Female Film Critics 24/375
Even if you had a wonderful freshman year roommate, I’m sure the “what-if” questions have crossed your mind as you’re settling into your new shared space. “What if we have nothing in common?” “What if they take my stuff?” “What if they expose my secrets?” “What if they set my things on fire?” In Chandler Levack’s Roommates, you will see all of these “what-ifs” play out in wildly unexpected ways.
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Nora Ephron said in a 2009 NPR interview that she “…learned to cook from that cookbook [Mastering the Art of French Cooking], and, what’s more, became completely infatuated with the person who’d written it.” Food was a very important part of Ephron’s life and her cinematic career, so it’s fitting that her final film would cover a woman and a topic that has been with her nearly her entire life.
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When Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) first plays the piano while wearing a borrowed Princeton jacket, there’s no way to expect what a thrilling ride director Anthony Minghella will take you on for the next two hours in his 1999 adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name, this underrated entry of Damon’s extensive filmography captures the beautiful Italian scenery of small, tight-knit towns and the expansiveness of Rome and Venice. Aided by the heavy use of jazz throughout the score, the film paints a picture of a carefree, “la dolce vita” post-war lifestyle that would be very enticing to a struggling New York restroom attendant like Tom Ripley.
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The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) have partnered to launch the AWFJ/UNCSA Critic Mentorship Program, a new initiative designed to bridge the gap between academic study and the professional world of film criticism. For this inaugural year, two exceptional UNCSA students have been selected as AWFJ Mentorship Fellows. Walker Conger and Abby Perkins have been chosen for their strong writing abilities and potential to contribute meaningfully to film journalism, these mentees will have the opportunity to publish reviews and features, gaining real-world experience in editorial processes and public discourse.
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Are rom coms back? Did they ever really go anywhere? Whatever you may think about the state of the romantic comedy film, this adaptation of Emily Henry’s popular novel, People We Meet on Vacation, is a heartfelt, funny, and summery adventure reminiscent of the classics we know and love. The “friends to lovers” trope in this film calls back to moments in other beloved rom coms like When Harry Met Sally, 13 Going on 30, and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. It’s not necessarily trying to do anything new within the genre, but rather utilizing what already works and still crafting a unique, yet familiar story.
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