Movie ReviewsSeen a lot of movies, got a lot of opinions.
Let’s get Lily Gladstone her Oscar.
"The Iron Claw" - Film Review
The Iron Claw is an American epic by way of a Greek tragedy. It’s a reminder of the power of family, and how that power can be both lifesaving and life-ending.
"All of Us Strangers" - Film Review
In the best way, All of Us Strangers is devastating. The sort of simple-on-paper film that packs an absolute emotional wallop, a true gift of a film.
"May December" - Netflix Film Review
While there’s nothing outright graphic or gruesome happening on screen, May December is unbearable. The false sense of breeziness is actually stiflingly heavy.
"Cautionary Tale" - Film Review
Much like the lead character of Neil, Cautionary Tale marks an exciting beginning for director Christopher Zawadzki.
"Under the Influencer" - Film Review
Under the Influencer will take audiences back to being twenty-five and allow them to feel all the loss, potential, and hope that come with that terrible, beautiful age.
"Monster (2023)" - Film Review
Monster is nothing short of a masterpiece, a deeply moving damnation of the effects of shame.
“Reptile” - Film Review
Reptile lets all the drama happen off screen with a third act deus ex machina. What could have been a knotty, suburban, coastal noir boils down to a detective story we’ve all seen before.
“The Royal Hotel” - Film Review
The Royal Hotel is a horror movie, but not in a supernatural or otherworldly way. Maybe that’s what makes it so creepy. The tension, fear, and confusion of Hanna burrow under the audience’s skin because this experience is not too far-fetched to believe.
"Napoleon" - Film Review
As epic in scale as Napoleon is, the film feels cold and removed from the man himself.
"Disfluency" - Film Review
Disfluency has all the warmth of Lady Bird and the urgency of Never Rarely Sometimes Always. It’s quietly confident, a reminder of the essential nature of storytelling.
"War Pony" - Film Review
War Pony is a vivid portrait of loss, hope for the ever-elusive future, and the ways communities come together and fall apart.
Oscar Qualifying Short Film Roundup: "Headspace," "Pete," & "An Avocado Pit"
A round-up of Oscar-qualifying short films featuring animation, documentary, and narrative works.
"Priscilla" - Film Review
Priscilla is nowhere near as bombastic as Elvis. It’s the quiet, nuanced story of a young girl whose kindness and naïvité were taken advantage of in the name of a man’s desire for fame.
"Anatomy of a Fall" - Film Review
Anatomy of a Fall, while showcasing a stunning use of the film medium, is a social experiment. The film isn’t about a death at all. It’s a mirror held up to the audience.
Oscar Qualifying Short Film Roundup: "Pivot," "Ninety-Five Senses," "Motherland," "Red, White and Blue," "All-Inclusive," "Closing Dynasty," & "The Wake"
A round-up of Oscar-qualifying short films featuring animation, documentary, and narrative works.
"Killers of the Flower Moon" - Film Review
American history is filled with greedy people committing heinous crimes to protect their way of life. It’s a tale as old as time and it continues into the present.
"Transformers: Rise of the Beasts: - DVD Review
Rise of the Beasts is the best Transformers entry since Bumblebee, but it won’t be the last time we see these robots fight on the big screen.
TIFF23: “Chuck Chuck Baby” - Film Review
Chuck Chuck Baby has no time for those who don’t have a funny bone in their bodies. Life’s too short to not fall in love amid a snowfall of chicken feathers.
TIFF23: “Homecoming” - Documentary Film Review
Máhccan is an ode to a place and a people made by someone who intimately feels their pain. Not just the ones living today, but those who lived long ago. Those whose hands beat these drums, sewed these clothes, and built the legacy Máhccan continues to grow upon.
TIFF23: “Perfect Days” - Film Review
You may find things you agree with, things that are at odds with your way of life, or inspiration in Perfect Days. It’s a reminder of the too-easy-to-forget, age-old adage: stop and smell the roses every once and a while.