Alex Godfrey
Alex Godfrey's reviews only count toward the Tomatometer® when published at the following Tomatometer-approved publication(s):
Empire Magazine
Time Out
GQ Magazine [UK]
Movies reviews only
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John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) |
If you’re not up for a film that’s nearly three hours of wall-to-wall fighting, this chapter might get on your wick. That fighting, though, is a bone-crunching, butt-clenching masterclass. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Mar 14, 2023
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Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023) |
Marvel, with all their resources, have made a film set in a universe where time and space are not as we know them, yet have ended up with something that looks surreal, but feels shackled. Mind-bending it is not. But that doesn’t mean it’s not fun. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Feb 14, 2023
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EO (2022) |
A beguiling and often brutal look at the life of a donkey, this hijacks your heart, your mind, your ears and your eyes from start to finish. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jan 30, 2023
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The Fabelmans (2022) |
An autopsy of a marriage and a homage to invention, it’s a bittersweet piece of joy. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jan 26, 2023
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Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) |
Guillermo del Toro’s perspective runs through every frame of this unique retelling, which isn’t afraid to tackle troubling themes. A sincere, soulful exploration of what it means to be human. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Nov 23, 2022
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Armageddon Time (2022) |
Both a coming of age and an exploration of an era, this self-biographical reminiscence feels both regretful and hopeful – a filmmaker trying to make peace. It’s not sugar-coated, but it’s full of love. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Nov 17, 2022
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Pinocchio (2022) |
Though not without charm, and some splendid CGI, this scattershot grab-bag of good intentions results in a bit of an emotional flatline. This puppet will not tug on your heartstrings. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Sep 08, 2022
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Playground (2021) |
A claustrophobic portrait of pre-adolescent turmoil, this is an exceptionally taut drama. It’s Wandel’s debut feature, and it feels like she’s been preparing for it her whole life. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Apr 22, 2022
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Red Rocket (2021) |
A beguiling and beautiful film about a total toerag, Red Rocket is a unique character study: Mikey Saber will charm your socks off, and you’ll hate him for it.
- Empire Magazine
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| Posted Mar 08, 2022
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The Humans (2021) |
There's palpable dread throughout this stagey but nevertheless evocative whirlwind of dysfunction. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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The Matrix Resurrections (2021) |
Resurrections suffers from an identity crisis, going from being supremely fun and knowing to weirdly pedestrian. It's a slippery mish-mash- entertaining in big bursts but ultimately a little hollow. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Dec 21, 2021
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The Hand of God (2021) |
This charmingly odd tribute to Sorrentino's formative years is slighter than it possibly deserves to be, but when it's this handsome, who cares? Will have you absolutely salivating for Italy. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Dec 06, 2021
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House of Gucci (2021) |
It's hard to take House Of Gucci seriously, because it never seems to take itself seriously. Yet with such glee being had by those involved, it's an infectious, bizarro bit of fun. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Nov 23, 2021
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King Richard (2021) |
As stirring and heart-warming as you'd like, this is a hugely touching family opus. It's nothing revolutionary, but it's straight from the heart and gets you in the gut. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Oct 15, 2021
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Limbo (2020) |
A film as sweet as it is sad, as pertinent as it is absurd, Limbo is an experience where not much seems to happen but where little things mean the world. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jul 28, 2021
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Shiva Baby (2020) |
A perfectly painted portrait that also makes for sharp social commentary, this just goes to show what you can do with a tiny budget but a huge amount of talent. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jun 07, 2021
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Soul (2020) |
While not quite offering the emotional gut-punch it promises, its many ideas never completely cohering, Soul is nevertheless a gorgeous and tender existential trip. It's full of surprises. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Oct 11, 2020
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The Painted Bird (2019) |
While not exploitative and (mostly) not gratuitous, this is as tough as it gets - you bleed for this kid. Even if it gets a bit too much, you just can't look away. Thrilling filmmaking. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Sep 08, 2020
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Tenet (2020) |
By the time it's done, you might not know what the hell's gone on, but it is exciting nevertheless. It is ferociously entertaining. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Aug 21, 2020
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Pinocchio (2019) |
A lovingly made take on Pinocchio, in thrall to goodness and kindness, with beautiful creature creations and eccentric humour. It lacks a little weight, but it brings big smiles. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Aug 12, 2020
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The King of Staten Island (2020) |
With The King Of Staten Island, Apatow goes for the heart - but with lesser yuks than usual and a subdued lead, it all kind of drifts by. Within it, though, are moments of real vigour and fragility. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jun 09, 2020
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Beastie Boys Story (2020) |
Throughout there are jokes, there are wild stories and there is incredible music - but above all there is heart, the band's lifelong affection for each other shining through. It's subtly but significantly touching. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Apr 21, 2020
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First Love (2019) |
Sweetening up a smidgen without chilling out, this is Miike having fun, bombarding us with squirm-inducing violence while making us laugh and - ever so slightly - tugging on the heartstrings. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Feb 13, 2020
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Plus One (2019) |
Going for low-key laughs rather than massive lols, 'Plus One' leans on the likeability of its leads, who have convincing enough chemistry and make for a breezy enough 90 minutes. - Time Out
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| Posted Jan 30, 2020
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Weathering With You (2019) |
While it never fully gets the emotions jangling, there's charm to spare and the action is dynamic and occasionally thrilling. - Time Out
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| Posted Jan 14, 2020
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Waves (2019) |
A compassionate meditation on love, loss and family, Waves is hyper-stylish yet emotionally grounded. Despite some very high drama, it has a huge heart, and hits you where it hurts. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jan 13, 2020
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Honey Boy (2019) |
Somewhere between a primal scream, a self-acceptance and even a forgiveness of sorts, this is an utterly unique bit of autobiography. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Dec 03, 2019
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1917 (2019) |
Although 1917's filmmaking very much brings attention to itself, it's an astonishing piece of filmmaking, portraying war with enormous panache. This is big-screen bravado, and then some. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Nov 26, 2019
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Black and Blue (2019) |
This cheesy thriller is the quattro formaggi of cop films. - Time Out
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| Posted Oct 18, 2019
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The Laundromat (2019) |
This is intentionally jagged but nevertheless frustrating, a little too self-satisfied for its own good. Yet there are some great moments and, when it relaxes a bit, it has charm to spare. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Sep 26, 2019
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Phoenix (Føniks) (2018) |
Phoenix has a huge heart, aching for its cast, and while it feels like it's only ever on the verge of getting anywhere, it's still a keen, candid character study. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Sep 11, 2019
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It: Chapter Two (2019) |
A psychologically merciless sequel, everything here is as it should be: deeper, scarier, funnier. Muschietti in particular has stepped up, skilfully guiding us through a rollicking funhouse. It is obscenely entertaining. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Sep 03, 2019
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A Million Little Pieces (2018) |
It's well-intentioned and pretty, but not much else. Occasional stylistic flourish aside, it offers nothing we haven't seen before, buckling under the weight of its own conservatism. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Aug 28, 2019
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Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (2019) |
There's a lot of playfulness -- it's high-level Dylan Studies. Just as the singer often wore a magician's white face (or even a plastic mask) on this tour, Scorsese is having fun infusing his own flow with subtle fictionalizations that may outfox you. - Time Out
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| Posted Jun 12, 2019
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Thunder Road (2018) |
Dramatically, Thunder Road is a little thin, but the plot's not the point: this is all about Cummings, who sparkles with charisma and confidence. It's an unabashed indulgence. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted May 29, 2019
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Beats (2019) |
It's miraculously authentic - the pill-popping centrepiece is the heavenly answer to the LSD hell of Gaspar Noé's 'Climax'. - Time Out
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| Posted May 13, 2019
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Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story (2018) |
Sievey was hugely dysfunctional, but his mania produced utterly unique, anarchic work - one couldn't have existed without the other. This is a meticulously crafted tribute... - Time Out
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| Posted Apr 18, 2019
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Monsters and Men (2018) |
Both cinematic and literary, this is mature, textured work. Gently prodding at you rather than grabbing you by the throat, it is intentionally unexplosive, but lights a fire nevertheless. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jan 17, 2019
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Sorry to Bother You (2018) |
No fence-sitting here, Sorry To Bother You wallops its targets. Drenched in self-awareness, it is fantastically refreshing, defiantly announcing Riley as a radical new voice. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Dec 03, 2018
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Outlaw King (2018) |
The battles are brutal, the bludgeoning horrid, yet Outlaw King is frustratingly muted. It's authentic but rarely dynamic. - Time Out
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| Posted Nov 08, 2018
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The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) |
An often effective reboot, this does everything you'd expect, but that's a real shame. Lisbeth might be a nomad, but she doesn't feel at home here. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Nov 01, 2018
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U: July 22 (Utøya 22. Juli) (2018) |
Utøya - July 22 is hardgoing, as it should be - there was no solace in this situation, and the film mirrors the terror, turning us all into these kids' parents. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Oct 22, 2018
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Wildlife (2018) |
She's a woman out of time, and Ford's story, written 30 years ago, set 60 years ago, is strikingly resonant. - Time Out
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| Posted Oct 18, 2018
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Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) |
A beautifully staged film with everything is in its place, this is both an affectionate homage and a timely commentary, falling only slightly short of its own ambition. Classy pulp fiction. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Sep 28, 2018
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Final Score (2018) |
Dave Bautista goes full Van Damme in a Sudden Death -alike action movie that's better than it has any right to be - Time Out
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| Posted Sep 06, 2018
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Sicilian Ghost Story (2017) |
Bewildering in all the right ways, this is a poetic, sublime interpretation of a sorry story. An evocative, emotional experience, it pits humanity against inhumanity, resulting in something refreshingly new. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jul 30, 2018
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Adrift (2018) |
To adopt the old cliché, the ocean isn't just a character in this film - it's the best one. - Time Out
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| Posted Jun 28, 2018
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Double Lover (2017) |
Saucy and silly, L'Amant Double is a disappointingly superficial romp, with interesting psychological potential squandered by B-movie levels of nonsense. Identity crises all round. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted Jun 05, 2018
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My Friend Dahmer (2017) |
A small, slight window into a mixed-up soul, this is more intriguing than engaging. Its restraint, though, is admirable, resulting in a mood-piece with an ongoing sense of unease. - Empire Magazine
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| Posted May 30, 2018
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Distant Sky: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Live in Copenhagen (2018) |
Nick Cave often looks like a healer, swooping about among the front-row faithful, a shaman in a sea of desperately reaching, lit-up hands. - Time Out
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| Posted Apr 10, 2018
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