film-and-culture5 min read
Polish Documentary 'Closure' Explores the Endless Grief of a Father Searching for His Vanished Son
2 hours ago•Source: Roger Ebert
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7 min•4 days ago
Wicker: How 3D Printing and Social Satire Created a Viral Romantic Fantasy
The period comedy 'Wicker' has sparked a cultural phenomenon, blending a bizarre premise with high-end practical effects. The film, directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, stars Olivia Colman as an outcast fisherwoman who commissions a wicker husband. Alexander Skarsgård portrays the woven partner, a role achieved through an 18-month development process by Weta Workshop. The film’s success is attributed to its practical makeup, which allows for realistic movement, and its sharp satire of marriage and domestic labor.
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Wicker: A Woven Husband Sparks Online Frenzy and Critical Debate
Vulture•5 days ago
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Jordan Firstman’s Debut Feature 'Club Kid' Blends Queer Nightlife Chaos with Found Family
Jordan Firstman’s directorial debut, 'Club Kid,' premiered at the 2026 New York Film Festival to critical acclaim. The film follows Peter, a chaotic club promoter in Brooklyn, who unexpectedly becomes the guardian of Arlo, a 10-year-old son from a past encounter. Shot on 35mm, the movie balances gritty nightlife realism with tender father-son bonding, avoiding simplistic redemption arcs to celebrate queer community and chosen family.
Primetime: How A24’s Hansen Biopic Divides Critics and Captivates Gen Z
A24’s new film Primetime, directed by Lance Oppenheim, has sparked intense debate over its portrayal of Chris Hansen and the controversial 2000s reality show To Catch a Predator. While Robert Pattinson’s performance is praised for its complexity, the film faces backlash from Hansen himself, who calls it exploitative. The movie has become a cultural touchstone for Gen Z, who see parallels between the 2006 sting operations and modern surveillance culture, despite mixed critical reviews regarding its narrative structure.
A24's 'Primetime' Satirizes 'To Catch a Predator' with Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen
A24’s new film 'Primetime' offers a stylized, satirical behind-the-scenes look at the 2000s reality show 'To Catch a Predator,' starring Robert Pattinson as host Chris Hansen. The movie critiques the show’s ethics and cultural impact but receives mixed reviews for its chaotic structure and lack of deeper social analysis.
Black Zombie: A 10-Year Effort to Reclaim Haitian Horror History
The documentary 'Black Zombie' argues that Hollywood’s zombie genre is a product of colonial erasure and racist disinformation. Directed by Maya Annik Bedward, the film traces the concept from Haitian Vodou traditions to 1929 travelogues and 1932 films, highlighting how white media distorted Black spiritual practices into monsters. The film, which took over a decade to produce, connects historical cultural theft to modern anti-Haitian racism and immigration policies.
The Uprising: Garfield’s Spiritual Revolt Meets a Confusing Robin Hood Marketing Blitz
Paul Greengrass’s historical drama The Uprising, starring Andrew Garfield as a nameless serf leading the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, has opened to mixed reviews. While Garfield frames the film as a spiritual journey about faith and class rage, critics note the movie’s relentless handheld style and a confusing marketing campaign that briefly linked the 14th-century event to the Robin Hood legend.
By Any Means: A Grisly, Controversial Look at 1960s Voter Suppression
The new film 'By Any Means' dramatizes the 1966 murder of Mississippi activist Vernon Dahmer and the subsequent investigation by the FBI and mobster Gregory Scarpa. While the film aims to expose the horrors of 1960s racism, it faces criticism for its heavy reliance on graphic violence, a distracting prosthetic nose for Mark Wahlberg, and historical inaccuracies that have prompted a boycott call from the Dahmer family.
Elordi and Scott Find Hope in 'The Dog Stars' Amid Mixed Reviews
Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic drama 'The Dog Stars,' starring Jacob Elordi, Guy Pearce, and Josh Brolin, explores survival and hope in a virus-ravaged 2030s. While critics are divided on its pacing, the cast and director emphasize the film’s message about resilience and the value of everyday life.
Documentary 'To Use a Mountain' Exposes Decades-Long Fight Over US Nuclear Waste Sites
Casey Carter’s debut feature documentary, 'To Use a Mountain,' chronicles the US government’s 1982 search for a permanent nuclear waste repository, highlighting the environmental and social impact on six rural communities. The film contrasts clinical Department of Energy assessments with the lived experiences of residents, including Western Shoshone tribal members, to argue that nuclear waste disposal is a form of environmental violence. Released theatrically in August 2026, the 99-minute film uses experimental editing and archival documents to critique the ongoing lack of a permanent disposal solution, noting that the US still stores over 77,000 tons of high-level waste without a permanent site.
Israeli Filmmaker Faces Death Threats Over Berlin Film Festival Speech
Israeli director Yuval Abraham, winner of a top prize at the Berlin film festival, has received death threats and faced intimidation after German officials labeled the event "antisemitic" due to speeches expressing solidarity with Palestine. Abraham, the son of Holocaust survivors, criticized the use of the term antisemitism to silence Palestinians and Israelis critical of the occupation. The backlash also involved calls for the resignation of a German politician who applauded the filmmakers' speeches.
"The Oscars, Barbie, and the Myth of One-Woman Fury"
The article discusses the cultural impact of the film "Barbie" and its representation of women, comparing it to the portrayal of womanhood in "The Donna Reed Show." It critiques the film's reception and the narrow definitions of femininity it perpetuates, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and diverse representation of women in mainstream media. The author explores the complexities of gender roles and the implications of celebrating a film that may limit the possibilities of womanhood rather than expanding them.