Joseph Beyer | Author

May 4, 2024

Sexual tension smashes back onto the big screen in Challengers, the much-hyped love triangle drama set within the world of professional tennis. What makes the film somewhat remarkable (among other things), is how Italian director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) and … Read More >>

Film Review: Civil War

April 20, 2024

In the not-so-futuristic landscape of domestic unrest, the United States of America (as seen in the dystopian thriller Civil War) has been fractured. Why, how, and what exactly the new insurrection is about you will have to piece together yourself. That’s because in the hands… Read More >>

Film Review: Immaculate

April 6, 2024

As someone whose life partner doesn’t watch horror movies, I don’t often get a chance to take in a big screen chiller. But I had plenty of motivation to head to Immaculate when it first opened.

I have known director Michael Mohan from years of working toget… Read More >>

Film Review: Anatomy of a Fall

March 16, 2024

If I had tried to convince you last week that Anatomy of a Fall was worth 2 hours and 32 minutes of your time, you may have ignored the rec. That’s because we, the American movie culture, don’t often venture outside our comfort zone when it comes to European films with … Read More >>

Film Review: Bob Marley: One Love

March 2, 2024

Perhaps the first sign that Bob Marley: One Love might be a suspiciously polished and glowing take on the pop culture icon was the video from his son, Ziggy, that played before the film. In it, Ziggy pronounces that he and the Marley family “love how the film turned out.&rdqu… Read More >>

Film Review: American Fiction

Feb. 10, 2024

Reading society like a book and reflecting our collective discrimination back at us, American Fiction is a remarkable first-time feature that is simultaneously one of the softest and loudest films of the year. (It has been nominated for Best Picture, among other Oscars honors.)

Film Review: Quantum Cowboys

Jan. 27, 2024

During this awards season of repetitious praise for a handful of studio movies and critical darlings (some of which actually deserve them), it may feel like you’re experiencing a loop of the familiar. If so, then allow me to scratch your itch with a recommendation for something unique… Read More >>

Film Review: Ferrari

Jan. 13, 2024

Director Michael Mann’s first film in eight years came roaring into the theatrical marketplace with all the fanfare worthy of a star-studded cast and a famed helmer. But despite grand international aspirations for an equally grand biography of a singular sports car and racing legend, … Read More >>

Film Review: The Holdovers

Dec. 16, 2023

Filmmaker Alexander Payne has already delivered audiences one of the more fascinating repertoires in American cinematic satire, with stories from Election to About Schmidt to Citizen Ruth. All of Payne’s works have an almost uncomfortable intimacy that event… Read More >>

Film Review: Priscilla

Nov. 25, 2023

While you will certainly be mesmerized by the haunting lead performance from newcomer Cailee Spaeny—and be impressed as always by the sophisticated storytelling of director Sofia Coppola—you may also find yourself wondering at the end of Priscilla if you missed somethin… Read More >>

Film Review: Taylor Swift - The Eras Tour

Nov. 11, 2023

If any artist of our time symbolizes a quest for self-control and dominion of her own career, it’s Taylor Swift. She’s not only talented and smart—she doesn’t get pushed around. Having taken on music streamer Spotify and concert service Ticketmaster, now she’s … Read More >>

Film Review: American Graffiti - 50 Year Anniversary

Sept. 2, 2023

The cinema event that caught my eye this month was the 50-year anniversary edition of the classic coming-of-age comedy American Graffiti, #62 on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 list of U.S. movies everyone should see. The film that launched George Lucas as a bold new di… Read More >>

Film Review: The Deepest Breath

Aug. 19, 2023

While the new epic documentary The Deepest Breath is definitely not for the faint of heart, those able to endure the onscreen tension of near death experiences will learn a great deal about living life to its fullest.

You may even experience, as I did, the full emotional sp… Read More >>

Film Review: Barbenheimer

Aug. 5, 2023

Unless you’ve been vacationing disconnected from all media, you might already be over the endless #Barbenheimer memes, cos-posts, and “have you seen it yet!?” hoopla. But I sincerely hope not.

That’s because taken together or separately, the new films Bar… Read More >>

Film Review: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One