Author Archives: philipbrasor

Review: The Drama and Enzo

Posted on August 21, 2026 by philipbrasor

Since the only film other than The Drama I’ve seen by Norwegian director Kristoffer Borgli is his last one, Dream Scenario, I don’t have much insight into his approach except the feeling that he definitely likes his comedy to be … Continue reading →

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Review: In the Grey

Posted on August 20, 2026 by philipbrasor

As a filmmaker, Guy Ritchie hardly has any original ideas, but he’s developed an action-movie style that puts the viewer at ease quickly and painlessly. His films, regardless of the subject matter or the intensity of the violence, eschew any … Continue reading →

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Review: The End of Oak Street and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Posted on August 14, 2026 by philipbrasor

A movie whose main promotional hook is that it’s produced by J.J. Abrams and features dinosaurs is probably a sure box office bet for its opening weekend. Cinephiles who may need more convincing might be intrigued by the director of … Continue reading →

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Review: Left-Handed Girl

Posted on August 13, 2026 by philipbrasor

It’s not taking anything away from director Tsou Shih-ching to point out that her debut feature was co-written, co-produced, and edited by Sean Baker, whose last movie, Anora, swept the Oscars in 2025. There’s some Baker DNA in Left-Handed Girl, … Continue reading →

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Review: Minions & Monsters

Posted on August 7, 2026 by philipbrasor

No movie franchise has genericized the high-concept plot dynamics and pop culture jokiness of post-Pixar American style animation as much as the Despicable Me series. It’s why the Minions, those yellow, oblong, goggle-sporting sidekicks have become an offshoot franchise in … Continue reading →

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Review: Amrum

Posted on August 6, 2026 by philipbrasor

The pleasures inherent in historical dramas usually lift them above the average movie in terms of what the viewer can take away from them, which mostly has to do with placing the viewer in an unfamiliar time and place and … Continue reading →

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Review: Tiger Stripes

Posted on August 1, 2026 by philipbrasor

It’s difficult to screw up a coming-of-age story if you have good intentions. The indignities of puberty immediately lead to internal conflict, and while the physical changes an adolescent goes through is central to the attendant drama, filmmakers are often … Continue reading →

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Fuji Rock Festival ’26

Posted on July 24, 2026 by philipbrasor

Friday morning The weather forecast for this year’s Fuji Rock Festival hasn’t been encouraging. Rain pretty much every day, but right now the sun is out and the temperature is quite bearable. It was cloudy last night for the pre-festival … Continue reading →

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Review: A Private Life

Posted on July 23, 2026 by philipbrasor

Though clearly a vehicle for Jodie Foster and her Francophone talents, this chamber piece, directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, attempts to split the difference between Christiesque murder mystery and psychological melodrama, and whether it succeeds will depend on how much the … Continue reading →

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Media watch: What is the point of the imperial family’s official duties?

Posted on July 22, 2026 by philipbrasor

Last week the Diet enacted a bill that would reinstate former lines of the imperial household into the chain of succession so that male descendants can be adopted and fill out the ranks of possible future emperors. In addition, female … Continue reading →

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