Film & TV

“The Beekeeper” lacks buzz

February 29, 2024 by

Directed by David Ayer and produced by Jason Statham, "The Beekeeper" weaves an elaborate path toward a dull thud of a climax, its few exciting moments of action bookended with bloated dialogue. 
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SBIFF 2024: Heather Graham’s disastrous second film “Chosen Family” closes out festival

February 25, 2024 by

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival closed their festival with the world premiere of "Chosen Family," both starring and directed by Heather Graham.
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SBIFF 2024: “The Cowboy and the Queen” documentary is a historical feat

February 23, 2024 by

The film explores the unlikely relationship Salinas born horse trainer Roberts had with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
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SBIFF 2024: Two UCSB student documentaries featured at festival

February 22, 2024 by

“The Salt on our Skin” and “841” were created by UCSB students through the Coastal Media Project nine-week summer program. 
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SBIFF “The Fight for Black Lives” Premiere: Filmmaking as Activism

February 20, 2024 by

The Fight for Black Lives,” which premiered at SBIFF, centers on the health disparities faced by Black Americans, underscoring the experiences of Black mothers and newborns.
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SBIFF 2024: “Ezra” in review

February 20, 2024 by

“Ezra” doesn't aspire to be a masterpiece, but it will warm your heart, make you smile and, when the credits roll, it will invite you to reflect.
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SBIFF 2024: “Io Capitano” is profound and raw

February 20, 2024 by

From the mind of director Matteo Garron, yet another transcendental, thought-provoking film reexamining and reconstructing the traditional migrant story from an authentically stark lens was created.
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SBIFF 2024: “Dance First” falls flat on US premiere

February 17, 2024 by

“Dance First” seems to be more of a theoretical conversation about the mistakes he has made and the ones he chose to take responsibility for, whether or not he directly caused them.
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SBIFF 2024: “Achilles” takes on the plight of Iranian artists

February 17, 2024 by

The film premiered at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and exemplifies the cinematic innovation and rebellion coming out of Iran.
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“The Boy and the Heron”: Miyazaki’s latest masterpiece takes flight

January 25, 2024 by

Miyazaki breathes to life a Wonderland-esque world brimming with outlandish surrealism and their underlying complexities, all for the sake of posing one singular question: “How do you live?”
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“Mean Girls” (2024) falls flat

January 25, 2024 by

Despite the high expectations prior to its release, there is much left to be desired from what was supposed to be one of the most recognizable movie musical adaptations.
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Editor favorites: Top 10 films of 2023

January 18, 2024 by

Co-Artsweek Editor Lauren Chiou’s favorite watches of 2023, just in time for awards season.
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Are you “…Ready for It?” Swift bigger than life in “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour”

December 26, 2023 by

Global sensation Taylor Swift continues to shatter not just concert ticket sales but now box office sales with the release of her concert film “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” in theaters worldwide s...
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The Hunger Games 5: Does the songbird or the snake land on top? 

December 26, 2023 by

Suzanne Collins’ fourth book in the Hunger Games franchise, titled “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” finally made it to theaters Friday, Nov. 17.
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“All the Light We Cannot See” in review: A swing and a miss

December 5, 2023 by

The television adaptation of Anthony Doerr's 2014 novel falls flat in comparison to its original source material.
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