Justin Lowe
Justin Lowe's reviews only count toward the Tomatometer when
published at the following Tomatometer-approved publication(s):
Hollywood Reporter
| Biography: |
Hollywood Reporter film critic.
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| Publications: | Hollywood Reporter |
| Critics' Group: | Los Angeles Film Critics Association |
Movie Reviews Only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93% | Bumblebee (2018) |
It's an effective reimagining that also bears a knowing resemblance to classic youth-oriented films from Bumblebee executive producer Steven Spielberg.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Dec 9, 2018
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| No Score Yet | The Hungry Lion (Ueta raion) (2017) |
Ogata exposes not just the victim, but all of those who presume to judge her and attempt to disassociate themselves from their own unseemly actions.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Dec 7, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Grace (2018) |
Modestly scaled and tightly focused on its lead characters, Adair's feature offers an authentic perspective on nurturing creativity while maintaining a playful tone that's both entertaining and endearing.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Dec 2, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Killing for the Prosecution (Kensatsu gawa no zainin) (2018) |
Overstuffed and under-motivated.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Nov 20, 2018
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| No Score Yet | SOMM 3 (2018) |
Wise's filmmaking style remains consistently engaging throughout the series as he demonstrates a characteristic ability to elicit particularly salient comments from interviewees, many of them already well-accustomed to media attention.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Nov 14, 2018
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| 67% | The Boat (2018) |
Azzopardi's physical demeanor effectively conveys the fisherman's confusion and desperation, but the lack of any clear narrative resolution lends scant significance to the role.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Oct 30, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Banana Split (2018) |
Kasulke maintains a strong rapport with his cast and as a result the performances rarely feel forced, even when things get a bit outrageous, although for a cinematographer-turned-director, he favors a fairly subdued visual style.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Oct 19, 2018
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| No Score Yet | The Chaperone (2018) |
Until the last half-hour, it's a rather plodding process of experimentation and assimilation as Norma gains the insight and courage to seize her dreams.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Oct 11, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Funke (2018) |
Taraboulsy has a well-trained eye for shooting delicious-looking food, but appears way too enamored with the chef to develop much objectivity.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Oct 5, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Nomis (2018) |
The film's starry cast will be a strong selling point, but a plot that's overly complicated rather than genuinely complex may leave audiences wishing for less incident and more clarity.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Oct 1, 2018
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| 74% | The Clovehitch Killer (2018) |
Offers an intriguing perspective on the darker side of American values, but lacks the conviction to entirely expose the cultural contradictions that often enable compulsive murderers.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Sep 27, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Echo In the Canyon (2018) |
Rich with revealing observations and engaging anecdotes, Slater's documentary skirts the nostalgia trap by engagingly connecting with an impressive lineup of contemporary singer-songwriters...‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Sep 24, 2018
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| No Score Yet | The Sweet Requiem (Kyoyang Ngarmo) (2018) |
Intensely personal and emphatically universal filmmaking.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Sep 11, 2018
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| 81% | Freaks (2018) |
[Kolker's] semi-improvised performance couldn't be any more authentic and she's well matched with Hirsch, drawing on his own parental experience, as her conflicted and overprotective father.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Sep 9, 2018
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| 64% | Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (2018) |
An exceedingly conventional and mild-mannered rom-com.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Sep 7, 2018
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| 46% | Destination Wedding (2018) |
Whatever the intent, forcing a couple of middle-aged misanthropes to reluctantly attend the nuptials of their rather reviled friends sets a hopelessly high bar for delivering satisfying entertainment.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Sep 1, 2018
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| 100% | Restoring Tomorrow (2018) |
Heartfelt and historic.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Aug 24, 2018
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| 44% | The Package (2018) |
To say that The Package is one continuous dirty joke with an outrageously absurd premise wouldn't be an exaggeration. It's also a funny, sweet, raucous teen comedy that's by turns ridiculous and raunchy, but thankfully never too profound.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Aug 9, 2018
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| 52% | Our House (2018) |
Though it lacks the go-for-the-throat spirit seemingly required to succeed in the broader horror marketplace these days, its sincerity and polish should impress genre die-hards...‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jul 26, 2018
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| 38% | Occupation (2018) |
Occupation gets the job done with a minimum of fuss and an abundance of explosive set pieces that will likely endear it to domestic fans, even if it's mostly forgettable otherwise.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jul 26, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Daddy Issues (2018) |
Manning's straightforward take on relationship dynamics proves both refreshing and empowering, making Jasmine the center of every character's attention and desire.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jul 21, 2018
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| 11% | Siberia (2018) |
A fatalistic romance framed by a pointedly obscure heist plot that struggles to gain momentum before finally sputtering out.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jul 14, 2018
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| 20% | Hover (2018) |
Coleman's rush to condemn corporations' profit motive seems too simplistic and skimps on the details of social disintegration that the global agricultural crisis must necessarily provoke.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jun 29, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Kapgang (2014) |
Oplev is perfectly in tune with the script's tender tone, deftly guiding the believable cast through the film's frequent emotional twists and turns. ‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jun 13, 2018
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| 88% | Zoo (2018) |
A thrilling adventure for all ages.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jun 12, 2018
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| 100% | Anote's Ark (2018) |
A sobering reality check.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted May 25, 2018
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| No Score Yet | School of Life (L'école buissonnière) (2017) |
Gorgeous woodland scenery and spectacular wildlife photography cast a magical spell under Vanier's skillful direction, capably supported by Belle & Sebastian cinematographer Eric Guichard and an ace team of animal wranglers.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted May 20, 2018
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| No Score Yet | The Ashram (2018) |
Often dominated by a familiar form of Asian-influenced religious eclecticism, Rekhi's feature plays out as a low-key spiritual thriller that should appeal primarily to like-minded viewers and the inevitably curious.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted May 3, 2018
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| 52% | Rampage (2018) |
Although their spectacular clashes provide most of the movie's visual thrills, the escalating conflict between George and Davis remains the principal narrative dynamic.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Apr 11, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Seven Years of Night (2018) |
Ryu and Jang play the film essentially as a two-hander, but neither invests their characters with enough distinction to inspire much concern for their welfare, even if the fate of their kids evokes a degree of sympathy.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Apr 7, 2018
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| 65% | The New Romantic (2018) |
Setting the bar for the film impossibly high with repetitious references to Nora Ephron classics like Sleepless in Seattle, Stone shows she's got spirit, but maybe not the best judgment, much like her protagonist.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Mar 24, 2018
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| 62% | Take Your Pills (2018) |
The steady stream of talking-head experts doesn't do much to raise the movie's pulse. Archival footage and animated sequences that augment the interview content don't move the needle appreciably, either.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Mar 15, 2018
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| 68% | Wildling (2018) |
Move over, Bigfoot.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Mar 12, 2018
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| 96% | People's Republic of Desire (2018) |
A revealing examination of contemporary Chinese Internet culture.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Mar 12, 2018
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| 58% | At First Light (2018) |
Lacking the flash of big-budget blockbusters or the originality of a uniquely imagined world instead leaves First Light trying to make the best of overly familiar sci-fi themes.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Mar 12, 2018
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| No Score Yet | The Push (2018) |
A satisfying adrenaline high.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Feb 26, 2018
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| 91% | Lords of Chaos (2018) |
Lords of Chaos provokes both awe and repulsion, but not necessarily admiration for a musical form and subculture unwaveringly devoted to literalism, no matter how extreme.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Feb 1, 2018
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| 93% | The Last Race (2018) |
The film will likely endure as a testament to the resilience of a community dedicated to long-established racing traditions.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 23, 2018
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| 98% | Science Fair (2018) |
Meet the future of science.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 21, 2018
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| 100% | Pick of the Litter (2018) |
Nachman and Hardy have produced another winning and relatable doc combining emotive storytelling with concisely focused filmmaking that's sure to charm viewers well beyond a sizable audience of dog lovers.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 21, 2018
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| 82% | This is Home: A Refugee Story (2018) |
Even with this remarkable degree of access ... the film still lacks a distinct sense of drama.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 21, 2018
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| 100% | Dead Pigs (2018) |
Delightfully quirky.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 20, 2018
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| No Score Yet | Fish Bones (2018) |
By limiting her characters to terse and often oblique exchanges, [Joanne Mony] Park conceals motivational intent, relying more on the sparse emotional content of individual scenes to convey meaning.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 19, 2018
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| 71% | Clara's Ghost (2018) |
Infrequent actress Paula Niedert Elliott delights in the titular role with a quirky, sympathetic performance that gradually reveals the extent of Clara's psychological wounds.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 19, 2018
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| No Score Yet | The Train of Salt and Sugar (Comboio de Sal e Açucar) (2016) |
With a cast largely unknown beyond Portuguese-speaking audiences, Azevedo relies on universal themes of survival, dignity and honor to convey a powerful narrative of hope and regeneration.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 17, 2018
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| 67% | Constructing Albert (2017) |
It will satisfy the appetites of both the curious and food-focused alike.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Jan 12, 2018
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| 29% | Modern Life Is Rubbish (2018) |
Mavor and Whitehouse, both of whom appear poised to break out after a series of smaller roles in TV and indie features, demonstrate a believable chemistry, but more importantly perhaps, a convincing hostility after their breakup.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Dec 26, 2017
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| No Score Yet | A Special Lady (Mi-ok) (2017) |
Lee An-kyu's thriller delivers on all of the typical genre expectations without devolving into demeaning exploitation or worn parody.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Dec 19, 2017
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| No Score Yet | What a Wonderful Family! 2 (2017) |
It's not Ozu, but it'll do.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Dec 14, 2017
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| No Score Yet | The Gangster's Daughter (Shaowu the Bad) (2017) |
Veteran Taiwanese documentarian Chen Mei-juin effortlessly pivots 180 degrees to deliver a nuanced narrative of growing up on the other side of the law in The Gangster's Daughter.‐ Hollywood Reporter
Read More | Posted Dec 6, 2017
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