Tag Archives: Belgium

Review: Here (2024)

This movie is so quiet and beautiful, very intriguing style and approach. I did my best to describe how it worked on me. Highly recommended. I reviewed for Ebert.

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“As an artist, I wonder, What can I do to make the audience think differently about what good is, what bad is, who a man is, and who a woman is.” — Matthias Schoenaerts

It’s his birthday today. One of my favorite contemporary actors. I think he blows the competition away. I can’t say enough good things about him. His versatility is dazzling. He can be so gentle. He can be so ferocious. He … Continue reading

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April/May 2023 Viewing Diary

River of Grass (1994; d. Kelly Reichardt) Reichardt’s first film. Wendy and Lucy (2008; d. Kelly Reichardt) The start of Reichardt’s collaboration with Michelle Williams. Showing Up (2023; d. Kelly Reichardt) Reichardt’s latest. I reviewed for Ebert. It’s fine. Her … Continue reading

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“When people ask me if I am a feminist film maker, I reply I am a woman and I also make films.” — Chantal Akerman

It’s her birthday today. The news of the death of pioneering Belgian filmmaker Chantal Akerman in 2015 came as a shock. She was young. 65 years old. Even worse, it was reported as a potential suicide. Either way, it was … Continue reading

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“In my films I always wanted to make people see deeply. I don’t want to show things, but to give people the desire to see.” — Agnès Varda

It’s the birthday of Belgian filmmaker Agnès Varda, a pioneering force in the development of the French New Wave – she was French New Wave before it was even named “French New Wave.” When she died at the age of … Continue reading

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August 2021 Viewing Diary

Pig (2021; d. Michael Sarnoski) I wish I could write at length about some of these. I just don’t have the time these days. I absolutely loved Pig, about an isolated woodsman-truffle-hunter (Nicolas Cage) whose beloved truffle pig is stolen. … Continue reading

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Review: Misha and the Wolves (2021)

I reviewed the frustrating new Netflix doc Misha and the Wolves for Ebert – it’s frustrating BECAUSE it’s really interesting. Wild story.

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Present Tense: Matthias Schoenaerts

I’ve written a lot about Matthias Schoenaerts over the years. From Bullhead to Rust and Bone (which I went really long on here), to 2016’s Disorder (which I reviewed for Ebert). I decided to discuss Schoenaerts’ work – especially his … Continue reading

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R.I.P. Agnès Varda

I woke up to the news that the great pioneering French New Wave filmmaker Agnès Varda, active up until the very end, has just died at the age of 90. In 2017, her documentary Faces Places was on my Top … Continue reading

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Review: Girl (2019)

My review of the Belgian film Girl – about a trans female ballerina – is now up at Rogerebert.com. It premiers on Netflix today. I cannot recommend it.

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