Directed by Amy Adrion, Half the Pictureis a documentary that combines research and interviews to expose the dismal number of female directors in Hollywood. From my perspective as a Cinema Studies major and FF2 Media Intern, Half the Picture could not have been timelier, as it exposes the unjust world of Hollywood (FEA: 5/5).
Category: Bechdel-Wallace List
MIDDLEGROUND (2017): Review by Dayna Hagewood
Written and directed by Alisa Khazanova, Middleground illustrates the fragility of reality in a sparse and eerie style that follows an unhappy couple through their temporary surroundings at a business conference. (DLH: 4/5) Review by FF2 Intern Dayna Hagewood The first scene opens with the restaurant and bar that the majority of the film takes…
NANCY (2018): Review by Katusha Jin
Christina Choe writes and directs Nancy, her feature debut. Andrea Riseborough stars as a lonely and estranged woman in her mid-thirties, who lives with her mother in upstate New York. Set against a bleak and gloomy backdrop, Choe explores the basic human need for connection, familial love, and acceptance. (KIZJ: 3.5/5)
OCEAN'S 8 (2018): Review by Brigid K. Presecky
Ocean’s 8 boasts a powerhouse cast of award-winning actresses as a ragtag group that attempts to rob the annual Met Gala, led by con artist Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock). Written by director Gary Ross and Olivia Milch, this excellent cast saves the story from just going through the typical heist-movie motions. (BKP: 3.5/5) Review by…
THE VALLEY (2017): Review by Stephanie Taylor
Writer/director Saila Kariat’s debut feature is a beautifully solemn and informative film about suicide, telling the story of a wealthy Indian American family residing in Silicon Valley as they cope with the loss of their young daughter. (SAT: 5/5)
YADVI - THE DIGNIFIED PRINCESS (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
Directed by Jyoti Singh and Vick Krishna (based on the screenplay by Gauri Singh and Poonam Basu), Yadvi – The Dignified Princess is a beautiful, minimalistic independent Indian film that tells the story of a woman whose courageous attitude kept her alive through the catastrophes that struck her on both a personal and political level. (FEA…
IN DARKNESS (2018): Review by Katusha Jin
Actress and writer Natalie Dormer stars in mystery thriller In Darkness. Co-written by herself and director Anthony Byrne, Dormer plays a blind pianist who is dragged into the dangerous criminal world when her upstairs neighbor commits what is suspected to be a suicide. (KIZJ: 3.5/5)
MARY SHELLEY (2018): Review by Dayna Hagewood
Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour (who co-wrote the screenplay with Emma Jensen), Mary Shelley is a literary period piece recounting the legendary story of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin’s late teenage years, leading up to the creation of her famous masterpiece, Frankenstein. The film circles around many of the prominent literary figures of the early romantic period in…
BOOK CLUB (2018): Review by Katusha Jin
Erin Simms partners with Bill Holderman to co-write "Book Club", a light-hearted film about the lives and loves of four lifelong friends. The film boasts an impressive cast, starring: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen. Book Club is a comedic take on how the "Fifty Shades of Grey" book series pushes these…
BOOM FOR REAL (2017): Review by Maiya Pascouche
In Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat, director Sara Driver captures the raw creativity of the world renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquiat before his height of commercial success. Through interviews and period film footage, music, and pictures from the time, Driver paints a portrait of Basquiat pre-fame and before anyone was driven…