Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell DVD Review: Inside the Heart of Vietnam
By Steve Geise |
Pham’s debut feature film revolves around a young man’s attempt to help his five-year-old nephew after the sudden death of his sister-in-law.
Suits: The Complete Series Blu-ray Review: Game of Phones
By Steve Geise |
The new Blu-ray box set provides the opportunity to revisit the Suits phenomenon in full, or discover it for the first time.
Bombs Over Burma DVD Review: Chungking Express
By Steve Geise |
Anna May Wong stars in this uneven B-movie as an elementary school teacher in China who moonlights as a World War II spy.
The Prince of Egypt: The Musical Blu-ray Review: Holy Moses
By Steve Geise |
The show is an affable enough effort for spectators new to musical theater, but lacking any real substance for serious fans of the form.
Driving Madeleine Blu-ray Review: Driving Madame Daisy
By Steve Geise |
In the hands of writer/director Christian Carion, the film is a joyous and heartwarming celebration of life guaranteed to play on your emotions.
Jeanne Moreau, Filmmaker Blu-ray Review: Girl Power
By Steve Geise |
Although the three films seemingly have little in common, the throughline is Moreau’s focus on strong, supportive female relationships.
Book Review: Reading Love and Rockets by Marc Sobel
By Steve Geise |
Continuing their celebration of 40 years of Love and Rockets, Fantagraphics presents this overview of the first 50 issues by critic Marc Sobel.
The Bridge: The Complete Series DVD Box Set Review: The Saga of Saga
By Steve Geise |
After a four-season, 38-episode run, the full story of Swedish detective Saga Noren is now available in one comprehensive U.S. DVD box set.
Book Review: Return to Eden by Paco Roca
By Steve Geise |
Spanish cartoonist Paco Roca returns with his most personal graphic novel to date, a nostalgia-soaked ode to the Franco-era Valencia of his mother’s youth.
Black Tight Killers Blu-ray Review: Branded to Thrill
By Steve Geise |
Yasuharu Hasebe’s delirious caper oozes with style, and is better than ever in this new hi-def transfer restored by Radiance Films.
The Golden Coach Blu-ray Review: Jean Renoir’s Tribute to Theater
By Steve Geise |
When a traveling theater company rolls into a rich Peruvian town, the star actress quickly attracts the attention of three local suitors.
The Promised Land Movie Review: Mads Mikkelsen Harvests Another Winner
By Steve Geise |
Director and co-writer Nikolaj Arcel has crafted a thoroughly engrossing historical epic that makes us feel every one of Kahlen’s challenges.
La Syndicaliste Blu-ray Review: The Woman Who Maybe Cried Wolf
By Steve Geise |
Salomé’s measured direction and Huppert’s fully engaged performance combine for a mesmerizing examination of victim blaming and its repercussions.
Scarlet Street Blu-ray Review: Take a Walk on the Wild Side
By Steve Geise |
This fantastic Fritz Lang film is fully worth picking up the new and exclusive remaster on either 4K/Blu-ray combo pack or standalone Blu-ray.
Book Review: Hypericum by Manuele Fior
By Steve Geise |
Manuele Fior’s latest graphic novel, his sixth picked up for U.S. release by Fantagraphics, follows two distinct stories occurring in different eras.
Waitress: The Musical Blu-ray Review: Small-Town Servers Accentuate the Positive
By Steve Geise |
Waitress: The Musical returned to Broadway in late 2021 for a limited engagement starring the original lyricist and composer, Sara Bareilles.
Perfect Days Movie Review: Wim Wenders Examines Perfect Solitude
By Steve Geise |
Perfect Days is nominated for an Oscar this year for Best International Feature Film, and opens in U.S. theaters this week.
Loaded Guns Blu-ray Review: Firing Blanks
By Steve Geise |
If you’re looking for a gritty and insightful Di Leo film, move along. The film is best suited for Andress completionists, or fans of ‘70s Euro trash.
The Outside Man Blu-ray Review: Outsider Deray Crafts an Insider Look at 1970s L.A.
By Steve Geise |
Deray’s outsider approach to 1970s Los Angeles is completely engaging, from the vast amount of exterior scenes to the pitch-perfect performances.
Has Anybody Seen My Gal Blu-ray Review: Keep Looking, the Old Man Is in the Way
By Steve Geise |
This 1952 charmer masquerades as a Rock Hudson/Piper Laurie rom-com, but pay close attention to that waving man behind the title.
Slamdance 2024 Review: Chaperone: Highs and Lows in Hilo
By Steve Geise |
Zoe Eisenberg’s solo directorial debut premieres at Slamdance 2024, featuring an entirely AANHPI cast set in Hilo, Hawaii.
Book Review: Atlas Artist Edition No. 1: Joe Maneely: “The Raving Maniac” and Other Stories
By Steve Geise |
This debut Atlas Artist Edition sets a new high mark for future archival projects, towering over all other Golden Age collections.
Please, Not Now! Blu-ray Review: Brigitte Bardot Will Have You Saying Please, Now!
By Steve Geise |
Brigitte Bardot is here to heat up the New Year in this steamy comedy from provocative writer/director Roger Vadim
Blast of Silence Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Silent Night, Hole-y Night
By Steve Geise |
Blast of Silence isn’t a holly jolly Christmas tale, but it’s an ideal excuse to put on something a bit different in the holiday Blu-ray rotation.
Masaaki Yuasa: Five Films Blu-ray Review: Time to Ride the Wave
By Steve Geise |
The new box set is a treasure trove of content for Yuasa fans, and a great reminder of the impressive anime legacy he has crafted throughout his career.
Shaun the Sheep: The Complete Series Blu-ray Review: A Cracking Collection of Agricultural Mayhem
By Steve Geise |
Just in time for the holidays, Shout! Factory has released a new Blu-ray box set of the entire series of the beloved animated show, Shaun the Sheep.
Book Review: Everywhere an Oink Oink by David Mamet
By Steve Geise |
David Mamet’s latest book about his Hollywood career is the ramblings and grumblings of a legendary talent as he watches the sunset of his career.
Book Review: Prince Valiant Vol. 27: 1989-1990 by Hal Foster, John Cullen Murphy, and Cullen Murphy
By Steve Geise |
More than 50 years after its debut, Prince Valiant continues his globe-trotting adventures in this latest two-year collection of weekly newspaper strips.
Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer Movie Review: The Master Becomes the Subject
By Steve Geise |
Filmmaker Thomas von Steinaecker paints a well-balanced and engaging portrait of the legendary auteur, albeit with fairly large brushstrokes.
Spin: The Complete Series DVD Review: French Political Intrigue
By Steve Geise |
This French TV series takes a look into the halls of power at the top tier of French government, as viewed by a veteran spin doctor.
Shaw Brothers Classics Vol. Three Blu-ray Review: The Formula Remains Strong, Even As the Stars Disappear
By Steve Geise |
While Shout! Factory’s latest Blu-ray set is short of star power, it still has plenty of entertaining Shaw Brothers formula.
Book Review: The Complete Alien Collection: Symphony of Death by Alex White and Tim Waggoner
By Steve Geise |
Following their first omnibus in January, Titan Books is closing out the year with another collection of three standalone Alien novels.
Book Review: In Search of Gil Scott-Heron by Thomas Mauceri and Seb Piquet
By Steve Geise |
Less a biography than a MacGuffin hunt, writer Thomas Mauceri details his years-long quest to track down and interview the elusive and seminal musician.
Book Review: Macanudo: Optimism Is for the Brave by Liniers
By Steve Geise |
Fantagraphics continues their English-language collections of this Argentine comic strip with this charming second volume.
The Challenge Blu-ray Review: Accept This Challenge
By Steve Geise |
Watch it for Toshiro Mifune in full classic samurai robes brandishing his sword against baddies, as he did so many times in Akira Kurosawa’s films.
Book Review: Time Under Tension by M.S. Harkness
By Steve Geise |
After a three-year gap, M.S. Harkness returns with her third autobio graphic novel, and first for Fantagraphics.
EO Blu-ray Review: The Secret Life of Donkeys
By Steve Geise |
It’s hard to believe that a virtually wordless film about a donkey in Poland could be so moving and entertaining, but Skolimowski pulls it off.
Book Review: Dauntless Dames: High-Heeled Heroes of the Comics
By Steve Geise |
Dauntless Dames is a fascinating collection of little-known Golden Age comic strips presented in a stunning oversized format.
Farewell My Concubine 30th Anniversary Movie Review: Leslie Cheung Shines Once More
By Steve Geise |
Leslie Cheung gives himself over so fully to his character that the line between performer and role completely disappears.
American Pop Blu-ray Review: Try, Try, and Try Again
By Steve Geise |
Bakshi’s most American of films is a fascinating look at a master animator delivering a moving, multigenerational tale.
Book Review: Totem by Laura Pérez
By Steve Geise |
In Laura Pérez’s beautiful, bewildering graphic novel, a young sculptor reminisces about her past girlfriend and her grandmother’s mysticism.
The Prodigal Son Blu-ray Review: Sammo Hung Meets Wing Chun
By Steve Geise |
If you’re a fan of Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Wing Chun, or martial arts movies in general, the film is well worth watching.
Gay Purr-ee Blu-ray Review: Judy Garland Gets Animated
By Steve Geise |
This animated musical is a fine send-off for Garland’s collaboration with her Wizard of Oz songwriters, and a fitting coda for her monumental career.
Book Review: Eden II by K. Wroten
By Steve Geise |
Wroten delivers a monumental work that offers vital youth insight and social commentary in a swirling fever dream of artistic expression.
Book Review: Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas by Paco Roca
By Steve Geise |
Paco Roca’s comic strips take us through his amusing daily struggles as an artist successful enough to work on comics full time from home.
A Moment of Romance Blu-ray Review: HK Stockholm Syndrome
By Steve Geise |
While the love story plot is far-fetched, it’s a delight to watch the fairly young Andy Lau further establishing his legendary career.
Book Review: Starseeds 3 by Charles Glaubitz
By Steve Geise |
Starseeds 3 is a masterclass in graphic design, a cosmic and metaphysical delight that is destined to be a touchstone for decades to come
Cosa Nostra: Franco Nero in Three Mafia Tales by Damiano Damiani Blu-ray Review
By Steve Geise |
Cosa Nostra is the box set I didn’t know I needed, offering three riveting dramas anchored by Nero’s searing performances and Damiani’s polished direction.
Is Paris Burning? Blu-ray Review: Night of 100 Stars
By Steve Geise |
The plot is stuffed with so many characters and battle footage that none of the recognizable stars have any meaningful screen time.
Du Barry Was a Lady Blu-ray Review: All Show, Little Story
By Steve Geise |
Even by the admittedly low bar of plot development in classic movie musicals, this story is so half-baked it may as well just be called a musical revue.