Author Archives: Ross Birks

Bong Joon-ho’s steady sidestep into blockbuster filmmaking over the last decade without losing a single ounce of his skewed worldview or compromising an inch of his craft continues to absolutely knock my socks off. There are days, like when I … Continue reading →

This is essential viewing if just for Sarah Silverman’s extraordinary, transformative performance. It often feels like stunt casting when you get comedians in serious roles for indie films but Silverman bears herself so openly here and is so far from … Continue reading →

Charlize Theron to Seth MacFarlane in this film: You’re a catch. you’re sweet, you’re funny, you’re smart, you’ve made something for yourself out here! You deserve better than her! (Amanda Seyfried)Me: HAHAHAHAHA. But in all honesty I don’t hate MacFarlane or anything … Continue reading →

Paolo Sorrentino just doesn’t do it for me. I certainly enjoy the aesthetic eye-candy but why do I find myself so bored during these things? Caine and Keitel make for an enjoyable double act (their combined acting history and status … Continue reading →

Antibirth feels like a horror film built from an arts and crafts box. Given that it mainly focuses on junkies, deadbeats and drug pushers it’s surprising how bright and poppy the ghastly sights can be. Maybe it shouldn’t be surprising as … Continue reading →

I’ve gone from seeing zero Carlos Reygadas movies to seeing two in the past week. Silent Light is an especially major and transcendental work, one that I often see on those countless “Best Films of the Century So Far” lists and, honestly, … Continue reading →

A strange hybrid of fly-on-the-wall documentary with fictional psychosexual melodrama, A Bigger Splash focuses on famed artist David Hockney during the fallout of his breakup with Peter Scheslinger and the creation of his iconic “swimming pool” paintings. On the one hand it … Continue reading →

D’ya think Clint and his editors just looked at each other during post on this and said “you know, this is really fucking boring isn’t it?” Eastwood’s inkblot cinematography is always a pleasure to sit through though. No movies look … Continue reading →