Culture
Unexpected, mesmerizing docufilm on pigs (really) succeeds
"Gunda," a documentary about farm life for a sow and her piglets, employs glorious black-and-white cinematography and hidden cameras to capture intimacy, intelligence and a range of "emotions," including joy, anger and sorrow.
‘All My Life’ leads a tearjerker down the aisle
The romantic drama tells a fictionalized account of a couple's wedding plans, skewed by a terminal cancer diagnosis, that's surprisingly upbeat for most of its runtime.
‘Godfather Coda’ offers a recut version you might not be able to refuse
Of the films in the "Godfather" franchise, the third has the most deeply intertwined Catholic imagery, albeit in a tangle of the factual and the imaginary. Still, it's an improvement over the 1990 original.
Book offers practical advice on women’s ministry in church
People complain about what's wrong with the church. "Joyful Momentum," with its worthwhile recommendations for building strong ministries, offers solutions for women to do something about it.
‘The Last Vermeer’ frames art with intrigue in post-war Europe
Though the film plays intelligently with moral twists and turns, the main character offers a reliable ethical compass as he gradually uncovers the levels of truth that the script craftily reveals.
‘Come Away’ is messy mash-up that sparks imagination
Take "Peter Pan," add a dash of "Alice in Wonderland," stir in the poetry of William Butler Yeats and you have the recipe for this intriguing if schizophrenic fairy tale.
As modern morality tale, ‘Mank’ flashes back to golden-era Hollywood
In the Netflix film likely to appeal to fans of classic cinema, a studio head explains the movie industry to screenwriter Joseph Mankiewicz, who is working on the "Citizen Kane" screenplay.
Sophia Loren majestically returns to screen in ‘The Life Ahead’
The pleasure with which viewers might otherwise greet Loren's presence is blighted by the fact that her latest project is as morally flawed as it is skillfully made and adeptly played.
Modern western brings family conflict home on the range
A strong marriage must go the distance against a distant, malevolent clan in the drama "Let Him Go." It features fine acting but also climactic mayhem as adversaries settle scores with violence.
Cloudpunk game beauty to behold, in dystopic future way
Players take on the role of an average person driving a hover car around a futuristic metropolis and into deepening ethical dilemmas, trying to make the best decisions she can.