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GEMS: October 30 – November 3, 2024

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GEMS: October 30 – November 3, 2024

Apr 10

“You Are The Boss”: ‘Alice’ is a thought-provoking look into the world of high-end escorts

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Alice is now playing at MDC’s Tower Theater Miami Virtual Theater. Watch on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast. For tickets, click here. The prostitution genre has long held a certain allure for filmmakers. Belle de Jour (1967), The Girlfriend Experience (2009), and Young & Beautiful (Miami Film Festival 2013) all deal with beautiful women […]

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Apr 2

‘Saint Frances’ is an honest look at the clumsy road to womanhood

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From the very beginning of Saint Frances, it’s clear we’re in for something special. Inclusive, blunt and unapologetically feminist, this is a film that explores millennial milieu in all its chaotic glory. And if it has one thing to say, it’s this: let’s stop trying to avoid talking about what life is really like. Period […]

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Feb 19

‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ Is a Passionate Romance That Embraces the Female Gaze

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In “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” a single look holds so much power and intensity that it might as well be an explosion. A film about looking – and being seen — this achingly romantic drama is such a constant burst of fireworks that it feels like the 4th of July. Set on an […]

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May 9

Happy Mother’s Day: The Time of Lola Dueñas

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One of my favorite Spanish actresses is Lola Dueñas. She may not be as famous as Penelope Cruz or Carmen Maura, but for more than 20 years she has been delighting me in both leading and supporting parts that I love to recall. You may remember her from such terrific character turns in Pedro Almodóvar […]

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Oct 15

‘Capernaum’ Wins Gigi Guermont Audience Award

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After four days of amazing films, Miami audiences have voted Capernaum as the winner of the Gigi Guermont Audience Award. Directed by Nadine Labaki, the film’s politically-fueled drama has a unique storyline that brings attention to the issues of children in Beirut’s slums. The film was also winner of the Jury Prize at 2018 Cannes […]

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Aug 31

Glenn Close gives a powerhouse performance in timely literary drama ‘The Wife’

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At exactly the 5-minute mark of The Wife, the camera sits on a close-up of Joan Castleman’s (Glenn Close) face as she holds a phone to her ear. While taking in what the person is saying on the other line, her face flips through a myriad of emotions: excitement, disappointment, bewilderment. Why the wide range […]

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Jul 11

JORDAN RESSLER WINNER ‘CUSTODY’ WILL HAVE YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT

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Let’s face it: it’s not easy to drag yourself to a movie with super heavy subject matter. As someone who is constantly recommending movies to people, one of the most frequent reasons someone turns down a title is that they don’t want to watch something upsetting. I get it. But hard subjects are a part […]

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Jun 28

‘UNDER THE TREE’: CASTING A CLOUD OVER COMEDY

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When I introduced Under the Tree at the 2018 Miami Film Festival back in March, I was hesitant to say too much about the film. This is a movie best experienced, not explained. However, there was one small thing I told the audience to keep in the back of their heads: view this film through […]

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Apr 6

FESTIVAL GUEST JAVIER CAMARA STARS IN TRUMAN, NOW PLAYING AT TOWER!

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Every year, Miami Film Festival welcomes a steady stream of special guests, all of whom add a certain zest to Festival screenings and events. At the recent Festival back in March, there was one guest in particular that stood out: Javier Camara. The star of Pedro Almodovar films such as Talk to Her, Bad Education […]

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Dec 23

ELLE is the Must-See Movie of the Year

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When describing the plot of Elle, one may feel the need to tread lightly. That’s because director Paul Verhoeven’s latest pushes the boundaries of political correctness and – perhaps in some minds – plain good taste. It’s a movie that has every reason not to work, every reason to incite outrage. But against all odds, Elle turns […]

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