Review: Does the Plot of ‘Tetris’ Fall into Place?

“They’ll make a movie about anything these days!” is what most of us likely said upon hearing that a movie about Tetris was being released. It’s been said before— and it’ll be said again— but the film industry is completely oversaturated with biopics and corporate/product origin stories right now. Seeing so many films of this same genre coming out at once makes it hard to get excited about any of them; they tend to come off as an inauthentic cash grab more than anything else. An entire film dedicated to an old computer game where you have to line up falling blocks almost sounds like a joke at this point. And yet, despite everything that should be working against it, Tetris manages to not only be a pretty solid thriller but also a pretty fun time.

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SIFF 2022 Review: “Cha Cha Real Smooth” Brings All the Tears and Laughter to a Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Story

Even before the first frame of Cha Cha Real Smooth appears on screen, writer/director/star Cooper Raiff immediately identifies the time and tone of this film. The use of Lupe Fiasco’s “The Show Goes On” doesn’t just bring about memories of a young Andrew (played by Raiff) dancing at bar mitzvahs in the early 2010s. For many current 10-12-year-olds, this might would signal a very specific period in life where they are dealing with the early onset of puberty, romantic feelings, discovering their personality, etc. In other words, every complicated and contradictory feeling of “coming of age.”

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Review: ‘The Velvet Underground’ Asks For Your Attention

The team behind the documentary The Velvet Underground are certainly big fans of  the film’s namesake–at least that’s how the film comes across. Written and directed by Todd Haynes, this music documentary aims to show the influential rock group The Velvet Underground in all of their glory. To watch it feels like Todd Haynes and his crew are telling the story of how their favorite couple got together. The documentary clearly demonstrated a great sense of pride and admiration towards the band. The narrative progresses with a sense of anxiety, almost as if Haynes is afraid something might be left out and the audience might not fully understand all that is The Velvet Underground. The film’s attempt to fit in all the facts makes the story emulate the montages and split screen endeavors that the band itself explored. The elements the filmmakers felt were crucial to understanding the band, their moment in time, and their implications were looked at with wide eyes. However, the double edge of that lover’s sword is a confused vision. Watching The Velvet Underground is dizzying, an experience akin to rolling down a big grassy hill on a carefree day. The film is a phenomenal work of art but doesn’t have the space to catch its breath. 

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