Hi there, I’m Mark Olsen and welcome back to your regular guide to the world of Exceptional Cinema. This week, we’re looking forward to the release of two much-lauded films from this year’s festival circuit: Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” and Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man.” “The Substance” debuted at Cannes Film Festival, earning Fargeat a … Read more
The film “In the Summers” opens with Vicente, a blue-collar guy, waiting nervously in his car. He’s constantly playing with his lighter and drumming on the steering wheel to ease his anxiety. He’s eagerly waiting for a pivotal moment in his year to begin — the period that defines his identity. His young daughters finally … Read more
In a refreshing departure from the norm, the medium of animation breathes new life into a franchise that has seen its share of lackluster sequels. “Transformers One” acts as a precursor to the expansive narrative universe centered around an extraterrestrial race of metallic humanoids with the capability to shape-shift into vehicles, delving into the origins … Read more
Whether it’s a series of hotel rooms, car scenes, alleyways or garages, when a story is driven by genuine movie stars, we’re ready and willing to come along for the ride. Such stars have the ability to make any location feel enthralling, enigmatic and immersive. This fundamental truth is unnecessarily put to the test in … Read more
Hollywood’s latest psychological thriller, “Never Let Go,” directed by Alexandre Aja, comes across in its trailer as a ghost story. The film features Halle Berry, who portrays a distressed mother in an apparent post-apocalyptic scenario, secluded in a forest with her two young sons. To safeguard her family from unseen dangers, she adheres to a … Read more
Aaron Schimberg, an accomplished writer-director, unveils a compelling narrative about a neurotic New Yorker who undergoes an experimental facial transformation in the brilliantly acted, peculiar, and comical film “A Different Man”, starring Sebastian Stan. The film echoes Rod Serling’s nightmare fantasies and draws on a variety of cinematic influences from different periods known for their … Read more
Who can resist a compelling headline framed as a question? Or an opening sentence in a newsletter, for instance? The answer to that question can sometimes be contentious. But there are times, like my colleague Bill Addison’s critique of the snug eatery on Melrose Avenue, “Stir Crazy,” where the answer is quite clear. “Aren’t quaint … Read more
Coralie Fargeat, a film director, seems to have an odd fascination with buttocks. Her Cannes-winning film, “The Substance,” centers around a faded Hollywood actress who has an unusual tolerance for self-inflicted torment. This movie is notable for having a surprisingly high number of buttocks shots, given its lengthy runtime of just over two and a … Read more
Renowned actor Michael Madsen, famous for his roles in “Reservoir Dogs” and other Quentin Tarantino films, has recently initiated divorce proceedings from his wife of over two decades. Stating irreconcilable differences as the primary cause for their separation, Madsen hints that there are deeper issues at play. Coming in the wake of a recent arrest … Read more
Upon the suggestion of my colleague Mark Olsen’s weekly Indie Focus newsletter (which you can sign up for here), I found myself at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Monday evening for a 35mm screening of “Mi Vida Loca.” The film, directed by Allison Anders, tells the story of Mousie (Seidy Lopez) and Sad … Read more
