Oscar-Snubbed ‘Foxtrot’ Is a Deft Commentary on Systemic Corruption and Grief
What do we even know about war, Foxtrot seems to ask, except that it's a dance that will surely never end.
Susan Kemp
Susan Kemp is a film writer from Boulder, Colorado. She covers indie film for PopMatters and The 405, and she previously wrote for The Huffington Post, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Savannah Magazine, WayTooIndie.com, 303Magazine.com, and Unrecordedmu.com. She's the president of the Boulder Independent Film Club. Tweet her @susan_kemp.
‘Please Stand By’ Sweetly Blends Disability Commentary with ‘Star Trek’ Fandom
This film gives humanity to some of our unsung voyagers; those on the spectrums, those at the extremes of fandom.
Will the Oscars Be a ‘Starry Night’ for ‘Loving Vincent’, the First Fully Painted Animation Film?
This unusual rotoscope film captures Vincent van Gogh's art beautifully. But does it capture the mysterious van Gogh himself?
‘The Greatest Showman’ Is a Spectacular Show But Ignores Some Uncomfortable Truths
With all the glitz and glamor, it's easy to enjoy the ride—so long as you don't catch a whiff of the manure piling up behind the tent.
For People of Color, ‘Real American’ Is a Memoir with Big Questions
Julie Lythcott-Haims gives a voice to the internal dialogue—the self-loathing, really—of living a life as a biracial woman who, for most of her life, wasn't quite sure if she was allowed to call herself black.
Catherine Frot Breathes Life into ‘The Midwife’ Martin Provost’s Quiet Celebration of Birth and Death
Catherine Frot has a fantastic ability to show a wide range of emotions—frustration, wariness, relief, and joy. With a less capable actress, The Midwife wouldn't be possible.
‘Wonder Wheel’ Spins Between Affecting Character Drama and Bizarre Victim Blaming
Woody Allen's Wonder Wheel takes something of an unforgivable twist, at least in the current zeitgeist.
Luca Guadagnino Creates a Landmark LGBT Love Story with ‘Call Me by Your Name’
What makes Call Be By Your Name stand out from the films it will be compared to (Brokeback Mountain, Moonlight) is Guadagnino's play on juxtapositions, which go much deeper than merely an angsty teen with an introspective soul.
Guillermo del Toro Redefines the Love Story in Underwater Fantasy-Thriller ‘The Shape of Water’
The Shape of Water is a plea to stop seeing the "other" in people, while masterfully remaining more charming than didactic.
‘Far Away Brothers’: What Becomes of the Children Who Must Flee Home and Country?
Lauren Markham's The Far Away Brothers puts forth the story of two young lives caught up in the pressing need to immigrate.
‘The Astronaut Wives Club’ Shoots for the Moon, Finds a Star or Two
Based on Lily Koppel's 2013 book by the same name, The Astronaut Wives Club suffers from a bloated cast, allowing for only one or two compelling storylines.