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Joe Williams

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

I am the film critic for the daily St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Publications:
Favorites:

It's a Wonderful Life, Quadrophenia, Lost in America, The Graduate, Days of Heaven, The Heartbreak Kid, Apocalypse Now, Gangs of New York, Love with the Proper Stranger, The Party, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, Memento, Waking Life, Amelie

Location:

St. Louis, MO

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 94% 3.5/4 EDIT “It turns out that the movie is a worthy heir to the throne. The Return of the King is the darkest and richest film in the trilogy, a morally satisfying epic that redeems the adage that size equals gravity.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jan 14, 2026 Full Review The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 91% 3.5/4 EDIT “It's hard to imagine this epic story done any better. If the other two films in the series are as rich as this, they could endure as long as the books. ” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jan 13, 2026 Full Review Spider-Man (2002) 90% 3/4 EDIT “Spider-Man isn't a daring new approach to comic adaptations, like Tim Burton's failed Batman. Rather, by sticking close to the source, it succeeds with flying colors. ” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sep 24, 2025 Full Review This Is Spinal Tap (1984) 98% EDIT “Reiner's directorial debut remains his best and most inventive film, a note-perfect parody of show-biz self-importance and pre-MTV production values.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sep 9, 2025 Full Review Requiem for a Dream (2000) 80% 3/4 EDIT “"Requiem for a Dream" is a daring, original and important work. But if Aronofsky could apply his dazzling techniques to a story with genuine human complexity, his films might evolve from science to art.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Aug 22, 2025 Full Review Jurassic Park III (2001) 49% 3/4 EDIT “A roaring success.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jun 25, 2025 Full Review Mission: Impossible III (2006) 73% C- EDIT “In exchange for sitting through two hours of product placements and soul-deadening action sequences, we get a hectic tour of global hot spots and an illusory peek into the world of espionage.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 21, 2025 Full Review Planet of the Apes (2001) 42% 3.5/4 EDIT “Despite an undercooked script and the relative weakness of the main character, the movie delivers all the action and imagination you could ask from a summer blockbuster.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 1, 2024 Full Review Almost Famous (2000) 91% 3/4 EDIT “This potential classic is partially tamed by the dictates of big-budget Hollywood. While it's a heartfelt, smart and funny film, Almost Famous isn't quite tough or eccentric enough to supersede High Fidelity as the year's best movie about rock fandom.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Mar 26, 2024 Full Review Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (2001) 93% 4/4 EDIT “The shock that there are still cultures on this planet that have not recorded their experiences is mild compared to the revelation of the film itself. ” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Y tu mamá también (2001) 90% 3.5/4 EDIT “[Gael García Bernal] is especially vivid... We suspect that soon he will be offered roles in American films. But this scintillating film makes a compelling argument that there's a paradise waiting for those who keep traveling south.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sep 9, 2023 Full Review Traffic (2000) 93% 3.5/4 EDIT “This is the rare film that neither aims to entertain nor incite. The basis of the profound uncertainty it evokes qualifies Traffic as an important movie, and the basis of its technical achievement qualifies it as a great one.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sep 6, 2023 Full Review Moulin Rouge (2001) 75% 3.5/4 EDIT “Ultimately, the human component of Moulin Rouge is dwarfed by director Luhrmann's outlandish visuals and virtuoso use of music. It's unlikely that any other film this year will offer such a feast for the senses.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sep 5, 2023 Full Review The Matrix (1999) 83% 3/4 EDIT “While the new sci-fi thriller The Matrix won't win any prizes for its script or its acting, it may be the most outlandish feat of futurism since Blade Runner.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jul 13, 2023 Full Review Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) 77% B EDIT “There are so many levels of nostalgia piled onto Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull that it’s hard to unearth a nugget of new inspiration; but the golden oldies that are doled out should dazzle those who cheer for the familiar.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Apr 13, 2023 Full Review Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) 18% EDIT “The "Star Wars" franchise has become what the marketing executive always thought: an excuse to steal money from children. The Lucas empire has finally succumbed to the Dark Side.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jan 4, 2018 Full Review Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) 62% 3/4 EDIT “The technical wizardry of the action scenes are ultimately more important than the story and reason enough for nonbelievers to see and enjoy the movie.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Dec 14, 2015 Full Review Pixels (2015) 18% 1.5/4 EDIT “Long before you've gotten a nickel's worth of entertainment out of this dumb, unfunny flick, you'll be wishing for the flashing sign that says "Game over."” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jul 23, 2015 Full Review Southpaw (2015) 59% 2.5/4 EDIT “Although "Southpaw" has some punch, it's not exactly coming from left field.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jul 23, 2015 Full Review Trainwreck (2015) 84% 3.5/4 EDIT “This is a fully fleshed-out movie, the funniest of the year.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jul 16, 2015 Full Review Ant-Man (2015) 83% 3/4 EDIT “Everyone involved can proudly declare, "Honey, I shrunk the Marvel Cinematic Universe."” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jul 16, 2015 Full Review Minions (2015) 55% 2/4 EDIT “"Minions" is product, pure and simple. Little kids will love it, but grown-ups will feel like they're being held hostage in a Fisher-Price test laboratory.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jul 9, 2015 Full Review Testament of Youth (2014) 84% 2/4 EDIT “As a story, it evokes a word that no battlefield nurse would ever apply to her experiences: sterile.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jul 9, 2015 Full Review Gemma Bovery (2014) 54% 3.5/4 EDIT “Director Anne Fontaine eroticizes her porcelain-skinned star but also adds some subversively feminist flourishes.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jul 9, 2015 Full Review Magic Mike XXL (2015) 66% 2/4 EDIT “With stingy portions and plenty of filler, "Magic Mike XXL" is the worst sausage party ever.” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch Jun 30, 2015 Full Review
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