Joseph Moser

Film Review: Underdogs Rule in “I Love Boosters”

June 1, 2026

From its sly opening to its affecting denouement, “I Love Boosters” aims to entertain, challenge, and shock viewers. I applaud writer-director Boots Riley’s lofty ambitions even if the first half of the…

‘Canoe Dig It?’ Sheds Hilarious Light on an Absurdly Obscure Sport

May 19, 2026

by Joseph Moser

Actor-filmmaker Samuel Dunning strikes comic gold in his 2025 Maine-set mockumentary, “Canoe Dig It?” The movie explores freestyle canoeing, a sport so ridiculous that…

Review: ‘The Drama’ — A Cringe Comedy with Brains and Bite

April 21, 2026

by Joseph Moser

“I used to be ugly” at first seems like a throwaway line in the opening act of the buzzy new movie “The Drama,” but as…

Review: “Sirāt” Is Searing, Devastating Cinema

March 31, 2026

by Joseph Moser

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and no one feels fine. That’s the situation throughout most of “Sirāt,” the stunning…

Eleven Can’t-Miss Movies at the 2026 Green Mountain Film Festival

March 10, 2026

by Joseph Moser

Great cinema can cure late-winter blues, immersing viewers in manifold visions and cultures. This year marks the 25th Green Mountain Film Festival, from March…

In “It Was Just an Accident,” Revenge Begets Uncertainty

November 18, 2025

by Joseph Moser

What if a decent person who has been wronged, rather than pursuing an all-consuming mission for revenge, has their former tormentor show up randomly…

‘Coming Home’ Faces Harsh Truths About Justice, Community, and Reintegration

November 7, 2025

by Joseph Moser

Hundreds of films about the American criminal justice system put viewers in the position of rooting for an innocent person caught up in the…

“One Battle After Another” Confronts Our Tumultuous Moment

October 14, 2025

by Joseph Moser

After making five consecutive period films, Paul Thomas Anderson turns his attention to our seething, roiling, punishing present, and he captures the zeitgeist with…

“Sorry, Baby” Brings It All Home: A Film Review

August 12, 2025

by Joseph Moser

“Sorry, Baby,” currently playing at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier, is deservedly one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2025. It astounded me…

With ‘Gone Guys,’ Local Filmmaker Inspires Conversations About Men’s Struggles

July 28, 2025

by Joseph Moser

What is healthy masculinity? Montpelier director Chad Ervin wants Vermonters to confront this challenging question. While many documentaries about social issues aim to start…

A photo of the three actors in Materialists dressed in wedding garb at a wedding reception

‘Materialists’ Shows Us Who We Are: A Film Review

June 24, 2025

by Joseph Moser

When a film has intelligence and a beating heart, many flaws can be forgiven. That’s certainly the case with “Materialists,” the second movie by…

The Wes Anderson film poster for the Phoenician Scheme depicting a man in the bath smoking a cigar

The Heart Within “The Phoenician Scheme”: A Film Review

June 16, 2025

by Joseph Moser

The title of Wes Anderson’s latest film offers a hint about the main flaw of this mostly delightful movie. The eponymous scheme is a…

“Sinners” Crackles with Energy and Ambition

May 19, 2025

by Joseph Moser

If August Wilson had written a vampire movie, it might be a lot like “Sinners,” the phenomenal new film by Ryan Coogler. It’s a…

Review: “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” a Smart Comedy in a Minor Key

April 28, 2025

by Joseph Moser

A wise man once told me that “humor conceals a deep sadness.” In that spirit, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” is a gentle comedy…

“No Other Land” Bears Witness and Poses a Challenge

April 14, 2025

by Joseph Moser

How can a cross-cultural friendship thrive amid devastating conflict? How will the world respond to this destruction? These are two of the urgent questions…

The Intriguing “Mickey 17” Misses the Mark: A Film Review

April 1, 2025

by Joseph Moser

Bong Joon-ho’s new film, “Mickey 17,” is very much a mixed bag, and that statement is painful to write. If you’re a science fiction…

Joseph Moser

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