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

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  • Paul Carlson
Escape Into Film
'Extra Ordinary' film review: Hilarious subversion of horror's scariest subgenre
Aug 16

Aug 16 'Extra Ordinary' film review: Hilarious subversion of horror's scariest subgenre

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

What "Shaun of the Dead" did for zombies and "What We Do in the Shadows" did for vampires, this hilariously off-kilter horror comedy is an absurd take on the demonic possession genre.

'Luce' film review: Provocative, incisive family drama indicts expectations & stereotypes
Aug 15

Aug 15 'Luce' film review: Provocative, incisive family drama indicts expectations & stereotypes

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Penetrating and intense, this riveting family drama leverages conflicted self-identity against preconceptions and assumptions.

'Love, Antosha' film review: Heartfelt tribute to a son, friend & artist
Aug 2

Aug 2 'Love, Antosha' film review: Heartfelt tribute to a son, friend & artist

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A loving portrait of a remarkable talent, this touching documentary is a joy-filled and poignant celebration of a young man taken far too early.

'Sword of Trust' film review: Marc Maron shines in Civil War "truther" conspiracy comedy
Jul 22

Jul 22 'Sword of Trust' film review: Marc Maron shines in Civil War "truther" conspiracy comedy

Paul Carlson
film reviews

A standout lead performance and fun character dynamics make up for a meandering narrative that ultimately sputters at the end.

'The Lion King' film review: Slavishly devoted remake ... is OK
Jul 19

Jul 19 'The Lion King' film review: Slavishly devoted remake ... is OK

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The supposed live-action remake of a beloved animated classic is a perfectly fine film that is not live action nor is it really a reimagining ... but it's still good.

'Summer Night' film review: Laid-back, nostalgic take on the angst of adulting
Jul 12

Jul 12 'Summer Night' film review: Laid-back, nostalgic take on the angst of adulting

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Packed with a talented cast of young actors and several interconnected plot threads, the coming-of-age romantic comedy has a lot of moving parts, but it fundamentally captures the essence of youthful heartache, worry and elation.

'Spider-Man: Far From Home' film review: Fun 'Endgame' epilogue & a strong standalone Spidey story
Jul 3

Jul 3 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' film review: Fun 'Endgame' epilogue & a strong standalone Spidey story

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Following up the landmark and game-changing cinematic event that was "Avengers: Endgame" is no enviable task - but everyone’s favorite wall-crawler saves the day.

'The Dead Don't Die' film review: Jarmusch's zombie flick should have stayed dead
Jun 10

Jun 10 'The Dead Don't Die' film review: Jarmusch's zombie flick should have stayed dead

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

The one-sheet poster loudly proclaims this film as having the "greatest zombie cast ever." Technically true - but there’s little “great” about this slog.

SIFF 2019 Interview: 'International Falls' director Amber McGinnis
Jun 10

Jun 10 SIFF 2019 Interview: 'International Falls' director Amber McGinnis

Paul Carlson
interviews, film festivals

The director chats about the challenges of filming in the snowbound midwest and finding the perfect balance between funny and sad.

'Here Comes Hell' film review: Failed horror-comedy 'camp' is just tired kitsch
Jun 9

Jun 9 'Here Comes Hell' film review: Failed horror-comedy 'camp' is just tired kitsch

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

In trying to recapture the distinct, surrealistic feel of a 1930s film, this throwback comes off as a cheap reproduction rather than a genuine recreation.

'The Souvenir' film review: Staid in tone, radical in execution & tedious to endure
Jun 3

Jun 3 'The Souvenir' film review: Staid in tone, radical in execution & tedious to endure

Paul Carlson
film reviews

For better or worse, this British romance is a film that is ... whatever is the polar opposite of exposition-laden storytelling.

'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' film review: Long live the king - long may he reign
May 31

May 31 'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' film review: Long live the king - long may he reign

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Everybody knows Godzilla - but the iconic Toho city destroyer is best remember for his legendary battles against other crazy big monsters. And that's exactly what the audience gets with this all-star monster brawl flick

'Rocketman' film review: Bold, vibrant musical worthy of the music icon
May 31

May 31 'Rocketman' film review: Bold, vibrant musical worthy of the music icon

Paul Carlson
film reviews

With a stellar lead performance, breathtaking energy and a story anchored completely in its protagonist, this is one of the very best biopics in years.

'Banana Split' film review: Sharp comedy upends the unwritten rules for dating, friendship
May 23

May 23 'Banana Split' film review: Sharp comedy upends the unwritten rules for dating, friendship

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

A tired trope of every teen flick is the girl loathing her ex-boyfriend's current girlfriend. This refreshing and hilarious “chicks before dicks” comedy dares to ask "what if they didn’t totally hate each other?"

'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum' film review: Once fresh franchise shows its age
May 17

May 17 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum' film review: Once fresh franchise shows its age

Paul Carlson
film reviews

The latest in this bullet-crazed series hits the ground running and doesn't take a break. This is as much the film's strength as it is its weakness.

'International Falls' film review: Wry comedy mines melancholic laughs from existential sadness
May 14

May 14 'International Falls' film review: Wry comedy mines melancholic laughs from existential sadness

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

The stark, snow-laden Minnesota winter is the perfect backdrop for this pair of depressed adults to ruminate about their lives lived in quiet desperation.

'Sprinter' film review: Universal sports drama told with a uniquely Jamaican voice
May 13

May 13 'Sprinter' film review: Universal sports drama told with a uniquely Jamaican voice

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

A story of a teen trying to join a track team is pretty straightforward - however, this sports drama focuses more on a young phenom's sudden fame, and what it means for him and his aspirations.

2019 Seattle International Film Festival capsule movie reviews
May 13

May 13 2019 Seattle International Film Festival capsule movie reviews

Paul Carlson
film reviews, film festivals

Bite-sized movie reviews of films screening at SIFF 2019.

'Her Smell' film review: Moss rocks as fading star on tail end of fame
May 9

May 9 'Her Smell' film review: Moss rocks as fading star on tail end of fame

Paul Carlson
film reviews

Elisabeth Moss channels the worst parts of every "E! True Hollywood Story" ever.

'Frances Ferguson' film review:  Bone-dry comedy explores the prison of marriage
May 7

May 7 'Frances Ferguson' film review: Bone-dry comedy explores the prison of marriage

Paul Carlson
film festivals, film reviews

Most prison and crime films are stories of redemption or atonement. Not this acerbic comedy.

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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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