No one can wring more documentarian juice from a conspiracy theory than Rodney Ascher. With A Glitch in the Matrix, the director of Room 237 – a deconstruction of the multitude of fan theories centered around Stanley Kubrick and his making of The Shining (including the oft-trend myth that the film included a subtle confession that Kubrick helped fake the moon landing) – and The Nightmare – an eerie, if wonky, study of the terrors of sleep paralysis – has settled soundly into his niche, creating his most complete and haunting film to date as he begs the question, “Are we living in a simulation?” Read More
The Sundance 2021 Movies We Can’t Wait to See
Each and every year, figuring out what to watch at the Sundance International Film Festival is a journey in and of itself. Last year, I saw a good smattering of my favorite films of the year in Park City, including Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor and others that played the fest, like Dinner in America, later made its way onto that same list. This year, things are different. For the first time in its celebrated history, the entire festival will be conducted online. While this means no late-night parties, no skiing on those powdery Utah slopes, no rubbing elbows with your favorite celebrities, and less standing in blisteringly chilly queues, it also means enjoying Sundance from the comfort of your own couch. Read More