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Mouse Review: Heartfelt and Emotional Coming Of Age
Thanks to the IFC Team for sending me an early screener for this film! Co-Directors Alex Thompson and Kelly O'Sullivan (Ghostlight) hit the festival circuit with Mouse, their second collaboration together. Synopsis: "When her closest friendship is suddenly disrupted the summer before senior year, a teenager struggles to find her footing and develops an unexpected, complicated bond with her best friend’s mother." Cast: Sophie Okonedo, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Chloe Coleman,
Alex Schlerf
4 days ago6 min read


Josephine Review: Haunting Story of Trauma and Effect It Has On Young Child
The 35th Philadelphia Film Festival is currently going on from now through October 25th and I was lucky enough to watch this film early through the film festival! Director Beth de Araújo (Soft and Quiet) returns for her second feature film with Josephine, a heavy story about a little girl who witnesses a tragic event. Synopsis: "After eight-year-old Josephine (Mason Reaves) accidentally witnesses a crime in Golden Gate Park, she begins to act out violently to protect herself.
Alex Schlerf
Oct 205 min read


Strong Son Review: Interesting, But Slow, Picture of Former Body-Builder's Mental Struggles
I wanted to catch this at the Vancouver International Film Festival but was unable to due to my schedule, so thanks to the VIFF team for sending me this early screener! Enjoy the review! Director Ian Bawa crafts his first full-length feature film with Strong Son, a former short film now adapted for the long format. Synopsis: "A former South Asian bodybuilder moves back in with his aging father to become his primary caregiver, forcing him to balance the physical strength that
Alex Schlerf
Oct 135 min read


Tender Loving Care Review - Mike Leigh Crafts Incredibly Endearing and Impactful Film
I'm currently covering the Vancouver Film Festival for Rogue Eye Media! Keep an eye on this website and all of our social media platforms all weekend for all my thoughts. So far we have reviews for The Debut, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, Fjord, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, and Fatherland! Legendary director Mike Leigh (Secrets and Lies, Hard Truths) returns for what may be his final film with Tender Loving Care, a story about a family of social workers. Sy
Alex Schlerf
Oct 56 min read


Fatherland Review: Sandra Hüller Can't Save Boring and Uninteresting Period Piece
I'm currently covering the Vancouver Film Festival for Rogue Eye Media! Keep an eye on this website and all of our social media platforms all weekend for all my thoughts. So far we have reviews of The Debut, The Only Living Pickpocket In New York, Fjord, Club Kid, and Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother! Director Paweł Pawlikowski (Cold War) returns with another detailed period piece in Fatherland, starring Sanüra Hüller. Synopsis: "In 1949, German writer Thomas Mann and his
Alex Schlerf
Oct 55 min read


Club Kid Review: Firstman's Directorial Debut is a Charming and Emotional Success
I'm currently covering the Vancouver Film Festival for Rogue Eye Media! Keep an eye on this website and all of our social media platforms all weekend for all my thoughts. So far we have reviews of The Debut, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, and Fjord! Jordan Firstman pulls triple duty as actor/writer/director in Club Kid, a story about a NYC club promoter who shockingly learns that he has a child. Synopsis: "A hard-partying New York City club promoter (Jordan Firstman)
Alex Schlerf
Oct 35 min read


The Only Living Pickpocket In New York Review - Tuturro Incredibly Likable in Portrait of NYC
I'm currently covering the Vancouver Film Festival for Rogue Eye Media! Keep an eye on this website and all of our social media platforms all weekend for all my thoughts. My first review for The Debut is live here and now enjoy my review of The Only Living Pickpocket In New York! Synopsis: "Harry Lehman (John Tuturro) is an aging pickpocket who plies his trade with ever-diminishing returns in a drastically changed New York. Wallets stuffed with cash have been replaced by easi
Alex Schlerf
Oct 25 min read


Digger Review: Cruise and Iñárritu Take Wildly Entertaining Swings In Sometimes Directionless Comedy
Tom Cruise teams with Alejando González Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant) for the first time with Digger, a absurd drama/comedy that is filled with twists and turns. Synopsis: "The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything." Cast: Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Huller, MIchael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons Release Date: In Theaters October 2nd Edtor's Note: Warner
Alex Schlerf
Sep 296 min read


Previewing My Vancouver Film Festival Lineup
We are now 10 days away from the start of the Vancouver Film Festival, and for those who aren't aware - I will be covering it for Rogue Eye Media! This is my first film festival ever for Rogue Eye Media and the lineup is stacked with a wide variety of projects. We have films with big Hollywood stars, first-time directors, and indie projects looking to make an awards push. The festival will be taking place October 1st-11th and we will be attending for those first four days! Ma
Alex Schlerf
Sep 225 min read


Buddy Review: Creative Twist on Typical Horror Trope
Director Casper Kelly (V/H/S/Halloween) takes another step up for his next feature film with Buddy, a story about a children's television show that is much worse than it seems. Synopsis: "Remember BUDDY—the bright orange unicorn and star of that classic childrens’ television show who brought joy and life lessons into your living room? Inside the colorful world of “It’s Buddy!”, a group of children spend their days singing, dancing, and helping Buddy spread happiness. But when
Alex Schlerf
Aug 246 min read


DC Studios' Lanterns Press Conference: My Takeaways
Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited to a virtual press conference for Warner Brothers and DC Studios' newest show Lanterns. I've been under embargo up to this point, but now that the first episode is out, we can dive into it! The full press conference is not available to the public, so I'll be giving some of my takeaways and quotes that I pulled from the event! If you are looking for my reaction to Episode 1, check out our TikTok where I gave all my thoughts. A huge t
Alex Schlerf
Aug 175 min read


Eternity Review: Entertaining and Modern Take on the Afterlife
Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen headline Eternity, a film about making the impossible choice of who you will spend the rest of your life with. Synopsis: In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan (Olsen) is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with (Teller), and her first love (Callum Turner), who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive. Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, Callum Turner, Da'Vi
Alex Schlerf
Nov 13, 20256 min read


If I Had Legs I'd Kick You Review: Commanding Performance by Rose Byrne Allows For Entertaining Watch
Writer/Director Mary Bronstein dips into the indie film game with If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, a tense drama/comedy starring Rose Byrne (Neighbors, Insidious, Bridesmaids). Synopsis: With her life crashing down around her, Linda (Byrne) tries to navigate her daughter's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist (Conan O'Brien). Cast: Rose Byrne, Conan O'Brien, ASAP Rocky, Danielle Macdonald Release Date
Alex Schlerf
Oct 7, 20256 min read


Main Takeaways from the Sinners Virtual Press Conference
I had the absolute pleasure of attending the virtual press conference for Warner Brothers' upcoming film 'Sinners', starring Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld, on Friday! The press conference is currently not available to the public, so here I'll be providing my main takeaways! For those who are don't have the backstory for this film, here's the trailer and synopsis: Synopsis: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) r
Alex Schlerf
Apr 7, 20255 min read
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