Hearing Women’s Voices: Films of 2022

By Joan Amenn Rarely, if ever, has a single year contained more film releases that focused on women’s issues and concerns. From epic adventures to ensemble dramas to historical biopics, 2022 offered many opportunities for women’s voices to be heard. Personally, there were some that resonated deeply and still leave me thinking about them even now. Before we delve into a whole new year of … Continue reading Hearing Women’s Voices: Films of 2022

“Thelma & Louise” and the long road still ahead

By Valerie Kalfrin A Polaroid tends to fade over time. The one that Thelma and Louise took before their fateful road trip certainly didn’t survive, blown away in the wind. Yet that Polaroid selfie — indeed, their whole adventure — only grows richer and sharper after 30 years. It’s a snapshot in time that captures not just the way things are but how we’d like … Continue reading “Thelma & Louise” and the long road still ahead

Review: The Dig

Year: 2021 Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes Director: Simon Stone Writers: Moira Buffini, John Preston Stars: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James By Valerie Kalfrin Years from now, what would someone make of the things we touched and used during our time here? It’s hard not to watch the quiet, contemplative drama “The Dig” and not think of such questions. Framed around the real-life excavation … Continue reading Review: The Dig

Promising Young Woman

Why the Ending of Promising Young Woman Works

By Mique Watson **This piece contains spoilers for the end of “Promising Young Woman.” If you have not seen the film, you may want to check out this piece afterwards.** “Promising Young Woman” (2020) premiered last year at the Sundance film festival. It debuted with a whopping 99% approval rating on the Tomatometer, and was associated with much anticipation. In reality, this was one of … Continue reading Why the Ending of Promising Young Woman Works

Promising Young Woman

Why every growing boy needs a “Promising Young Woman”

By James Cain [Content warning: The following article discusses themes of sexual assault] There’s a scene in Emerald Fennell’s jet-black comedy “Promising Young Woman” that mines terror from the idea of an underage girl hanging out with a group of boys she doesn’t know in a university dorm room. We’re given no particular to doubt these young men, but we do know that boys will … Continue reading Why every growing boy needs a “Promising Young Woman”

The Broken Hearts Gallery

Morgan’s Top 10 Films of 2020

By Morgan Roberts Wow. 2020 was a giant dumpster fire, wasn’t it? But here’s the thing: television and films saved us. The arts are always the first thing to go with budget cuts, but without art this year, how many of us would have the respite we so desperately needed during this time? So, thank you to everyone who puts their all into their craft, … Continue reading Morgan’s Top 10 Films of 2020

Promising Young Woman

Review: “Promising Young Woman”

Year: 2020 Runtime: 113 minutes Writer/Director: Emerald Fennell Stars: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Laverne Cox, Alison Brie, Jennifer Coolidge, Clancy Brown, Alfred Molina, Connie Britton, Chris Lowell, Max Greenfield By Morgan Roberts The review contains references to assault and suicide. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. “Promising Young Woman” follows Cassie, (Carey Mulligan), a young woman seeking vengeance against those who wronged her … Continue reading Review: “Promising Young Woman”

Sundance Exclusive Review: Promising Young Woman

“Promising Young Woman” is one of those films that begins with a very good idea. Ideas that involve the camera lasciviously objectifying men on a dance floor the way women typically are. Granted, it’s played for laughs rather than sex appeal, since there’s nothing resembling eye candy, but you can’t have everything. Or maybe it’s an early indicator of what the movie’s real agenda is, which is condemning anyone who violates its ideas of what good behaviour should be, rather than people who suffer from such expectations.

Not that it’s a bad idea to condemn violence, which is the real villain in “Promising Young Woman.” In case the marketing left any doubt, the movie addresses a very specific kind of violence that dares not speak its name here. Continue reading Sundance Exclusive Review: Promising Young Woman

Best Actress of the Decade, Entry No. 15: Carey Mulligan

To celebrate the last decade 2010-2019 we are counting down the best actresses and discussing some of their most notable and memorable performances of the last decade. With the help of Film Twitter, the ITOL team have selected 30 actresses. Entry No. 15 is Carey Mulligan, and writer Tom Moore discusses Mulligan’s career over the last decade. Continue reading Best Actress of the Decade, Entry No. 15: Carey Mulligan