Year: 2021 Runtime: 150 minutes Director: Guillermo del Toro Writers: Guillermo del Toro, Kim Morgan Actors: Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, Ron Perlman, Toni Collette, David Strathairn, Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Mark Povinelli, Jim Beaver By Joan Amenn Rejoice, lovers of gothic drama and noir femme fatales! Guillermo del Toro is back and has he got a holiday surprise for us! You … Continue reading Review: Nightmare Alley
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
There is a specific type of film, which appears to remain nameless, that you understand will be noteworthy from the moment you begin watching it. This particular breed of film is unique in that, whether or not you end up actually enjoying it, at the very least you will be able to appreciate something about it. You can tell from the very start that you will be impacted by it; in its wake, you will be left with your perspective expanded. Continue reading A Special Breed Of Film: “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”
A two-fold coming-of-age narrative ‘Mary and Max’ (2009) charters the progression of Mary’s, a young, ‘chubby’ and socially anxious Australian into a woman, friendship with Max, a middle-aged Atheistic Jew in America. Pen pals, a support system, their friendship grows as Mary seeks an escape from her abusive, sherry-soaked mother Vera, all marvellous narrated by Australian treasure Barry Humphries. At random, fascinated by the states, Mary picks an address from a U.S phonebook and hopes to receive a reply to her letter. Gradually, as life moves on the pair grow distant, and after taking a degree in psychology, Mary uses her experiences with Max, who suffers from anxiety and lives in isolation due to his Asperger’s syndrome, as a case study for a book. Continue reading Mental Health Awarenss Month, Retrospective Review: Mary and Max
People have always been fascinated with true crime. But since the rise of the Internet and creation of the “Law & Order” television franchise, the space to indulge in true crime has expanded exponentially.
But if we talk about and consider watching true crime during this time, the one series we should be focusing on is Netflix’s “Unbelievable.” It is not an easy watch, and personally I have had to talk a number of people into watching past episode one.
The series follows Marie (a superb Kaitlyn Dever) who is trying to start out on her own following years in the foster care system. But her attempts to build a new life are demolished following a home invasion and rape. Continue reading Social Isolation Review: “Unbelievable”
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 decade. With the help of Film Twitter, the ITOL team has selected 30 actresses. Writer Claire L. Smith examines Toni Collette’s career over the last decade and discusses her performances in “Hereditary” and “Knives Out”. Continue reading Best Actress of the Decade, Entry No. 4: Toni Collette
Rian Johnson’s new movie “Knives Out” is the best whodunit film since “Clue” (1985). The star-studded cast and multiple twists make it a wild ride, entertaining at every turn. With talents like Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, LaKeith Stanfield, Chris Evans, Toni Colette, and so many more, I knew “Knives Out” would be good before I entered the theater. There was no way I could have predicted just how good, though. “Knives Out” is like popcorn; with each bite you can’t stop yourself from wanting a little bit more. As the mystery unravels, more questions arise and things get more and more complicated. Continue reading ITOL 2019 Roundup: Knives Out
Year: 2013 Runtime: 93 Minutes Director: Nicole Holofcener Writer: Nicole Holofcener Stars: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette By Ariana Martinez “Love is Worth Living For, Enough Said.” As we reach the final months of 2019, it is a moment of reflection, specifically through In Their Own League’s Top 50 Films of the Decade Countdown. Number 49 is Nicole Holofcener’s film “Enough Said” … Continue reading ITOL Top 50 Films of the Decade, Entry No. 49: Enough Said
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. Continue reading Protected: Ari Aster’s Hereditary and Midsommar Show us What it’s Like for Women to Grieve
By Kristy Strouse There are several reasons why Nicole Holofcener’s foray into middle-aged adult relationships is touching and natural, and one of them is because of the late and very talented James Gandolfini, in one of his last roles. After playing iconic tough characters, this movie allows us to see a softer side of the actor and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and his onscreen chemistry is undeniable … Continue reading Retrospective Review: Enough Said
In Their Own League 