A documentary on the weird world of Ohioans keeping dangerous wild animals as pets (it’s legal there), this film couldn’t be more timely in the light of recent events

By GARY MORRIS The queer community, long accustomed to not relying on craven politicians, creepy religiosos, and other empire-building miscreants to address homophobia, has shown particular skill over the years at changing culture — and society — for the better. Most encouraging in this process has been the fact that so many of our heroes ... read more »

Filmmaker Ariel Schulman and his brother, Nev, don’t hide their stance on the marketing of their new film, Catfish. A documentary about Nev’s Facebook relationship with (what seems to be) his dreamgirl, the film comes off as a thriller in its promo material. While not directly against the marketing angle, Ariel and Nev took time ... read more »

Note: this review discusses major plot points but doesn’t reveal the surprising turn. Much of what is discussed below can be found in the promotional material. Catfish opens in Philadelphia this weekend, at the Ritz East, 125 South 2nd Street. On Saturday, September 25, the filmmakers will be present for Q&As after the following screenings: ... read more »

If any movement made cinema history into a reactionary narrative, it would be the French New Wave. A batch of cinephiles, most working as critics for Cahiers du Cinema (established 1951), wanted to revive their national cinema through formalism – attention to the techniques that make sights and sounds into cinema. Thus, they turned their ... read more »

Remember when Jean-Luc Godard made films that were avant-garde but still, somehow, comprehensible?  That was a long time ago, the 1960s to be precise.  Yet, like The Big Lebowski’s Dude, Godard abides. Check out the trailer, above, for his latest project, Socialisme, that just premiered at Cannes.  Beautiful, non?  Godard and the digital technology that ... read more »

From the outset, it seems to be a bold-faced cash-in culled from little investment. In Babies, a French-produced doc which got a surprisingly wide release this past weekend, we have long takes of the cutest things possible: four babies from all around the globe. Having just begun life, they now begin their interactions with the ... read more »

“Functionless art is simply tolerated vandalism.” – Peter Steele (1962-2010) From here comes a rich smell drawn from a load of bullshit.  And in no way am I demeaning the practice of street art by saying that.  I’m referring to the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop itself.  This story about street art, some of its top practitioners, and a man who ... read more »