Luz is a fascinating exploration of connection with the use of technology, notably virtual reality, as characters living on two different continents collide in a VR world. It opens with a mythical translucent deer strolling the street of an LED-lit modern city. These fascinating and mysterious visuals are what fuel Flora Lau’s second feature, which …
MSPIFF 2025 Review: Chinese romance drama BOUND IN HEAVEN
My first film I saw at MSPIFF is this romance drama set in Wuhan, China. One fateful night, a successful, beautiful woman, Xia (Ni Ni), crosses paths with ticket scalper Xu (You Zhou) when she tries to get tickets to her favorite artist, Wong Faye. Sparks fly between them, and they have what seems to …
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MSPIFF 2025 Week 1 Recap – Films that I saw + A conversation with Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee
We were blessed with 'mostly' fantastic weather last week and a gloriously sunny weekend as I attended MSPIFF! Thank God for that, as there have been years where I had to cancel screening plans due to a snowstorm in April. My hubby and I even took a stroll by the Mississippi River in between screenings. …
FlixChatter Review: A MINECRAFT MOVIE (2025) – Jack Black’s jolt of energy makes it entertaining but this video game adaptation is largely forgettable
Directed by Jared HessStarring: Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen I’ve played Minecraft once in my life (Boomer vibes?), but I’ve watched my kids play it over the years; it is integral to their childhood – much like Atari was to mine. But I do see the beauty in it and …
FlixChatter Review: The Friend (2025) – Naomi Watts + the Great Dane keep this tale of friendship engaging, though the movie lingers a bit longer than it needs to be
It must be challenging for actors working with animals, not because the animals are hard to handle—thanks to the trainers on set—but because they probably end up being overshadowed by their four-legged co-stars. That is the case with Naomi Watts here who plays a writing teacher named Iris whose peaceful, solitary life in New …
FlixChatter Review: The Penguin Lessons (2025) – Steve Coogan gains a fresh perspective on life thanks to his scene-stealing avian friend
I love penguins, so the fact that there is a penguin in this film is the main draw for me. Based on Tom Michell’s memoir of the same name, it recounts his tale as an English teacher (played by Steve Coogan) who takes a job at a posh all-boys boarding school in Argentina just as …
FlixChatter’s MARCH 2025 Viewing Recap + Mini Reviews of NOSFERATU & BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN + Movie of the Month
So March did NOT go out like a lamb here in Minnesota. We actually got a bit of a snowstorm on Monday, though fortunately they're gone by yesterday afternoon and it was sunny and warmer enough that I went for a brief walk before dinner last night. Fingers crossed for nice weather in April as …
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