The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 106

Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Newsletter

Welcome to The Alliance Lately, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Alliance Lately features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now…The Alliance Lately.

Before heading off to 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Joe filed his reviews for the new releases Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Don’t Turn Out the Lights, and the UK release, And Mrs.

Keep track of his TIFF reviews on his Instagram – full details will be up on his website when he gets back stateside!

Best New-to-Me August Roundup

On Deep Focus Review, Brian Eggert reviewed Víctor Erice’s Close Your Eyes, the documentary Look Into My Eyes, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter wrote reviews for two new movies: Rebel Ridge and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. He’s also currently attending the Toronto International Film Festival, and has posted reviews for high-profile titles such as William TellPresenceThe BrutalistThe Room Next Door, and The Life of Chuck.

Unboxing Arrow Video’s Cold War Creatures

90s w/Kyle: 8mm (1999) | The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)

The Perfect Couple

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Catherine pairs the award-winning sitcom Abbott Elementary with rectangular pan pizza for a back-to-school entry on Veg Out. She also has a new review on The Feed of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

She will be hosting the Secret Movie Night at Emagine Willow Creek on October 9: get tickets here!

Didi Review | Alien Romulus Review | The Crow Review | Summer Throwback Column | Summer Movie Awards

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Review | ALIEN ROMULUS Review | AGATHA ALL ALONG Interviews

The Deliverance Review | Rebel Ridge Review | BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Review

Movies:
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice | Rebel Ridge | Casa Bonita Mi Amor | I’ll Be Right There | The Thicket | Afraid | 1992 | Reagan | Gary | You Gotta Believe

Blu-ray/UHD:
Devil Times Five | They Call Her Macho Woman | Way Bad Stone


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance! 🎬🍿


The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 105

Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Newsletter

Welcome to The Alliance Lately, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Alliance Lately features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now…The Alliance Lately.

Continuing his trend of covering smaller titles that have emerged in the last few weeks, The MN Movie Man reviewed The Wasp, Slingshot, Merchant Ivory, and Out Come the Wolves.

Stay tuned for a wave of reviews coming out of Canada, where he’ll be reporting from the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival for the next few weeks.

Eli has a few pieces this week for Cinephile Corner.

Over on their movie reviews section, they have articles for a few new releases, including Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1The InstigatorsThe BikeridersKnox Goes Away, and A Quiet Place: Day One, and a classic review of Eraserhead (1977).

On Deep Focus Review, Brian Eggert reviewed the new Blumhouse release, AfrAId.

For his Patreon subscribers, Brian posted a new entry in his essay series, The Definitives, about Víctor Erice’s The Spirit of the Beehive  (1973). He also shared a Reader’s Choice review of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope (1948).

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter updated his Oscar predictions and detailed what the fall festivals mean for this year’s awards race.

Movie Man Eric Houston presents classic educational and industrial shorts on Movie Man Short Shorts. Each installment features two classic shorts and behind-the-scenes info about the people who made the movies. In the latest episode, he presents Command Performance, which looks at how vinyl record albums were made.

Catherine pairs the beloved 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice with blueberry lavender ice cream for the final entry in the Summer of Scoops series on Veg Out.

She also has a new review on The Feed of You Gotta Believe and collaborated on a Layered Favorites post, highlighting multifaceted movies and shows on Netflix.

It’s a bit of a slow time before the Fall Movie Season kicks into high gear. Paul is using that time to recharge, but here is a review for Lee Daniels’ new film The Deliverance.


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance! 🎬🍿


The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 104

Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Newsletter

Welcome to The Alliance Lately, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Alliance Lately features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now…The Alliance Lately.

With the new release offerings slim this past weekend, The MN Movie Man focused on smaller gems that often slip through the cracks when blockbusters rule the multiplex.  Throughout the past week, he published reviews for Hostile DimensionsStrange DarlingHell HoleBetween the TemplesThe Secret Art of Human Flight, and Black Dog.

And remember to browse the archive! You can try a random letter and see what reviews pop out at you.  This week, Joe suggests the letter “V”


Over on the movie reviews section of the Cinephile Corner we have articles for a few new releases, including The People’s JokerFirebrandChimeJanet PlanetEvil Does Not Exist, and The Watchers, and a classic review of Magnolia.

We also have two lists in our rankings section, including Luca Guadagnino’s movies ranked and Paul Thomas Anderson’s movies ranked

Here’s my latest piece on Bronson in Europe that I’m planning to continue in a couple more installments:
Le Sacre Monstre: Charles Bronson in Europe

On Deep Focus Review, Brian Eggert reviewed the new releases Blink Twice and Good One.

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter published a review for The Deliverance

Here’s a link to capsule reviews of the last several films I’ve seen, including this week’s new release Between the Temples:
The Last Few Things I Watched and My Brief Thoughts on Them

Two Purple Rain related projects for its 40th anniversary:

Catherine pairs the iconically awful 1997 movie Batman & Robin with matcha pandan frozen custard for the penultimate entry in the Summer of Scoops series on Veg Out.

Find her latest reviews and Letterboxd lists on The Feed.

Movies
The Crow, Between the Temples, The Killer, Incoming, The Deliverance, Greedy People, The Clean Up Crew, Catching Dust, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, Hell Hole

Blu-ray/UHD
Death to Smoochy, The Instructor, Observe and Report


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance! 🎬🍿


The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 103

Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Newsletter

Welcome to The Alliance Lately, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Alliance Lately features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

And now…The Alliance Lately.

This week, The MN Movie Man had seven reviews for his readers.  Not all of them were magnificent but you’d be lucky to catch a few of them in theaters!  Check out the reviews for Alien: Romulus, The Deliverance, Daughters, Skincare, Consumed, My Penguin Friend, and Close to You.

On Deep Focus Review, Brian reviewed the new releases Skincare and Alien: Romulus.

Brian also wrapped up his “Filmmaker in Focus” series about Bertrand Bonello with an essay about 2016’s Nocturama for his Patreon community.

Finally, Brian appeared on KARE 11 Saturday on August 17 to talk briefly about a few hidden gems of summer.  

Read more of Brian’s work at Deep Focus Review.

At The Cinema Dispatch, Hunter published reviews for Alien: Romulus and Blink Twice.

Alien: Romulus (2024)

Blood Simple (1984) | Alien: Romulus (2024) | Saturday Scares w/Kyle: Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched (2021)

Jackpot! | The Union

Catherine pairs fan-favorite TV show The White Lotus with banana gelato as part of her continuing Summer of Scoops series on Veg Out.

She also published four new reviews on The Feed: Blink Twice, Alien: Romulus, Pachinko (Season 2) and In the Rearview.

Additionally, Catherine wrote a tribute to iconic actress Gena Rowlands and organized a community film post for Animation August.

Paul has a mix of new reviews and interviews this week

Bad Monkey | Interviews with Vince Vaughn and Bill Lawrence – Bad Monkey Interviews

Jackpot! | Interviews with Awkwafina, Paul Feig, and John Cena – Jackpot! Interviews

4K review – Furiosa | 4K review – The Bikeriders

Alien: Romulus Review | The Beast (2023) | Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie Review

Movies
Jackpot | My Penguin Friend | The Good Half | Skincare | Blink Twice | Alien: Romulus | Crescent City | The Union

Blu-ray/UHD
Reptilicus | Ali G Indahouse | Babes | You Can Call Me Bill


Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance! 🎬🍿