Jonathan Christian, Author at The Playlist

‘The Return of Tanya Tucker’ Review: An Uneventful Celebration For A Trailblazing Icon [SXSW]

March 13, 2022 8:35 pm

Fifty years into her career, Tanya Tucker hates the word “comeback.” With over 20 studio albums and a roguish outlaw image to her name, Tucker’s carefree, defiant spirit continues to inspire musicians both wit...

‘Nothing Compares’ Review: Bio-Documentary Composes Sinéad O’Connor’s Life Into a Sanitized Greatest Hits Compilation [Sundance]

Jonathan Christian

January 23, 2022 7:14 pm

Festivals, News, Reviews

Equipped with a hazy aesthetic and archival footage galore, “Nothing Compares,” Kathryn Ferguson’s documentary about the early stardom of controversial singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor, celebrates the Irish a...

‘Sirens’ Review: Endearing Documentary About Lebanon’s First All-Female Metal Band Suffers from a Limited POV [Sundance]

Jonathan Christian

January 23, 2022 6:28 pm

Festivals, News, Reviews

Dressed all in black, Lilas Mayassi and Shery Bechara stand outside a restaurant while staring down at Mayassi’s phone, smiles painting their faces. The bandmates giggle to each other as Mayassi shows Bechara ...

‘Fever Dream’ Offers A Disorienting & Muddled Dissection Of Parental Anxiety [San Sebastian Review]

Jonathan Christian

September 21, 2021 3:23 pm

News, Reviews

There is no shortage of fiery ambition in Claudia Llosa’s “Fever Dream.” Split between a dreamlike portrait of motherhood’s challenges and an allegorical thriller, the filmmaker’s psychological drama manifests...

‘The Peacock’s Paradise’: Laura Bispuri Crafts A Masterclass In Mediocre Filmmaking [Venice Review]

Jonathan Christian

September 5, 2021 11:15 am

Festivals, News, Reviews

“The Peacock’s Paradise” is one of the worst types of films to watch and review. Ineffectual in its style, but inoffensive in its content and execution, Laura Bispuri’s most recent directorial effort fails to ...

‘Naked Singularity’: John Boyega’s All-Star Talent & Criminal Justice Commentary Collide In A Cosmic Mess [Review]

Jonathan Christian

August 4, 2021 3:01 pm

News, Reviews

At its core, “Naked Singularity” embodies the traits of an inventive, or at the very least, entertaining, film. But, as social commentary, solid casting choices and science-fiction swirl together in Chase Palm...

‘All The Streets Are Silent’ Surges With A Love For Skateboarding And Hip-Hop But Has Little To Say [Review]

Jonathan Christian

July 23, 2021 10:26 am

News, Reviews

Equipped with a breakneck pace and a grimy visual aesthetic, “All the Streets Are Silent,” a streetwise documentary entrenched in the convergence between hip-hop culture and the skateboard scene in New York Ci...

‘Simple As Water’: The Strength Of Family Endures In The Aftermath Of War [Tribeca Review]

Jonathan Christian

June 21, 2021 11:12 am

Festivals, News, Reviews

Much can be said about Megan Mylan’s latest documentary “Simple As Water.” Yet, as its title insinuates, the film succeeds in its calculated minimalism. Cataloging the plight of four Syrian families in the aft...

‘Users’ Presents a Thoughtful, Yet Hollow Glimpse Into Earth’s Future [Sundance Review]

Jonathan Christian

January 31, 2021 7:30 pm

Festivals, News, Reviews

In the aftermath of unprecedented change, it’s anyone’s guess where the planet will be by the conclusion of the 2020s. As the globe shifts into the second year of the oncoming decade, questions regarding the f...

‘All Light, Everywhere’: An Unfocused Overview Of The Oncoming Surveillance State [Sundance Review]

Jonathan Christian

January 31, 2021 5:00 pm

Festivals, News, Reviews

You are being watched. In the era of facial recognition, targeted advertising, and social media, the threat of an omnipresent eye on the average human has passed. It’s here, and it’s real. Nevertheless, an ass...

Author Jonathan Christian