Chris Messina – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

I.S.S. (Tribeca 2023) – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

June 14, 2023September 4, 2023 Valerie Kalfrin Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, gabriela cowperthwaite, I.I.S., International Space Station, Masha Mashkova, sci fi, Tribeca 2023

For most of its roughly 90 minutes, the sci-fi thriller I.S.S. creates a meaty, suspenseful story, exploring not aliens from other worlds but the monsters of distrust within ourselves.
The title is an acronym for the International Space Station, a real-life research facility orbiting the Earth where astronauts collaborate on research involving physics, astrobiology, and other disciplines. The station typically has a crew of seven and involves five space agencies from the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe.

Reviews

AIR – Review by Susan Granger

May 16, 2023May 21, 2023 Susan Granger Air, ben affleck, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, jason bateman, matt damon, Michael Jordan, Nike sneakers, Sonny Vaccaro, viola davis

Air recounts how Sonny Vaccaro convinced the then-rookie Michael Jordan to sign a unique endorsement deal that changed the retail sports-apparel industry. Insightfully scripted by newcomer Alex Convery and astutely directed by Ben Affleck (Argo), it’s really a sports fable, centered on the 1984 corporate culture at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Back then, Nike was known for its running shoes which had zero impact on fashion. This underdog story begins as Nike’s basketball scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) searches for the next player to promote the footwear brand.

Reviews

AIR – Review by T.J. Callahan

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 T. J. Callahan Air, amazon studios, ben affleck, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, jason bateman, matt damon, Michael Jordan, Nike, truth-based, viola davis, Warner Bros.

Air: A shoe is just a shoe until someone steps into it. It was 1984. Americans were doing the Jane Fonda workout. Prince Charles and Lady Diana became parents to a future king, Mr. T pitied the fools, Clara Peller asked “Where’s the Beef?” and Converse ruled the athletic shoe world. A little ol sneaker company in Oregon was out to change that.

Reviews

AIR – Review by Susan Kamyab

April 1, 2023April 1, 2023 Susan Kamyab Air, ben affleck, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, Damien Delano Young, jason bateman, matt damon, Michael Jordan, Nike, viola davis, Warner Bros.

I am so happy to say that this movie is not only a slam dunk, but it’s one of the best films of the year so far. I know it’s early to say that, but this particular A-list film is going to stick with audiences all year long. Directed by Ben Affleck, the film is about a sports marketing executive, played by Matt Damon, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball: Michael Jordan.

Movie of the Week

MOVIE OF THE WEEK November 4, 2022: CALL JANE

October 29, 2022October 30, 2022 Jennifer Merin Aida Turturro, betsy bozdech, call jane, Cate Marquis, Chris Messina, elizabeth banks, grace edwards, jane collective, jennifer merin, kate mara, leslie combemale, loren king, nell minow, Pam Grady, Phyllis Nagy, sandie angulo chen, sherin nicole, sigourney weaver, susan wloszczyna, Wunmi Mosaku

Based on the true story of the Jane Collective, a group of young feminist activists who facilitated underground abortions in the Chicago area in the late 1960s and early ’70s, Phyllis Nagy’s heartfelt Call Jane illustrates, clearly and empathetically, why access to safe, affordable abortions is an essential aspect of female healthcare. The movie may take place 50-plus years ago, but in a world where the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, the issue has never felt more timely.

Reviews

CALL JANE – Review by Loren King

October 24, 2022October 30, 2022 Loren King call jane, Chris Messina, elizabeth banks, Movie of the Week, moyw, Phyllis Nagy, sigourney weaver

As an accessible film with a solid lead performance, Call Jane is an important addition to the Janes’ story and a reminder of the power of collective action. It’s hard not to feel sorrow and anger when, at the end, the Janes celebrate Roe v. Wade and the dissolution of the group. But it’s also a call to action.

Reviews

CALL JANE – Review by Susan Wloszczyna

October 24, 2022October 26, 2022 Susan Wloszczyna call jane, Chris Messina, elizabeth banks, Movie of the Week, moyw, Phyllis Nagy, sigourney weaver

The timely abortion rights film Call Jane, directed by Phyllis Nagy, starts off in Chicago in 1968, as the city and the nation are teetering on the brink of violent political upheaval. We meet a well-off suburban housewife Joy Griffin (Elizabeth Banks, who is the stand-out in the cast) leads an ordinary life with her husband and tween daughter. But when Joy’s pregnancy leads to a life-threatening condition, she must navigate a medical establishment unwilling to help. She then finds learns about the “Janes,” an underground organization of women who provide Joy with a safer alternative — and in the process — changes her life.

Reviews

THE AVIARY – Review by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

April 28, 2022April 28, 2022 Alexandra Heller-Nicholas Chris Cullari, Chris Messina, Jennifer Raite, Lorenza Izzo, Malin Akerman, The Aviary

Blair and Jillian are on the run, on foot, trying to escape the New Mexico desert. Desperate and disoriented, they are fleeing a cult called Skylight. This is no reductive “girl power” love-in. The relationship between the two women is complex, difficult, and at times very, very dark. A nice lesson in showing how with a good idea and solid talent you can do a lot with a little, The Aviary is a satisfying watch that packs a nice solid punch.

Reviews

THE AVIARY – Review by Lauren Anderson

April 18, 2022April 25, 2022 Lauren Anderson (Archived Contributor) Chris Cullari, Chris Messina, Jennifer Raite, Lorenza Izzo, Malin Akerman, The Aviary

In a tale of twists, sisterhood, and triumph, two women join forces to escape the sinister cult Skylight in The Aviary. Formerly trapped at Skylight’s isolated desert campus the Aviary, Jillian (Malin Akerman) and Blair (Lorenza Izzo) make their escape into the desert. While they only planned to be out in the wilderness for three days, they quickly start to become consumed by paranoia.

Festivals Reviews

CALL JANE (Sundance FF 2022) – Review by Leslie Combemale

January 25, 2022September 20, 2022 Leslie Combemale Aida Turturro, call jane, Chris Messina, elizabeth banks, grace edwards, jane collective, kate mara, Phyllis Nagy, sigourney weaver, Wunmi Mosaku

Call Jane is inspired by the work of the underground activist group Abortion Counseling Service of Women’s Liberationl. From 1968 to 1973, the group helped thousands of women to get pre-Roe V Wade abortions. Directed by Phillis Nagy, the film stars Elizabeth Banks as suburban housewife who becomes involved helping members of the organization, aka The Janes, after they helped her to end a life-threatening pregnancy.
Several documentaries and narratives have told the story of these women or used the organizaation as a backdrop, but Call Jane has the highest profile yet, featuring A-list talent that includes Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina, Kate Mara, and Wunmi Mosaku.

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