We sent out staff writer Josef Rodriguez to cover the First Look Film Festival, running January 9-18, 2015 at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City. Check out his coverage below to read advanced reviews of films that “defy convention, experiment in form, blend fiction and reality, and allow us to see the art from — and the world — in a new way.”
COMING TO TERMS ›
Despite the inspired casting of legendary filmmaker James Benning, Jon Jost’s Coming to Terms is a baffling misfire on every conceivable level, resulting in not only the year’s worst film, but one of the worst film’s in recent memory.
I TOUCHED ALL YOUR STUFF ›
I Touched All Your Stuff is an entertaining and funny documentary that functions less as a retelling of true events and more as an exercise in deceit and the inherent phoniness of a documentary film.
AMOUR FOU›
Amour Fou is a funny, cynical costume drama with a wicked sense of humor and an impressive visual palette that offers a master class in how to make a biographical film.
THE GUESTS / WIRE FENCES ›
Two films wrestle with the modern era of cinema in 3D.
CHARLIE’S COUNTRY ›
Charlie’s Country is nice to look at, and David Gulpili’s award-winning performance lives up to the hype, but its heavy-handed political message often gets in the way of the various subtleties and character moments presented throughout.
Bx46 ›
Bx46 is beautifully filmed and features hilarious and fascinating interviews with some of New York’s Fulton Fish Market employees, even though it sometimes has trouble establishing a consistent rhythm.
AUGUST WINDS ›
August Winds is, at its best, an original and unflinching look at a small Brazilian community, but it’s also slow, bleak, and occasionally aimless in its pursuits.
