Sundance Review: “Marvelous and the Black Hole”

Year: 2021Runtime: 81 minutesWriter/Director: Kate TsangStars: Miya Cech, Rhea Perlman, Leonardo Nam, Kannon, Paulina Lule, Keith Powell, Jonathan Slavin By Morgan Roberts Sammy (Miya Cech) is continuing to struggle after the death of her mother. Sammy is getting into trouble at school, forcing her dad (Leonardo Nam) to give her an ultimatum: go to summer school at the community college and keep up your grades … Continue reading Sundance Review: “Marvelous and the Black Hole”

Sundance Review: “Film About a Father Who”

Year: 2020 Runtime: 74 minutes Director: Lynne Sachs Writer: Lynne Sachs By Joan Amenn Part of the lineup of documentaries having to do with family histories at Sundance and also shown at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City in an exhibition of her work, Lynne Sachs’ “Film About a Father Who” (2020) is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Like looking … Continue reading Sundance Review: “Film About a Father Who”

Sundance Review: “On The Count of Three”

Year: 2021Runtime: 84 minutesDirector: Jerrod CarmichaelWriters: Ari Katcher, Ryan WelchStars: Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, Henry Winkler By Morgan Roberts *Warning: This review discusses suicide and mental health distress* On the count of 1…2…3. Friends Val (Jerrod Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott) have planned to have one last day. At the end of the day, they plan to kill themselves in a suicide pact. … Continue reading Sundance Review: “On The Count of Three”

Review: “Judas And the Black Messiah”

Year: 2021Runtime: 126 minutesDirector: Shaka KingWriters: Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenneth Lucas, Keith LucasStars: LaKeith Stanfield, Daniel Kaluuya, Danielle Fishback, Jesse Plemons By Morgan Roberts There are many important figures who have been lost to history. Slowly, cinema has started to educate audiences about a number of humans purposefully misplaced by time and white supremacy. In “Judas and the Black Messiah” (2021), one such figure’s … Continue reading Review: “Judas And the Black Messiah”

Sundance Review: “My Name Is Pauli Murray”

Year: 2021Runtime: 91 minutesDirectors: Julie Cohen and Betsy West By Morgan Roberts Who was Pauli Murray? Murray was a lawyer, an educator, a Civil Right’s activist, an author, an Episcopalian priest, a labor rights activist, and a pioneer for women’s rights. Without the work of Pauli Murray, many achievements in women’s rights and LGBTQ rights movements would have never been realized. From directors Julie Cohen … Continue reading Sundance Review: “My Name Is Pauli Murray”

Sundance Review: “Cryptozoo”

The premise of “Cryptozoo” (2021) appears simple. Lauren (Lake Bell) tries to help capture the Baku, a dream-eating cryptid, and then the moral dilemma of, “should we put these creatures on display or should they remain hidden” arises. Lauren goes on her quest with a gorgon named Phoebe (Angeliki Papoulia). Continue reading Sundance Review: “Cryptozoo”

Sundance Review: “Passing”

Based on the 1929 novella of the same name, “Passing” (2021) is a look at racial identity, gender, sexuality, and class. The film follows childhood friends Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Clare (Ruth Negga) who reconnect later in life. Irene lives her life as a Black woman and passes as white from time to time for convenience. Clare, however, has chosen live life as a white woman, likely continuing to do so due to her husband John’s (Alexander Skarsgård) racist viewpoint. Hence, the title “Passing.” Continue reading Sundance Review: “Passing”

Sundance Review: “John And The Hole”

Year: 2021Runtime: 98 MinutesDirector: Pascual SistoWriter: Nicolás GlacoboneStars: Charlie Shotwell, Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Ehle, Taissa Farmiga By Morgan Roberts “John and the Hole” (2021) is a film that possesses a lot of holes itself. The film follows John (Charlie Shotwell) is a privileged teenager living with his parents (Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle) and older sister (Taissa Farmiga). John is introduced as a … Continue reading Sundance Review: “John And The Hole”

Sundance Review: “Rebel Hearts”

What happens when you fight the status quo? What happens when you fight an entity that has centuries of power? In “Rebel Hearts” (2021), we learn about the time the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary did just that in the 1960s. Back then, for some women, becoming a nun was an avenue to give back to their communities, obtain an education, and not be required to become a housewife. Continue reading Sundance Review: “Rebel Hearts”

Sundance Review: “The World To Come”

Year: 2021 Runtime: 98 minutes Director: Mona Fastvold Writer: Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard Stars: Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby, Casey Affleck, Christopher Abbott By Morgan Roberts “Tuesday, January 1st, 1856.” Our film begins at the start of a new year. Abigail (Katherine Waterston) and her husband Dyer (Casey Affleck) bleakly begin the year ahead. It is Upstate New York, rural and farming. After a tragic … Continue reading Sundance Review: “The World To Come”