How has Tom Skerritt never been the star of a movie before? It took a while—way too long—but now at 87, Skerritt delivers a performance that belies a soulfulness and reservoir of talent that has only been briefly glimpsed in his numerous supporting roles over the years.

“East of the Mountains” opened Thursday as part of the (virtual) Seattle Film Festival, which is the precisely correct venue given

The Covid-19 pandemic has been hard on the entire world. 2020 and, so far, 2021 have been devastating economically but, most importantly, socially.

People are struggling everywhere to maintain their finances and their homes while a demon in virus form breathes its devilish fire on our planet.

I’d presume the new film

Shot in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic, the new film “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)” finds a single mother struggling to provide shelter and a good life for her young daughter after the unexpected death of her husband. Danny (played beautifully by co-writer and co-director Kelley Kali Chatman) has taken her young daughter Wes on an extended camping trip. The reality of their situation

Formulaic, “Marvelous and the Black Hole” is a coming-of-age tale that eventually wins over its audience with performances and an accessibility. Miya Cech is quite good as “Sammy,” a rebellious teen with repressed emotions regarding her deceased mother. Carrying a bad attitude that is only getting worse, Sammy acts out. Disrespect to adults (including back giving lip to her dad and sister) and getting in trouble at school

Festival season is in full swing, even with fests either going hybrid or one-hundred percent virtual as the pandemic continues. Here are some films I was able to catch at this year’s Garden State Film Festival, Santa Barbara Film Festival, as well as another interesting film that will be available on demand soon—hopefully along with these other ones. “The Knot” (SBIFF) is an intriguing work from filmmaker Ashish Pant, an unusual work that can’t precisely be

“The problem is, people think the party is over after college... they stop trying, stop doing new things...” The pressures of today’s society can be hell on anyone. Growing up is hard for everyone. Navigating the culture for millennials is a minefield and when one has been gone for a lengthy period, that person may not change but life and society moves on. The pressure that weighs on Tyler (a quite good Munro Chambers), after returning from

Michelle Pfeiffer can do almost no wrong on screen, in my view, and I’m going to declare that it’s not her fault that the new film “French Exit” suffers from overambition and a trace of boredom despite her still-electrifying presence.

Not that she doesn’t lean into the role of Frances Price with considerable verve. A lifelong New York socialite, Frances is devastated to learn that her late husband has left her with little

One of the many issues with modern films is how they do not strive to be cinematic enough. Few filmmakers today take their time to properly design shots, use their frame in uniquely meaningful ways, and craft profoundly artful moments where the camera is both the artist and the tool.

Daniel Kremer’s “Overwhelm the Sky” is a most welcome film that’s cinema to its very core.

If you’ve never heard about the exploits of the British Cold War spy Greville Maynard Wynne, you’re not alone.  Even Dominic Cooke, the director of the new fact-based film about Wynne’s spy exploits, had never heard of Wynne before the script for “The Courier” came his way.

“It was interesting that Brits over a certain age knew who he was, but anyone below the age of sixty-five could not recall the case

Anthony Hopkins gives the performance of a lifetime in “The Father,” which is saying something for a man who has been acting professionally for more than a half-century, and who already has one Oscar to his credit.  Hopkins is 83, at the top of his game, and also of the right age to infuse his character in the new film with the most assuredly correct amount of pathos and humanity, and elicit our sympathies.  It’s an absolute masterpiece