Contributor Anna Bogutskaya

Older man in cowboy hat holding a gun
Interviews

Pedro Almodóvar: ‘Chemistry is a mystery’

by Anna Bogutskaya

The Spanish filmmaker reflects on the romance at the heart of his new queer western, Strange Way of Life, and the freedom of working in a shorter format.
Night Walking: Bette Gordon speaks! Photography! Performance! Porno!
Interviews

Bette Gordon: ‘Between female desire and gratification lies a space full of possibilities’

by Anna Bogutskaya

As Variety returns with a 2K restoration, Bette Gordon reflects on the making of a cult classic, her love for ‘80s New York and her friendship with Nan Goldin.
Performer with voluminous curly hair on stage, wearing a white feathered costume and holding a microphone.
Festivals

Love to Love You, Donna Summer – first-look review

by Anna Bogutskaya

Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams and Summer’s daughter Brooklyn Sudano team up to create an intimate portrait of a conflicted and complicated artist.
A man in a pink outfit playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with an audience visible in the background.
Review

Elvis

by Anna Bogutskaya

Baz Luhrmann’s sweaty, opulent take on the King of rock ’n’ roll is not a biopic but a fairy tale.

5
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Four young adults, two men and two women, standing in a field. The individuals are casually dressed, with one wearing a grey jacket, another a red top, and the others in plain shirts and trousers. They are carrying various items, including bags and folders, and appear to be in a rural setting with trees and grass visible in the background.
Review

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by Anna Bogutskaya

Ti West creates a new cultural association with ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ that’s not Christopher Walken demanding more cowbell.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Three smiling young women, one wearing a white T-shirt with text, one wearing a purple top, and one wearing a headscarf, in an outdoor setting with warm-toned foliage.
In Praise Of

Why Britney Spears’ Crossroads is an underrated coming-of-age classic

by Anna Bogutskaya

As it turns 20, we revisit the maligned star vehicle written especially for America’s pop princess.
Two women in black coats walking down a tree-lined path.
Queer Cinema

In praise of Shiva Baby and the Messy Bisexual

by Anna Bogutskaya

Emma Seligman’s growing pains comedy ushers in a new era for bi characters who are not judged on their sexuality.
Two men in a forest setting, one assisting the other who appears to be injured or distressed.
Review

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

by Anna Bogutskaya

The third instalment in the horror franchise gives us a lot of Ed and Lorraine Warren, but not nearly enough Satan.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Close-up image of a man with curly hair wearing a patterned shirt.
In Praise Of

How Brendan Fraser invented the modern himbo

by Anna Bogutskaya

His performances in Encino Man, George of the Jungle and Blast from the Past set the blueprint for the buff, unthreatening leading man.
Two young women with long dark hair, one wearing a black hooded jacket and the other a brown cardigan, standing in a dimly lit hallway.
In Praise Of

Blood, Hair and Pain: Ginger Snaps at 20

by Anna Bogutskaya

The director, screenwriter and stars of the cult Canadian horror reflect on its legacy as a morbid love letter to teenage girls everywhere.
Extensive bookshelf covering entire wall, containing numerous books of varying colours and sizes. Ornate lamp and chair visible in foreground, suggesting a cosy reading nook.
Review

The Booksellers

by Anna Bogutskaya

The curious world of rare book sellers is the subject of this documentary from director DW Young.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect

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