Features

Two men sit on a couch.

Beat the Algorithm: Top Five Hidden Gems on Netflix

By

Sifting through the glut of content available on streaming services can sometimes feel like more work than it’s worth. Algorithms that supposedly know your tastes better than yourself present wave after wave of movies and series spanning all genres and eras. Even the most focused browsers can find themselves lost in the weeds. Netflix is… Read more »

Young girl sits outside, sad.

The Female Gaze: Framing Trauma in Fairchild

By

In the second installment of The Female Gaze series, Lou Balikos provides a thought-provoking examination of filmmaker Kali Kahn’s debut short film, Fairchild, a narrative that follows a young girl as she grapples with the traumatic effects of her sexual assault. 

Two shots of Fox Rich from the movie Time

New York Film Festival – Critic’s Choices

By

2020 New York Film Festival – For the first time in its 58 year history, Manhattan’s NYFF wasn’t shown in its  Lincoln Center home.  Senior Film Critic Kurt Brokaw watched it all online, reviewing his favorite narrative dramas, documentary features, and outstanding shorts.

Photos of the main actors from the series, These Them

The Gay Agenda is Alive and Well: These Thems

By

“Look at all these…thems, shes, hes, zirs…” Vero says, leaning against the bar, as the smile of a proud parent reaches across their face. This scene ends with a powerful, incredibly joyful, dance montage overlayed with the Hallway Swimmers’ Night Out, “We are the lucky ones; we have already won. We are together now. Can’t… Read more »

grid of scenes from films at the 58th Annual New York Film Festival

The 58th annual New York Film Festival Starts September 17

By

Film at Lincoln Center recently announced the 25 films that comprise the Main Slate of the 58th New York Film Festival, which will run from September 17 – October 11. The festival has an expanded schedule  in order to provide additional access to the festival via drive-in screenings at The Brooklyn Army Terminal and Queens… Read more »

Still from movie Bakla

Finding Your Superpowers and Reclaiming Your Identity

By

Bakla is a short film written, directed, and starring Brandon English. Bakla had its premiere at the 2020 New Filmmakers LA Film Festival and is currently making its way across the virtual film festival circuit. The film was also the official selection of the QTPOC Pride Arts+ Film Festival, finalist in the Asian Cinematography Awards,… Read more »

The eponymous “Little Zombies”

Siblinghood Beyond Blood in We Are Little Zombies

By

Reality is stupid. This attitude seems to be the underlying mantra of director Makoto Nagahisa’s work thus far. Crashing onto the international film scene like an asteroid exploding into the earth (one that is swirling in clouds of rainbow-hued pixie dust), the inimitable and apocalyptic We Are Little Zombies seeks to distance itself from anything… Read more »

John Bronco (Walton Goggins) sitting in his jeep.

Tribeca 2020 Short Films: Critic’s Choice

By

This year’s 19th Tribeca Film Festival didn’t take place in downtown Manhattan, but Senior Film Critic Kurt Brokaw was able to view its 63 shorts, chosen from 6,100 submissions. Read his reviews on six favorites.