGBTQ community, ... more >
MOVIE REVIEW: “1917”
Sam Mendes’s name for his film is right. It hits you in the face with the mud, blood and gloom that was there, heavily, relentlessly, during that terrible year following three years of ... more >
short film REVIEW: “READY FOR MY CLOSEUP”
As a film reviewer/ connoisseur I see most of the films that come out each year. As the decades go on, the pleasure of seeing so many is still there and always will be. There is nothing like ... more >
MOVIE REVIEW: “Star Wars : Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker”
The circle is now complete. Forty-two years after George Lucas forever changed Hollywood (and the lives of moviegoers around the world!) with the original “Star Wars,” director J.J. Abrams ... more >
“Rabid”
Jen and Sylvia Soska have not directed a remake of David Cronenberg’s 1977 film “Rabid”, they have reimagined the piece for our current social climate. In doing so, The Soska Sisters have ... more >
“Queen of Hearts”
The professional relationship between director May el-Toukhy and actress Trin Dyrholm is becoming quite important to world cinema. From their collaboration on the enjoyable relationship film ... more >
“The Laundromat”
Steven Soderbergh is perhaps our most adventurous filmmaker. He straddles the worlds of big-budget Hollywood and Independent cinema with ease and skill. We never know what kind of film he ... more >
Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’ is a sprawling masterpiece, Joe Pesci gives memorable performance
Scorsese has directed many a cinematic winner. But, with the exception of 2016’s “Silence” (which I found to be brilliant on so many levels) it had been a while since the accolades of ... more >
PEOPLE TO WATCH
Born and raised in North London, Christian Tye has already made his mark on Hollywood by producing a short, entitled “Trip’s Duplage” at 22. There’s already some Cannes buzz about the film, which was produced by Tye with Mosaic Media Group. It stars British actress Stephanie Beacham and Spencer Squire. Tye has starred in stage productions and also had a part in Rupert Everett’s 2018 directorial debut “The Happy Prince,” alongside Everett and Colin Firth. He has various projects lined up for 2019, including roles in two major feature films. Not only does Christian excel at acting but also he is an incredible screenwriter, having written several scripts. more >
