Year: 2020Runtime: 1hr 34minsDirector/Writer: Zoë KennisonActors: Zoë Kennison, Kennedy Baldwin, Adam Hartley, Teà Kennison By: Juli Horsford “You look maternal,” isn’t exactly a compliment for a woman in her early twenties. In fact, it’s questionable whether that is ever a compliment but especially not when you’re at a party and a guy is hitting on you. Ivan (Zoë Kennison) is a twenty-two year old college … Continue reading Review: Easy Bake
In “Spinster” (2020), Chelsea Peretti takes the leading role in a not-so-romantic comedy for the first time. Known for her role as Gina Linetti on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and her stand-up special “One of the Greats”, Peretti’s comedic delivery and deadpan tone are her trademarks. She shows an emotional depth paired with her classic comedic performance in “Spinster,” carrying the charming film from start to finish. Continue reading Review: Spinster
Lynne Sachs’ documentaries are quite unlike anything else you will ever see. Poetic, impactful and moving journeys into unique worlds which are rarely captured on-screen whether it’s the hidden world of laundrettes in her film “The Washing Society” or the world of immigrants sharing a ‘shift-bed’ in “Your Day Is My Night”. Every film feels like it has a personal connection to Sachs, but it is perhaps her latest film, “Film About a Father Who” that is her most personal yet. Continue reading Sheffield Doc Fest Exclusive Review: “Film About a Father Who”
“To Nowhere” is a micro-budget film that focuses on telling a queer love story and exploring gender identity. It’s currently in its final stages of post-production but the filmmakers need your help to raise the funds necessary to finish this project. ITOL editor, Bianca Garner, sat down with producer Georgia Hurt and director Sian Astor-Lewis to discuss the film in more depth, from its inception to the challenges they faced making a film on such a small budget. Most importantly, we discuss how you can show your support for this project and help to promote new and emerging talent in the indie filmmaking scene. Continue reading Exclusive Interview with Georgia Hurt and Sian Astor-Lewis Regarding “To Nowhere”
“Dads” is a documentary showcasing what everyday dads do and their overall experience with fatherhood. Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, she highlights everyday and celebrity dads around the world, including hers, Ron Howard.
The documentary opens with home video footage of Bryce Dallas Howard’s birth. We see intimate footage of Ron Howard becoming a first-time father, which then transitions into him on set ready to be interviewed by the same person we just viewed being born. Continue reading AFI Documentary Film Festival, Review: Dads
You wouldn’t imagine a film titled “The Virgin Suicides” (1999) would be beautifully atmospheric and dreamlike. Or maybe you would if you knew it was written and directed by Sofia Coppola who is known for brilliantly capturing an atmosphere with her films whether it’s the 1990s in Los Angeles with “The Bling Ring” (2013) or our collective memory of a lavish queen with “Marie Antoinette” (2006). Coppola’s directorial debut is a tale about five young girls who commit suicide and perhaps more poignantly, the neighborhood boys who are obsessed with them. For as much as it’s a film about mental health and girlhood, it’s also about collective memory and the impact that a few people can have on a community. Continue reading Mental Health Awareness Month, Retrospective Review: The Virgin Suicides
Let me tell you why I love Sofia Coppola so much: she’s interesting. She is unbothered by box office returns; she is loyal to her vision. Here is a woman who has had a keen understanding of Hollywood since her earliest memories–she plays the baby in “The Godfather”, for crying out loud! She is a keen observer of life, of human nature, and–as a consequence, I suppose, of growing up around the glitz and glam of Hollywood–the repercussions of copious amounts of glitz and glam.
In keeping with this month’s theme of Mental Health, I thought it’d be appropriate to write about a woman’s depiction of a man’s mental state in La La Land. “Somewhere”, which won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, offers very little in terms of plot and intrigue. Continue reading Mental Health Awareness Month Review: “Somewhere”
“Astronaut” (2019) is an uplifting and encouraging drama about Angus (Richard Dreyfuss), an ageing widower coming to terms with his failing physical health and life in a care home. He always wanted to be an astronaut so despite his age, physical condition, and protests of those around him, he enters a competition to go on a commercial space flight.
Caz Armstrong had the opportunity to speak with director Shelagh McLeod about her directorial debut and pursuing passions later in life. Continue reading Exclusive Interview: “Astronaut” Director Shelagh McLeod
Cathy Yan is a new and exciting director that more people should be aware of. She has a track record of making interesting films with a diverse cast and crew. I cannot wait to see what the future brings for Yan, I know I will be there opening weekend for any films with her name in the credits. Continue reading Women’s History Month: Cathy Yan
Having made two short films with the same actress as the lead character, “Baden Baden” (2016) is Writer-director Rachel Lang’s debut feature. This French-Belgian comedy-drama is a gentle but poignant summer spent with Ana looking for work, looking for meaning and ill-advisedly renovating her grandmother’s bathroom. It’s funny and awkward but also hopeful. Continue reading Review: Baden Baden
In Their Own League 