Recently, there have been several movies centered around homosexuality and homosexual relationships that have been great successes. Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, received critical praise for portraying the difficulties faced by an African-American gay man in a culture that rejects homosexuality. Similarly, Love, Simon was released to both commercial and critical success, as it…
by Ben Lindner Looking for a movie to see this week? Well look no further, here are our reviews of the movies currently playing at the Athena: I, your local cinephile friend, would say that all three films currently showing at the Athena are “good.” But, admittedly, they are not for everyone. So here’s a…
In this episode of the Speakeasy Cinema Podcast, we talk extensively about Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, Phantom Thread. This film follows the life and romance of a master dress-maker named Reynolds Woodcock – played by none other than Daniel Day-Lewis – and his young female counterpart Alma – played by the stunning Vicky…
For the second episode of the Speakeasy Cinema Podcast, we will be examining the stunning new biopic, Loving Vincent. Directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, this painted animation — the first film of its kind — explores the life and unusual death of Vincent Van Gogh via depictions of his artworks. One year after Vincent Van…
This is the inaugural episode of the Speakeasy Cinema Podcast, featuring Seth Foerstner, Trevor Tisdale, and Sam Benezra. We’re kicking it off with one of our all time favorites, Paul Thomas Anderson’s classic There Will Be Blood. Get ready to dive deep into Daniel Day-Lewis’ chilling portrayal of Daniel Plainview, a ruthless turn-of-the-century oil tycoon who will…
Star Wars, the master-work of George Lucas, began with A New Hope (Episode IV) in 1977 and steadily amassed an unprecedented cult following. The original sci-fi adventure yielded two sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) and Return of the Jedi (Episode VI), completing a trilogy of laser-filled excellence and producing a plethora of lore…
Emotional investment in a movie is a telltale sign of good writing and direction, and the ability to take advantage of that emotion is what gives it a chance to be great. Tempting an audience to feel so deeply that they’re moved to tears is an important and obvious goal in excellent cinema. However, as important and…
