Category Archives: Chicago Critics Film Festival 2023

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2023, Film reviews

Theater Camp Review

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During my high school years, I loved being involved in theatre. I performed in seven productions including The Nitwits, Les Miserables, Flowers for Algernon, MacBeth Did It, Get Smart, Sense and Sensibility, and The Music Man. When I saw the film Theater Camp, it allowed me to relive my younger days when I was in a community of theatrical enthusiasts learning acting and other important stage skills. I was reminded of trials and errors during auditions, but more importantly the positive feelings which come from being connected to many friends working together on a production. Theater Camp is a one-of-a-kind sensation that features voices that span all ages. It is a real treat for those who are aspiring to have a voice.

Theater Camp focuses on camp counselors Amos Klobuchar (played by Ben Platt) and Rebecca Diane (played by Molly Gordon). They are best friends who live for the arts and the theatre. The duo run a theater camp in upstate New York which is bound to be closed due to financial conflicts. The risk of the camp shutting down prompts Amos and Rebecca Diane to influence their students to be as lively as they possibly can be. With Platt and Gordon playing camp counselors who have loads of acting experience, they are perfect in these roles. They are the voices of this inspiring film which will appeal to audiences of all ages.

There are moments of frustration in the rehearsals for their show. This story line does, however, find its light. It reminds viewers that actors can have their moments of struggle. The movie also reminds viewers that any form of acting is a process, but it is ultimately about enjoying the craft and each stage of the work itself. Theater Camp is a positive retrospective that reminds us how theatricals can create memories to cherish forever.

Emotions experienced during the rehearsal process is where Theater Camp finds its vital connection to the world of the arts. There are times when the camp hits plateaus. The film shows how these hardships are overcome and they serve to make the camp stronger with better voices, innovative minds, and creative ideas. The joy of Theater Camp reminds me of the saying, “There are no small roles, only small actors.” Konstantin Stanislavski is credited for this comment and this quote was mentioned every time I walked into an audition. This quote correlates to Theater Camp because everyone is a winner. No matter how big their role, their craft, or their thinking are, each person is going to be successful in their own unique way.

I hope that those who see Theater Camp embrace the appreciation they experience through the performances of Platt and Gordon. It reminds us that in acting or any performance art, the importance of the mentoring from the directors. Theater Camp illustrates for viewers that the ones who deserve the attention for an amazing performance are those who are in charge but are often behind the scenes. This film is about community and appreciation of the arts. It is also about being an advocate for those who are passionate about the arts. Four stars for Theater Camp.

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2023, Film reviews

Master Gardener Review

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The opening credits of Master Gardener include segments of different plants growing with disturbing music playing in the background. The environment in the film’s tense and eerie introduction displays the brilliance of writer and director Paul Schrader. After this setup, the film transitions to the main character elaborating on plant types and the history surrounding them. The mind of someone who has a fascination with plants is just the beginning of the unexpected in Master Gardener.

The movie’s main character is Narvel played by Joel Edgerton. Narvel is an expert of horticulture and gardening. His boss is Norma played by Sigourney Weaver. Norma asks Narvel to mentor her niece, Maya, who is played by Quintessa Swindell. The garden is called Gracewood Gardens. Narvel is the king and the guide to the operations of this beautiful environment. Narvel even narrates about plants and their background during sporadic moments in Master Gardener.

The enthusiasm of Narvel and is work at Gracewood Gardens is calculated and extremely accurate, but the gardening and plantations are not the sole focus of the story. The story is about Maya, the one doing the apprenticeship with Narvel. Gracewood Gardens is Narvel’s sanctuary, and it offers a landscape of potential knowledge and necessary patience for Maya.

There are tensions to consider as Master Gardener goes deeper into its character studies. Schrader always finds a way to stir the pot in his projects. Maya and Norma are related and there is a past conflict between them. Narvel has a bad track record as well and with his involvement, there is more depth to the film’s eerie continuity. As conflict arises, Narvel’s narration regarding gardening continues and begins to get more personal. Then Maya begins to grow more comfortable with Narvel. Is it appropriate, however, for them to have a close bond?

Narvel’s past is unsettling, haunting, and unexpected. Master Gardener is poetic in its approach to Narvel advocating for Maya due to problems in her life with individuals she can’t dismiss. This creates boundary problems as Narvel and Maya grow closer which in turn lead to problems with Norma causing hatred and disgust to linger.

Narvel’s knowledge of gardening begins to serve a deadly purpose. There is a moment where he mentions to some shady people that his sheers can do more damage than pruning. Schrader finds the right time to have the evilness rise in Narvel. As Maya is Narvel’s new responsibility, he must consider how both their lives could be impacted. There may be a point where neither can go back to a life where the darkness was once put behind them.

Schrader is a true auteur as a writer and director.  I felt the brilliance of his invigorating concepts throughout Master Gardener. What came to my mind as I watched this movie were previous films Schrader has written ranging from Taxi Driver (1976) to Raging Bull (1980) to The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).  All these films are masterpieces directed by Martin Scorsese. I have come to realize that the personalities of Schrader’s characters make his projects so amazing. No one can go wrong with the mind of Schrader.

Beneath all the troubles, the love of Narvel’s gardening has surreal moments. The pasts of both Narvel and Maya are painful. Narvel’s love for gardening symbolizes a craft which allows one to leave the past behind. This proves to be a daunting challenge due to the circumstances in Master Gardener. The writing and directing of Schrader, as always, allows the audience to develop a better understanding of the unexpected tensions and their eventual outcomes. Three and a half stars for Master Gardener.

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2023, Film reviews

The Unknown Country Review

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As The Unknown Country opens, the audience will feel its eerie vibe blended with vast lighting of majestic cinematography. It delivers the feeling that its main character is looking for resolution. The film also displays thriving moments of optimism. The Unknown Country is a portrait of illumination and the emotions throughout the movie dazzled me. There is a light to be found in The Unknown Country which makes its audience feel that it is imminent.

The Unknown Country gears on Tana (played by Lily Gladstone). She is depressed and trying to find positive redemption. Tana is on a journey to rejoin her family, so she drives from the Midwest and goes through the border of Texas to Mexico. Her journey is a harsh and tiring adventure. As she travels through the different towns and states, she passes through moments of real-life events ranging from the post-2016 election social climate to places that struggle with challenging economic impacts. Many of the people she visits are in turmoil due to scarce resources. Her realization is that she is not alone in feeling disconnected, but she appreciates the mountains and the landscape around her are positives in life. The many landscapes invigorate her mind and open her up for more change.

The Unknown Country is one of the best films about a fictional story because of how fiction is blended with true historical events. These real-life situations made me think back to the days of 2016. The film helped me realize that during hard times we need to learn to embrace the little things that make us feel alive. In The Unknown Country Tana gets better as her journey continues. As she learns from her own narrations, the audience will feel a sense of encouragement regarding a new life for Tana.

The trail for Tana is long and challenging. Her loneliness is on and off, but as she experiences new faces and places, the narrative continues to be compelling. It is a film that reminds us that sometimes escaping to new worlds of reality can have meaning and improve empathy. Audiences will feel Tana’s heartache and they will have faith in her. The turmoil is just the beginning for Tana, but it is not forever. The Unknown Country portrays a meaningful ride.

Finding the light in hard times can cause mixed emotions. It creates anxiety and can cause us to overthink our own errors. While it is painful to think about persona failures, it is important to remind ourselves that making mistakes is natural. Learning from mistakes is most important.  The Unknown Country is a representation of Tana starting fresh on her road to reconnecting with her estranged family. It is not so much about focusing on her family, it is focused on the positive vibes that slowly come her way on her road trip. I absolutely loved the scenery, and I loved the writing. It is a story that is unlike any other. Four stars for The Unknown Country.