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Joe Bendel

Joe Bendel's reviews only count toward the Tomatometer® when published at Tomatometer-approved publication(s).
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Movies TV Shows
Starring Jerry as Himself (2023) 100% EDIT “Despite his reserved personality, Jerry Hsu is a compelling and likable protagonist, who holds the audience’s interest and sympathies throughout the film.” – Epoch Times Apr 18, 2023 Full Review Ask No Questions (2020) 100% 4.5/5 EDIT “This is an incisive documentary that arrives at a perfect time.” – Epoch Times Jul 21, 2020 Full Review Eden (2012) 85% EDIT “"Eden" addresses an important and timely topic, but the fearless performances from Chung and O'Leary will completely hook audiences on an emotional level.” – Epoch Times Jul 17, 2020 Full Review Moon Man (2012) 86% 3.5/5 EDIT “"Moon Man" has a healthy supply of idealism with the right subversive garnish. [Stephan] Schesch keeps the mood light and airy, even when the chips are down, maintaining a pleasant medium-up-tempo pace.” – Epoch Times May 1, 2020 Full Review What Richard Did (2012) 91% EDIT “While [Lenny] Abrahamson's patience in setting the scene and establishing the social dynamics among the characters is admirable, his efforts make the film top-heavy with exposition and rather repetitive carousing sequences.” – Epoch Times Apr 30, 2020 Full Review Apollo 11 (2019) 99% 4/5 EDIT “Most importantly, the film recaptures a sense of how the Apollo Program inspired the nation.” – Epoch Times Dec 21, 2019 Full Review Stockholm (2018) 70% 4/5 EDIT “It is a tight, energetic period thriller, helmed with a fair amount of flair by Budreau.” – Epoch Times Apr 16, 2019 Full Review Rodents of Unusual Size (2017) 98% 4/5 EDIT “At a whisker under 70 minutes, "Rodents" totally hits it and quits it, without any wasted time. Yet, it is an important and informative film, especially given the spread of the nutria population.” – Epoch Times Jan 15, 2019 Full Review The Invisibles (2017) 71% 3.5/5 EDIT “The strongest performance is that of Alice Dwyer as the desperate Lévy, but the late Schönhaus's recollections are the most fascinating. Nevertheless, the entire ensemble is quite strong.” – Epoch Times Jan 4, 2019 Full Review The Guilty (2018) 98% 4/5 EDIT “A lethally effective procedural thriller. Very highly recommended.” – Epoch Times Dec 26, 2018 Full Review People's Republic of Desire (2018) 97% 4/5 EDIT “As director and editor, Wu shows a keen eye for human drama, but still gives viewers a good summary of the bigger picture. He vividly illustrates the disparity between migrant workers and the oligarchical patron class, without belaboring the point.” – Epoch Times Nov 2, 2018 Full Review The Guardians (2017) 92% 3.5/5 EDIT “There is a good deal of grit in The Guardians, but it is also elegant in a hauntingly old-fashioned way.” – Epoch Times May 21, 2018 Full Review Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero (2018) 89% 4/5 EDIT “Frankly, "Sgt. Stubby" is a refreshing film [...]. It has none of the motor-mouthed hipster sarcasm found in recent studio animation.” – Epoch Times May 3, 2018 Full Review An Elephant Sitting Still (2018) 94% EDIT “This is a sprawling but strangely hardscrabble epic that has a very digital look. Nevertheless, Hu and cinematographer Fan Chao use the whole screen, capturing some strikingly scarred urban vistas and playing games with depth of focus for effect.” – Epoch Times Mar 30, 2018 Full Review Back to Burgundy (2017) 73% 3.5/5 EDIT “It all looks magnifique, thanks to [Cédric] Klapisch's stylish élan and Alexis Kavyrchine's sun-dappled cinematography, which just revels in the Burgundy landscape.” – Epoch Times Mar 23, 2018 Full Review Dead Pigs (2018) 97% 4.5/5 EDIT “It is bitingly satirical, trenchantly observant, and features a cast of characters that runs the entire social gamut. It is also deeply rooted in actual, documented events.” – Epoch Times Jan 26, 2018 Full Review White Fang (2018) 80% 4/5 EDIT “For the English dub, the voice of Paul Giamatti is perfectly cast as the scheming Smith. Nick Offerman and Rashida Jones are fine as Weedon and Maggie Scott, but probably the most distinctive vocal turn comes from Eddie Spears as Grey Beaver.” – Epoch Times Jan 26, 2018 Full Review The Death of Stalin (2017) 94% 4.5/5 EDIT “"The Death of Stalin" is a wickedly funny, pointedly scathing satire of corrupt power run amok.” – Epoch Times Jan 26, 2018 Full Review Bitter Money (2016) 89% 3.5/5 EDIT “There is a lot of life going on in Bitter Money, as everyone tries to get by as best they can. Recommended for admirers of Wang's intense examination of the human condition in contemporary China.” – Epoch Times Jan 12, 2018 Full Review Django (2017) 57% 4/5 EDIT “It sounds as fresh today as it did in the 1930s.” – Epoch Times Jan 5, 2018 Full Review I, Tonya (2017) 90% 4/5 EDIT “"I, Tonya" inspires a singularly unique emotional response. Viewers will laugh heartily at the decidedly dark humor, but they will also experience pangs of guilt for uncritically accepting the media's demonization of Harding.” – Epoch Times Dec 8, 2017 Full Review Destination Unknown (2017) 100% 4/5 EDIT “In some ways, it acts as a corrective to more simplistic films that present Holocaust narratives as a triumph over adversity. Some of survivors steadfastly embrace life as a means of countering the darkness, but others have never truly escaped the terror.” – Epoch Times Nov 10, 2017 Full Review Intent to Destroy (2017) 92% 3.5/5 EDIT “There is quite a bit of fascinating history and timely exposures of human rights violations.” – Epoch Times Nov 10, 2017 Full Review 1945 (2017) 97% 4/5 EDIT “"1945" is very highly recommended, but it probably requires sophisticated viewers.” – Epoch Times Nov 3, 2017 Full Review The Teacher (2016) 91% 4.5/5 EDIT “It is a razor-sharp film that is almost unbearably gripping.” – Epoch Times Sep 1, 2017 Full Review
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