Film/TV

Lucas Jaye, left, and Brian Dennehy in "Driveways." (Courtesy FilmRise)

A Quiet Film, 'Driveways' Is About How A Tiny Gesture Can Mean The World

Delicately directed by filmmaker Andrew Ahn, it’s a movie about neighbors that’s also about what it means to be a neighbor, writes film critic Sean Burns.

The ARTery

May 7, 2020

A still from Kayla Ranere's film "What Are You Afraid Of?" (Courtesy)

Graduating Lesley Film Students Screen Final Films Virtually

The film students might not be celebrating their accomplishments as planned, but they're taking it in stride.

The ARTery

May 7, 2020

An image from Jane Gillooly's documentary "Where the Pavement Ends." (Courtesy Where the Pavement Ends)

Boston Filmmaker Delves Into The History Of Two Towns Divided

The film explores the history of racial tension in two Missouri towns that led to the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown.

The ARTery

May 5, 2020

A still from Luchino Visconti's 1976 film "L’Innocente." (Courtesy Film Movement)

Quarantine Double Feature: The Mysteries Of Marriage

“Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands” and “L’Innocente” are movies preoccupied with the mysteries of marriage and infidelity, exploring the unpredictable desires of men and women.

The ARTery

May 1, 2020

A still from the documentary "Capital in the Twenty-First Century." (Courtesy Kino Lorber)

Film Adaptation 'Capital In The Twenty-First Century' Is An Autopsy Of A Broken System

Justin Pemberton’s documentary adaptation of Thomas Piketty’s book charts swelling and plummeting fortunes in various countries from just before WWI all the way through the 2008 economic collapse.

The ARTery

Apr 30, 2020

Coolidge Corner Theatre's Virtual Screening Room Spotlights Lee Grant's Documentaries

The movie theater has curated a series of films by the Oscar-winning actor and a pioneering documentarian.

The ARTery

Apr 24, 2020

A still from "Joe Versus the Volcano." (Courtesy JustWatch)

Quarantine Double Feature: When The Brain Clouds Roll In

For this week’s selections, Sean Burns recommends “It’s Such a Beautiful Day” and “Joe Versus the Volcano," two deeply strange and funny movies imploring audiences to appreciate what we’ve got...

The ARTery

Apr 24, 2020

A still from "Tiny Furniture." (Courtesy IFFBoston)

Celebrate IFFBoston At Home With These 8 Films

Scheduled to start this week, IFFBoston has been postponed due to COVID-19. Film critic Sean Burns has gathered some of his favorite films that have screened over the years to...

The ARTery

Apr 22, 2020

A still from Al Pacino's documentary "Looking for Richard." (Courtesy JustWatch)

Quarantine Double Feature: The Fun[damentals] Of Shakespeare

Al Pacino’s documentary “Looking for Richard” and a 2000 adaptation of “Hamlet” are a reminder that while educational, this Shakespeare stuff is supposed to be fun, says Sean Burns.

The ARTery

Apr 17, 2020

A still from the documentary "Other Music." (Courtesy)

Documentary 'Other Music' Chronicles A Record Store Navigating A Shifting Industry

Directed by Puloma Basu and Rob Hatch-Miller, the film chronicles the cramped, underdog store for connoisseurs that thrived for a time directly across the street from Tower Records’ East Village...

The ARTery

Apr 16, 2020

A still from "Tigertail." (Courtesy Netflix)

A Multigenerational Saga Spanning Decades And Continents, Netflix’s 'Tigertail' Is Not Long Enough

Written, produced and directed by Alan Yang, the film is a heartfelt drama about a family of Taiwanese immigrants living in New York City.

The ARTery

Apr 10, 2020

Richard Richard Farnsworth in David Lynch's 1999 "The Straight Story." (Courtesy JustWatch)

Quarantine Double Feature: On The Road Again

As a form of virtual tourism, film critic Sean Burns suggests revisiting the road movies “The Straight Story” and “A Perfect World.”

The ARTery

Apr 9, 2020

Left to right, Annie Dookhan and Sonja Farak who's crimes are explored in the docuseries "How to Fix a Drug Scandal." (Courtesy Netflix)

Netflix's 'How To Fix A Drug Scandal' Elevates Process Over Personality

The series details how Massachusetts’ supposed “war on drugs” fell apart when two state police lab chemists independently tampered with drug evidence at their respective labs.

The ARTery

Apr 9, 2020

Martin Scorsese (left) with Griffin Dunne on the set of “After Hours” (1985). (Courtesy Warner Bros./Photofest)

Quarantine Double Feature: Martin Scorsese After Midnight

Quarantine Double Feature is a series in which we pick two films available for streaming and discussion while we wait out this crisis at home. This week: Martin Scorsese After...

The ARTery

Apr 3, 2020

Sidney Flanigan as Autumn in "Never Rarely Sometimes Always." (Courtesy Focus Features)

Bleak But Powerful 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always' Advocates Female Sexual Agency

It’s still nearly impossible for a film that includes an abortion to not be defined by it, especially when the one seeking it is a teen, but every movie broadens...

The ARTery

Apr 2, 2020

Comedians Eugene Mirman (left) and Kumail Nanjiani. (Courtesy Gravitas Ventures)

Documentary 'It Started As A Joke' Sees Comedian Eugene Mirman Finding Humor In Loss

The film was supposed to celebrate the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival’s 10th and final year, but the gang has mostly gone their separate ways and Eugene’s wife Katie has terminal...

The ARTery

Apr 2, 2020

Filmmaker Brian De Palma Takes First Foray Into Crime Fiction With Sinewy Thriller 'Are Snakes Necessary?'

Written with his partner Susan Lehman, the book tells the tawdry tale of a political fixer playing whack-a-mole with the skeletons in an oversexed U.S. Senator’s closet.

The ARTery

Mar 31, 2020

Christopher Walken in the 1990 film "King of New York." (Courtesy Forever Cinematic Trailers)

Quarantine Double Feature: The Comfort Of Christopher Walken

Quarantine Double Feature is a new series in which we pick two films available for streaming and discussion while we wait out this crisis at home. This week: The Comfort...

The ARTery

Mar 27, 2020

In this March 25, 2016 file photo, The Rolling Stones perform in Havana, Cuba. (Enric Marti/AP)

When You Can't Rock Out At The Venue, Tune In To The Concert At Home

While it’s not a replacement for attending a concert in-person, watching your favorite band digitally can be a virtual salve in these troubled times.

The ARTery

Mar 27, 2020

Kelly O'Sullivan (right) and Ramona Edith-Williams in "Saint Frances." (Courtesy Oscilloscope Labs)

Coolidge Corner Theatre Presents 'Saint Frances' And 'Bacurau,' Now Playing On A (Home) Screen Near You

The theater has teamed up with arthouse distributors to create virtual screening rooms for their new releases. When you rent the movie, the revenue is split between the theater and...

The ARTery

Mar 25, 2020

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This American Life

A Quiet Film, 'Driveways' Is About How A Tiny Gesture Can Mean The World

Graduating Lesley Film Students Screen Final Films Virtually

Boston Filmmaker Delves Into The History Of Two Towns Divided

Quarantine Double Feature: The Mysteries Of Marriage

Film Adaptation 'Capital In The Twenty-First Century' Is An Autopsy Of A Broken System

Coolidge Corner Theatre's Virtual Screening Room Spotlights Lee Grant's Documentaries

Quarantine Double Feature: When The Brain Clouds Roll In

Celebrate IFFBoston At Home With These 8 Films

Quarantine Double Feature: The Fun[damentals] Of Shakespeare

Documentary 'Other Music' Chronicles A Record Store Navigating A Shifting Industry

A Multigenerational Saga Spanning Decades And Continents, Netflix’s 'Tigertail' Is Not Long Enough

Quarantine Double Feature: On The Road Again

Netflix's 'How To Fix A Drug Scandal' Elevates Process Over Personality

Quarantine Double Feature: Martin Scorsese After Midnight

Bleak But Powerful 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always' Advocates Female Sexual Agency

Documentary 'It Started As A Joke' Sees Comedian Eugene Mirman Finding Humor In Loss

Filmmaker Brian De Palma Takes First Foray Into Crime Fiction With Sinewy Thriller 'Are Snakes Necessary?'

Quarantine Double Feature: The Comfort Of Christopher Walken

When You Can't Rock Out At The Venue, Tune In To The Concert At Home

Coolidge Corner Theatre Presents 'Saint Frances' And 'Bacurau,' Now Playing On A (Home) Screen Near You