Kelly Reichardt likes uncomplicated. As early as when “Wendy and Lucy” came out her films have testified to her ultra-sharp minimalism and efficiency. “Night Moves,” a genre film in which three environmentalists (they're David Koresh league, but for the tree-hugger set) conspire together to blow up a dam follows the same ethos of subtlety. In lieu and place of a psychological drama about ... more >
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Night Moves
Dakota Fanning like you've never seen her before
Jesse Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning
Directed by Kelly Reichardt
KURDISH WESTERN: My sweet pepper land
Golshifteh Farahani
Directed by Huner Saleem
After "If you die, I'll kill you" ("Si tu meurs, je te tue" in French) Kurdish filmmaker Huner Saleem has teamed up with Golshifteh Farahani again in this modern-day western set in a Kurdistan that's emerging from years of civil warring. In this second film with the Iranian actress Saleem subtly juggles epic with intimate, the tragic with the comical. And while he borrows from the genre's ... more >
NEBRASKA: We had more to say about it
Available in Blu-ray / DVD / Digital HD
Starring Bruce Dern, June Squibb and Will Forte
(this is Screen Comment's second review of "Nebraska") American indie cinema also has its giants. Just like his compadres Wes Anderson and Jason Reitman Alexander Payne has, after directing only a few movies, spearheaded this other cinema in which America, and its history, fill the whole screen. As it were, in “Nebraska” America is hiding in plain sight. Not the one where superheroes save humanity ... more >
Pacific Rim
The best game in town this year
Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi and Idris Elba
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo Del Toro is a kid again and this summer he's invited us into his room. Digging deep within 20th century pop-geek culture while exploring his beasty imagination ("Hellboy 2: the Golden Army"), Del Toro has turned out one of the most unlikely and eery films I've seen in a while. It had to be done, in a way, and he's done just that. And who better than him for the task of convincing us that ... more >
Hijacking
Danish cinema's new flagship film
Johan Philip Asbæk, Soren Malling and Dar Salim
Directed by Tobias Lindholm
Danish cinema is becoming more and more relevant. After the sublime "A Royal Affair" which came out last year, the Danes are darkening the summer skies with a film of a rare intensity, and one which is doubtlessly proof of their commitment to the medium and their innate talent for it. Yes, the Danes are taking filmmaking seriously and it is a joy to behold. In this hostage-taking story ... more >
The Act of Killing
The must-see film of 2013
[documentary]
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
According to interviews which he gave afterward Werner Herzog was shaken up by it, and it's understandable why. When shooting for "The act of killing", which he co-executive-produced, began, it's likely that he did not know such a major upheaval was about to occur in documentary filmmaking. Just like Joshua Oppenheimer, who lensed this film, did not expect to shoot such a documentary upon ... more >
Man of Steel
The superhero genre gets the Nolan treatment again
Henry Cavill and Amy Adams
Directed by Zack Snyder
I think we can all agree that whoever says blockbuster doesn't necessarily mean subtlety and intelligence. That's a fact. On the other hand, he who speaks "Christopher Nolan" speaks resurection, restoration and myth reinvented. "The Dark Knight" trilogy behind him, Nolan has been re-emerging as producer and screenwriter, on "Man of Steel," which to have added some zest and some pep. And who better ... more >