Our preconceived notions of gender roles are given a harsh bit of scrutiny in Swedish writer-director Ruben Östlund’s bracing, darkly satirical “Force Majeure.” Focusing on a family on holiday at a ski resort in the French Alps, the films deftly morphs into an uncomfortably funny portrait of a marriage in crisis. At first glance, Tomas […]
Adam Lubitow
Film critic for CITY Newspaper, writer, iced coffee addict, and dinosaur enthusiast.
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “A Most Violent Year”
Still early in his career, director J.C. Chandor has cemented his status as a filmmaker to watch. So far he’s already made three excellent — and wildly different — films: From his debut with the financial thriller “Margin Call” (which nabbed him an Oscar nomination for writing), to the nearly dialogue-free survival drama, “All is […]
Posted inSpecial Sections
Roll the dice
For me, the winter months have always been a time for hibernation, not exertion — I swear it’s not lazy, it’s just being sensible about surviving these long Rochester winters. All due respect to those participating in activities like the Polar Plunge, but I value my warmth and comfort a little too much to risk […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “The Babadook”
The greatest horror films — the ones that stand the test of time — continue to resonate with audiences not just for the theme park thrills they provide, but because they find a way to tap into our deepest, most primal fears. They can choose to make those fears metaphorical or terrifyingly literal, but that […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Theater Review: “Little Shop of Horrors” at Geva
With joy, edge, and a playful 60’s tone, “Little Shop of
Horrors” is an irresistible musical — and Geva’s new production
doesn’t disappoint.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Theater Review: RBTL presents “Pippin”
The touring production of “Pippin” — the Tony-winning revival of the 1972 Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson musical — transforms the medieval tale of a wide-eyed dreamer into a wildly entertaining circus spectacular. The production, presented by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League, opened Tuesday night at the Auditorium Theatre and continues through Sunday, January […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Selma”
The time is right for a film like “Selma.” Though director Ava DuVernay’s focus is the riveting behind-the-scenes story of a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement — documenting Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign to get the Voting Rights Act passed by staging marches from Selma, Alabama, to the state capitol in Montgomery — […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Stray Dogs”
Master Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang is infamous for his deliberate pacing and use of extremely long takes, frequently composed as master shots, in which little action occurs on screen. Perhaps understandably, this sort of technique has earned him as many admirers as it has detractors. He forces the audience to wait and observe, letting us […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Actress”
Though “Actress” is billed as a documentary, director Robert Greene’s fascinating, somewhat enigmatic portrait of actress Brandy Burre strikes a delicate balancing act as it allows reality to blur together with fiction. Burre, whose most well-known role was as a recurring character on the television series “The Wire,” stepped away from acting when she became […]
Posted inCulture
The Rochester 10
The Greater Rochester area is filled with talented, driven people working to make the region a better place to live, work, and play. But often it seems that the same names dominate headlines, while others who are working tirelessly within their own spheres go under the radar. This annual project — the Rochester 10 — […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Into the Woods”
Practically from birth, we’re taught by fairy tales that as long as we’re pure of heart (and determined enough) that there will come a day when all our wishes will come true; everybody gets their happy ending. Though experience tells us that is anything but the case, we like to comfort ourselves with these tales […]
Posted inMovies
Film Review: “Big Eyes”
Told as its own sort of fairy tale (complete with storybook narration), Tim Burton’s “Big Eyes” brings an unusual story of artistic deception to the screen. In the late 50’s and early 60’s, Walter Keane’s (Christoph Waltz) kitschy paintings of sad, large-eyed waifs became wildly popular, bringing him fame and untold fortune when he had […]
