Sundance Interview: “Call Jane” Director Phyllis Nagy

By Morgan Roberts The feature film, “Call Jane” (2022) had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. The film details the life of Joy (Elizabeth Banks), a Chicagoan who finds herself in need of an abortion. Except, in 1968 America, there is no way to legally access an abortion. Joy then seeks help from the Jane Collective – or the Janes – to, … Continue reading Sundance Interview: “Call Jane” Director Phyllis Nagy

Sundance 2022 Review: “Call Jane”

Year: 2022 Runtime: 121 minutes Director: Phyllis Nagy Writers: Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi Stars: Elizabeth Banks, Chris Messina, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Mara, Wunmi Mosaku, Cory Michael Smith, Grace Edwards By Morgan Roberts In 1968 America, abortion was illegal.  Illegal did not mean, nor has it ever meant, not occurring.  On the contrary.  When abortion is illegal, it generally just means it is unsafe.  In … Continue reading Sundance 2022 Review: “Call Jane”

Pride Month, Retrospective Review: Carol

There’s just something about “Carol” (2015). Not just the mature storytelling, or the strong direction from Todd Haynes, or even the film’s beautiful and stylish design. Those are all contributing factors to the film’s resonance, but, what really captures the spirit, is the magnetism between our two leads: Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Based on the novel The Price of Salt, by Patricia Highsmith, and intelligently adapted to the screen by Phyllis Nagy, “Carol” is another intimate LGBTQ story that is required viewing. Continue reading Pride Month, Retrospective Review: Carol

The Moral Perplexities of Two Women In Love in Todd Haynes’ “Carol”

When “Carol” premiered, the film received a 10-minute standing ovation at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. The motion picture based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel titled “The Price of Salt” was shot on Super 16 millimeter film. Todd Haynes, the director and Phyllis Nagy who wrote a screenplay, wanted “Carol” to look and have an atmosphere of the late 1940s/early 1950s. Both did such an outstanding job. Continue reading The Moral Perplexities of Two Women In Love in Todd Haynes’ “Carol”