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Cole Smithey
Tomatometer-approved critic
1900, Ace in the Hole, Come and See
Manhattan
http://www.colesmithey.com/home/
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Sam Now (2022) |
What begins as a deeply personal coming-of-age adventure, evolves into a macro-micro study of the generational effects of abandonment.
It may be a bitter pill, but this brilliant movie conveys things that only documentary Cinema can capture and express. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Nov 14, 2023
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Rustin (2023) |
Magnificent.
Director George Wolfe hits another one out of the park on the heels of his perfect "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
Coleman Domingo gives a tour de force performance.
This is Coleman Domingo's moment! - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Nov 12, 2023
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Night Games (1966) |
"Night Games" retains its ability to shock viewers after over 50 years due to Mai Zetterling's intuitive ability to dig equally into male and female psyche, while keeping an artistic distance. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Nov 05, 2023
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In the Mouth of Madness (1995) |
John Carpenter's 1994 finale to his Apocalypse Trilogy is a no-holds-barred blitzkrieg of horror that will have you watching the movie a second time just to confirm that you did indeed see what you think you saw. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Nov 05, 2023
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House (1977) |
Visually and viscerally stunning from start to finish, “House” is much more than a mere masterpiece. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Oct 31, 2023
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Cure (1997) |
Suspenseful and taught with plot twists galore, "Cure" is an overlooked masterpiece from the same filmmaker responsible for "Tokyo Sonata," another terrific movie, albeit from a different genre altogether. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Oct 21, 2023
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The Faculty (1998) |
Great energy, great story, great tone, “The Faculty” is a truly great movie. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Oct 15, 2023
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Hour of the Wolf (1968) |
Impeccably conceived and executed, "Hour of the Wolf" is a thing of cinematic perfection.
What is this nightmare called love? - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Sep 30, 2023
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Radical Wolfe (2023) |
"Radical Wolfe" has the potential to inspire its viewers to read a Tom Wolfe book. You might even venture into the work of Wolfe's contemporaries, Hunter S. Thompson, John Irvine, Joan Didion, or Kurt Vonnegut. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Sep 15, 2023
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Tiro en la cabeza (Bullet in the Head) (2008) |
"Bullet In The Head" leaves out all audio dialogue as a way of distancing the audience from its non-existent story. "Bullet In the Head" was the weakest of the 18 films I saw at the 2008 New York Film Festival. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Sep 12, 2023
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Person to Person (2017) |
Part coming of age story, and part murder mystery, this delightful light comedy brims with thoughtful dialogue and memorable performances. Settle in for a great date night movie. You won't be disappointed. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Sep 04, 2023
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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One (2023) |
"Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One" is a fine excuse to sit in an air conditioned movie theater for a few hours in the midst of summer, but it's not as good as any of the franchise's predecessors.
ColeSmithey.com - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Aug 15, 2023
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Mr. Klein (1976) |
"Mr. Klein" is a haunting film for the reflexive dichotomy it shares between the dystopia of World War II France, and the totalitarian existence we experience today. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Aug 09, 2023
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Triangle of Sadness (2022) |
"Gilligan's Island" holds up as a better example of the left roasting right-wing capitalist pigs, whose greed knows no sliver of human decency. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Aug 05, 2023
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The Easy Life (1962) |
"Carnal Knowledge" and "Sideways" are just a couple of films that owe "Il Sprpasso" a great debt of gratitude. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jul 28, 2023
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The Comfort of Strangers (1990) |
Paul Schrader's criminally overlooked adaptation of Ian McEwan's 1981 novel is breathtaking. Straight masterpiece this movie. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jul 22, 2023
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One for All: The DJ Chris Villa Story (2023) |
As pedestrian as it gets, this amateurish documentary confirms the idea that DJing represents the antithesis of musicianship. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted May 13, 2023
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Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) |
"Everything Everywhere All At Once" is a steaming example of visual, sonic, and thematic noise. Chinese propaganda for propaganda's sake. Vomiting all of the time now. Hollywood pawns. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted May 11, 2023
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Discontinued (2022) |
Forget about things like three act structure, having an empathetic protagonist, or even thematic subtext for that matter, "Discontinued" is content to spin its wheels in existential mud for 90 minutes. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 29, 2023
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American Murderer (2022) |
Here is a workmanlike true crime thriller to break out the popcorn for all your entertainment needs. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 03, 2023
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Licorice Pizza (2021) |
Paul Thomas Anderson shits the bed of his own movie with a couple of truly horrendous scenes of anti-Asian caricature.
Not funny.
Deal-breaker.
What a waste. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Feb 05, 2023
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Blonde (2022) |
Straight masterpiece.
Ana de Armas is uncanny in her fearless portrayal of Hollywood's most iconic actress.
Feminist think piece. You bet.
This is Cinema. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jan 30, 2023
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The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) |
Confucius comes into play. "If you seek revenge dig two graves, one for yourself."
Hala-feckin-luya. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jan 25, 2023
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Wildcat (2022) |
Challenging, thought-provoking, and suspenseful, "Wildcat" is a lot of movie. Hearts will be broken. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jan 17, 2023
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Tár (2022) |
"Tár" comes across as a cheap parlor game. Marin Alsop calls Tár "antiwoman." Hard to argue with Marin Alsop. You're a fool if you do. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jan 13, 2023
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) |
Proof that filmmaking is a thing of the past, "Glass Onion" is a tone-deaf crime comedy whose overblown budget would have been better spent on New York City's infrastructure. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jan 02, 2023
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The Fabelmans (2022) |
This may well be Steven Spielberg's best film.
You couldn't ask for a finer swan song if that turns out to be the case. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jan 02, 2023
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White Noise (2022) |
"White Noise" is the worst fucking movie I've ever seen. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Jan 02, 2023
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Is That Black Enough for You?!? (2022) |
Superbly written and edited, "Is That Black Enough For You ?!?" is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. Essential. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Dec 27, 2022
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Elvis (2022) |
Let’s just give Austin Butler his Best Actor Oscar now. This young man has range to spare. Wow! - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Dec 21, 2022
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Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (2022) |
Condescending, emotionally flat, and narcissistic beyond all unreasonable common sense, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Fellini rip-off is a flop. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Nov 30, 2022
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Personality Crisis: One Night Only (2022) |
David Johansen's swan song. You can't help but feel some sorrow at the prospect of losing the last New York Doll standing. Ovations are in order. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Oct 18, 2022
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Crimes of the Future (2022) |
Cronenberg, you’re no Cronenberg.
What a fucking mess.
Here is a textbook example of how not to do satire. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted May 26, 2022
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Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) |
An abortion subplot allows for a scene of artistically inspired exploitation that breaks the film. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 25, 2022
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Rushmore (1998) |
Precocious but not precious, "Rushmore" is heavy-hearted comedy with a light touch. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 24, 2022
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Body and Soul (1925) |
"Body and Soul" is not a small cinematic gem; it is a magnificent diamond. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 24, 2022
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The Third Man (1949) |
has one of the greatest chase sequences ever filmed and it doesnt involve cars. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 23, 2022
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Dragon Inn (1967) |
This is an exquisite martial arts movie you will not soon forget. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 22, 2022
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The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1983) |
Although criminally unseen, due largely to the misdeeds of film distributor Larry Sugar, "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez" is essential viewing for its innovative storytelling form. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 17, 2022
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WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn (2021) |
Forbes editor Randall Lane has the best insights on Neumann's outrageous con game. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 10, 2022
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Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2005) |
Film buff essential.
Bring back midnight movies.
We need 'em. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Apr 01, 2022
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I am not your negro (2016) |
...as bold and forthcoming as its uncompromising title. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 29, 2022
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Kedi (2016) |
Kedi is an ideal family documentary that captures the beauty of Istanbul from a cats eye perspective. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 29, 2022
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State of Siege (1972) |
Living by the sword always means dying by the same blade... - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 29, 2022
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Always for Pleasure (1978) |
Learn the proper way to eat a crawfish. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 29, 2022
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Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven (1976) |
Heaven is what you make it. The media just makes trash.
- ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 29, 2022
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The King of Staten Island (2020) |
"Just raising awareness." - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 29, 2022
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Danny Says (2015) |
Taste equals success baby. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 29, 2022
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Adrienne (2021) |
Devastating.
NYC is dangerous town. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 26, 2022
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Dune (2021) |
A dishwater war narrative masquerading as sci-fi.
Pshaw. - ColeSmithey.com
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| Posted Mar 26, 2022
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