Tag Archives: Film Review

“What Dreams May Come” by Vincent Ward

The movie explores how to cope with loss, offering fantasies of the afterlife

Few films are as imaginative and surreal as “What Dreams May Come.” From the very beginning, the film takes viewers through scene after scene of fantastic backdrops and warped, yet beautiful, landscapes. But beyond this stunning facade, the film has … Continue reading

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Cake (2014) by Daniel Barnz

This dark drama paints a conflicting portrait of a woman dealing with complicated grief

When Cake came out in theaters last year, I remember hearing all the buzz about how “America’s Sweetheart” Jennifer Aniston made herself completely unglamorous in the role of a woman dealing with chronic pain (along and the snub she received … Continue reading

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“Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father” by Kurt Kuenne

This touching tribute to a friend takes a shocking turn

From the start, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a one-of-a-kind documentary. You have probably seen nothing like it before, and won’t see anything like it again. It follows filmmaker Kurt Kuenne as he tries to make … Continue reading

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Up by Disney and Pixar

How Pixar makes a floating house lead to a healing journey in one of the greatest animated love stories

 Pixar is that magical Emeryville-based animation company that can do no wrong (except, perhaps, for the Cars franchise; otherwise, their output is perfection). In 2009, Pixar released what may be its magnum opus to date: UP. It’s a fun, entertaining romp … Continue reading

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Après Lui (2007) by Gaël Morel

This beautiful French film realistically captures the raw emotions and complicated grief of a mother whose only son dies suddenly in a car crash and follows how she tries to cope with his absence

Après Lui opens with two male best friends goofing around by dressing up in one of the men’s mothers’ clothes and dancing around to music. They invite the one friend’s mother, Camille (played by the amazing Catherine Deneuve) to come … Continue reading

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Smoke Signals by Chris Eyre

Native American Chris Eyre's film takes a funny and poignant look at two kinds of loss

Unfortunately, it is rare to find films with all Native American casts and it’s especially rare to find one that has reached anything approaching a wide release. That’s why the 1998 indie film Smoke Signals (directed by Chris Eyre), based … Continue reading

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