James RutherfordMar 15, 2019'Free Solo': An Edge-of-Your Seat Documentary About World-Renowned Rock Climber Alex Honnold“Free Solo “ is an phenomenal and utterly enthralling documentary from National Geographic Documentary Films that follows world-renowned...
James RutherfordMar 8, 2019'Land of Mine': A Gripping and Haunting Post-World War II Drama from Denmark “Land of Mine” (“Under Sandet”) is a Danish-German historical drama from 2015, set in 1945, following the end of World War II and the...
James RutherfordMar 2, 2019'Blindspotting': An Electrifying Comedy-Drama About Modern Race Relations and GentrificationBlindspotting (2018) is an electrifying serio-comic excursion into the lives of two longtime Oakland-based friends, Collin (Daveed Diggs)...
James RutherfordMar 1, 2019'Arrhythmia': A Profoundly Touching Depiction of Love and Heartache in Modern-Day Russia“Arrhythmia” ("Aritmiya") is a strikingly involving Russian drama from 2017 that focuses on the relationship between Oleg (Aleksandr...
James RutherfordFeb 22, 2019'Lore': A Gripping Story of Survival Amidst the Aftermath of World War IIBased on the novel “The Dark Room’ by Rachel Seiffer, “Lore” (2012) is a German-British-Australian drama set at the end of World War II,...
James RutherfordFeb 22, 2019'Widows': A Vibrant Exposé of Chicago's Criminal UnderworldSet in modern-day Chicago and based on the original British television series from the 1980’s, “Widows” is an elaborate and enthralling...
James RutherfordFeb 14, 2019'Half Nelson': A Genuine and Touchingly Humanistic Indie Drama“Half Nelson” (2006) is a strikingly assured indie drama starring Ryan Gosling (in an Oscar-nominated performance) as Dan Dunne, a junior...
James RutherfordFeb 7, 2019'Under the Skin': A Monument of Sublime Avant-Garde Science Fiction"Under the Skin" (2013) is a striking and disquieting science fiction thriller from director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Birth) that...
James RutherfordFeb 1, 2019‘Silver Linings Playbook’: A Wonderfully Unusual, Seriocomic Tale of Human Reclamation"Silver Linings Playbook" (2012) is the wonderfully unusual, serio-comic tale of two damaged souls, Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany...
James RutherfordJan 31, 2019'Güeros': A Dreamy and Poetic Depiction of Inspired Youthful Idealism“Güeros" (2014) is a light-hearted Spanish-language drama that follows rambunctious Mexican youth, Tomás (Sebastián Aguirre), who is sent...
James RutherfordJan 30, 2019'Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present': A Mesmerizing Documentary About an Extraordinary Artist“Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present” (2012) is an entrancing documentary about the life and work of famed Serbian artist Marina...
James RutherfordJan 25, 2019'King of New York': A Searing and Kinetic Early-90's Crime Thriller“King of New York” (1990) is a volatile, kinetic crime thriller starring Christopher Walken as Frank White, a New York-based crime lord...
James RutherfordJan 18, 2019'Arrival': A Brilliant and Captivating Science Fiction TouchstoneBased on the story “The Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang, “Arrival” (2016) is a captivating science fiction fantasy depicting the...
James RutherfordJan 13, 201910 for ’18: My Favorite Films from the Year of the Dog1. Three Identical Strangers “Three Identical Strangers” is an unbelievable and stunning true-life documentary that begins with 56...
James RutherfordJan 4, 2019'The Fighter': A Dynamic and Kinetic Depiction of the Rise of Professional Boxer “Irish” Micky Ward“The Fighter” (2010) is a true-to-life depiction of the early years in the career of renowned professional boxer “Irish” Micky Ward (Mark...
James RutherfordDec 31, 2018'Ida': A Luminous and Transcendent Polish Tale of Self-Discovery and Revelation“Ida” (2013) is a stark black & white drama set in 1962 Poland that follows a young nun-to-be, Anna, and her bawdy Aunt Wanda as they...
James RutherfordDec 23, 2018'Miss Bala': An Explosive and Absorbing Mexican Crime Drama"Miss Bala” (2011) is an intense Mexican drama-thriller starring Stephanie Sigman as Laura Guerrero, a 23-year old resident of...
James RutherfordDec 23, 2018'The Five Obstructions': A Wildly Enjoyable Experiment in Documentary Filmmaking“The Five Obstructions” (2003) is a Danish documentary featuring Lars von Trier and his longtime mentor, Jørgen Leth, as they engage in...
James RutherfordDec 23, 2018'Drive': A Sleek, Ultra-Cool Jolt of Pure Cinematic Adrenaline “Drive” (2011) is a sleek action thriller starring Ryan Gosling as a stuntman and getaway driver who befriends his new neighbor, Irene...
James RutherfordDec 23, 2018'Virunga': An Urgent Documentary About the Preservation of the Last Remaining Mountain Gorillas “Virunga” (2014) is an urgent British documentary about Virunga National Park, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the...
James RutherfordDec 20, 2018'Mother!': A Deliciously Twisted and Outlandish Psycho-Horror Story from Darren Aronofsky"Mother!" (2017) is a brazenly ambitious cinematic invention from famed auteur Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler), following a...
James RutherfordDec 18, 2018'Force Majeure': A Sublimely Piercing Dark Comedy from Sweden"Force Majeure" aka "Turist" (2014) is a pointedly dark comedy from Sweden that follows a seemingly well-adjusted family vacationing in...
James RutherfordDec 14, 2018'Enter the Void': A Kaleidoscopic Soul's Journey Throughout Neo-Tokyo“Enter the Void” (2009) is a stunning, one-of-a-kind cinematic experience from Argentine auteur Gaspar Noé (Irréversible, Love),...
James RutherfordDec 7, 2018'Sicario': A Dynamic Thriller Set Amidst the Brutality of the Mexican Drug War"Sicario" (2015) is a visceral and tense thriller starring Emily Blunt as an idealistic young FBI agent recruited for a covert government...