Spencer Ball - The Daily Cardinal

ARTS

‘The Universal Theory’ blends alpine melancholy with European noir, quantum mechanics

By Spencer Ball | Apr. 20

This 2023 entry to the Wisconsin Film Festival feels ripped from the 1960s.

ARTS

‘Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person’ is what it says on the tin

By Spencer Ball | Apr. 16

The film brings dry, blood-soaked comedy to the Wisconsin Film Festival.

ARTS

‘Red Rooms’ is a well-crafted film that may not be about anything

By Spencer Ball | Apr. 14

The Wisconsin Film Festival brings a harrowing tale of true-crime obsession to Madison.

Henry A. Moore, Gabriella Hartlaub

ARTS

The Cardinal calls out its favorites from 2023

By Tess Voigt , Joseph Panzer , Jasper Bernstein , Noah Fellinger , Spencer Ball , Ava Menkes and Ian Wilder | Dec. 7

After Hollywood’s sizzling hot labor summer, The Daily Cardinal cools off by shouting out its favorites in film, television, gaming and music from 2023.

Courtesy of Netflix

ARTS

‘The Killer’ is a David Fincher film, but not in the way you’d think

By Spencer Ball | Dec. 1, 2023

A sleek, modern thriller that isn’t about the thrills

ARTS

UW-Madison student wins grand prize at Study Abroad Film Festival

By Spencer Ball | Nov. 30, 2023

Q&A with Sami Stidham on her short film, “Take The Goggles Off.”

ARTS

A claustrophobic, surprisingly funny thriller from the Wisconsin Film Festival

By Spencer Ball | May. 25, 2023

And you thought your hangover was rough.

ARTS

‘Viking’ explores alienation, simulation, cooperation among fake astronauts

By Spencer Ball | May. 24, 2023

A pseudo-Martian dramatic comedy from the Wisconsin Film Festival.

ARTS

‘Good Guy With A Gun’ is a shallow parable but compelling drama

By Spencer Ball | Apr. 20, 2023

A timely festival film from “Wisconsin’s Own” John Mossman.

image courtesy of Marvel via marvel.com

ARTS

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ is the MCU at its worst

By Spencer Ball | Mar. 2, 2023

Or: The unexpected virtue of the Phase 2 formula.