In Michael Pierro’s darkly satirical debut, a cash-strapped cab driver plunges into a digital enslavement where the promise of easy money reveals a world of moral decay, autonomy lost, and the high stakes of a gig economy spiraling out of control.
Bernardo Bertolucci’s Best Picture winner arrives to Criterion 4K UHD.
Not only is Halloween thankfully upon us, but the next major holiday, Thanksgiving, at least in America, is next. That can only mean one thing: it’s time for a re-watch of Addams Family Values! Our friends at Paramount Home Entertainment sent me a copy of their newest release of the 1993 Barry Sonnenfeld film, which comes out tomorrow, October 29th. You may have heard of Sonnenfeld, who not only directed the previous film, The Addams Family, as well as Men in Black and Get Shorty. Previously, he was the director of photography on a litany of Hollywood films, such as Misery, Miller’s Crossing, Big, Blood Simple, and many more. The official synopsis: Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) welcome a new addition to the…
A late night altercation on a dark and stormy night leaves Maxime’s girlfriend Dylan with a life threatening head wound. Given the circumstances surrounding how Dylan got injured Max can’t take her to the hospital so she takes her to Samantha’s house, who might be a black market surgeon for ne’er-do-wells around the city, who also happens to be Max’s mom. Samantha has a futuristic healing machine in her attic but there is a complication. It cannot heal the wound unless it can map Dylan’s memories and the nature of the injury prevents it from doing that. The machine needs to locate Dylan’s ‘essential memory’ and someone has to go into her mind and find it. Samantha needs to stay outside and watch over…
Director Mikhail Kalatozov’s enigmatic look at pulsating revolutionary Cuba is “reality through bombast.”
The band Suicide Disease is in a creative rut. They have not played a show in ages, nor have they written any new material. Lead singer Jay is convinced writing new songs is the answer. Bandmates John, Menace and Juan feel very strongly about getting back on the road and touring. However, there is a compromise they can all agree on. Their manager AJ has found someone through their socials that has offered to direct a music video for them, for free. That is an enticing offer when you have not been touring, making any money. The band is broke and a free music video can keep them current. The band travels out of state, with some of their girlfriends along for the ride….
Talia Zucker and Ashley Zukerman star in a demented and nutty thriller, directed by Will Howarth and Tom McKeith.
In the article series Sound and Vision we take a look at music videos from notable directors. This week: Fran Perea’s Carnaval, directed by Álex de la Iglesia. Álex de la Iglesia’s sole music video, for Fran Perea’s Carnaval, seems fitting almost to the extent of self-parody. If any word would describe a lot of De la Iglesia’s movies, it’s carnivalesque. The Last Circus has clown characters, Witching and Bitching has a heist in weird costumes (there is a Jesus bank robber and a Spongebob bank robber) and pagan parties, and Veneciafrenia is a slasher based on bal masques in Venice. There is a sense of excess to the films of De la Iglesia, with a focus on the grotesques, caricatures and silliness. Costumes, circusses,…
Recently restored, Murdering the Devil is a Czech film from 1970. It’s an absolute delight. Art director and costume designer Ester Krumbachová’s first and only film was credited with shaping the look of the Czech New Wave. It packs a strong satirical punch to domesticity and gender roles, with most of the scenes taking place in a woman’s house. Namely, she’s unnamed. Played by Jirina Bohdalová, she isn’t as young as she once was. She wants romance and, ideally, a husband. She’s an excellent cook, and this movie will make you gungy. Many of the shots linger on roasted meats, bubbling sauces, sugary desserts. She will seduce him through his stomach. “Him” is Mr. Theo Devil (Vladimír Mensikí). Mr. Devil, a supposed heartthrob from her…