Randy Cordova
Tomatometer-approved critic
| Publications: | Los Angeles Times, Arizona Republic, Journal News (Westchester, NY) |
| Critics' Group: | Phoenix Film Critics Society |
Movie Reviews Only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/5 | 52% | Down a Dark Hall (2018) |
This supernatural chiller is a delightfully sneaky surprise.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 14, 2018
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| 4/5 | 79% | Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) |
If the original plot seemed like a flimsy excuse to trot out a bunch of ABBA's Europop classics, the new film basically does away with a plot altogether. But really, who needs one?‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jul 18, 2018
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| 4.5/5 | 88% | Whitney (2018) |
Most of all, it's clear-eyed and remarkably honest, and Macdonald shows a flair for illustrating how Houston's life fits in the bigger picture.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jul 5, 2018
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| 3/5 | 51% | Boundaries (2018) |
Every so often, writer-director Shana Feste will drop in a line or a situation that doesn't feel like something she picked up from Indie Screenwriting Tropes 101, and you feel yourself being drawn into the story. ‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jun 28, 2018
|
| 2.5/5 | 52% | A Kid Like Jake (2018) |
The movie's premise sounds like it should be the basis for a barbed satire of the finest proportions. Instead, it opts for a tone that is decidedly sober and lacking any kind of sharp edge.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jun 14, 2018
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| 4/5 | 59% | Always at the Carlyle (2018) |
It's one part history lesson and one part ode to the rapidly fading quality of refinement. But mostly, it's a chance to indulge in juicy celebrity stories, catnip for those who love that kind of thing.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted May 24, 2018
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| 3.5/5 | 26% | Overboard (2018) |
Writers and directors Bob Fisher and Rob Greenberg don't do anything particularly clever or inspired, but they display a knack for snappy dialogue and draw solid work from the cast.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted May 3, 2018
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| 3.5/5 | 75% | Gemini (2018) |
[Kirke] possesses an endearing, thoroughly non-actressy quality. She feels completely real and unrehearsed, like she's saying the lines for the first time.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Apr 5, 2018
|
| 2.5/5 | 18% | Death Wish (2018) |
The film, much like Willis' performance, never flatlines, but it never delivers the thrills you expect from this type of genre piece.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Mar 1, 2018
|
| 3.5/5 | 22% | La Boda De Valentina (2018) |
A lot of things are tossed at viewers; some work, some don't. But it's a genial, pleasant farce that grows more enjoyable once it calms down and stops being so frantic.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Feb 8, 2018
|
| 4/5 | 41% | Den of Thieves (2018) |
"Den of Thieves" won't win any points for originality, but it sure has fun swiping bits and pieces from other movies.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jan 18, 2018
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| 2.5/5 | 32% | Insidious: The Last Key (2018) |
While it's hardly the best film of its franchise, it will do the trick until something scarier comes along.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jan 4, 2018
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| 3/5 | 89% | I, Tonya (2018) |
Robbie ... captures both Harding's radiance and the vulnerability of her frayed edges. It's a great performance that can make the movie feel better than it actually is.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Dec 21, 2017
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| 4/5 | 89% | Wait for Your Laugh (2017) |
Basically, it feels as if you're sitting down with Rose Marie for 90 minutes while she talks about her life.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Dec 7, 2017
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| 4/5 | 29% | All I See Is You (2017) |
It's riveting to watch everything unfold.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Oct 26, 2017
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| 2/5 | 14% | Geostorm (2017) |
It's an action movie without an exciting moment. It's a special effects flick with chintzy visuals. And it's a Gerard Butler vehicle without enough Gerard to go around.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Oct 20, 2017
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| 4/5 | 66% | Breathe (2017) |
The sentiment may run high in spots. But it also feels undeniably heartfelt and warm, with a particularly engaging turn by Andrew Garfield as Robin.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Oct 19, 2017
|
| 2/5 | 35% | Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House (2017) |
A dry, talky affair that even Liam Neeson in full glower can't bring to life.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Oct 5, 2017
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| 1/5 | 26% | Literally, Right Before Aaron (2017) |
Unless you're related to one of the actors, there is no reason to buy a ticket to this mess. Literally.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Sep 28, 2017
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| 1.5/5 | 34% | American Assassin (2017) |
Sometimes it strives to be a character-driven thriller in the Jason Bourne mold. In other moments, it goes for over-the-top action and violence. But it's never very exciting, even with car chases, explosions and gunplay.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Sep 14, 2017
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| 4/5 | 56% | Hazlo Como Hombre (2017) |
It is high-spirited, buoyant and full of laughs. The movie also has some nicely affecting moments that deal with male friendship and loneliness, and López is deft enough to capably navigate the moves into deeper emotional waters.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 31, 2017
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| 4/5 | 85% | The Fencer (Miekkailija) (2017) |
It's surprising how polite and restrained everything is. However, that doesn't mean you won't be wiping your eyes as the credits start to roll.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 31, 2017
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| 3.5/5 | 97% | Menashe (2017) |
Weinstein normally directs documentaries, and "Menashe" has a fly-on-the-wall feel at times, particularly in the warmly believable interplay between father and son. The movie was filmed in Borough Park, N.Y., which adds to the atmosphere.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 17, 2017
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| 3.5/5 | 37% | Kidnap (2017) |
It's lean and economical, and it moves at a ferocious pace. And generally, its focus is razor-sharp. Who needs things like supporting characters and subplots to stretch things out?‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 3, 2017
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| 2.5/5 | 47% | Brave New Jersey (2017) |
There are a lot of funny people in "Brave New Jersey," but the movie is not very funny.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 3, 2017
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| 3.5/5 | 90% | Girls Trip (2017) |
The no-holds-barred comedy generally works, largely thanks to a game cast that plunges into the raunchy material with gleeful abandon.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jul 20, 2017
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| 2/5 | 20% | Blind (2017) |
The chemistry between Baldwin and Moore is strangely disconnected. The performers aren't bad, but they don't generate any kind of heat.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jul 13, 2017
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| 3/5 | 16% | Wish Upon (2017) |
Off the top of my head, I can't think of another fright film with a cheerful scene devoted to purse shopping.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jul 13, 2017
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| 3.5/5 | No Score Yet | Neither Wolf Nor Dog (2016) |
The film is often moving, and some of the performances have a depth and naturalness.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jun 22, 2017
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| 4/5 | 55% | 47 Meters Down (2017) |
It's taut and suspenseful, and there's a jittery vibe to the whole thing.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jun 16, 2017
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| 4/5 | 96% | The Women's Balcony (Ismach Hatani) (2017) |
Director Emil Ben-Shimon creates a bustling sense of community and injects most scenes with a surprisingly breezy air.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jun 8, 2017
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| 2.5/5 | 45% | Paris Can Wait (Bonjour Anne) (2017) |
"Paris Can Wait" feels more like a cinematic adaptation of a Frommer's travel guide than an actual movie.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted May 18, 2017
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| 2/5 | No Score Yet | Justice Served (2015) |
Somewhere, deep inside "Justice Served," there is the kernel of an interesting idea. But you've got to look hard, because the finished product is pretty dire stuff.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted May 4, 2017
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| 2/5 | 78% | On the Map (2016) |
"On the Map" is ... like a sleepy lecture during the last week of high school: You may hear some worthwhile information, but it's not going to stick.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Apr 27, 2017
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| 3.5/5 | 38% | How to Be a Latin Lover (2017) |
"How to Be a Latin Lover" is a lot like the title character: Soft and flabby around the middle, but not without its own whimsical charms.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Apr 27, 2017
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| 5/5 | 98% | Truman (2017) |
There isn't a mawkish moment to be found, though there are plenty of lovely, humane ones, as well as some that are quite funny.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Apr 20, 2017
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| 2.5/5 | 49% | Going in Style (2017) |
Generally, the film is more forgettable and pleasant than anything else, and it doesn't seem to aim for more than that.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Apr 6, 2017
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| 4/5 | 74% | You're Killing Me Susana (Me estás matando Susana) (2017) |
Both characters are wildly flawed, and you can feel your sympathies shift during their knock-down, drag-out fights.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Feb 24, 2017
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| 4/5 | 93% | Everybody Loves Somebody (2017) |
"Everybody Loves Somebody" doesn't reinvent the rom-com, but it manages to take the formula, shake it up a bit, and come up with something that feels fresh and inventive.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Feb 16, 2017
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| 3/5 | 84% | A United Kingdom (2017) |
It's fine, but it should have been so much more.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Feb 16, 2017
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| 4/5 | 75% | Un Padre No Tan Padre (2017) |
The characters are fully rounded, and you wind up emotionally invested in them.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jan 26, 2017
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| 3.5/5 | 94% | Neruda (2016) |
A sumptuous puzzle of a movie that takes a turbulent period in the life of the Chilean poet and politician and turns it into a fable about fame and the power of words.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Jan 19, 2017
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| 1.5/5 | 14% | Collateral Beauty (2016) |
Good news for those who get a kick out of hate-watching bad films. Santa has brought you an early Christmas present in the form of "Collateral Beauty."‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Dec 14, 2016
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| 4/5 | 83% | Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) |
It's better in every department than 2014's "Ouija." In other words, think of it as "The Godfather: Part II" of fright flicks.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Oct 20, 2016
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| 4/5 | 77% | Bridget Jones's Baby (2016) |
It's like reuniting with old friends you didn't realize you missed so much.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Sep 15, 2016
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| 2.5/5 | 44% | The Hollars (2016) |
If there were such a thing as a paint-by-numbers kit to create an indie flick, the end result would look something like this.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Sep 1, 2016
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| 4/5 | 74% | Disorder (Maryland) (2016) |
Ambiguity permeates almost every scene in new suspense film "Disorder." That sounds like it could be maddening. Here, the result is darkly compelling ...‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 25, 2016
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| 4.5/5 | 96% | Little Men (2016) |
The most remarkable thing about Ira Sachs' richly textured new film "Little Men" is how it manages to be about so much, and yet so little.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 18, 2016
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| 3.5/5 | 65% | Anthropoid (2016) |
Handsomely produced, with a vivid period atmosphere aided by a faded color palette, which adds both an unease and a glowing sense of nostalgia to the proceedings.‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 11, 2016
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| 4/5 | 96% | Gleason (2016) |
A lot of sports-themed films put a heroic, inspirational spin on the proceedings. You cheer, shed a few tears, and move on. That's so not "Gleason."‐ Arizona Republic
Read More | Posted Aug 4, 2016
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