A Art Tv Review

 If you've spent much time with young children in the last decade, you probably know Deborah Diesen's *The Pout-Pout Fish* by heart. I certainly do. I've read it to my daughters countless times. When I learned that a film adaptation was in the works for 2026, I was thrilled. And even though they're teenagers now, they were excited too. But a big question arose: How do you turn a simple, charming picture book about a gloomy fish into a feature-length cinematic experience? It turns out it's done by expanding the world and casting a comedy legend.  Directors: Ricard Cussó, Rio Harrington Writers: Elise Allen, Elie Choufany, Deborah Diesen Stars: Nick Offerman, Miranda Otto, Amy Sedaris Nick Offerman as Mr. Fish is, quite frankly, brilliant. Offerman has built a career playing stoic, grumpy, but secretly kind-hearted characters. Playing a grumpy, introverted fish who believes his sulking face is his permanent fate is exactly what he's after. In the first act, he del...

Cannes: Petzold's latest film lacks the perverse psychological force that made films like "Phoenix" and "Barbara" so profound, but it still offers another magnificent showcase for actress Paula Beer. Christian Petzold's ethereal latest film, "Mirrors No. 3," is as compact as a novella, as ephemeral in its emotion, as delicate in its register as one of the Chopin or Ravel pieces that run through it. A mysterious woman, standing on a bridge, lost in thought. An amnesiac seeking respite. An overturned car, the driver's brains splattered across the road while his passenger watches, unharmed. Later, he eats apples in a bed belonging to another woman, wearing that woman's daughter's clothes, tasting another life almost as a joke. Director: Christian Petzold Writer: Christian Petzold Stars: Paula Beer, Philip Froissant, Barbara Auer German filmmaker Petzold arrives at Cannes for the first time with a new, understated drama that delves into the...

This is the case with Holy Days, the latest New Zealand film that embarks a cast of characters on a road trip, with the inevitable chaos that follows. Holy Days combines the philosophy of Runaway Nuns with a kind of Father Ted-esque wacky comedy, resulting in a sweetly captivating, if somewhat superficial, film. Director: Nat Boltt Writers: Nat Boltt, Joy Cowley Stars: Miriam Margolyes, Jacki Weaver, Judy Davis It returns to the New Zealand of the 1970s, complete with shorts and rolled-up socks, as this trio and their wandering protégé Brian set off on a road trip without a care for geography, unnecessary stops, or interacting with the locals. Debut director Nat Boultt's adaptation of Dame Joy Cowley's book is quite endearing and simple in many ways, though it conceals a subtle inner darkness. From the loss of Brian's mother and his rejection of the surrogate mother his father (Craig Hall) has acquired, to the hints of children from past generations and families raised in c...

Being a father has made me incredibly sensitive to stories involving the relationship between son, father, and grandfather, and this has become the most emotional film I've ever seen. The flood of emotions was overwhelming, and I can say that "Avenue of the Giants" will stay with me for a long time as I continue to process it. Starting with the all-too-familiar family narrative of keeping secrets from family members for what is believed to be their own good, this story feels very personal from the beginning. We have a sweet old man, illness, trauma, and happy children, all in the opening scenes, and I could already feel the tears welling up. I immediately sensed the weight of what was to come and knew it was going to expose something raw. Director: Finn Taylor Writer: Finn Taylor Stars: Stephen Lang, Elsie Fisher, Luke David Blumm The suffering of two people, separated by time, becomes the bridge that allows them to establish mutual trust and the courage to open up and sh...

Youngblood is an unusual choice for a remake. The 1986 hockey drama starring Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze was a box office flop, grossing little more than $15 million. Unlike other films aimed at a similar audience during that period (The Lost Boys, St. Elmo’s Fire, etc.), it hasn’t left a notable legacy on home video either. It’s one of those movies you probably forgot existed. The remake won’t be any better remembered. It falls flat rather easily without making a real impression. Talented teenage hockey player Dean Youngblood (Ashton James) has seen his career stall before it even began, due to a temper that gets him into numerous fights. His father, Blane (Blair Underwood), taught him not to let anyone criticize him, a lesson he has deeply internalized.  Director: Hubert Davis Writers: Seneca Aaron, Josh Epstein, Peter Markle Stars: Ashton James, Blair Underwood, Shawn Doyle Dean has only one option left: to sign with the Hamilton Mustangs, a team whose coach, Murray Chadwick (Sh...

This British thriller brings dark humor to an atmosphere that is undoubtedly typical of low-quality true crime dramas. Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough play a married couple who, from a distance, might appear to have a happy life in rural England. At their remote estate, a sturdy metal gate keeps the frenetic modern world at bay. Their enormous house has enough space for a master bedroom with an imposing four-poster bed, room for their charming little son nicknamed "Sunshine," a guest room for a live-in housekeeper, and a spacious basement, perfect for laundry and crafting. However, what ex-cop Chris and his fragile wife Kathryn are doing in the basement is anything but charming. Director: Jan Komasa Writers: Bartek Bartosik, Naqqash Khalid Stars: Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Anson Boon Directed by Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa, Heel shares similarities with Pedro Almodóvar's unsettling psychological thriller, The Skin I Live In, with the comedic audacity of a m...