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

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  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'Faces Places' film review: Lyrical exploration of everyday people & visionary artists
Dec 8

Dec 8 'Faces Places' film review: Lyrical exploration of everyday people & visionary artists

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A surprisingly touching journey to capture easily overlooked profundity from the deceptively mundane trappings of daily life.

'Summer 1993' film review: Intimate & tender portrait of childhood, grieving
Dec 7

Dec 7 'Summer 1993' film review: Intimate & tender portrait of childhood, grieving

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

This unpretentious vignette of genuine, melodrama-free moments is an authentic exploration of mourning and starting anew.

'The Post' film review: Streep, Hanks shine in this battle for the free press
Dec 6

Dec 6 'The Post' film review: Streep, Hanks shine in this battle for the free press

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Sometimes greatness is saying what needs to be said when it is imperative to say it. Spielberg's latest is his best film in decades and a timely celebration of hard journalism.

'Jane' film review: Amazing, complete portrait of pioneering scientist Jane Goodall
Dec 3

Dec 3 'Jane' film review: Amazing, complete portrait of pioneering scientist Jane Goodall

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A breathtaking story in her own words with her own footage - that of a fresh-faced researcher dealing with the challenges of her groundbreaking studies as well as the demands of her roles as a wife and mother.

'The Disaster Artist' film review: Franco finds a kindred spirit in a misguided visionary
Dec 1

Dec 1 'The Disaster Artist' film review: Franco finds a kindred spirit in a misguided visionary

Paul Carlson
film reviews

James Franco's magnum opus celebrates and pokes fun at the best "worst" film ever made.

'Thelma' film review: Norway's haunting, tense horror offering
Nov 30

Nov 30 'Thelma' film review: Norway's haunting, tense horror offering

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

This is a slow burn of a psychological horror flick - one that hints at a darkness within its guileless protagonist.

'Wonder Wheel' film review: Winslet shines in Allen's latest
Nov 30

Nov 30 'Wonder Wheel' film review: Winslet shines in Allen's latest

Paul Carlson
film reviews

While not among Woody Allen's worst films, "Wonder Wheel" is far from his strongest offering. 

'Last Flag Flying' film review: Meditation on war & duty nearly derailed by filler, banter
Nov 16

Nov 16 'Last Flag Flying' film review: Meditation on war & duty nearly derailed by filler, banter

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The disappointment of this melancholic meditation on duty and sacrifice is its thoughtful moments are almost lost in a meandering story riddled with questionable plot choices, stuffed into a movie that is longer than it should be.

'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' film review: McDormand shines in this decidedly angry ride
Nov 16

Nov 16 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' film review: McDormand shines in this decidedly angry ride

Paul Carlson
film reviews

It is strange to laud a film's strong performances, sharp screenplay and confident direction - and still not love the film as a whole.

'Hostiles' film review: Unromantic Western grounded in Bale's strong performance
Nov 16

Nov 16 'Hostiles' film review: Unromantic Western grounded in Bale's strong performance

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

Set against the lawless American frontier and powered by a commanding lead turn, this Western drama examines the emotional toll war and violence has on soldiers and those caught in the crossfire of battle.

'Murder on the Orient Express' movie review: Feel free to miss this train
Nov 10

Nov 10 'Murder on the Orient Express' movie review: Feel free to miss this train

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The only real mystery is how this whodunnit devolved into something so unsatisfying. 

'Lady Bird' film review: Greta Gerwig's coming-of-age winner
Nov 9

Nov 9 'Lady Bird' film review: Greta Gerwig's coming-of-age winner

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The beautifully, painfully and universally relatable indie winner is a handcrafted time capsule and a winning directorial debut.

'Thor: Ragnarok' movie review: Marvel's Irreverent & fun space romp
Nov 3

Nov 3 'Thor: Ragnarok' movie review: Marvel's Irreverent & fun space romp

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The lastest 'Thor' adventure reboots the franchise with an injecting of humor and redefining the franchise's core mythology.

'Tragedy Girls' movie review: A wry, hilarious social media fueled bloodbath
Nov 3

Nov 3 'Tragedy Girls' movie review: A wry, hilarious social media fueled bloodbath

Paul Carlson
film reviews

'Heathers' meets 'Clueless' meets every slasher ever in this outrageously dark and hilariously violent comedy.

'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.

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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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