Film & TV

In Review: Brady Corbet’s ‘The Brutalist’

February 21, 2025 by

“The Brutalist” may not quite reach the same heights as other great American epics, but it is a fantastic work of art worth your time and thought.
read more

RaMell Ross redefines tragedy in ‘Nickel Boys’

February 21, 2025 by

Based on Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name, the film is a historical drama inspired by the Dozier School for Boys, a now-closed reform school.
read more

SBIFF 2025: “Waves” in review

February 18, 2025 by

The Czech film premiered at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Feb. 10. 
read more

SBIFF 2025: poster, programming revealed for upcoming festival

January 23, 2025 by

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will take place from Feb. 4-15.
read more

‘Nosferatu’: Eggers feasts on desire in a Gothic reimagining

January 15, 2025 by

The film reanimates cinema’s oldest vampire, stripping away the romantic veneer of modern interpretations and brings an adaptation that is brutal, seductive and, above all, uncompromising in its vis...
read more

Angelina Jolie brings Maria Callas back to life in “Maria”

January 6, 2025 by

“Maria” marks the third installment, after “Jackie” and “Spencer,” in director Pablo Larraín’s pseudo-trilogy of historical biopics.
read more

“Arcane” season two tops the charts once again

January 6, 2025 by

The second season of Netflix's adaptation of video game "League of Legends" builds upon everything introduced in the first season.
read more

In Review: “A Real Pain” is a soul-searching journey through grief

December 24, 2024 by

Jesse Eisenberg’s second feature film may not provide the clean catharsis some viewers may crave, but its raw, unrestrained exploration of pain feels strikingly authentic.
read more

“Conclave”: secret, suspense and gossip in the hallowed halls

December 7, 2024 by

Ralph Fiennes stars as Dean-Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, who is entrusted with the impossible task of wrangling the Church’s cardinals in a conclave to elect the new pope.
read more

“Disclaimer” is yet another example of disappointing prestige TV

December 3, 2024 by

Created by Alfonso Cuarón, the show stars Cate Blanchett as Catherine Ravenscroft, a documentarian whose life begins to unravel when she receives a novel which threatens to reveal her secrets.
read more

“We Live in Time” captures audiences with devastating story of love and life

November 16, 2024 by

A seamless blend of comedy and drama, the film pulls at the viewers’ heartstrings and reminds them to savor every moment of their relationships.
read more

In Review: Sean Baker’s “Anora” is a modern day fairytale

November 16, 2024 by

Set on the streets of Brooklyn and short stints in Las Vegas, Baker weaves screwball comedy and high-stakes drama into a captivating story of a young woman striving to rise above her circumstances.
read more

Reinventing realism and Trump in Ali Abbasi’s new controversial movie “The Apprentice”

November 16, 2024 by

Giving the viewer a clear “where, why and how” of Trump in his youth, the movie draws fascinating but subtle links to the billionaire and politician seen on screens today.
read more

Two decades in the trap: The enduring grip of “Saw” on horror culture

November 16, 2024 by

From a low-budget horror film to a billion-dollar franchise that redefined the genre, "Saw" revolutionized horror cinema with its moral dilemmas and infamous torture traps.
read more

Activism, art and apocalypse: Revisiting “Fresh Kill” with Director Shu Lea Cheang

October 30, 2024 by

The Carsey-Wolf Center held the last screening of Shu Lea Cheang’s debut feature film, “Fresh Kill,” accompanied by a Q&A with the director.
read more