Bob Balaban – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

FANTASY LIFE – Review by T. J. Callahan

March 31, 2026April 5, 2026 T. J. Callahan alessandro nivola, Amanda Peet, Andrea Martin, Bob Balaban, Fantasy Life, Holland Taylor, Judd Hirsch, Matthew Shear

Fantasy Life is about manifesting happiness and the effort it takes to get there. It’s about family dynamics amidst a mainstream look at wrestling with mental health issues. It’s about privilege and guilt. The film, which won accolades at SXSW, is also very down to earth, so to speak, in its dialogue with sex talk at the family dinner table and bodily function assessments in the boudoir as we follow these angst ridden characters through four seasons of their lives.

Reviews

DESPERATE SOULS, DARK CITY AND THE LEGEND OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 Valerie Kalfrin Bob Balaban, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy, Desperate Souls, documentary, Dustin Hoffman, John Schlesinger, Jon Voight, nancy buirski, Waldo Salt

The documentary is an immersive kaleidoscope of reflections from the people who helped Midnight Cowboy come to be. Director Nancy Buirski blends insightful interviews and archive footage to craft a picture of the era when Midnight Cowboy debuted, touching on the Vietnam War, New York City’s financial troubles, and attitudes toward homosexuality. Shots from Midnight Cowboy fade in to real-life New Yorkers, anti-war footage, or scenes from director John Schlesinger’s documentaries, enhancing the film’s feel as a product of those times.