Matt Ward
Tomatometer-approved critic
I am the resident film critic for one of the largest weekly newspapers in Texas, the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post. My reviews are printed each Wednesday for an audience of 8-10 thousand readers. I also archive all my reviews online at cinematicconsiderations.com. I also serve as a programmer for both the Hill Country Film Festival, held in Fredericksburg each April, as well as the Lone Star Film Festival, held in Fort Worth each November. My personal film criticism style opts to focus on performance and filmmaking rather than the lengthy plot recaps found in many major reviews. A discussion of my criticism style can be found at https://cinematicconsiderations.com/2016/01/29/the-power-of-cinema/
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Last Night in Rozzie (2021) |
...may not have the star power of large scale adult melodramas, but its independent spirit, universal story and Sisto's remarkable performance might be the right find for cinephiles... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Sep 24, 2021
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In the Heights (2021) |
It's important to catch In The Heights on the biggest screen possible where the spectacle of the vibrant musical can be fully appreciated....a true triumph. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jun 15, 2021
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All These Sons (2021) |
By focusing not on the tragedy of gun violence but the hope of redemption, All These Sons prevents the struggles of men like Shamont and Zay from being exploitive... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jun 15, 2021
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Wrath of Man (2021) |
Oozing with pitch black villainy, the heist drama is Ritchie's best film in a decade and makes the most out of a cold-blooded Statham performance. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted May 06, 2021
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The Banker (2020) |
A welcome distraction in a world of uncertainty and something worth seeking out at home. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Oct 21, 2020
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Bad Education (2019) |
Viewers who come into Bad Education without any history with the true story may be confused as to how things turned sideways. One (Hugh) Jackman smile and it all makes sense. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Apr 27, 2020
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Blow the Man Down (2019) |
A striking, exceptionally crafted work of art that pulls in some of the best elements of Fargo, Agatha Christie and Gilmore Girls to create a unique take on the (noir) genre. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Apr 20, 2020
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Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story (2019) |
More than just a simple sports documentary, "Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story" is a revealing, heartwarming look at a man who lived fully and unapologetically for others... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Apr 12, 2020
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Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) |
Although "Birds of Prey" suffers from an identity issue... the fantabulous highs far outweigh the middling lows... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Mar 03, 2020
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Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) |
Portrait of a Lady on Fire builds from embers into a raging inferno of emotion in one of the best romance films in ten years. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Mar 03, 2020
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The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) |
The Last Thing has the pizzazz and the cinematic bravado necessary for a taut political thriller, but the film falls flat from the outset. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Mar 03, 2020
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Just Mercy (2019) |
In the least heralded great performance of 2019, (Rob) Morgan blows audiences away with a remorseful passion mixed with bewilderment and confusion... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jan 20, 2020
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1917 (2019) |
A visual marvel unlike any other, 1917 requires a grandiose, epic cinematic experience to match the vastness of the film itself. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jan 13, 2020
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Uncut Gems (2019) |
The Safdies, who have sought Sandler for the role of Howard for the better part of a decade, perfectly pen a character to fit the longtime comedic actor's unique quirks... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jan 06, 2020
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Little Women (2019) |
Little Women leaps off the pages of Gerwig's screenplay with a frantic, chaotic energy... radiates a palpable heat that cinema - especially period historical fiction - rarely strives towards. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Dec 27, 2019
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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) |
Compelling and emotional, "A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood" is a worthy drama that focuses on impact over legacy in a tale of fathers and sons that will tug at heartstrings. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Dec 24, 2019
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The Report (2019) |
The Report is a solid directorial debut for a filmmaker who clearly hasn't figured out a visual style. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Dec 24, 2019
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Marriage Story (2019) |
Deeply thoughtful, emotional and yet surprisingly entertaining, "Marriage Story" is without question one of 2019's top five films and a must see. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Dec 24, 2019
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Richard Jewell (2019) |
Paul Walter Hauser gives perhaps the best performance of the year as Jewell with an approachable honesty to the portrayal that disarms audiences. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Dec 24, 2019
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) |
There's something for everyone in "Skywalker" that should drive audiences to theaters and though it's worth the experience on a big screen, something feels incomplete. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Dec 24, 2019
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The Irishman (2019) |
If this is the last film of Scorsese's career - though those odds are unlikely - The Irishman is a fitting culmination of a master's work. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Nov 15, 2019
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Jojo Rabbit (2019) |
Boldly creative in the style of Wes Anderson but with his own satirical quirks, Waititi's Jojo Rabbit is among 2019's best films. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Nov 11, 2019
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Parasite (2019) |
A contender for the best film of the decade, Parasite is a thrilling, absolute masterpiece from one of the world's greatest auteur directors. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Nov 04, 2019
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Dolemite Is My Name (2019) |
Murphy gives such an affable twist to each poetic slander and crass comment that it's nearly impossible not to root for his Rudy regardless of how many four-letter words fly. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Nov 04, 2019
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Judy (2019) |
Somewhere over the rainbow, there's a good film to be made about the life of a Hollywood icon like Garland. Unfortunately, Judy largely misses the mark. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Oct 23, 2019
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The Laundromat (2019) |
The Laundromat isn't the kind of film that requires going out of the way to see in theaters but is certainly worth taking a chance on now that it's available to stream. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Oct 23, 2019
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Joker (2019) |
Joker is a better film the further writer/director Phillips stays away from the movie's comic book origins and hones in on Arthur's wavering grasp on sanity. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Oct 06, 2019
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Ad Astra (2019) |
Technically proficient and understated in its beauty, Ad Astra has moments of action grandeur largely obscured by extensive sequences highlighting the vast emptiness of space. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Sep 30, 2019
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Hustlers (2019) |
(Lopez) dominates the screen from start to finish and yet always feels elusively just out of reach, helping audiences to share Dorothy's idolization of Ramona almost to mythicizing her. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Sep 29, 2019
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The Goldfinch (2019) |
An exceptionally artistic film with high-minded philosophical discussions of criticism, fine art and antiques; and yet the whole affair is remarkably distant and vague. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Sep 29, 2019
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The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) |
Raw and unrefined, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a testament to the power of independent filmmaking.....Gottsagen steals scene after scene... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Sep 02, 2019
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American Factory (2019) |
Though viewers are likely to take one side or the other, Bognar and Reichert tell the story of Fuyao as impartially as possible which allows their subjects remarkable authenticity. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Aug 23, 2019
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Blinded by the Light (2019) |
A film that doesn't particularly excel at any one aspect but is more than the sum of its parts.... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Aug 21, 2019
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Good Boys (2019) |
...the kind of movie that will live on in frat houses eight years from now when the sixth graders this film is actually intended for will be old enough to drink... - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Aug 19, 2019
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The Souvenir (2019) |
...a portrait of an artist struggling to define herself. Whether that portrait is of Julie the character, Joanna the filmmaker or somewhere in between is the unanswerable question. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Aug 17, 2019
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Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2019) |
Bernadette is a quaint, simple movie that will warm hearts over the course of two hours and should have a long shelf life as an easily rewatchable film. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Aug 17, 2019
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The Farewell (2019) |
Powerfully subdued and thoughtful, The Farewell is a terrific independent film that will remain among the year's best . - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Aug 11, 2019
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Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) |
Written at a "straight-to-DVD" level but produced on a blockbuster budget, Hobbs and Shaw has its moments, but wavers considerably on the enjoyment level. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Aug 05, 2019
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Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019) |
The fact that a rare good late-career Al Pacino appearance here is the 17th or 18th best thing about Once Upon A Time says a lot about this film's incredible depth. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jul 29, 2019
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The Lion King (2019) |
Lion King swaps hand drawn cartoon animation for photo realistic computer graphics... Disney and Favreau have excised the soul of the film as a sacrifice to visual innovation. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jul 22, 2019
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Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018) |
...an interesting, frequently engaging look at a largely forgotten filmmaker whose influence and precedent setting far outweighed her notoriety. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jul 18, 2019
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Stuber (2019) |
"Stuber" reeks of a script penned in the wake of buddy cop films that stagnated on a studio executive's shelf until actors could be convinced to sign on. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jul 15, 2019
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Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) |
Although Far From Home may feel like a step or two down from Avengers: Endgame, it's still an impressive summer blockbuster. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jul 04, 2019
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The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) |
The Last Black Man in San Francisco is perfectly imperfect, a singular vision from a soulful first-time feature film director whose technical flaws bring his movie to life. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jun 28, 2019
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Toy Story 4 (2019) |
Kids will watch Toy Story 4 with wide eyes enjoying the whole ride and not fully understanding how good what they're seeing actually is. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jun 24, 2019
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Murder Mystery (2019) |
Watching "Murder Mystery" is a chore to endure and one you wouldn't want to have to sit through in public. Yet somehow, it still isn't the worst film to be released in 2019. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jun 17, 2019
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Late Night (2019) |
(Late Night) blends sharp tongues and wide-eyed optimism for an exceptional dramedy with a fresh point of view. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jun 15, 2019
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Booksmart (2019) |
Booksmart is likely the best film you won't see in theaters but will watch six months from now and kick yourself from not finding it sooner. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jun 10, 2019
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Rocketman (2019) |
Rocketman captures the fantasy and majesty of John's enduring legacy in a magical way, cranking up the tunes in a dream-hazed portrait that lives and breathes his identity. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted Jun 03, 2019
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Aladdin (2019) |
"Aladdin" is more a star vehicle for Smith than the original was for Robin Williams. Though Smith is energetic, his Genie isn't half as good with twice the on-screen presence. - Cinematic Considerations
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| Posted May 24, 2019
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