James Kreul was one of the few Madfilm Meetup attendees to like Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon. He argues that if you can set aside genre expectations and appreciate images in the moment, there’s much to enjoy in the film. […]
James Kreul discusses Piotr Kamler’s Chronopolis, screening at MMoCA’s Rooftop Cinema series. He suggests that audiences should appreciate the film’s abstract qualities instead of insisting on narrative momentum. […]
The UW Cinematheque kicks off its Summer 2016 programming and a “French Tough Guys” series with Henri Verneuil’s 1963 heist film, Any Number Can Win. James Kreul argues that while its breezy plot and abundant star power (Jean Gabin, Alain Delon) provide entertaining relief from current summer blockbuster fare, don’t expect much more than a well-executed genre film. […]
James Kreul looks at the opening night of MMoCA’s Rooftop Cinema series, which provides an intriguing look at the development of animator Don Hertzfeldt’s unique style and sensibility, despite being a disappointingly short program. […]
Erik Oliver discusses the latest thriller from the director of Blue Ruin, Jeremy Saulnier, and argues that the violence in Green Room channels punk rock’s visceral intensity to fuse grindhouse sensibilities with formal rigor. […]
James Kreul looks at the most recent popular Indian film to open “wide” (two screens!) in Madison, Vikram Kumar’s 24. Despite flamboyant performances from Suriya (in a triple-role) and audacious time-travel enabled moments, director Kumar (Manam) seems content with lackluster action, romance, and music. […]
James Kreul looks at Korean director Hong Sang-soo’s latest take on the “forking-path” parallel universe trope, Right Now, Wrong Then, and argues that the minimalist style pays off when it throws into relief several changes in emotional beats. […]
James Kreul looks at the concluding film in the Spring 2016 schedule for the Micro-Wave Cinema Series, Celia Rowlson-Hall’s MA. With her debut feature film, Rawlson-Hall ventures into biblically inspired mythopoeia that works best when meaning is embodied in movement and the body itself. […]
James Kreul compiles lists from Larry and Dee Dee, box office interviews, and social media to get a sense of the range of audience interests. […]
In the first of two reports after the 2016 Wisconsin Film Festival, James Kreul shares thoughts and observations about ticket sales, media coverage, venue logistics, and non-film events. […]
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