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“Everything I learned I learned from the movies.” 
― Audrey Hepburn

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  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'Lucky' movie review: Melancholic, poetic & wise film peers into the abyss of death
Oct 13

Oct 13 'Lucky' movie review: Melancholic, poetic & wise film peers into the abyss of death

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The late Harry Dean Stanton gets a perfect send off with an unvarnished character study of an old atheist's struggle with his mortality.

'The Square' film review: Bloated, biting jab at art snobs flirts with greatness
Oct 7

Oct 7 'The Square' film review: Bloated, biting jab at art snobs flirts with greatness

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

The winding, wandering plot of this nearly two-and-a half-hour esoteric Swedish drama will challenge the patience of its audience.

'Blade Runner 2049' film review: Brilliant, profound & soulful sci-fi master stroke
Oct 6

Oct 6 'Blade Runner 2049' film review: Brilliant, profound & soulful sci-fi master stroke

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The hype is justified: "Blade Runner 2049" perfectly matches the feel and texture of the iconic 1982 original. "2049" is a breathtaking and beautiful sci-fi sequel.

'Dalida' film review: Portrait of a superstar/troubled romantic
Sep 30

Sep 30 'Dalida' film review: Portrait of a superstar/troubled romantic

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Long before the most recognizable superstar singers, there was an international French diva who recorded songs in 10 languages and was the first artist to earn platinum and diamond honors. This biopic tells the much more interesting story of the singer's stormy personal life off-stage.

'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' movie review: An unholy hybrid of the 'Austin Powers' & 'James Bond'
Sep 22

Sep 22 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' movie review: An unholy hybrid of the 'Austin Powers' & 'James Bond'

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A bloated, meandering worse retread of the first "Kingsman."

'Mother!' film review: The most divisive film of 2017
Sep 15

Sep 15 'Mother!' film review: The most divisive film of 2017

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This unnerving drama may be many things to many people, but there is one ironclad certainty: you'll either love it or hate it.

'Second Nature' film review: Indie flick flips the gender roles
Sep 8

Sep 8 'Second Nature' film review: Indie flick flips the gender roles

Paul Carlson
film reviews

With the tone and tenor of a raunchy CW show, this playful comedy is unequipped to deal with its gender inequality themes.

'Detroit' film review: Serviceable drama fails to hit its mark
Aug 4

Aug 4 'Detroit' film review: Serviceable drama fails to hit its mark

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The horrifying events of the 1967 Detroit riots are brought back to the zeitgeist in this perfectly fine drama that should have been better given its acclaimed director and its vitally important subject matter.

'Columbus' film review: Precise & elegant cinematic minimalism in practice
Aug 3

Aug 3 'Columbus' film review: Precise & elegant cinematic minimalism in practice

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Sensitive and eloquent, this indie drama is the visually-stunning, cinematic hybrid of "Lost in Translation" and "Before Sunrise."

'I, Daniel Blake' movie review: Powerful, moving humanity takes on cold bureaucracy
Jun 30

Jun 30 'I, Daniel Blake' movie review: Powerful, moving humanity takes on cold bureaucracy

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Heart wrenching, humorous and quietly powerful, the masterful drama effectively puts a human face on those who fall through the cracks of government red tape.

'Band Aid' movie review: Songs in the key of marital discord
Jun 30

Jun 30 'Band Aid' movie review: Songs in the key of marital discord

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Don't be fooled by the cute "troubled couple turn their marital blowouts into songs" premise - this indie flick has more dramatic depth than it lets on.

'Baby Driver' film review: Stylish, slick veneer on a mediocre flick
Jun 27

Jun 27 'Baby Driver' film review: Stylish, slick veneer on a mediocre flick

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Strip away the chic gimmicks and all that's left is a thin romance-action-crime flick  sprinkled with some cool driving action sequences.

'Cars 3' movie review: Nice final lap for Pixar's weakest franchise
Jun 24

Jun 24 'Cars 3' movie review: Nice final lap for Pixar's weakest franchise

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This third entry in the "Cars" series is (at last) an entry from the troubled franchise worthy of the Pixar pedigree - but one that still finishes in the middle of the pack.
 

'The Hero' movie review: Perfectly cast Sam Elliott shines
Jun 23

Jun 23 'The Hero' movie review: Perfectly cast Sam Elliott shines

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

A funny, bittersweet and charming performance earns the veteran actor a spot on the shortlist for best performances of the year. 

'Manifesto' movie review: Cate Blanchett puts on a one-woman acting masterclass
Jun 21

Jun 21 'Manifesto' movie review: Cate Blanchett puts on a one-woman acting masterclass

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Cinema is better because bold films like experimental work exist.

'Transformers: The Last Knight' film review: Time to put this franchise in the scrap heap
Jun 21

Jun 21 'Transformers: The Last Knight' film review: Time to put this franchise in the scrap heap

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Even by Michael Bay standards - the latest "Transformers" slog fails on almost every front, frustrates in almost every way and is somehow astonishingly confusing.

Interview: 'The Farthest' director Emer Reynolds
Jun 20

Jun 20 Interview: 'The Farthest' director Emer Reynolds

Paul Carlson
interviews, film festivals

Documentary filmmaker explains why the story of two space probes remains vitally important today.

2017 AFI DOCS capsule feature documentary reviews
Jun 13

Jun 13 2017 AFI DOCS capsule feature documentary reviews

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Short reviews for several feature-length documentaries screening at AFI DOCS 2017.

'Endless Poetry': Seattle International Film Festival movie review
Jun 10

Jun 10 'Endless Poetry': Seattle International Film Festival movie review

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Only a movie so avant-garde, so self-important and so willfully nonsensical could be pompous enough to call itself "Endless Poetry."

'Trouble': Seattle International Film Festival movie review
Jun 10

Jun 10 'Trouble': Seattle International Film Festival movie review

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

A great cast, intriguing premise and nice dialogue are squandered in this disappointing film.

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““No subject is terrible if the story is true, if the prose is clean and honest, and if it affirms courage and grace under pressure.””
— "Midnight in Paris"

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