Author Christian Gallichio

January 31, 2021 6:27 pm

Literally opening, as the title implies, with “The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet,” Argentinian director Ana Katz’s melancholic rumination on the life of Sebastian (Daniel Katz, the filmmaker’s brother), a languish...

‘Homeroom’ Is A Powerful Verité Look At Policing In Schools [Sundance Review]

January 29, 2021 3:00 pm

Rounding out his trilogy of Oakland based verité documentaries, which includes 2012’s “The Waiting Room” and 2017’s “The Force,” Peter Nicks’ newest, “Homeroom,” is a poignant look at the 2019-20 school year i...

‘The Mauritanian’ Is A Harrowing Condemnation of Bush-Era Torture [Review]

January 12, 2021 12:24 pm

Featuring a standout, awards-worthy performance by Tahir Rahim, Kevin Macdonald’s “The Mauritanian,” adapted from Mohamedou Ould Salahi’s memoir “Guantanamo Diary,” about his prolonged imprisonment at the titu...

‘The Reason I Jump’: An Affecting, Yet Superficial, Exploration of Those Living With Autism [Review]

January 10, 2021 6:11 pm

Freely adapted from the 2007 bestselling book “The Reason I Jump,” written by Higashida Naoki, a nonspeaking autistic child, Jerry Rothwell’s film of the same name is an empathetic, though perhaps uncritical, ...

‘The Dissident’: Bryan Fogel’s Latest Doc Is A Propulsive Exploration Of Jamal Khashoggi’s Life [Review]

December 23, 2020 10:50 am

Unfolding with a sense of urgency that propelled his 2017 film “Icarus” to critical acclaim, and an Oscar win, Bryan Fogel’s follow-up “The Dissident,” which tracks the lead up to and fallout surrounding the J...

‘Industry’: Young People Are Capital, But HBO’s Newest Gen-Z Wall Street Show Isn’t Indispensible [Review]

December 5, 2020 11:00 am

News, Reviews, Television

A far cry from HBO’s other youth-centered show (that would be the visceral and brazen “Euphoria”), HBO’s newest attempt at catching the Gen-Z zeitgeist, “Industry,” hews closer to the short-lived “How to Make ...

‘Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds’: Werner Herzog’s Doc Is A Heartfelt Tribute To Scientific Exploration [Review]

November 13, 2020 3:25 pm

Continuing his streak of emotionally intelligent globe-trotting documentaries, Werner Herzog’s “Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds,” which he co-directed with University of Cambridge volcanologist Clive Opp...

‘Moonbase 8’: Showtime’s Workplace Comedy Is An Amusing Quarantine-Themed Diversion [Review]

November 10, 2020 2:21 pm

News, Reviews, Television

Featuring three comedy heavyweights with John C. Reilly, Fred Armisen, and Tim Heidecker, as well as an intriguing situational set-up, Showtime’s new “Moonbase 8” is an amusing, if slightly empty, workplace co...

‘Beginning’ Is An Acute Portrayal Of Religious Suffering [San Sebastian Review]

September 25, 2020 2:11 pm

Boldy unfolding through a series of fixed shots, Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili’s debut feature “Beginning” is a striking portrait of a woman’s internal suffering at the hands of a husband who prioritiz...

‘Notturno’ Is A Meditative Look At Middle Eastern Conflict [Venice Review]

September 18, 2020 10:29 am

Composed of a series of striking tableaux, Gianfranco Rosi’s contemplative documentary, “Notturno,” mines the intergenerational conflict on the borders between Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria, and Lebanon. Cross-cuttin...

‘The Disciple’ Is A Profound Study Of A Failed Artist [Venice Review]

September 14, 2020 12:16 pm

Unfurling an entire life of failed artistic ambitions in the span of a two-hour film, Chaitanya Tamhane’s remarkable sophomore feature “The Disciple” is decidedly leisurely in its approach. Executive produced ...

‘The Best Is Yet to Come’ Is A Messy, But Affecting Look At Post-Pandemic Journalism [Venice Review]

September 10, 2020 12:52 pm

Mining the well-worn tropes of the crusading journalist, Jing Wang's “The Best is Yet to Come” is an investigatory look at Beijing in the aftermath of the SARS epidemic. Taking place in 2003, the film follows ...

‘Coup 53’ Is A Thrillingly Personal Documentary About The 1953 Iranian Coup D’état [Review]

September 7, 2020 7:18 am

Framed as a ticking clock political thriller, Iranian director Taghi Amirani’s documentary “Coup 53” plays as an enthralling look at the 1953 overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh by U.S. and U.K. inte...

‘Out Stealing Horses’ Is A Beautiful Rumination On The Nature Of Tragedy [Review]

August 11, 2020 3:39 pm