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

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  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
Seattle International Film Festival movie review: 'The Most Dangerous Year'
May 16

May 16 Seattle International Film Festival movie review: 'The Most Dangerous Year'

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

Timely, personal and eye-opening, this documentary takes a clear stance on a controversial issue - but more critically, it humanizes the hot button topic of gender identity.

'Beast' film review: Jessie Buckley shines in this twisted romance
May 12

May 12 'Beast' film review: Jessie Buckley shines in this twisted romance

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Part psychological drama and part crime thriller, this warped love story leverages its disturbing plot into a mesmerizing and nerve-wracking portrait of a damaged woman forced to reckon with her true nature.

'Lu Over the Wall' film review: Normal boy meets magical girl, chao ensues in this 'Ponyo' knockoff
May 11

May 11 'Lu Over the Wall' film review: Normal boy meets magical girl, chao ensues in this 'Ponyo' knockoff

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Every distraction in the anime toolkit is used to hide broad characters, an unfocused plot and a generally uninspired story.

10 Past SIFF Movies No Longer Available Anywhere
May 9

May 9 10 Past SIFF Movies No Longer Available Anywhere

Paul Carlson
film festivals

Sometimes the Seattle International Film Festival is your best, last and only chance to see some great films. Here some SIFF favorites that are not available on any platform.

'Three Identical Strangers' film review: An unbelievable story's even more incredible, unsettling secrets
May 6

May 6 'Three Identical Strangers' film review: An unbelievable story's even more incredible, unsettling secrets

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

This unbelievable documentary recounts the truly stranger-than-fiction true story and its even more surprising underlying mystery.

2018 Seattle International Film Festival capsule movie reviews
May 2

May 2 2018 Seattle International Film Festival capsule movie reviews

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Bite-sized capsule reviews of films screening at the 44th Seattle International Film Festival. This article will continue to be updated throughout 2018 SIFF.

2018 Seattle International Film Festival preview
May 2

May 2 2018 Seattle International Film Festival preview

Paul Carlson
film festivals

The 44th Seattle International Film Festival will screen almost 170 feature-length films - here are 10 movies to put on your watch list.

'Avengers: Infinity War' film review (SPOILERS)
Apr 29

Apr 29 'Avengers: Infinity War' film review (SPOILERS)

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A spoiler-filled review of the film every Marvel Film has been leading toward. Here be spoilers.

(NO SPOILERS) 'Avengers: Infinity War' film review: How to pay off a sprawling, massive franchise
Apr 27

Apr 27 (NO SPOILERS) 'Avengers: Infinity War' film review: How to pay off a sprawling, massive franchise

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A decade of films have laid the groundwork and built up the expectations.

'The Endless' film review: Refreshing sci-fi thriller satisfies patient viewers
Apr 26

Apr 26 'The Endless' film review: Refreshing sci-fi thriller satisfies patient viewers

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The indie science-fiction horror flick is a journey deeper and deeper into a seemingly tranquil commune’s warped nightmare.

'You Were Never Really Here' film review: Bold, subversive thriller upends action genre
Apr 20

Apr 20 'You Were Never Really Here' film review: Bold, subversive thriller upends action genre

Paul Carlson
film reviews

If you took an action flick and accentuated all the quiet, humane moments between bloody fight sequences, the result would be this innovative mystery-thriller.

'Gemini' film review: Moody Hollywood thriller is style over substance
Apr 13

Apr 13 'Gemini' film review: Moody Hollywood thriller is style over substance

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The moody crime thriller has all the hallmarks of a story that probably would have been better suited as a short film.

'A Quiet Place' film review: Sound is the enemy in this emotionally draining thriller
Apr 8

Apr 8 'A Quiet Place' film review: Sound is the enemy in this emotionally draining thriller

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Go into the film cold -- know as little as possible about the premise going into the theater. Just know this is one of the great cinematic experiences of the year.

'Itzhak' film review: Meet the husband, the artist behind the violin
Apr 5

Apr 5 'Itzhak' film review: Meet the husband, the artist behind the violin

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This intimate portrait of world renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman offers a warm look at the enthusiastic artist.

'All I Wish' film review: Sharon Stone deserves better than this tepid rom-com
Mar 29

Mar 29 'All I Wish' film review: Sharon Stone deserves better than this tepid rom-com

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The Sharon Stone dramatic-comedy is a string of clunky chapters bundled together by an uninspired gimmick. 

'Ready Player One' film review: Love letter to nostalgia is a pop culture-infused ride
Mar 26

Mar 26 'Ready Player One' film review: Love letter to nostalgia is a pop culture-infused ride

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Fans of all things '80s rejoice! Spielberg's adaptation is a kinetic and nostalgia-drenched valentine to Easter eggs and pop culture.

'Flower' film review: Dark twists, sharp wit can't save this wilted clunker
Mar 23

Mar 23 'Flower' film review: Dark twists, sharp wit can't save this wilted clunker

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Categorizing this indie flick "Flower" is difficult - mostly because this film simply cannot decide what it is or where its story is going.

'Unsane' film review: Soderbergh's experimental shot-on-an-iPhone psycho horror
Mar 20

Mar 20 'Unsane' film review: Soderbergh's experimental shot-on-an-iPhone psycho horror

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Steven Soderbergh's unorthodox psychological horror is a deeply engaging thriller -- until the mystery is deflated way too early.

'Tater Tot & Patton' film review: An unassuming, atmospheric indie winner
Mar 13

Mar 13 'Tater Tot & Patton' film review: An unassuming, atmospheric indie winner

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

A pair of stand-out lead performances and a nuanced screenplay highlight this melancholic and deliberately-paced indie drama.

'A Wrinkle in Time' film review: A rushed, messy CGI-heavy fantasy misfire
Mar 7

Mar 7 'A Wrinkle in Time' film review: A rushed, messy CGI-heavy fantasy misfire

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Given the erratic and jarring nature of this adaptation, the source material must be nigh unfilmable. Cramming all the world-building, heady metaphysical themes and astrophysics simply results in a movie that, at best, feels rushed and at worst, is ham-handed and clunky.

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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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