For those of you who have not seen the recent movies coming out of Iran, such as “Taxi” and “A Separation,” I suggest you skip the next trip to the local multiplex and spend an evening watching them instead. These excellent films provide an intimate look into Iranian society that is scarcely covered in the news. “The Salesman” is another example of an Iranian made gem that must be watched. This film is an emotionally lacerating and riveting drama that is directed with a patience-rewarding subtlety you will be hard pressed to find in most American movies. “The Salesman” tells the story of a childless couple in their mid-30s…
-
-
Dissecting poetry: Inside the mind of “Paterson”
“Paterson” is a new film by Jim Jarmusch about an artist who has a stable but low income job, a steady relationship, and a disciplined drinking habit. The title character, however, is exactly the opposite of the stereotypical tortured soul that is so commonly associated with the “true” artist. Rather than revelling in self-destruction, Paterson is a man of routine. He wakes up every morning at the same time, kisses his girlfriend, goes to work as a bus driver, writes a few poems, goes home, fixes his mailbox, walks his English bulldog, has a beer and goes to sleep. Yet, he is not a slave to routine and it is…
-
Interview With Patrick Ness: Author and Screenwriter of “A Monster Calls”
Patrick Ness is the author and screenwriter of the recently adapted novel “A Monster Calls”, a work inspired by Siobhan Dowd who died of cancer before the book’s publication. “A Monster Calls” tells the story of 12-year-old, Conner O’Malley, who struggles to cope with his mother’s terminal cancer. Everywhere Conner turns he is met with misunderstanding. At school, he is bullied, and at home, his domineering grandmother treats him like a child—until one night when he is visited by an imposing tree monster that tries to help him come to terms with his frustration. The film, which I reviewed in an earlier issue of the Knight News, is a deeply…
-
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A Magical Exploration of New York in the 20s
Set in New York in 1926, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is an enchanting display of “Harry Potter” author J.K Rowling’s knack for world-building. Rowling does an excellent job of intertwining the reality of this time and place with fascinating magical undercurrents, humor, and wit. Aided by a new set of characters but set in the same world as the Harry Potter series, the film dazzles and entertains as it explores this new landscape. The lead of this new series is Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a British “magizooligist,” passing through New York on route to Arizona. Despite traveling with only one briefcase, Newt did not pack lightly. His…
-
“Manchester By the Sea”: Living With Defeat
“Manchester by the Sea” is a masterwork of realism in contemporary American film. When we come into the theater, we often expect to see characters embark on a journey and overcome their obstacles. This movie is firmly rooted in opposition to this idea. This film refuses to let the audience indulge in the safety of this fantasy. For this reason, “Manchester by the Sea,” is one for the saddest and most honest movies I have seen this year. The film portrays a life in perpetual defeat and shows how life continues even when there is no reason for living. This is a film in which characters don’t live up to…
