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

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  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'Mary Poppins Returns' film review: A familiar, heartfelt spoonful of sugar
Dec 12

Dec 12 'Mary Poppins Returns' film review: A familiar, heartfelt spoonful of sugar

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This faithful sequel is powered by a leading performance worthy of the beloved Disney classic.

'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' film review: Amazing. Spectacular. Sensational. Superior.
Dec 12

Dec 12 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' film review: Amazing. Spectacular. Sensational. Superior.

Paul Carlson

This electrifying and game-changing flips the Spider-Man formula entirely for a film that's every bit a celebration of the wall-crawling hero as it is a work of pure entertainment.

2018 Seattle Film Critics Society awards nominees
Dec 10

Dec 10 2018 Seattle Film Critics Society awards nominees

Paul Carlson

From the critics group that nominated the goat from ‘The Witch’ as Best Villain in 2016 and correctly bestowed the Best Picture of 2017 title to ‘Get Out,’ here are the SFCS nominees for 2018!

'Roma' film review: A sublimely intimate epic
Dec 5

Dec 5 'Roma' film review: A sublimely intimate epic

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Alfonso Cuarón’s quietly heartbreaking drama is an epic on the most personal scale.

'Boy Erased' film review: Well-intentioned, heavy handed & predictable.
Nov 7

Nov 7 'Boy Erased' film review: Well-intentioned, heavy handed & predictable.

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Despite a strong trio of performances, the controversial practice of gay conversion programs deserves a better film than this well-meaning film.

Film review: McCarthy & Grant prove they're the real deal in 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?'
Nov 1

Nov 1 Film review: McCarthy & Grant prove they're the real deal in 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?'

Paul Carlson
film reviews

McCarthy’s turn as an acerbic, antisocial alcoholic forger punches her ticket to award season glory.

'Suspiria' film review: Intermittently hypnotic, ultimately a boring slog
Oct 31

Oct 31 'Suspiria' film review: Intermittently hypnotic, ultimately a boring slog

Paul Carlson

The most shocking aspect of this supernatural horror flick isn't its mesmerizing or violent moments - it’s that it is so boring.

'What They Had' film review: Perfect cast highlights this moving tearjerker
Oct 29

Oct 29 'What They Had' film review: Perfect cast highlights this moving tearjerker

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Hilary Swank and Robert Forest dazzle in one of the season's cinematic gems.

'Beautiful Boy' film review: Humanizing, heartbreaking portrait of addiction
Oct 17

Oct 17 'Beautiful Boy' film review: Humanizing, heartbreaking portrait of addiction

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This muted drama is a forthright look at drug addiction’s destructive impact on a family.

'First Man' film review: Gosling, Chazelle re-team for space exploration drama
Oct 11

Oct 11 'First Man' film review: Gosling, Chazelle re-team for space exploration drama

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The space race drama is a cinematic marvel punctuated with nerve-racking flight sequences - and a lot of slow-paced drama that borders on boring.

'A Star Is Born' film review: Latest remake is energized if uninspired
Oct 4

Oct 4 'A Star Is Born' film review: Latest remake is energized if uninspired

Paul Carlson
film reviews

More than an incredible soundtrack, this 2018 version affirms star Lady Gaga's talents in front of the camera as well as writer-director Bradley Cooper's vision behind the camera.

'Free Solo' film review: Watch a man take-on a half-mile high rock without ropes
Sep 27

Sep 27 'Free Solo' film review: Watch a man take-on a half-mile high rock without ropes

Paul Carlson
film reviews

This breathtaking National Geographic documentary connects intimately with its subject - a focused climber intent on taking on a seemingly impossible feat.

'White Boy Rick' film review: McConaughey steals this '80s drug underworld drama
Sep 13

Sep 13 'White Boy Rick' film review: McConaughey steals this '80s drug underworld drama

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The frustration of this true crime drama is not with its stellar ensemble cast but with its wandering story of a teen criminal.

'Mandy' film review: A vengeful, axe-wielding Nic Cage takes on an evil cult
Sep 13

Sep 13 'Mandy' film review: A vengeful, axe-wielding Nic Cage takes on an evil cult

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A cocaine-fueled and vengeful Cages tears a swath of bloody vengeance in this hypnotically mesmerizing, intensely personal and metal as hell horror flick.

"Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" film review: Time to close the park
Jun 21

Jun 21 "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" film review: Time to close the park

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The latest entry in the dinosaur rampage franchise is somehow a natural progression from the themes of the heady Michael Crichton novel - and the stupidest entry in the series.

'On Chesil Beach' film review: Saoirse Ronan wasted in an uneven drama
May 31

May 31 'On Chesil Beach' film review: Saoirse Ronan wasted in an uneven drama

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Not even a wonderful Saoirse Ronan performance, some incredible cinematography and an unconventional story framework save the British drama from being completely forgettable.

Interview: 'The Most Dangerous Year' director Vlada Knowlton
May 28

May 28 Interview: 'The Most Dangerous Year' director Vlada Knowlton

Paul Carlson
film festivals, interviews

Filmmaker Vlada Knowlton on what compelled her to make the documentary, why it remains timely and how it addresses timeless aspects of civil rights and discrimination.

'Solo: A Star Wars Story' film review: Light, fun ride with a beloved scoundrel
May 25

May 25 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' film review: Light, fun ride with a beloved scoundrel

Paul Carlson
film reviews

It took eleven films and more than 40 years, but the Star Wars franchise finally got its first purely and unabashedly fun romp with this Western-heist flick.

'Disobedience' film review: A coiled exploration of self-denial, faith
May 25

May 25 'Disobedience' film review: A coiled exploration of self-denial, faith

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Anchored by three strong performances and a light, graceful storytelling touch, this romantic drama has a taut intensity as it explores faith, denial and identity.

'Revenge' film review: Watch a socialite become the badass of 2018 cinema
May 18

May 18 'Revenge' film review: Watch a socialite become the badass of 2018 cinema

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

If ever there was a hybrid of art house cinema and exploitation flick, it's this bloody ride.

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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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