Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. thus the term “Going In Blind”, which I use when a film does not have audio description. Oliver Hermanus’s masterpiece The History Of Sound is my Brokeback Mountain. I wish it had audio description, just to solidify how much I adored this, but that is really the only negative thing working against it. Granted, simple access is a big thing, and the reason I’m here, but the story is right up my alley. I had a harder time relating to gay ranchers, but gay musicians? Yeah, I see myself more in this. The History … Continue reading Going In Blind: the History of Sound

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. Welcome. Tick. Tick. Tick. The beginning of Luca Guadagnino’s After The Hunt begins with the persistence of time. It presumably is Guadagnino’s literal way of translating a ticking time bomb, but it can be taken exactly as is.there’s a countdown, but to what? Somewhere … at Yale… we will find out. I was initially excited at the prospect of Guadagnino’s next film having this stellar cast of Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, and Michael Stuhlbarg, so this was on my anticipated list. Guadagnino certainly isn’t perfect, but he has the necessary parts to … Continue reading After The Hunt

Yes, this is part of my Going In Blind series, because IFC Films and the concept of accessible screeners is a mystery so great only Jessica Fletcher could possibly hope to solve it. But,I was submitted for my approval an advance copy of 100 Nights of Hero, which of course didn’t have audio description. In the time since, i watched it a second time just for refreshing and clarification. That’s probably the best debate for screeners versus theatrical, is that most come with the ability to view a few times, so if you’ve got questions, a second pass is much … Continue reading Going In Blind: 100 Nights of hero

Editor’s Note: In what was a rather quick turnaround, I noticed a comment about the quality of my review. the irony of critiquing a critic, or the critic then not being able to accept said criticism is not lost on me. Someone came here expecting excellence, and I didn’t deliver. the only thing I can do is to take that feedback, and do better. I could list all the excuses and reasons that may have led to this, but they are all just excuses and reasons, which make my day or life harder, but the reader doesn’t care. I will … Continue reading Anenome

I suppose the joke is that trying to get an audience to sympathize with a character who seemingly has everything is not the unique experience of Jay Kelly, but something we are often asked to do. somehow, it feels more pronounced in Noah Baumbach’s latest offering, because it isn’t just watching fancy people in big mansions in a bygone era, but a contemporary look at stardom that needs you to understand there is some level of sacrifice, and not all that glitters is gold. Baumbach has tapped George Clooney for a role that feels right up his alley. He’s an … Continue reading Jay Kelly

I generally don’t venture too much into the true crime genre, as it seems like every week someone has made a new documentary, docuseries, or episode of a newsmagazine that focuses on someone being murdered, or going missing, somewhere. I know people love this entire sub genre of television, just like they prefer procedural dramas over non-procedural shows with more linear storytelling. Crime doesn’t pay, but it sure does sell. Night In west Texas made the long list of documentary features that have qualified for the Oscars this year, so perhaps the branch will also embrace their inner true crime … Continue reading Going In Blind: Night in West Texas

I’ve now seen this twice. the benefit of having screeners, is when I have a film like Plain Clothes, where I certainly had questions, I can give it a second go before doing my review. There are so many little things I do all the time to figure out if I interpreted a film as intended, when the audio description doesn’t exist, and sometimes a second viewing is warranted. Not only am I a blind film critic, advocating for accessibility, but I’m also gay, and find that queer cinema is still stuck mostly in niche territory. Every once in a … Continue reading Going In Blind: Plain Clothes

For your consideration: josh O’Connor. In anything. I kicked off the year with Josh in a little film called Bonus Track, which was based off a treatment he wrote. He has since appeared in four films all in the proximity of the Oscars. You could consider him for The History Of Sound, the Mastermind, Rebuilding, and Wake Up dead Man. this guy can’t stop and won’t stop. For this he brought along future Oscar 2026 nominee Amy Madigan, as well as a solid ensemble. And, for what it is worth, his performance here is impressive. It reminded me a little … Continue reading Going In Blind: rebuilding

perspective is everything. I’m Abe to watch films from the comfort of air conditioning, with food and drink easily in reach, and without the fear of being bombed in the middle of all of it. of course, we all have struggles, and trying too compare to race to the bottom seems fruitless, as despite circumstances, there is almost undoubtedly someone who has less, and worse. All we can do is take the life we’ve been given, and shine light on things around us that need improving. That’s why this review is titled going in blind, because that’s my perspective, and … Continue reading Going in Blind: Put Your Soul On your Hand And Walk

it is depressing to start a review like this, but in my history of needing to chase down audio description for screeners, it is a rarity for me to encounter a studio including audio description without me asking for it. this means that anyone, not just me, has the access. let’s be honest, in all the considering happening out there, people are bound to be watching screeners with family, and that family might be low vision or blind, or the individual considering the film might be, as it is fully possible to be members of these guilds and be blind. … Continue reading The smashing machine

Many already believe this is one of the best Stephen King adaptations, and perhaps it is. The bar can be rather low sometimes. Francis Lawrence was the right man for the job here, having already conquered a dystopian future with the Hunger Games (which Quentin Tarantino is apparently NOT a fan). So asking Lawrence to once again direct young actors in a situation where only one survives, and the government is responsible, is spot on. So if you’re signing up for a long walk, could it be even better? Yes. the movie takes place in the future where a post … Continue reading the Long Walk

Multiple things can be true. Marlon Brando can be one of the greatest actors in terms of talent and performance there ever was and ever will be. he can also be, at the bare minimum, problematic, and possibly even a whole lot more. I actually think the audacity in naming the film waltzing with Brando is almost like nodding to the last Tango in Paris incident, which the film has nothing to do with, and couldn’t care less about. This came my way through FYC season, and watching Billy Zane attempt to play Brando should have amounted to a little … Continue reading Going In Blind: Waltzing With Brando

Blindness has opened a world of horror films to me that I was too chicken to watch the first time around. I’m not a big fan of cheap jump scares, because there’s a difference between being startled and scared. The latter actually lingers, and stays with you. You can be startled by damn near anything anytime, without necessarily being scared of it.If you’re sitting in silence, a loud noise will make you jump, which is something horror directors thrive on time and time again. So I avoided The Conjuring. It looked like it was full of jump scares back in … Continue reading The Conjuring: Last Rites