Arts

One year after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the documentary takes us to the heart of combat through this war diary made during the second half of 2022. From Kharkiv and Bakhmut to Kherson, in the aftermath of the city’s liberation, this documentary bears witness to the ravages of war through the testimonies of soldiers, chronicles of the front and portraits of civilians, and shares with us the struggle of the Ukrainian people.

February 24 marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine. "Slava Ukraini" is an ode to the courageous civil society and armed forces of Ukraine. And it's a passionate call to action for the West to continue delivering support to Ukraine with increasing urgency and solidarity.

My late mother’s only brother, Willie D. Grandy–she and her sisters fondly called him WD or Broboy–fought in World II. My mother on occasion talked about missing him while he was away, and how they often didn’t know where he was. I never heard him talk about the war, and it never occurred to me to ask about it. Because of that missed opportunity, I was delighted when a dear friend recommended Half American, which offers a long overdue correction of the narrative of the so-called “Good War” by focusing on the crucial roles played by black Americans at home and abroad.   

Undoubtedly, "Master Gardener" demands your attention as it's another slow burn from Paul Schrader. This film represents the later independent phase of Schrader's career. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival, it was produced on a modest budget of $5 million, cementing it firmly within the indie film category. Like "Taxi Driver" and "Hardcore"—essentially, Schrader tells a story about an older man coming to the "rescue" of a younger woman. The difference is that in "Taxi Driver," Travis Bickle aims to purge the city of crime, while Jake VanDorn in "Hardcore" seeks to save his daughter from a perceived sinful world. Both isolated characters, confronted with urban moral decay, act against a corrupt system. Their exposure to harsh realities dramatically transforms these ordinary individuals throughout their respective films. In "Master Gardener," the protagonist is given a mysterious past colored with off-screen violence.

"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" is a film adapted from a book by Judy Blume, first published in 1970, and directed by Kelly Freeman Craig, the filmmaker behind "Edge of 17." It's a coming-of-age story where we follow Margaret, an 11-year-old girl played by Abby Ryder Fortson. Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie convincingly play her parents, with Kathy Bates, as captivating as ever, starring as her grandmother.

Margaret and her family move from New York City to New Jersey, where she forms a friendship with her new neighbor, Nancy Wheeler, played by Elle Graham. Nancy proudly proclaims that her family lives in the bigger house down the road, hinting at her social status and personality.

Throughout the movie, Margaret is seen grappling with adolescence and wrestling with the concepts of faith, love, and self-identity. A significant part of the plot also revolves around a secret club that Margaret and her friends form, with a set of rules they must abide by, like stating their latest boy crush, wearing bras, and not wearing socks.

You might already know why the BlackBerry failed; if not, you can always search for the reason on your iPhone. Instead, I recommend watching the biographical comedy-drama directed by Matt Johnson, which cleverly blends sharp wit with insightful intelligence that delivers a highly entertaining exploration of the rise and fall of the smartphone that shaped an era.

"BlackBerry," tells the story of two unlikely partners, the innovative inventor Mike Lazaridis and the fiercely competitive businessman Jim Balsillie, who collaborated to create a global sensation in just over a decade. They were the driving forces behind the BlackBerry, a revolutionary mobile phone that altered how people worked, played, and communicated. A handheld sensation that, for the first time, allowed email, text messaging, web browsing, and, not to mention, phone calls. The integrated keyboard was a game-changer of its time. I can't say how much of the movie's narrative sticks to the actual facts, but it doesn't detract from the story's wit, charm, and compelling depiction of risk, reward, and fall from grace.

Over a decade into his tenure with Marvel Studios, James Gunn has wrapped up his latest project as he prepares for a new role as co-chief at DC. On Twitter, he perfectly summed up the Guardians franchise by saying, "I didn't want to make a movie LIKE Star Wars, but a movie that made people FEEL like Star Wars made me feel as a kid. Outlandish characters, extraordinary locations, a space opera with a touch of magic filled with heart." Gunn's words are spot on.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," once again written and directed by Gunn, ventures into darker territory than its predecessors. It delves deeper into the characters' emotional landscapes while maintaining the humor and action-packed spirit the series is known for.

Rocket Raccoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper, takes center stage in this installment. His heartbreaking backstory is explored as he's one of several animals experimented on by the villain, The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who wants to create the perfect utopian society and is obsessed with creating superior animals for his "perfect" new planet.

Over a decade into his tenure with Marvel Studios, James Gunn has wrapped up his latest project as he prepares for a new role as co-chief at DC. On Twitter, he perfectly summed up the Guardians franchise by saying, "I didn't want to make a movie LIKE Star Wars, but a movie that made people FEEL like Star Wars made me feel as a kid. Outlandish characters, extraordinary locations, a space opera with a touch of magic filled with heart." Gunn's words are spot on.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," once again written and directed by Gunn, ventures into darker territory than its predecessors. It delves deeper into the characters' emotional landscapes while maintaining the humor and action-packed spirit the series is known for.

Rocket Raccoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper, takes center stage in this installment. His heartbreaking backstory is explored as he's one of several animals experimented on by the villain, The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who wants to create the perfect utopian society and is obsessed with creating superior animals for his "perfect" new planet.

Over a decade into his tenure with Marvel Studios, James Gunn has wrapped up his latest project as he prepares for a new role as co-chief at DC. On Twitter, he perfectly summed up the Guardians franchise by saying, "I didn't want to make a movie LIKE Star Wars, but a movie that made people FEEL like Star Wars made me feel as a kid. Outlandish characters, extraordinary locations, a space opera with a touch of magic filled with heart." Gunn's words are spot on.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," once again written and directed by Gunn, ventures into darker territory than its predecessors. It delves deeper into the characters' emotional landscapes while maintaining the humor and action-packed spirit the series is known for.

Rocket Raccoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper, takes center stage in this installment. His heartbreaking backstory is explored as he's one of several animals experimented on by the villain, The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who wants to create the perfect utopian society and is obsessed with creating superior animals for his "perfect" new planet.

A few days before Christmas, having quit his job in Germany, Matthias (Marin Grigore) returns to his multi-ethnic Transylvanian village. He wishes to involve himself more in the education of his son, Rudi (Mark Edward Blenyesi), left for too long in the care of his mother, Ana (Macrina Barladeanu), and to rid the boy of the unresolved fears that have taken hold of him. He’s preoccupied with his old father, Otto (Andrei Finti), and also eager to see his ex-lover, Csilla Szabo (Judith State). When a few new workers are hired at the small factory that Csilla manages, the peace of the community is disturbed, underlying fears grip the adults, and frustrations, conflicts and passions erupt through the thin veneer of apparent understanding and calm.

In "Beau is Afraid," Ari Aster's third film, we're taken on a surreal and chaotic journey with Joaquin Phoenix as Beau, a neurotic man tormented by inherited mental illness. It's a cinematic experience unlike any other. With a budget of $35 million, A24 has given Aster carte blanche to create a unique and unsettling movie that runs for three hours. But trust me; this is a movie you cannot miss. Ari Aster says, "Beau is Afraid" is like "if you pumped a 10-year-old full of Zoloft and had him get your groceries." Just remember, you've been warned.