Francesca Rudkin

Francesca Rudkin
Francesca Rudkin's reviews only count toward the Tomatometer® when published at the following Tomatometer-approved publication(s): New Zealand Herald
Publications: New Zealand Herald

Movie Reviews Only

T-Meter Title | Year
3/5 77% Military Wives (2020) You know exactly what you're getting with Military Wives, but this doesn't detract from the fun of watching the story unfold. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 12, 2020
4/5 No Score Yet Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song (2013) [Romeo & Juliet] is a brave piece of film-making for those who appreciate the storytelling magic of music and can't resist the theatrics of a musical. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 7, 2020
4/5 98% Beats (2020) Beats doesn't have anything more to say than previous films about dance culture, but with a visual style of its own and excellent music choices, it's a fitting tribute to an era etched in the memory of anyone old enough to have attended. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 6, 2020
36% Seberg (2020) A stronger focus on Seberg may have made for a more satisfying film. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jan 30, 2020
2.5/5 56% Farming (2019) [T]his important story may have appealed to a broader audience if it wasn't quite so blunt and confrontational. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 22, 2019
4/5 100% Bellbird (2019) Bellbird is a joy to watch - a warm, humorous, heartfelt film filled with loss, love and hope that had me laughing out loud one moment, and crying the next. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 7, 2019
3/5 68% Ride Like a Girl (2019) While formulaic, at times cheesy, and avoiding much of the controversy that swirls around the racing industry, it's big on determination, grit and passion. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Oct 24, 2019
4/5 98% Maiden (2019) [T]his is a thrilling story filled with heart-warming ups and anxiety-inducing downs. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Oct 1, 2019
4/5 82% High Life (2019) You really need to see High Life to take in the mix of despair and violence, set against the dream-like, poetic voyage. [Claire] Denis once again confounds with her vision. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Sep 12, 2019
71% Danger Close (2019) [F]or those interested in the machinations of warfare Danger Close is an intense, exhausting and visceral experience. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Sep 5, 2019
2.5/5 39% Angel Has Fallen (2019) The father/son reunion attempts to add some heart to the chaos but, let's be honest, no one buys a ticket to these films to enjoy the family drama. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Aug 30, 2019
2/5 24% The Kitchen (2019) It feels like The Kitchen has been played around with so much that those involved lost sight of the film they set out to make. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Aug 29, 2019
3.5/5 52% The Lion King (2019) The Lion King doesn't tug on the heart strings as strongly as you'd expect but the mastery and technical brilliance goes some way in making up for it. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 25, 2019
2.5/5 60% Ophelia (2019) A lack of chemistry between characters and the mix of a fairy-tale medieval setting and modern vernacular, which occasionally sounds like it's out of a daytime soap, leaves you scratching your head and wondering what [Claire] McCarthy was hoping for. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 11, 2019
4/5 95% Little Woods (2019) Little Woods can be bleak, but it's a good choice if you're looking for some substance among the Hollywood blockbusters out this season. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 2, 2019
3.5/5 64% Annabelle Comes Home (2019) If you enjoy the genre, and a yelp, [Annabelle Comes Home] certainly delivers. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 2, 2019
3/5 57% The Hummingbird Project (2019) The result is mixed. To the good, this a story told with great attention to detail, and it's worth noting that the documentary style may lead you to think it's based on a real story... On the downside, it's underwhelming. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted May 24, 2019
3/5 47% The Chaperone (2019) The film might be set in a different period, but its themes resonate today, with Louise and Norma showing the transformation of two quite different women living through a period of cultural change. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted May 2, 2019
4/5 100% The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps (2019) This is a story of a musical genius, honest and insightful and beautifully told, and rounded off with stunning images of the local landscape. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted May 2, 2019
2.5/5 34% Wonder Park (2019) While Wonder Park does the darker moments well, it pales in comparison to Inside Out; lacking depth and memorable characters as it races through action pieces to a predictable ending. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Apr 25, 2019
2.5/4 30% Red Joan (2019) A story that could have been thrilling but is instead a nice, repetitive and slightly dull period costume drama. Thank goodness for Dame Judi Dench. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Apr 23, 2019
4/5 97% Woman at War (Kona fer í stríð) (2019) Everything about this film is mesmerising; incredible landscapes, the performance of its lead character, the hipster band, a relevant topic and the idea one person's single-minded pursuit of what they believe in can make a difference. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Apr 4, 2019
3/5 53% Five Feet Apart (2019) Richardson and Sprouse are delightful and go a long way to holding together this slightly drawn out romantic drama; their chemistry covering much of the clichés and predictability. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 29, 2019
3.5/5 60% Daffodils (2019) Musicals aren't my thing, but I left this celebration of our music and Kiwi-ness with a smile; it's a delightful romp through the decades and it's easy to get caught up in this bittersweet love story. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Mar 21, 2019
2.5/5 56% Swimming with Men (2018) While predictable and a bit flat, it's still an underdog sporting flick, which is the very best kind, so while hardly memorable Swimming with Men manages to be pleasant viewing. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 28, 2019
3.5/5 82% Ben is Back (2018) This is hardly an upbeat, feel-good, festive film. Ben is Back is full of raw emotion, desperation and hope but comes with a layer of gloss that attempts to give the gritty subject a sheen for a broader audience. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 5, 2019
4.5/5 79% Mary Poppins Returns (2018) For family viewing these holidays, Mary Poppins Returns is a must; thanks largely to Emily Blunt's utterly charming performance. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 19, 2018
4/5 65% Vice (2018) It's edgy, good fun and to this day the subject and his legacy remain relevant and controversial. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 19, 2018
4.5/5 97% Free Solo (2018) This isn't just a sport story, it's a drama about man verses dramatic landscape, beautifully captured by adventurer, mountaineer, and photographer Jimmy Chin. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 13, 2018
4/5 98% Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) This is a neat little film bringing to light Israel's fascinating story, with excellent performances making it an enjoyable literary romp. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 6, 2018
32% The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) It's lovely to see a film make bold choices, such as including ballet performed by the remarkable American ballerina Misty Copeland, as both a tribute to its origins and a novel way of telling the story. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 26, 2018
3/5 36% Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) It's a darkly lit and moody period fantasy mixing lightning-fast action scenes with gently paced conversations that reveal small snippets of information, topped off with a few big clangers, all aimed at encouraging you to line up for the next film. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Nov 15, 2018
4/5 80% Yellow is Forbidden (2018) Numerous story threads keep the interest, and Pei makes for delightful company -- you don't need to be interested in fashion to enjoy this visual feast of a film. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Oct 31, 2018
No Score Yet Born Racer (2018) Those who love motor sport will lap all this up... And if you're not a fan you'll still leave with a new respect for IndyCar racing, and appreciation for what Dixon has achieved. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Oct 24, 2018
3.5/5 93% RBG (2018) This isn't a definitive documentary, rather it's an enlightening and entertaining film taking us behind the scenes of a remarkable woman; it will appeal to audiences who know her as a social media meme, and to long-time supporters. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Sep 27, 2018
3.5/5 72% Christopher Robin (2018) Christopher Robin is feel-good, merging Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and the gang into the live action seamlessly, often with slapstick and crazy antics. It's also essentially a moving and uplifting story about a man having a mid-life crisis. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Sep 24, 2018
3.5/5 100% McKellen: Playing the Part (2017) What a treat it is to have the Oscar-award winner telling his own story in his own words. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Sep 5, 2018
3.5/5 68% On Chesil Beach (2018) On Chesil Beach isn't the cheeriest of romances, and if you have read the book then the screen version isn't quite as lyrical. Rather, it's a contemplative slow burner that lingers with you for days. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Aug 30, 2018
3/5 58% LBJ (2017) Harrelson captures Johnson's dogged, hardworking approach to politics... He injects pace, energy and colour into a familiar storytelling approach that flicks back and forth across the period. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Aug 9, 2018
3.5/5 88% Whitney (2018) Slickly presented, cohesive and moving. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 26, 2018
3.5/5 79% Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again isn't as uplifting and hilarious as the original but this sun-kissed, wonderfully cheesy celebration of 70s' Scandi-pop works a slightly different kind of magic. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 20, 2018
3/5 70% Double Lover (L'amant double) (2018) You've got to admire Ozon for presenting a frivolous film with such a serious approach, but it's easy to miss that he's in on the joke. Double Lover should be viewed with a smirk. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 5, 2018
3/5 62% Edie (2019) Not a lot really happens in Edie; the pace is gentle and the story familiar, but it's a pleasant, easy experience - aided by the dramatic mountain footage. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Jul 2, 2018
3.5/5 100% Number One (Numéro une) (2017) This is a film about misogyny, equality and diversity; but the female roles are better written and the actresses make the most of it. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted May 17, 2018
4/5 87% Tully (2018) Tully comes with both bitingly sharp on-the-nose observations and a touch of fantasy, each handled with a mix of intensity and light heartedness - it moves and uplifts, and reminds us we're not alone. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted May 15, 2018
3.5/5 70% Finding Your Feet (2018) Following in the footsteps of films such as Calendar Girls and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel comes another charming, if somewhat predictable, crowd-pleaser about embracing life in your later years. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Feb 23, 2018
3/5 No Score Yet Let Me Go (2017) While the tone feels uneven, Let Me Go is handsomely shot and filled with brave subject matter - and, thanks to strong performances by Stevenson and Bertling, it leaves you with plenty to ponder. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 26, 2017
3.5/5 84% Borg Vs. McEnroe (2018) Both characters are presented sympathetically - which may surprise when it comes to the belligerent McEnroe - and makes the tournament's final match that much more exciting for those unaware of what happened; for those who do, it's still worth reliving. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 26, 2017
3.5/5 79% The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) Just like Stevens as Dickens, The Man Who Invented Christmas is immensely likeable, and undoubtedly will having you leaving the theatre feeling more festive than when you entered. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 26, 2017
3.5/5 63% Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017) Director Simon Curtis ... sends a pertinent warning about sharing our children's lives with the world. - New Zealand Herald EDIT
Read More | Posted Dec 26, 2017