Betsy Pickle – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

A PARADISE LOST – Review by Betsy Pickle

July 24, 2026July 25, 2026 Betsy Pickle A Paradise Lost, animation, Big Island of Hawaii, documentary, endangered species, Laurie Sumiye, palila bird

A Paradise Lost starts with a shocking murder, but it’s not a whodunnit. It’s a tale of myths and magic, of passing time and inevitable “progress,” of legal maneuvers and moral justice, of humans vs. nature — and nature vs. nature. It’s a documentary that is whimsical and pedantic, spiritual and practical. The paradise of the title is Hawaii, specifically the Big Island of Hawaii, home to the volcano Mauna Kea and a small bird called a palila. With a vibrant yellow head and neck, a white belly and gray wings, the palila is noted for the beauty of its plumage and its song. It’s also an endangered species.

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THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE – Review by Betsy Pickle

December 17, 2025January 8, 2026 Betsy Pickle amanda seyfried, Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, Scott Handy, Stacy Martin, The Testament of Ann Lee

Director Mona Fastvold and her co-screenwriter, Brady Corbet, elaborate on historic facts by reverse-engineering the precepts of Ann Lee, a British-born woman whose perceived communications from God led her to establish what became known as the Shakers. Far from being a dry account of olden times, it’s an assault on the senses and emotions. Brutal violence and male-dominating sexuality are on full display. Strains of impending terror run throughout. Even the spirituality is full of noise and power, shrieking and loud singing. Ann is a big believer in prayer, but her faith has force – and elaborate dances. (There’s a reason they’re called Shakers.)

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ONE MORE SHOT – Review by Betsy Pickle

December 5, 2025December 8, 2025 Betsy Pickle alice foulcher, Anna McGahan, Contessa Treffone, Emily Browning, gregory erdstein, Heather Wilson, Nicholas Clifford, Oliver Coleman, One More Shot

Back when Gwyneth Paltrow was better known for her acting than her entrepreneurship, she starred in a wistful, speculative romantic comedy called Sliding Doors about a woman in a road-not-taken scenario, using the London Underground as a magical portal. One More Shot literally references Sliding Doors, just to make sure you get the connection. Director Nicholas Gifford doesn’t queeze the film into a particular box. It’s alternately funny, silly, sad, disturbing, sweet, irritating, insightful and relatable. It’s a slice of life – albeit an only-in-the-movies life. One More Shot delivers more than its premise promises.

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STELLA: A LIFE (STELLA. EIN LEBEN) – Review by Betsy Pickle

September 24, 2025September 26, 2025 Betsy Pickle german films, Katja Riemann, Lukas Miko, paula beer, Stella: A Life, Stella. Ein leben)

There’s irony in the title of the German film Stella: A Life (Stella. Ein leben), a dramatic thriller that looks at the Holocaust from an out-of-the-ordinary perspective. Many dramatic films depicting the Holocaust treat the setting as though it’s a history lesson, giving it a reverent patina. Director Kilian Riedhof tears through the streets of Berlin with urgency, terror and suspense, coming up for air in brief spurts. Riedhof, who co-wrote the screenplay with Marc Blobaum and Jan Braren, insists on flesh-and-blood action, and the realism is intense. Viewers will feel the violence.

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OH, HI! – Review by Betsy Pickle

July 23, 2025July 27, 2025 Betsy Pickle Geraldine Viswanathan as Max, John Reynolds, logan lerman, Molly Gordon, Oh Hi!, Sophie Brooks

The title Oh, Hi! suggests something unexpected and spontaneous, and that’s an accurate reflection of director Sophie Brooks’ sophomore film. Oh, Hi! is not your typical romcom, if it can be described as a romantic comedy at all, and while IMDB tags it as a dark comedy, it’s not really that either.

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WE COULD STILL BE PENPALS – Review by Betsy Pickle

July 11, 2025July 13, 2025 Betsy Pickle Alec Dean Boeschen, Christine Celozzi, Claire Goldhush, DonnaKelli Barnett, Juliet Lucas, River Downing, We Could Still Be Pen Pals

We Could Still Be Pen Pals comes with question marks attached. How do people define relationships? What is the point of a relationship? What happens when both partners don’t want the same things? Pen Pals approaches those questions and others seriously but with a light touch. It’s like a series of late-night gab sessions with good friends, with and without alcohol involved.

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THE HARVEST – Review by Betsy Pickle

June 13, 2025June 16, 2025 Betsy Pickle Caylee So, Chrisna Chhor, Doua Moua, Hmong community, immigrant culture, Perry Yung, Ying Yuen

Immigration is a hot topic right now, so it’s timely that The Harvest is arriving in theaters. But the drama of this compelling film has nothing to do with citizenship or ICE or politics; it’s about what historically has drawn people to the United States and how they reconcile the traditions of their homeland with the opportunities of their new country. Set within the close knit Hmong community of Southern California, the narrative could have been based on any Southeast Asian immigrant culture – or South American, or European, for that matter – as a backdrop. It’s the struggle of change – progress, some would call it – that draws the outlines here as tradition, family, duty and happiness compete for attention.

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KILLING MARY SUE – Review by Betsy Pickle

June 6, 2025June 6, 2025 Betsy Pickle Dermot Mulroney, James Sunshine, Jason Mewes, Killing Mary Sue, Sierra McCormick

A hapless blend of dark comedy and light tragedy, Killing Mary Sue feels like the drug-addled brainchild of filmmakers who grew up watching John Frankenheimer thrillers and Kevin Smith comedies in between playing Fortnite and writing Star Trek fan fiction, all while celebrating a smug, stoner intelligence that’s been outdated since Cheech & Chong’s best years. And it aims for extra credit by thumbing its nose at the #MeToo movement with a female protagonist who likes her sex on the side after ordering a main course of rape.

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OFF THE RECORD – Review by Betsy Pickle

April 24, 2025April 26, 2025 Betsy Pickle Anna Sui, Julia Campbell, Kirsten Foe, Off the Record, Rainey Qualley, Rebecca De Mornay, Ryan Hansen

At first blush, Off the Record looks like a modern romance gone bad, but it plugs in to the misogyny that continues to plague the entertainment industry. Rainey Qualley stars as an aspiring singer-songwriter in Los Angeles. She catches the attention of a passé but still famous rocker who reaches out to her on social media. Flattered by his interest, Astor goes out with him on a date that moves too fast, too soon and never seems to end. He wants to accelerate her career and her love life simultaneously, but her best friend and her mom point out some red flags. He likes to control things, but he doesn’t have much control over his own emotions – or vices.

Reviews

LIGHT OF THE SETTING SUN – Review by Betsy Pickle

April 11, 2025April 12, 2025 Betsy Pickle documentary, Light of the Setting Sun, Taiwanese immigrants, Vicky Du

Light of the Setting Sun is first-time filmmaker Vicky Du’s documentary in which she sets out to understand the secrets that have haunted her life. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants who came to the United States as college students, Du grew up in New Jersey with a slightly older brother. They never lacked for food, clothing or shelter, and their parents made sure they got a good education. Home videos show happy times but both siblings recall a strangeness in their household. The home was filled with alternating silence and yelling. Punishments were harsh. Discussions about feelings and personal issues were discouraged. Du treats her family’s 900-year history with respect and affection. She unpacks a lot in the 73-minute film, but she doesn’t hit viewers over the head with it.

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