Film & TV

“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

“Saturday Night”: Jason Reitman’s love letter to the 1970s comedy phenomenon

October 30, 2024 by

The majorly anticipated biopic tells the story of the first episode of "Saturday Night Live," starring an impressive cast of Generation Z comedy darlings.
read more

SBIFF Riviera Theatre hosts screening, interview with director Payal Kapadia on “All We Imagine as Light”

October 24, 2024 by

The pre-release screening took place at Santa Barbara's Riviera Theatre, and was followed by an interview with writer and director Payal Kapadia
read more

Binge vs. week-by-week: How streaming release models can influence success

August 11, 2024 by

As the streaming war rages on, platforms have been grappling with the decision of release format — a decision that is inconsistent across providers. 
read more

Artsweek’s 2024 mid-year report

July 19, 2024 by

The best movies, shows and albums from 2024 (so far).
read more

“Mustard Man”: The “post coming-of-age-story” of music, mayhem and maturing

July 16, 2024 by

The independent, student-created film tells a story of rock ‘n’ roll, lifelong family friendships and the kind of chaos that can only happen in your 20s. 
read more

In review: Falling for “The Fall Guy”

June 12, 2024 by

The film offers a unique look into a profession that is often overlooked in modern media — stunt performers.
read more

Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer”: A haunting depiction of trauma

June 12, 2024 by

While “Baby Reindeer” doesn’t offer a solution to dealing with the consequences of trauma, it illustrates an accurate portrayal of the effects of trauma and how this can impact an individual’s...
read more

“Fallout” is an explosion of violence, gore and the power of the human spirit at the end of the world

May 7, 2024 by

Amazon Prime’s latest hit, an adaptation of the popular video game franchise of the same name, masterfully balances disaster, comedy, misery and heart all at once.
read more