Sally is what one would hope for from a Sundance Film Festival documentary. The festival is typically ripe with programming engaging in social commentary and highlighting diverse perspectives. And who better to highlight than the first female astronaut to adventure into space? The documentary is broad-sweeping in scope, discussing Sally Ride’s early life as a tennis player to becoming a NASA
Read MoreMiddletown sees documentarians Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss return to another story about young people’s role in the future of politics and activism. While Girls State is a sufficient follow-up to the groundbreaking documentary Boys State, the second outing lacked the same energy despite the importance of the subject matter. Here, McBaine and Moss seem to be shifting gears, and instead
Read MoreThe Sundance Film Festival documentary Life After begins with a simple yet controversial question. Should a disabled individual or someone who is suffering have the right to die? Regarding the disability experience, finding stories about people who share my worldview is a priority. And to be honest, the question posed caused me unease. Discovering that documentarian Reid Davenport shared the same
Read MoreThis week filmmaker Gala del Sol will premiere her ambitious film Rains Over Babel at the Sundance Film Festival. The movie has a vibrant aesthetic combining all the influences of her home, Colombia; this is felt in the fashion, the dancing, and the character designs of the film. Adding to this, the movie explores interesting themes involving the LGTBQ experience, prejudice, God or Gods, and the
Read MoreThe Cosmic Circus is thrilled to launch its first official year of covering the Sundance Film Festival. Our first piece highlights films that attendees and readers should possibly consider while exploring the festival. Last year continued the festival’s long history of bringing films that ignite conversation and acclaim. For instance, Sundance 2024 sparked mixed reactions to the ambitious AI romance Love
Read More‘Love Me’ has an inspired concept and two great performances, but neither are enough to save its inherent messiness.
Read MoreThe art of the crowd pleaser is a delicate craft. Trying to make something that will connect with audiences on a major scale while also maintaining artistic integrity, on a good day, might as well be near impossible. So it wasn’t difficult to look upon the rave festival reviews for Hit Man, the latest from legendary filmmaker Richard Linklater (Dazed &
Read MoreWhen an independent director is swallowed up into the blockbuster machine, there’s usually two paths for them. Either they stay in the machine or are never heard from again. It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Mississippi Grind directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck seemed destined for the latter after directing Captain Marvel when they didn’t return for the sequel or immediately
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