Year: 2021

“Pieces of a Woman”(2020). Cast: Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn, Ilza Shlesinger, Benny Safdie, Sarah Snook, Molly Parker, Gayle Garfinkle. Director: Kornél Mundruczó. Screenplay: Kata Wéber. Web site. Trailer. Can something good come out of something bad? It may seem unlikely, but it is possible, provided we’re willing to make the effort to look for it and to recognize the meaning behind the circumstances that gave rise to the situation in the first place. The process may not be easy, and there could be considerable anguish as the process plays out. But those proverbial silver linings do exist, even under the most dire conditions, as examined in the bittersweet new domestic drama, “Pieces of a Woman.” Martha Weiss (Vanessa Kirby) and her partner, Sean Carson (Shia LaBeouf), are about to have a blessed event. The couple is expecting the arrival of their first child, a girl, to be delivered through a home birth at Martha’s request. As the film opens, Martha has gone into labor, and she and Sean await the arrival of their midwife. However, unexpectedly, the midwife calls to advise them that she’s been detained on another delivery and is sending a replacement, Eva (Molly Parker), to ...

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, Tuesday, February 9, at 2 pm ET, available by clicking here. And, if you don’t hear it live, catch it later on demand! ...

“There Is No Evil” (“Sheytan vojud nadarad”)(2020). Cast: Ehsan Mirhosseini, Shaghayegh Shoorian, Kaveh Ahangar, Darya Moghbeli, Alireza Zareparast, Salah Khamseh, Pouya Mehri, Mohammad Valizadegan, Mahtab Servati, Baran Rasoulof, Mohammad Seddighimehr, Shahi Jila. Director: Mohammad Rasoulof. Screenplay: Mohammad Rasoulof. Web site. Trailer. Listening to our conscience often proves challenging. In many instances, we know in our heart of hearts what we should and shouldn’t take part in. But saying no isn’t always easy, especially if our necks are on the line if we refuse to play along. Indeed, it can be difficult to stick to our guns when we have one pointed at our head. At the same time, though, dismissing our convictions can carry consequences far more onerous than those that come with failing to comply with the dictates thrust upon us. Those thorny questions provide the basis for the controversial but revealing new Iranian drama, “There Is No Evil” (“Sheytan vojud nadarad”). “Remorse,” “regret” and “defiance” are words most of us would not readily associate with executioners, but they’re more than apropos when it comes to the characters in director Mohammad Rasoulof’s latest. This collection of four vignettes about the lives of executioners – many of them ordinary citizens ...

“Mr. Nobody” (2009 production, 2013 release). Cast: Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, Diane Kruger, Linh-Dan Pham, Rhys Ifans, Juno Temple, Natasha Little, Toby Regbo, Clare Stone, Audrey Giacomini, Thomas Byrne, Laura Brumagne, Léa Thonus, Anaïs Van Belle, Allan Corduner, Daniel Mays, Harold Manning, Noa De Costanzo, Michael Riley, Benjamin Mansfield, Chiara Caselli. Director: Jaco Van Dormael. Screenplay: Jaco Van Dormael. Web site. Trailer. Is the life we lead the one (and only one) we’re meant to live? Or are there other possible paths that we could choose, alternatives that are different but potentially just as viable, even though not actively pursued? However, if those alternate existences do indeed exist, how would we know about them? Could we, in fact, grasp anything about them if they remain off our radar, “dormant” in an unmanifested state? But suppose we were to possess the ability to peer into those other realities to see what they’re like. That could be quite intriguing and revealing. Yet wouldn’t that become confusing, conflicting with what we think we know about the nature of existence? What would our “real” reality be then? Those are among the many questions raised in the sci-fi/fantasy cult classic, “Mr. Nobody.” Nemo (Jared Leto) ...

Theaters may still be in the process of reopening, but that needn’t stop us from going to the movies! Find out about some excellent new selections on Thursday, January 28, on the latest edition of The Good Media Network’s Frankiesense & More video podcast with yours truly and host Frankie Picasso. Tune in at 1 pm ET on Facebook Live by clicking here for a lively discussion of new releases worth seeing (and some worth avoiding). And, if you don’t see it live, catch it later on demand! ...

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, today, Tuesday, January 26, at 2 pm ET, available by clicking here. And, if you don’t hear the show live, catch it later on demand, now available on Sound Cloud and Amazon! ...