Home
Film Festivals
Hallmark Channel
Interviews
2022 films
2021 films
2020 films
2019 films
2018 films

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

Categories

  • Comic Book flicks
  • essays
  • film festivals
  • film reviews
  • interviews
  • movie diary
  • movie rankings
  • tv series reviews


Authors

  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'God's Own Country' movie review: A quiet, moving love story
Nov 3

Nov 3 'God's Own Country' movie review: A quiet, moving love story

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

The similarities between this British drama and "Brokeback Mountain" only go as far as the basic premise. This patient drama is more nuanced and less melodramatic than Ang Lee's classic.

'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' review: A lumbering, idiosyncratic horror/thriller/comedy misfire
Oct 27

Oct 27 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' review: A lumbering, idiosyncratic horror/thriller/comedy misfire

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The perplexing and tedious dramatic thriller moves just too slowly and takes far too long before anything of note happens to gain traction as either a compelling mystery or engrossing drama.

'Creep 2' film review: Fiendishly fun, engaging & unpredictable showdown
Oct 24

Oct 24 'Creep 2' film review: Fiendishly fun, engaging & unpredictable showdown

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This twisting horror thriller is a battle of wills between an emotionally vulnerable murderer and his unflappable, stoic muse.

'The Work' film review: Emotionally exhausting look at inmates living in their own personal prison
Oct 20

Oct 20 'The Work' film review: Emotionally exhausting look at inmates living in their own personal prison

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Emotionally gripping and at times hard to watch, this is a complete deconstruction of macho self-reliance and an arresting look at coping with trauma.

'The Florida Project' movie review: Joyous, heartbreaking tale of childhood in the Sunshine State
Oct 20

Oct 20 'The Florida Project' movie review: Joyous, heartbreaking tale of childhood in the Sunshine State

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Joyous and heartbreaking but ultimately painfully humane, this indie drama beautifully captures the happy-go-lucky feeling of childhood juxtaposed against the grim desperation of life on the edge of poverty.

'Only the Brave' film review: Moving drama that honors firefighters
Oct 19

Oct 19 'Only the Brave' film review: Moving drama that honors firefighters

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This biographical drama dramatizes the story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots while also celebrating the bravery of first responders. It accomplishes one of those two goals with success.

'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. 

Load More
““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"

Hallmark Channel RSS
Home RSS