Clayton Davis
Tomatometer-approved critic
Editor-in-Chief and Owner of AwardsCircuit.com, one of the leading entertainment and awards sites. Clayton has been covering film, television, and the awards season landscape for over a decade. He is an active and voting member of the BFCA, NYFCO, AAFCA, IPA, Black Reel, and is the founding president of the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association.
Movies reviews only
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The Assistant (2019) |
Power is a tool that can always be referenced when citing these individuals, but what "The Assistant" does brilliantly is that it does not allow the ones who surrounded the monster to break away unscathed and untarnished. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Dec 12, 2019
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Waves (2019) |
"Waves" is an engrossing experience. Admittedly emotionally draining, the audience is a better human for just taking the ride and experience with Schultz and cast. Downright sensational. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Nov 26, 2019
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The Irishman (2019) |
Quietly striking scenes like an oversized meteor, that rips into the earth like a nuclear bomb, the might of Joe Pesci is grand. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 01, 2019
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Ford v Ferrari (2019) |
"Ford v Ferrari" is a cleverly crafted machine. Exhilarating in its construction, suspenseful in its execution, and captivating in its performances. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 09, 2019
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The Aeronauts (2019) |
Story aside, production design, costumes, visual effects, and especially music by Oscar-winner Steven Price, is well worth a ticket to the theater. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 09, 2019
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Motherless Brooklyn (2019) |
Norton constructs a fascinating and gorgeous crime thriller but there are times it feels as if his own indulgent tendencies are his own hurdles. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 09, 2019
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A Hidden Life (2019) |
August Diehl's vivacious portrayal of Franz is an examination of the human spirit that hasn't been seen in some time. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 09, 2019
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The Two Popes (2019) |
"The Two Popes" could very well be the best film of the year, and if any film surpasses it, what a year for cinema it has been. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 09, 2019
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Parasite (2019) |
Joon-ho's assured direction, partnered with his passionate and mesmerizing ensemble, "Parasite" emerges as one of the year's most vital and entertaining pieces of filmmaking, perhaps one of the most lively to bookend the decade. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 09, 2019
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Marriage Story (2019) |
Baumbach extracts the very best from his stellar ensemble, in particular, stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, as the two spars in a significant demonstration of acting and commitment, leaving both as winners. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 09, 2019
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It: Chapter Two (2019) |
Superbly effective and vividly executed, Hader is the heart and soul of the horror epic. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 03, 2019
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Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019) |
Lavishly elevated by two magnanimous performances from stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, the funny yet grotesquely violent revisionist look at history is a film that will spark much debate and conversations within the film community. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Jul 26, 2019
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Toy Story 4 (2019) |
"Toy Story 4" is the single best film of 2019 thus far and if there are films that top it throughout the year, what a year of cinema we have been blessed with. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Jun 21, 2019
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Avengers: Endgame (2019) |
Jeremy Renner's new haircut-having Hawkeye and Karen Gillan's Nebula are really (and finally?) given an opportunity to stretch their acting legs and it's a joy to see. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Apr 23, 2019
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Vice (2018) |
Christian Bale may have delivered the performance of his career as the divisive former Vice President Dick Cheney, hammering home the inclinations and sentiments of a man whose own judgments and motivations are called into question. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Dec 17, 2018
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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) |
The directing team of Bob Persichette, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman's singular vision is a collaboration of geniuses, searching not only for perfect optics but a respectful interpretation for all engage. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Nov 28, 2018
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Creed II (2018) |
Where Caple's direction is truly mastered is in his active command of his actors, most notably Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson. Strap in, because "Creed II" is a wild, great time at the movies. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Nov 22, 2018
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Mary Queen of Scots (2018) |
In a wicked display of tension and percolating drama, Josie Rourke's smartly effective and intoxicating "Mary Queen of Scots" showcases two grandiose performances from Academy Award nominees Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Nov 21, 2018
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Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) |
Impressively crafted, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is full of riches, monetizing the experiences of our fateful duo and their persistent fascination with the world. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Nov 21, 2018
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Incredibles 2 (2018) |
While the Pixar emotional drainage is missing (as we've come to expect with almost every effort), the striking animation and constant chuckles will deliver a picture that is something to enjoy for the whole family. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 27, 2018
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Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) |
Rami Malek's all-encompassing performance vibrantly steals every scene he inhabits. It's an excellent portrayal of an excellent musician. A flawed movie surrounds him but his captivating acting and bustling persona smooth out the rough spots. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 26, 2018
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Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) |
McCarthy and Grant are two peas in a pod, sensationally committed and ruthlessly dedicated, and should be the full worth of an admission ticket. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 20, 2018
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What They Had (2018) |
Headlined by a strong cast, with the likes of Robert Forster and Blythe Danner standing out, a portrait of affection and family is at times, very moving in this impressive debut. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 20, 2018
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A Private War (2018) |
The spirit of Marie Colvin is felt within the film, and Pike's embodiment of this hero is something we should all be proud to stand with in a climate where the soul of our humanity is deeply troubled. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 20, 2018
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Stan & Ollie (2018) |
Reilly falls into Ollie with impeccable precision and genuine sensitivity. More than just a makeup trick, Reilly delivers a searing, realistic depiction of an emotional and delicately damaged soul. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 19, 2018
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Cold War (2018) |
Never genuinely getting to the root of their love, what the viewer is left with is a yearning for more but wrapped in a riveting performance from Joanna Kulig. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 12, 2018
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Private Life (2018) |
In the midst of a cleverly executed tale, is a career-best turn from the brilliant Kathryn Hahn. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 12, 2018
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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) |
"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" finds the enthusiasm in its provocative personas. Each person, grossly unique yet commonly familiar, the movie stimulates the viewer for its boisterous moments and subdued notes. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 11, 2018
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If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) |
Bombastic drama with subtle yet playful commentary on family and love, "If Beale Street Could Talk" is the turning point in our cinematic culture and what it dares to become. The future is bright, and it is good with Barry Jenkins in tow. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 10, 2018
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Roma (2018) |
Yalitza Aparicio is the prophecy that the cinematic Gods spoke of, and the one we've waited for decades. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 10, 2018
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Ash Is Purest White (2018) |
Zhao's performance echoes every last ounce of her abilities as an actress. We have a better world because of it. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 06, 2018
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Non-Fiction (2018) |
In a comic blitz, Assayas spins the inspired subject while examining family dysfunction, the insecurities of men, and female empowerment. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 06, 2018
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The Hate U Give (2018) |
Far from perfect, the film is worth the time, and something we can learn from. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 05, 2018
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Smallfoot (2018) |
"Smallfoot" surprises. Co-directors Karey Kirkpatrick and Jason Reisig create a movie with a ton heart, blanketed with confidence and honesty that stands out in a year of seemingly sub-standard animation. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 01, 2018
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The Favourite (2018) |
Swallowing her role whole, Olivia Colman's Queen Anne is a marvelous portrait of a frail, broken woman, with insecurities wearing on every beat and movement of her life. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Oct 01, 2018
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The Other Side of the Wind (2018) |
There are specs of brilliance, imagination, and penetrating moments from John Huston and Peter Bogdanovich that make the film all the more exhilarating. Needless to say, the film is a conundrum. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 26, 2018
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Colette (2018) |
With gorgeous sets and costumes in tow, "Colette" is a pleasant though familiar work of cinema that makes the most of its moments. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 26, 2018
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Liyana (2017) |
In spots, the film might be too light and bountiful for some, but given how radiant the children's' smiles are, audiences shouldn't have it any other way. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 19, 2018
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Wildlife (2018) |
Dano magnifies the source material by pulling out extraordinary performances from his cast, most particularly Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan and newcomer Ed Oxenbould. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 19, 2018
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Widows (2018) |
Best-in-show honors follow the magnificent Daniel Kaluuya, who emits fear and panic in its physical form. Downright frightening in every frame, the Oscar-nominated actor of "Get Out" radiates, stealing every nook and cranny of the film in which he owns. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 14, 2018
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Halloween (2018) |
Grabbing the Scream Queen herself Jamie Lee Curtis, who shows what owning a franchise means, Gordon Green pays homage to 1978 original while still taking risks to reinvent the franchise for a new generation of admirers. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 14, 2018
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Ben Is Back (2018) |
Though featuring terrific performances from Hedges and Roberts, the film doesn't have enough juice to pull it over the finish line without sacrificing its intended audience. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 14, 2018
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White Boy Rick (2018) |
Merritt's natural talent and charisma bleed through his words, curly hair, and little beats, whether it's fixing his blue bowtie or walking through a skating rink. He's an impeccable find this year. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 14, 2018
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A Star Is Born (2018) |
A turn that has a semblance of Nicolas Cage in "Leaving Las Vegas" and Joaquin Phoenix in "Walk the Line," Cooper constructs his own creation, echoing and respecting the role that has been crafted by March, Mason, and Kristofferson. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 10, 2018
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Boy Erased (2018) |
"Boy Erased" flashes its strength in a smaller, informal portrait of love and determination. You don't expect something seemingly so simple, to harness so much energy and passion, and yet, here it is. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 10, 2018
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Beautiful Boy (2018) |
With standout performances from Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet and Maura Tierney, there's plenty to take away. However, an overly directed melodrama envelops a film that comes off as a manipulative infomercial about how to say "No" to drugs. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Sep 10, 2018
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BlacKkKlansman (2018) |
Headlined by a rapturous performance by John David Washington, and a crackling script full of laughs and deeply moving moments, "BlackKklansman" sizzles every moment on the screen. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Aug 07, 2018
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The Darkest Minds (2018) |
From the producers of "Stranger Things" and "Arrival," this ain't any of those. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Aug 03, 2018
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Christopher Robin (2018) |
Director Marc Forster makes the film much more cinematic than anticipated which results in an artistic interpretation of our childhood memories. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Aug 03, 2018
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The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018) |
The film's rewards are many, but not more than the unforgettable performance of Chloë Grace Moretz. - AwardsCircuit.com
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| Posted Aug 02, 2018
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