An older white woman with shoulder-length blonde hair stands lectures in front of a black and white image on a movie screen. She wears a blue blouse and slacks.

“I’m Into an Individual Gaze”: Director Nina Menkes and Colleagues at Sundance 2022 Talk Sexism and Being “Brainwashed”

Director Nina Menkes of the Sundance 2022 documentary “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power,” and her colleagues discuss objectifying film techniques, the male gaze, and encouraging an “individual gaze” for creative filmmaking. Film site In Their Own League has more details. Continue reading “I’m Into an Individual Gaze”: Director Nina Menkes and Colleagues at Sundance 2022 Talk Sexism and Being “Brainwashed”

Sundance 2022 Review: “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power”

The documentary “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power”(2022) is sad, infuriating, and revelatory. Objectifying women in film and media is nothing new; yet in analyzing how filmmakers shoot men and women differently, director Nina Menkes shows just how entrenched—and insidious—this way of seeing is. More in this film review from In Their Own League Continue reading Sundance 2022 Review: “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power”

Sundance 2022 Review: “Fresh”

Year: 2022 Runtime: 114 minutes Director: Mimi Cave Writer: Lauryn Kahn Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jonica T. Gibbs, Andrea Bang, Charlotte Le Bon By Morgan Roberts Many people are going to compare this film with the 2000 film “American Psycho.”  It is understandable.  Both films take on and subvert toxic masculinity.  However, there is a deliciously wicked side to “Fresh”(2022) that gives this type … Continue reading Sundance 2022 Review: “Fresh”

A teenage girl waves out of a car's passenger window, saying, "I Love You" in American Sign Language

REVIEW: “CODA”

Year: 2021 Runtime: 1 hour 51 min. Director: Sian Heder Writers: Sian Heder and Victoria Bedos, Stanislas Carré de Malberg, Éric Lartigau, and Thomas Bidegain (of “La Famille Bélier”) Cast: Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, and Amy Forsyth By Valerie Kalfrin Every family has its own language, a shorthand of inside jokes, nicknames, memories, and subtext. For the … Continue reading REVIEW: “CODA”

Sundance Review: “Son Of Monarchs”

Year: 2021 Runtime: 97 minutes Writer/Director: Alexis Gambis Stars: Tenoch Huerta, William Mapother, Paulina Gaitan, Electra Avellan, Alexia Rasmussen, Noé Hernández By Morgan Roberts Science and nature are typically depicted at odds with each other. Sure, there is enough of science trying to recreate and manipulate nature. But is there more to this dichotomy than meets the eye? In Alexis Gambis’ award-winning film, “Son of … Continue reading Sundance Review: “Son Of Monarchs”

Sundance Review: “The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet”

Year: 2021Runtime: 73 minutesWriter/Director: Ana KatzStars: Daniel Katz, Valerie Lois, Mirella Pascual, Carlos Portaluppi, Julieta Zylberberg By Morgan Roberts In Argentinian writer/director Ana Katz‘s latest film, “The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet,” Sebastian (Daniel Katz) is at a crossroads. The film follows Sebastian as he goes from one odd job to the next, doing everything to survive. Meanwhile, as Sebastian moves through life, Earth faces … Continue reading Sundance Review: “The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet”

Sundance Review: “Together Together”

Year: 2021Runtime: 90 minutesWriter/Director: Nikole BeckwithStars: Ed Helms, Patti Harrison, Julio Torres By Morgan Roberts Matt (Ed Helms) wants to be a dad. He just doesn’t have a partner. So, in his quest for fatherhood and to build his own family, Matt decides to enlist the help of a surrogate. Enter Anna (Patti Harrison), a woman in her mid-twenties trying to realign her life. As … Continue reading Sundance Review: “Together Together”

Sundance Review: “Flee”

Year: 2021 Runtime: 83 minutes Director/Writer: Jonas Her Rasmussen By Morgan Roberts No two immigration stories are ever the same. Sometimes the immigration story for survival differs from the one in reality. In “Flee” (2021), one such story is told. Amin is a refugee from Afghanistan. Since his youth, he has been living in Denmark, fleeing to the country as an unaccompanied minor. His entire … Continue reading Sundance Review: “Flee”

Sundance Review: “Mayday”

Year: 2021Runtime: 100 minutesWriter/Director: Karen CinorreStars: Grace Van Patten, Mia Goth, Soko, Havana Rose Líu, Theodore Pellerin, Juliette Lewis By Morgan Roberts When we are at a crossroads in life, how do we ever truly escape to be able to examine where we want to go? In “Mayday“ (2021), Ana (Grace Van Patten) is transported to another world where women rule the island and men … Continue reading Sundance Review: “Mayday”

Sundance Review: “Jockey”

Year: 2021Runtime: 94 minutesDirector: Clint BentleyWriter: Clint Bentley, Greg KwedarStars: Clifton Collins Jr., Moises Arias, Molly Parker By Morgan Roberts The world of horse racing is explored in Clint Bentley‘s “Jockey” (2021). Jackson (Clifton Collins Jr.) is an aging jockey, eager to experience one last glorious lap before his ailing body finally gives in to the years of injury and chronic pain. Jackson works with … Continue reading Sundance Review: “Jockey”