Gary Goldstein
Gary Goldstein's reviews only count toward the Tomatometer® when published at the following Tomatometer-approved publication(s):
Chicago Tribune
Los Angeles Times
Baltimore Sun
Reel.com
reel.com film critic.
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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About My Father (2023) |
This at times absurdly contrived film often resembles something made up on the fly. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted May 25, 2023
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What's Love Got to Do with It? (2022) |
James and Latif make an appealing, soulful twosome, infusing their nicely dimensional, well-modulated characters with low-key charm and credible longing. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted May 03, 2023
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Ghosted (2023) |
The whole enterprise is as far-fetched as they come as it amusingly plies the belief that love can conquer all — even world domination. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Apr 21, 2023
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Somewhere in Queens (2022) |
This goodhearted if at times misguided version may suffice for its often amusing and touching moments and as a reminder of Romano’s everyman skill in front of a camera. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Apr 20, 2023
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A Good Person (2023) |
It’s a haunting slice of real life that will make you think, feel and maybe even want to reach out to your loved ones. As the film vividly shows, they can be gone in a flash. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Mar 23, 2023
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Moving On (2022) |
An amusing and bittersweet little tale of love, friendship and, yes, retribution. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Mar 15, 2023
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The Magic Flute (2022) |
If viewers can focus on its engaging young cast, vivid appearances by several international opera stars and well-executed melding of reality and fantasy, “The Magic Flute”... should prove a buoyant and enjoyable musical journey. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Mar 10, 2023
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Blueback (2022) |
A transporting mother-daughter (and fish) drama as well as a beautifully shot memory piece that will reward patient viewers able to settle in and enjoy the film’s accessibly low-key vibe. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Mar 03, 2023
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Juniper (2021) |
Saville too often skims the surfaces of his characters, substituting traumatic concepts and plot devices for narrative logic and truly authentic, compelling emotion. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Feb 24, 2023
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88 (2022) |
Overall, the approach proves too cluttered and diffused, especially if the goal — as it should be here — is to build real dramatic tension. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Feb 16, 2023
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Let It Be Morning (2021) |
It presents a timely, pointed, at times cleverly satirical snapshot of Israeli-Palestinian relations. It also offers an often poignant look at a dysfunctional family at the center of it all. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Feb 03, 2023
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The Man in the Basement (2021) |
A gripping, smart and timely film that’s part thriller, part domestic drama and all cautionary tale. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jan 27, 2023
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Nostalgia (2022) |
If yielding to nostalgia often makes people recall a more affectionate and wistful version of what actually was, this stirring, evocative film likely will leave viewers haunted by what might have been. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jan 27, 2023
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In from the Side (2022) |
An especially well-filmed, acted and mounted effort. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jan 20, 2023
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Broker (2022) |
There’s a lot at work here, even if it’s presented with a generous, accessible touch. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 28, 2022
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The Pale Blue Eye (2022) |
What "The Pale Blue Eye"... may lack in fully propulsive storytelling and consistent narrative focus is more than made up for by its handsome physical production and gorgeous camerawork. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 22, 2022
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Joyride (2022) |
“Joyride” is a jalopy of a film. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 21, 2022
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Framing Agnes (2022) |
A fascinating, multidimensional, mosaic-like glimpse at transgender life from the 1950s to today as interpreted by — and through — a group of transmasculine and transfeminine performers and creatives and one uniquely impressive academic. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 15, 2022
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Memories of My Father (2020) |
Too much of the film lacks sufficient conflict and an organic sense of storytelling. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Nov 25, 2022
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"Sr." (2022) |
“Sr.” proves a tender portrait and fitting tribute to an offbeat hero and creative pioneer. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Nov 22, 2022
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Spirited (2022) |
Such an amusing, buoyant and good-natured entertainment that it’s not hard to forgive this flashy musical-comedy-fantasy’s missteps. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Nov 10, 2022
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My Policeman (2022) |
An absorbing, resonant, deeply wistful adaptation of the 2012 novel by Bethan Roberts that will probably be best appreciated... if judged more within the context of its mainly mid-20th century setting than by contemporary expectations. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Oct 21, 2022
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Last Flight Home (2022) |
Ultimately, and perhaps most beautifully, the film makes a case, à la the musical “Rent,” about how, in the end, we must measure our life in love. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Oct 12, 2022
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Loving Highsmith (2022) |
“Loving Highsmith” is a well-intentioned effort; a respectable start. But perhaps a more definitive and dimensional documentary — or even narrative feature — about this singularly intriguing talent will still be made. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Sep 09, 2022
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Peter von Kant (2022) |
There’s ultimately a lack of authentic emotion and dimension to the whole enterprise. (Again, maybe the point. And yet.) - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Aug 31, 2022
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My Name Is Sara (2019) |
A worthy addition to the seemingly endless string of fact-inspired, Holocaust stories that have vitally found their way to the big and small screens. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jul 21, 2022
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Rise (2022) |
Rise scores as first-rate family filmmaking and a worthy reminder that some dreams can and do come true — big time. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jun 27, 2022
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Bitterbrush (2021) |
A captivating and meditative look at two intrepid young women surviving — and seasonally thriving — in a traditionally male-dominated field: cattle herding. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jun 15, 2022
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Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen (2022) |
“Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen” is as wondrous, buoyant and heartwarming as the film it celebrates. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted May 05, 2022
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Firebird (2021) |
It’s a deeply felt tale made more so by the inherently dicey, if not impossible, nature of Sergey and Roman’s love. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Apr 28, 2022
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Charlotte (2021) |
For the chance to become acquainted with Salomon’s tragic and unique tale, as well as with her enduring output, this well-intended portrait is worth a look. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Apr 21, 2022
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The Rose Maker (2020) |
A slender but engaging tale about competition, cooperation and creativity. And while we’re on the C’s, no small amount of craftiness. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Mar 30, 2022
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7 Days (2021) |
Though the tropes of the genre dictate that a love connection is likely in store, it’s how that foregone conclusion is reached that provides the enjoyment value in any romcom worth its salt — and “7 Days” nicely fills the bill. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Mar 24, 2022
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Infinite Storm (2022) |
Quibbles aside, this is a daring and memorable depiction of trauma, compassion and resilience. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Mar 24, 2022
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Lucy and Desi (2022) |
Absorbing, entertaining and lovingly crafted... - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Mar 03, 2022
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The Automat (2021) |
As compact and enticing as those windowed compartments that once dispensed tasty food for mere nickels... “The Automat” takes an affectionate — and affecting — look at the famed Horn & Hardart restaurant chain and its singular place in dining history. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Feb 24, 2022
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The Pact (2021) |
Deftly mounted, shot and scored, “The Pact” is a master class in ensemble acting, led by Neumann in a visceral, deeply layered and knife‘s-edge turn. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Feb 17, 2022
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Give or Take (2020) |
There are enough relatable dynamics and situations here, as well as a few decent chuckles, to keep us invested in the film’s at times familiar if not always predictable journey. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Feb 10, 2022
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Book of Love (2022) |
Despite being often preposterous, the cross-cultural comedy “Book of Love” is an entertaining watch. Just don’t scratch even the slightest bit beneath its glossy, super-contrived surface. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Feb 03, 2022
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Rifkin's Festival (2020) |
Woody Allen's 49th feature, "Rifkin's Festival," is arguably his worst. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jan 28, 2022
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The Laureate (2021) |
Unfortunately, the film loses its center early on, as Riding and her manipulations drive much of the action and Graves' ambitions get a bit lost in the shuffle. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jan 21, 2022
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The Tiger Rising (2022) |
Too bad the rest of the movie isn't as captivating as the big, beautiful cat at its center. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jan 21, 2022
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Potato Dreams of America (2021) |
The film, sweet as it is, fails to strike a manageable or engaging enough tone as it treads some overly familiar territory... - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Jan 13, 2022
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Sing 2 (2021) |
It's a vibrant, amusing comedy whose story, from returning writer-director Garth Jennings, may be a bit overstuffed for its intended audience. Though that's not likely to hurt this peppy, often visually dazzling followup. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 21, 2021
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The Tender Bar (2021) |
A small story with a huge heart, one that should leave all but the most jaded viewers with more than a few well-earned lumps in their throats. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 16, 2021
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The Duke (2020) |
A lively and engaging account of the unusual 1961 theft of Francisco Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from London's National Gallery and the eccentric do-gooder at the center of it all. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 09, 2021
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Citizen Ashe (2021) |
Ultimately, if Miller and Pollard don't paint a particularly warts-and-all portrait of Ashe, they don't set him up as some sort of saint either: just a certain man of a certain era with an amazing talent. It's a fitting tribute. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 09, 2021
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Betrayed (2020) |
The movie has its share of disturbing visuals, but it's the profound emotional toll taken on the Braudes and their fellow Jews that packs the biggest punch. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Dec 03, 2021
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14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021) |
"14 Peaks" is a uniquely stirring journey. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Nov 30, 2021
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The Real Charlie Chaplin (2021) |
Combines an engaging bonanza of familiar and rarer film clips and other archival material with previously unheard audio and deft dramatic reenactments to form a cradle-to-grave account of the legend's long and winding life. - Los Angeles Times
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| Posted Nov 18, 2021
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