Tony Sokol
‘Landman’: Billy Bob Thornton Dominates as a Complex Fixer in Taylor Sheridan’s West Texas Oil Drama
Ali Larter • Published on November 2024
Taylor Sheridan’s latest series, “Landman,” weaves a complex, soapy story built around the West Texas oil industry. Its central character, Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), is a complicated character, and only likable…
‘Hold Your Breath’: An Unhinged Sarah Paulson Redefines Scream Queen in Erratic Dust Bowl Horror
Ebon Moss-Bachrach • Published on October 2024
Actor Sarah Paulson is a true scream queen in “Hold Your Breath.” A horrified, throat-rattling wail concludes every revelatory vision in directing duo Karrie Crouse and Will Joines’ parched supernatural thriller. Set…
‘Slingshot’: Confounding Psychological Thriller Floats Slowly Past the Point of No Return
Casey Affleck • Published on August 2024
In space, no one can hear you talk to yourself, except the commanding officer. In space-travel films, these level-headed ship captains are the most trustworthy. Director Mikael Håfström’s “Slingshot” breaks the chain…
‘Touch’: Baltasar Kormákur’s Quiet Love Story Is an Empathetic and Viscerally Moving Journey
Baltasar Kormákur • Published on July 2024
Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur delivers a flawless tale of romance derailed in his emotionally riveting drama, “Touch.” Spanning five decades, this film is beautifully subversive, not only in contrast to Kormákur’s action…
Richard Linklater’s ‘Hit Man’ Is a Wickedly Fun Throwback to Classic Cinema’s Comedic Romance With Murder
Adria Arjona • Published on June 2024
Director Richard Linklater knows how to make enjoyable, relatable, and extremely fun films. His latest feature, “Hit Man,” is engaging and entertaining from its first moments, and never loses its momentum or…
‘Outer Range’: Season 2 of Josh Brolin’s Time-Traveling Western Keeps Its Most Pressing Mystery in a Hole
Cecilia Abbott • Published on May 2024
The science fiction of “Outer Range” was set on almost mute when the series debuted in 2022, but it leaked like uranium under the soil. Season two continues this quiet Western. The…
AMC’s ‘Interview With the Vampire’ Continues To Turn Blood Lust Into High Drama in Season 2
AMC • Published on May 2024
Adapting novels to moving image teleplays historically distorts the literary works through condensation, contemporary moral climate, and the availability of talent. Fans’ celebrations of their favorite books’ recognition are always tempered by the…
Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley Profusely Swear to Keep Britain Tidy in Thea Sharrock’s ‘Wicked Little Letters’
Features • Published on March 2024
The poison pen letter was a very popular tool for old school trolls. Predating snark, it was the literate version of the anonymous venom of modern internet attacks. Most of these naughty correspondences…
‘Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World’: Radu Jude’s Scathing Slice of Satire Saves the Apocalypse for a Rainy Day
Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World • Published on March 2024
Writer-director Radu Jude’s “Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World” is a brilliantly caustic, subversive critique on the society that labor has made of Romania’s citizenry. This is…
‘Late Night With the Devil’ Is a Funny and Frightening Found Footage Horror That Flips the Dial
Cameron Cairnes • Published on March 2024
Don’t touch that dial. “Late Night With the Devil,” from sibling writing and directing team Cameron and Colin Cairnes, is a must watch for horror fans, and a true innovation for found…
Pawo Choyning Dorji’s ‘The Monk and the Gun’ Is a Modern Lesson on Traditional Wisdom With Timely Wit
Features • Published on February 2024
A minor exchange in the second act of writer-director Pawo Choyning Dorji’s modernization fable “The Monk and the Gun” captures the essence of the message and the skewered brilliance of the satire.
Wim Wenders’ ‘Perfect Days’ Is an Immaculate Look at an Antiseptic Life in Tokyo
Features • Published on February 2024
German filmmaker Wim Wenders loves the camera and all impressions it can capture. His Oscar-nominated Japanese drama “Perfect Days,” co-written with Takuma Takasaki, merges a full array of photographic arts to showcase…
‘The Woman in the Wall’ Hides an Effective Tearjerker Behind a Conspiratorial Crime Horror Story
Features • Published on January 2024
“The Woman in the Wall” more than justifies Sinéad O’Connor’s non-violent protest, tearing a photo of Pope John Paul II live and unscripted on “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 3, 1992. This…
‘Lift’: Kevin Hart Heist Thriller Never Gets off the Ground
F. Gary Gray • Published on January 2024
In spite of all the on-board hazards, “Lift” is too smooth a ride for Kevin Hart. He is tuned up, in top physical shape for another action star turn, but toned down. Directed…
‘Self Reliance’: Jake Johnson Plays a Dangerous Game the Safest Way for His Directorial Debut
Andy Samberg • Published on January 2024
Hulu’s likably offbeat “Self Reliance” is written, produced, and directed by Jake Johnson, who stars as Tommy, a contestant in a lethal-stakes reality competition show. Either that or he’s as crazy as…
Ilker Çatak’s ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’ Puts a Compelling Twist on Class Warfare
Features • Published on December 2023
Early in German director Ilker Çatak’s educational drama “The Teachers’ Lounge,” seventh graders debate whether 0.999… equals one, and are called to the chalkboard to defend their conclusions. Most students speculate on…
‘Finestkind’: Nautical Crime Caper Flounders in Hackneyed Waters
Ben Foster • Published on December 2023
“Finestkind,” the title of writer-director Brian Helgeland’s nautical crime caper, can mean anything in Boston’s riverfront slang. Called the “Swiss army knife of words,” it could refer to a great crew, or…
‘Fargo’ Season 5 Leans Into the Coen Brothers’ 1996 Film but Politely Avoids a Head-on Collision
Coen Brothers • Published on November 2023
Joel and Ethan Coen have a love-hate relationship with America’s Midwest. They could never come out and say it, however. The fifth installment of FX’s “Fargo” is set in Minnesota and North…
‘Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story’: A Long-Form Recap of Perry’s Success Story That Never Dispels the Myth
Amazon Prime Video • Published on November 2023
Armani Ortiz and Gelila Bekele’s “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story” is touted as a love letter to Willie Maxine Perry. Tyler Perry’s mother is his greatest influence. He lives her values,…
In Aki Kaurismäki’s ‘Fallen Leaves,’ Two Lonely Workers Circumvent Romance in a Bleak Helsinki
Aki Kaurismäki • Published on November 2023
Aki Kaurismäki’s “Fallen Leaves” is the fourth film in the Finnish director’s “Proletariat” series following “Shadows in Paradise,” “Ariel,” and the 1990 film “The Match Factory Girl.” Set against the war in…