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C+
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Bad Behaviour
(2023)
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Melody McCune
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Jennifer Connelly carries Bad Behaviour on her shoulders as the narrative wavers in committing to what it wants to be. However, looking beyond the rough edges and structural issues, you’ll find cinematic fragments of beauty and potentiality.
Posted Jan 30, 2023
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A-
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Magazine Dreams
(2023)
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Melody McCune
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Magazine Dreams is a poignant, powerful and compelling story with outstanding work from Jonathan Majors. He’s a tour de force and is well-deserving of the critical acclaim he’s receiving.
Posted Jan 30, 2023
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Enola Holmes 2
(2022)
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Melody McCune
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All in all, Enola Holmes 2 is a charming and playful romp that maintains the boisterous energy of the first film. It wears its heart on its sleeve while pulling you in for a silly yet undeniably fun experience.
Posted Nov 02, 2022
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Matriarch
(2022)
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Melody McCune
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If anything, watch it for their exemplary work and the delicacy with which they approach their characters’ complex relationship.
Posted Oct 20, 2022
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4/5
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Do Revenge
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Do Revenge is a teen movie that isn’t afraid to take some delightful chances. As a genre, teen movies can often be so formulaic and rigid. However, this up-and-coming team comes at this story with not only a look into the future but an eye for the past
Posted Sep 29, 2022
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3/5
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See How They Run
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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See How They Run is cinematic candy. It looks great, the characters are memorable and it keeps audiences on their toes until the very end. Just try and guess who the killer is! As they say, “It’s always the one you least suspect.”
Posted Sep 29, 2022
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2/5
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Don't Worry Darling
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Ultimately, Don’t Worry Darling is best described as style over substance filmmaking. The movie wastes a really interesting world to set up a poorly executed twist. It is desperate to be incredibly smart and edgy but loses a step in sloppy execution.
Posted Sep 29, 2022
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4.5/5
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The Justice of Bunny King
(2021)
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Kimberly Pierce
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This complex character study is a challenging.... (but) beautiful look at the strength and resilience of humanity. We’re capable of reaching the highest highs and the lowest lows, but even at our lowest, we can bounce back from anything
Posted Sep 29, 2022
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1.5/5
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Blonde
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Blonde is only interested in an examination of pain and suffering. It is impossible to see in any way how this movie comes from a place of love. Blonde is riveted by the pain and misery of a woman who deserved so much better.
Posted Sep 29, 2022
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2/5
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The Good House
(2021)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Despite well-crafted performances, questionable narrative choices hang over the story, pulling the audience back from this intimately crafted world. The Good House is an example of painfully missed opportunities.
Posted Sep 29, 2022
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4/5
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Catherine Called Birdy
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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This may be a teen movie, but at its heart, this is also a family story. There are some beautiful character dynamics at play, but unfortunately, the movie seems purely invested in building this as Birdy’s story.
Posted Sep 29, 2022
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3/5
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Hocus Pocus 2
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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When all is said and done, though, Hocus Pocus 2 is ultimately a cute little family film, probably far more fantasy than horror. However, it’s difficult to say if the sequel will earn the same longevity and love that the original still enjoys.
Posted Sep 29, 2022
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Fixation
(2022)
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Melody McCune
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Maddie Hasson is magnetic, catapulting the film forward even when the plot struggles to keep up.
Posted Sep 23, 2022
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God's Country
(2022)
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Melody McCune
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Julian Higgins’ debut is promising, and there’s certainly room for growth. He’s got potential as an up-and-coming filmmaker.
Posted Sep 23, 2022
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1/5
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Pinocchio
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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All in all, if you like the 1940, Disney version of Pinocchio… just watch that one.... Ultimately, Pinocchio is little more than superfluous fluff from a movie studio with a legendary past of telling much better stories.
Posted Sep 09, 2022
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3/5
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Loving Highsmith
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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The documentary has specific goals in mind and it certainly accomplishes what it sets out to do. Is this documentary a well-rounded examination of Patricia Highsmith the woman and the writer? No. It leaves a lot unsaid and unexamined in her... history.
Posted Sep 03, 2022
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3/5
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Funny Pages
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Funny Pages makes a definite point establishing writer and director Owen Klein as an up-and-coming talent. In his feature-length debut, the young artist crafts a powerful, vivid, challenging slice of life.
Posted Sep 01, 2022
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3.5/5
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Low Life
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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The movie is trapped somewhere at the intersection of horror, drama and thriller. It’s grimy. It’s tense, and it’s not an easy sit. However, with a cast and crew of up-and-coming talent, it’s at the same time refreshing... these movies are labors of love
Posted Aug 31, 2022
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3/5
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Three Thousand Years of Longing
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Storytelling gripes aside, Miller’s visual direction keeps Three Thousand Years of Longing moving on an even keel. He crafts a cinematic experience at every level. This begins with the earliest scenes and lasts through the music... in the final credits
Posted Aug 31, 2022
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2/5
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The Immaculate Room
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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It’s hard to get caught up in the action. The dragging scenes... don’t lead to claustrophobic tension. It leads to boredom... As the final credits roll, it feels like you’ve spent 50 days with the characters, and that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Posted Aug 31, 2022
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3/5
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Beast
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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This is a part-creature feature, part-horror thriller and part-family drama. There are multiple different fragments of great movies here, but they never coalesce into a solid single story. Ultimately, this one is best left to streaming.
Posted Aug 31, 2022
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4/5
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Bodies Bodies Bodies
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Horror, particularly of the slasher variety, is often representative of Hollywood’s younger generation....This is also very much true of Bodies Bodies Bodies.... The movie may feel weird to some of us. Is it weird? Or are we just getting older?
Posted Aug 12, 2022
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3.5/5
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Mack & Rita
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Mack & Rita may look a bit like a rehash of Big on the surface. However, there’s a lot more to this sweet little movie.... If you identify as an “old soul,” this gentle comedy is a summertime must-see.
Posted Aug 12, 2022
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4/5
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Resurrection
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Even when we skirt over the plot, Resurrection mines... very challenging... material before descending into some truly graphic... imagery deep in the third act. Did I enjoy this film? No. Am I still thinking about this movie days after watching it? Yes.
Posted Aug 09, 2022
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3/5
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Bullet Train
(2022)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Watching Bullet Train, one thing came to mind: fun. The actors look to be having a blast, and the many laughs rolling through my small screening showed the audience having just as much fun. This movie is a big, bold action comedy that pulls no punches
Posted Aug 09, 2022
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Anaïs in Love
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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Nicola Piovani’s score is the epitome of beauty; it has this plush softness, especially the piano-driven pieces. Couple that with the mesmerizing shots, and you have a film that presents an engaging, multisensory experience.
Posted Apr 22, 2022
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C+
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Barbarians
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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As a horror-thriller, Barbarians' pacing suffers under the weight of its indecisiveness and focuses solely on character development instead of facilitating the survival plot.
Posted Mar 30, 2022
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Happening
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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Happening is thought-provoking, making you wonder how far we’ve come on destigmatizing...
Posted Mar 23, 2022
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You Won't Be Alone
(2022)
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Melody McCune
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Goran Stolevski weaves a humanistic, mesmerizing, thought-provoking, biting tale complete with beautiful direction, a quietly cinematic score by Mark Bradshaw and top-tier performances.
Posted Jan 25, 2022
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Nanny
(2022)
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Melody McCune
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Nanny is entertaining, thoughtful, creative and visually stimulating despite the slightly confusing ending.
Posted Jan 25, 2022
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Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.
(2022)
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Melody McCune
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Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. is a laugh-out-loud satirical romp with Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall leading the charge with two powerhouse performances.
Posted Jan 25, 2022
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Red Notice
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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It's a derivative flick that relies too much on Reynolds' incessant barrage of sarcastic one-liners to keep the audience entertained.
Posted Nov 11, 2021
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Mass
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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Mass is a testament to consistently powerful writing, solid directing and unbelievably tour de force acting, and it tackles its complex subject matter with grace and aplomb.
Posted Oct 01, 2021
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The Suicide Squad
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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Of course, creating multifaceted, endearing villains beyond the stereotypical "mustache-twirling" isn't a novel concept. But in Gunn's hands, it soars to new heights.
Posted Aug 10, 2021
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Gunpowder Milkshake
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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Overall, Gunpowder Milkshake is all flash and no substance.
Posted Jul 16, 2021
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Black Widow
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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While there are humorous moments aplenty between Natasha and Yelena, Alexei provides more comedic relief. Rachel Weisz plays the icy Melina Vostokoff to perfection.
Posted Jun 29, 2021
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Cruella
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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A sleek and stylish dive into the titular character's humble beginnings.
Posted May 27, 2021
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Together Together
(2021)
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Melody McCune
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Thankfully, [writer and director Nikole] Beckwith decides to hone in on a seldom-explored relationship type: the platonic love between women and men.
Posted Apr 27, 2021
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One Night in Miami
(2020)
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Melody McCune
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One Night in Miami is a vital piece of work.
Posted Jan 19, 2021
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Wander Darkly
(2020)
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Melody McCune
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Miller doles out the performance of her career. She's sublime.
Posted Dec 14, 2020
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Sound of Metal
(2019)
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Melody McCune
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Sound of Metal is a beautifully intimate portrait with Ahmed leading the charge... It's a raw, intimate look into one man's struggle with acceptance. A grappling of drastic change.
Posted Dec 07, 2020
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4/5
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The Trial of the Chicago 7
(2020)
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Kimberly Pierce
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The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a name you're going to be hearing about the deeper we go into awards season. As is often said, this isn't a perfect movie. However, the film strikes a powerful note in our contemporary climate.
Posted Oct 27, 2020
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2/5
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Rebecca
(2020)
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Kimberly Pierce
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There are talented and magnetic actors and this is well worth the time for their fans.... However, with that being said, Rebecca comes with... definite baggage for those in the classic film community and might require a certain tempering of expectations.
Posted Oct 27, 2020
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5/5
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Nomadland
(2020)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Nomadland packs such emotion and heart into a script which feels almost effortless on screen. Film fans, cinephiles and awards season followers should definitely add this little gem to your lists. This isn't the last you'll be hearing over awards season
Posted Oct 27, 2020
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4.5/5
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I'm Your Woman
(2020)
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Kimberly Pierce
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In crafting a story like I'm Your Woman, and working with such dynamic actresses, Julia Hart succeeds in shifting the gaze. She shows that women's stories are interesting, they matter, and they need to be told.
Posted Oct 27, 2020
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Radium Girls
(2018)
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Melody McCune
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While the historical premise itself carries the story somewhat, it gets bogged down by lackluster characters. But I think this was a story that needed to be told, if anything to encourage viewers to research the real Radium Girls' tale for themselves.
Posted Oct 26, 2020
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Mighty Oak
(2020)
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Melody McCune
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Despite Mighty Oak's inconsistencies, I felt its message resonated as intended.
Posted Jul 08, 2020
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
(2019)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Star Wars has been onscreen in some form for more than 40 years, and it's sad that this hastily written film is where the saga "ends". This movie could have been a heck of a lot better.
Posted Dec 19, 2019
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The Two Popes
(2019)
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Kimberly Pierce
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When combining the stunning direction of Fernando Meirelles with the dynamic performances of two acting legends, The Two Popes is a vibrant, smart and warmly humorous examination of faith in our complicated, modern world.
Posted Dec 17, 2019
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Knives Out
(2019)
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Kimberly Pierce
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Ultimately, Knives Out is yet another film which demonstrates that Rian Johnson is one of the smartest most interesting directors currently working in Hollywood.
Posted Nov 26, 2019
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