As usual, considering that Durga Chew-Bose’s Bonjour Tristesse is based on Francoise Sagan’s novel of the same name, I can’t comment on how faithful this movie is to its source material. However, considering how unsatisfied I was by the end credits, I did some research to understand the film’s relation to the novel. Suddenly, the stars aligned and I figured out the root of my agitation. Sagan’s Bonjour Tristesse was published in 1954, predating the French New Wave…
By: Jolie Featherstone With the stately air and solid bones of a 1940s crime drama, The Last Vermeer is a respectable debut feature film from Dan Friedkin, a former stunt pilot and producer.
“Soapy” is usually a word with a negative connotation, but The Burnt Orange Heresy seems to challenge that. The film is a to-do list of soapy thematic tropes, such as using sex, deception, and even murder to drive its story, yet director Giuseppe Capotondi, screenwriter Scott B. Smith, and a great cast get away with it because the central drama is so interesting and the characters are so beguiling.
By: Trevor Chartrand Striking and unconventional, The Square successfully combines comedy with intense drama to create an unforgettable satirical gem.