Reviews

Brad Pitt’s Brutal Buddy Survival Tale ‘Heart of the Beast’ Melts Hearts

By Lynn Venhaus A heart-tugging unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend, a German Shepherd, gives “Heart of the Beast” its sincere emotional... Details

Family Confronts Past and Present in TWSTL’s Explosive ‘Appropriate’

By Lynn Venhaus With its complex characters, fractured family dynamic and multi-layered storyline, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ explosive drama “Appropriate” has much to unpack. At their peak,... Details

Love and Sisterhood Shine in Black Rep’s Glorious ‘The Color Purple’

By Lynn Venhaus A story of uncommon courage and grace while facing deeply rooted cruelty and oppression, “The Color Purple” is a momentous achievement for... Details

Ethan Hawke Steadies Old-Fashioned Action Adventure ‘The Weight’

By Alex McPherson Bringing to mind a range of influences including “The Wages of Fear,” but never fully capitalizing on the intensity of its premise,... Details

‘Chronovisor’ Is A Stunning, Genre-Bending Occult Sci-Fi Mystery

By Alex McPherson A quietly bananas experience dripping in studious authenticity and a passion for research, directors Kevin Walker and Jack Auen’s “Chronovisor” provides a... Details

Taut Tensions in Edgy Relationship Drama ‘The Mercy Seat’ at STLAS

By Lynn Venhaus Messy and unflinching, “The Mercy Seat” is a complicated relationship play between two New Yorkers in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11,... Details

The Rep’s Warm, Vibrant ‘Little Women’ Celebrates Fierce Females

By Lynn Venhaus In the warm glow of the cozy March parlor, a singular author wins us over with her exuberant family portrait while a... Details

Ethan Hawke Anchors Grueling Crime-Action Drama ‘The Weight’

By Lynn Venhaus A grueling and gritty crime-action drama set during the 1930s, “The Weight” benefits from a superb Ethan Hawke performance – both physically... Details

Mayhem Reigns in Self-Aware, Hyperviolent Zombie Film ‘Colony’

By Alex McPherson A zombie actioner that makes up for its narrative weaknesses with bone-contorting gusto and ruthless sensibilities, director Yeon Sang-ho’s “Colony” hits the... Details