Brian J. Roan 7/17/26 Brian J. Roan 7/17/26

‘The Odyssey’ Wrestles With Giants Both Moral and Mortal

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey sees him wrestling with every one of his driving concerns, melding mythic story with modern morality.

Brian J. Roan 6/28/26 Brian J. Roan 6/28/26

‘Disclosure Day’ Keeps the Interesting Ideas Under Wraps

It feels as though Spielberg had ideas but no thoughts when it came to the idea of disclosure.

Brian J. Roan 12/6/24 Brian J. Roan 12/6/24

The Safe Blasphemy of Conclave

Conclave fails to be as as subversive as it wants to be or as interesting as it could have been.

Brian J. Roan 3/22/19 Brian J. Roan 3/22/19

Dragged Across Concrete [Review]

Dragged Across Concrete might have the earmarks of a gross, taunting provocation, but beneath that skin is a raw beating heart and a wily, captivating mind.

Brian J. Roan 3/5/19 Brian J. Roan 3/5/19

The Standoff at Sparrow Creek [Review]

The Standoff at Sparrow Creek is a Swiss watch of style, plotting, and performance on all levels.

Brian J. Roan 10/9/18 Brian J. Roan 10/9/18

The Grey [Review]

A stark, thrilling examination of the will to survive.

Brian J. Roan 9/15/17 Brian J. Roan 9/15/17

mother! [Review]

The ecstatic shout of a blood-drenched street preacher wielding a knife.

Brian J. Roan 6/21/17 Brian J. Roan 6/21/17

Dunkirk [Review]

A muscular, tactile bit of wartime filmmaking.

Brian J. Roan 1/5/17 Brian J. Roan 1/5/17

Silence [Review]

An epic examination of the limits and power of faith.

Brian J. Roan 11/12/16 Brian J. Roan 11/12/16

Arrival [Review]

A perfect melding of cerebral ideas and raw emotion.

Brian J. Roan 11/2/16 Brian J. Roan 11/2/16

The Monster [Review]

There are no words strong or true enough to praise the work done by Zoe Kazan and Ella Ballentine in this new film from The Strangers director Bryan Bertino.

Foreground Noise