Movie and TV show reviews

Guo Ran” mirrors Li’s emotionally perceptive yet unsentimental debut film “Mama,” premiered in Venice in 2020, as they both tackle domestic tragedy. Both films are deeply connected to the director’s personal life experiences. “Guo Ran” is a more focused and minimalistic piece: it maintains a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere for much of its duration, only to later reduce its cast to just two characters, and eventually require additional support systems. The film’s simplicity serves as a poignant reflection — even a compassionate critique — of modern urban society, where small, isolated, and ultimately fragile family units have replaced a stronger community structure. It often takes a whole village to raise a child, let alone bring one into the world.

The CNN host, who presented a fresh perspective on news coverage through the documentary series “United States of Scandal” last year, is set to come back on March 9 for another season. This time, he’ll continue investigating political misconduct while also delving into other topics.

13 years after their collaboration on “Wadjda,” Al Mansour’s film marks a reunion with SPC, following its groundbreaking 2012 debut that was the first movie ever filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia, directed by a woman from Saudi Arabia, and submitted as the nation’s Oscar entry.

Festival founder Sapna Bhavnani is expanding the event’s footprint with a Kolkata edition while also launching Terror Talkies, billed as India’s first horror portal. The lineup boasts partnerships with genre heavyweights Fantasia and Imagine Fantastic Film Festival, including Oscar-nominated short “I’m Not a Robot” as part of the Fantasia collaboration.

During the February 5th debut of “Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle” animation at Toho Cinemas Hibiya, a lively audience enthusiastically cheered, clapped, and waved multi-colored glow sticks in sync with the on-screen spectacle.

In a charming Mobile, Alabama neighborhood, ‘Clean Slate’ begins. Harry sets off on his day in his classic blue Chevy Burrata convertible, playing Stevie Wonder’s “For Once in My Life” as he warmly greets everyone he encounters. His destination is the Slate Family Car Wash, a business he has run and managed for many years. Although his store manager Mack (Jay Wilkison) frequently advises him to install Wi-Fi, Harry remains steadfastly traditional. Today, however, his spirits are high because he’s just heard that his son is coming home after an absence of 23 years.

The mini-series chronicles the story of Belle Gibson, a well-known Australian influencer who fabricated various health issues such as heart troubles, seizures, and Stage 4 brain cancer to sell a diet app. If Gibson could supposedly heal her non-existent illnesses by avoiding sugar, gluten, red meat, and other “toxins,” then so could her followers, according to her pitch. Kaitlyn Dever, the only American in the cast, delivers a remarkably authentic (at least to this American) portrayal of Gibson, complete with an apt accent and the exaggerated hysteria reminiscent of a Chloe Fineman character on “Saturday Night Live.” Following her impressive performances in “Unbelievable” and “Dopesick,” which garnered her an Emmy nomination, Dever has the opportunity to explore comedic aspects here. Although Gibson’s actions were indeed serious, involving fraudulent activities and causing immense distress to her family and supporters, the way her lies unfold can be amusingly absurd, such as asserting she had left medical records that would confirm her diagnosis at her estranged mother’s house. In a humorous twist, it seems even her emotionally distant dog ate her homework!

The schedule for Pluto’s Berlin Film Festival is headlined by the psychological thriller “Hysteria,” directed by Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay, which will be shown in the Panorama section as a side event. You can watch the trailer for it here below.

She expressed her affection, stating, ‘Empathy should never be ridiculed or mocked.’ She found it astonishing that the White House had the audacity to devote time to comment on such a matter. To her, it was appalling, pathetic, embarrassing, and childish behavior.

Apart from lending her voice, Rihanna is involved in the production of the animated film by Paramount Animation. Additionally, she has written unique tunes for this motion picture.