post

25 Best Movies of the 2020’s You Probably Haven’t Seen

Somehow, we’re already halfway through the 2020s. The world’s still on fire, the algorithms and A.I. have taken over, my readership is down (people love video, and yet, here I remain), and despite the fact that there is continued chatter about the death of cinema… great movies keep slipping through the cracks. While big franchise I.P. garbage continues to dominate the cultural conversation, there’s been a steady stream of bold, bizarre, and beautiful films flying under the radar. Whether they had a tiny theatrical run, got buried on streaming, or just never hit your watchlist, these are 25 films from this chaotic half-decade that you probably haven’t seen — but absolutely should. Read More

post

Top Ten Films of 2024

2024 was a complicated year for film. The aftershocks of the industry strikes were deeply felt, shifting countless productions and leaving gaps in the release calendar, just as the rise of concerns over things like A.I. really took hold. It felt like a transition year in many places. A marker between past and future with the present was anything but certain. The MCU, for instance, released only one film whereas the SSU dropped three, before dropping dead entirely. Yet, even amidst industry turbulence, a number of nothing short of remarkable films emerged—entries that will no doubt remain in rotation on the queue for years to come. It was a year of resilience and creativity, with filmmakers continuing to push boundaries, challenge conventions, and deliver unforgettable stories on the silver screen, despite the myriad challenges to the art form. Read More

post

Sundance ’24: ‘HOW TO HAVE SEX’ and the Obliteration of Carefree Youth

When three British teenage friends, Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce), Skye (Lara Peake) and Em (Enva Lewis), abscond for a weekend holiday of hard partying, thumping clubs, and fast sex, they find that their freewheeling existence is more fragile than imagined. Tara, or “Taz” when she’s in full party animal mode, is the rowdy, raunchy heart and soul of the party and the film. She has yet to lose her virginity, and her mates won’t let her forget this fact. The trio embarks on their holiday with a clear goal: to explore their sexualities, particularly Tara’s. This setup is familiar for a coming-of-age romp but How to Have Sex quickly becomes something much deeper and more penetrative. Read More