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C-
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North Star
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Despite a stellar cast, North Star fails to deliver due to a disjointed and melodramatic script, as well as a miscast lead performance.
Posted Sep 18, 2023
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A
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Wicked Little Letters
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Wicked Little Letters is a wickedly entertaining crowdpleaser that made me laugh harder than I have in a long time. Olivia Colman is hilarious, with her facial expressions alone keeping the audience in the palm of her hand.
Posted Sep 11, 2023
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A
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The End We Start From
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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The End We Start From is a beautiful character study about the power and fortitude of women, which just happens to take place in apocalyptic times. It's a gut-punch, not only in the heart-wrenching subject matter but in Jodie Comer’s knockout performance.
Posted Sep 10, 2023
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A
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Lee
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Lee is a stirring tribute to an unsung legend in journalism… a woman who preserved an important, historic legacy. Kate Winslet gives an award worthy performance.
Posted Sep 10, 2023
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B
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Woman of the Hour
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Anna Kendrick's WOMAN OF THE HOUR is an expertly filmed, thrilling entry into the true crime genre; it's hard to believe this is her directorial debut. Even if you know the story, the well-paced film finds ways to add tension and excitement throughout.
Posted Sep 09, 2023
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A
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The Deepest Breath
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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The Deepest Breath is a terrifying, but beautiful examination on following your passion, finding a community, and the risks and rewards of pushing yourself past its limit.
Posted Jul 30, 2023
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B
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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is full of whip-snapping action scenes, punches of nostalgia, and a perfect musical score that make it a worthy send-off to an iconic character.
Posted Jul 01, 2023
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B+
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No Hard Feelings
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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No Hard Feelings has a lot of humor, even more heart, and a fantastic comedic performance from Lawrence, who uses her natural charisma and presence to make this an enjoyable comedy… and did I mention one scene in particular is going to break the internet?
Posted Jun 22, 2023
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B-
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Mafia Mamma
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Mafia Mamma isn’t going to win any awards, but I still had a lot of fun with it... even when some scenes went a little too far in the realm of the silly. I love that the film leans into the campy comedy and never takes itself too seriously.
Posted Apr 14, 2023
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B
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Cocaine Bear
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Cocaine Bear is a movie that should be seen in a crowded theater to bask in the collective cringes, "oh nos", and gasps of fellow audience members. Entertaining, brutal, absurd, and hilarious... this movie rocks!
Posted Feb 24, 2023
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B
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Knock at the Cabin
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Claustrophobic, brutal, and suspenseful, this horror-thriller is going to have you on the edge of your seat the entire time, not only questioning what is real, but also wondering when the big twist Shyamalan is known for will come... if it ever does.
Posted Feb 03, 2023
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B+
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Infinity Pool
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Infinity Pool is not for everyone, but I love its cerebral script, originality, weirdness, and the way it's a movie you've never seen before. Mia Goth once again proves she is the horror genre’s most talented new scream queen.
Posted Jan 28, 2023
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C
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Run Rabbit Run
(2023)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Despite a phenomenal performance from Sarah Snook, Run Rabbit Run struggles to be consistently thrilling, with repetitive scenes that cause the second act to drag. Still, its heavy final act will stick with you.
Posted Jan 25, 2023
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A
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Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
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GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO is a stop-motion musical marvel and one of the best movies of the year. It is a cinematic feat that is not just for children, it is for everyone.
Posted Dec 11, 2022
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C-
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Empire of Light
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Despite Roger Deakins’ gorgeous cinematography and another phenomenal performance from Olivia Colman, Empire of Light cannot overcome writer/director Sam Mendes’ disjointed screenplay.
Posted Dec 06, 2022
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|
|
Falling for Christmas
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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No one in the film is under the illusion that FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS is anything more than a feel-good holiday romp in the snow that will be fun to watch from your couch with a nice cup of hot chocolate. Lohan's natural charm and humor shine.
Posted Nov 11, 2022
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A
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Causeway
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
|
Instead of relying on flashbacks, Causeway lets you see and hear the trauma and raw emotions of PTSD in Jennifer Lawrence’s expressiveness, physicality, & interactions with those around her. Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry's chemistry is off the charts.
Posted Nov 04, 2022
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A
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Aftersun
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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From its gut-wrenching script and stirring cinematography to brilliant performances from the always-spectacular Paul Mescal and newcomer Frankie Corio, Aftersun is a special one.
Posted Nov 03, 2022
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B-
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Ticket to Paradise
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Ticket to Paradise rests on the shoulders of Roberts and Clooney's star power and the appeal of seeing them reunite on-screen once again. Do not see this film for any reason other than that.
Posted Oct 22, 2022
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B+
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The Wonder
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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The Wonder is a beautifully shot, enthralling thriller that explores the conflict between fact and faith. Florence Pugh gives another phenomenal performance, holding the audience in the palm of her hand the entire time.
Posted Oct 10, 2022
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B+
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Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Matilda is not a replacement for the book or original film, but a musical, whimsical addition. Emma Thompson is deliciously evil as Miss Trunchbull, but the real heart of the film is Lashana Lynch whose 11 o'clock number brings down the house!
Posted Oct 06, 2022
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A
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The Woman King
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Movies are at their best when they make you feel something, and I had tears in my eyes throughout The Woman King. Viola Davis's layered performance of stoicism and fierceness is one of her best, but it's the incredible Lashana Lynch who steals the movie.
Posted Sep 16, 2022
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B
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See How They Run
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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See How They Run is an entertaining, tongue-in-cheek love letter to whodunnits and a film that will get even better with multiple viewings, revealing new clues you may have missed. Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell have amazing, hilarious chemistry.
Posted Sep 10, 2022
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B-
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Bullet Train
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Despite a chaotic, bloated plot and too many forced jokes, Bullet Train has awesome action scenes and is overall entertaining. Brad Pitt may be the "star," but Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry are the best parts of the film.
Posted Aug 05, 2022
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B-
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The Gray Man
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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With an all-star cast, high-octane action scenes, and edge of your seat thrills, The Gray Man is an entertaining blockbuster that you can enjoy from the comfort of your sofa.
Posted Jul 15, 2022
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C+
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Where the Crawdads Sing
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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If you manage expectations, Where The Crawdads Sing is an entertaining enough summer romance, with elements of a whodunit that may or may not surprise you in the final act. Daisy Edgar-Jones is phenomenal.
Posted Jul 15, 2022
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B-
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Gone in the Night
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Just when you feel like you have a handle of what is going on, writer/director Eli Horowitz pivots to make the action something else entirely. And as a movie fan, that makes for an exhilarating, fun experience. Winona Ryder shines.
Posted Jul 15, 2022
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B
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Thor: Love and Thunder
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Fun, hilarious, and silly, Taika Waititi once again makes an entertaining Marvel film in Thor: Love and Thunder. Bale may be the scariest-looking villain yet.
Posted Jul 08, 2022
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C-
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The Forgiven
(2021)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Despite an attempt to skewer the 1%, colonialism, and the appalling way the West views Arab identity and culture, THE FORGIVEN never really hits the mark. Still, Chastain and Fiennes give notably solid performances.
Posted Jul 01, 2022
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B-
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Elvis
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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ELVIS, directed by the wonderfully flashy Baz Luhrmann, is as glitzy and dazzling as Elvis Presley himself. Austin Butler knocks it out of the park in this brilliant, star-making performance.
Posted Jun 24, 2022
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A
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Top Gun: Maverick
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
|
Top Gun: Maverick is better than its predecessor. From the rumble of the jet engines, to the amazing cockpit and fighter aircraft scenes, if you don’t see this film in an IMAX theater, you are doing yourself and the film a huge disservice
Posted May 28, 2022
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B
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Men
(2022)
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Lauren Bradshaw
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Men certainly will be divisive with audiences, particularly the trippy third act. Still, the overall message of the film and its originality overcomes any of that; Garland is swinging for the fences.
Posted May 13, 2022
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B-
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
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"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is going to be polarizing. Part chaotic action film, part horror film, this has Sam Raimi’s name all over it, but the scattered tones prevent the film from fully coming together in the end. Olsen shines.
Posted May 06, 2022
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A
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The Northman
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
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The Northman is an intense, nail biter that is going to leave a lasting mark on the epic period drama. With gorgeous cinematography and phenomenal performances from Skarsgard, Taylor-Joy, and Kidman, this is a film you should see in theaters.
Posted Apr 21, 2022
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C
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Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
The Secrets of Dumbledore is the best film in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, but that's not saying much. It vacillates between being an absorbing, gritty film to overstaying its welcome with an almost 2.5 hour runtime.
Posted Apr 15, 2022
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B
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All the Old Knives
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
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All The Old Knives is a sexy, slow-burn espionage thriller, with a twisty, cerebral script that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Posted Apr 08, 2022
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B
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Mothering Sunday
(2021)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
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Mothering Sunday is a steamy, welcomed contribution to the period romance genre, with a distinctly female point of view that is imperative in a story like this.
Posted Mar 25, 2022
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C
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The Cursed
(2021)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
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The Cursed has great atmosphere and style, but its creepy premise is at times lost in overly long periods of exposition and build-up.
Posted Feb 17, 2022
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A
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Help
(2021)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
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Help is an important, eye-opening film about the COVID pandemic, as well as a tribute to those who sacrificed everything. Comer is exceptional, giving one of her best performances yet.
Posted Feb 01, 2022
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B-
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After Yang
(2021)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
After Yang is admittedly a cerebral slow-burn. Still, it is a beautifully shot movie, with themes that stick with you, especially being present and what it is to be human.
Posted Jan 25, 2022
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|
A-
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Am I OK?
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
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Am I OK? was created by women, for women. It is a beautiful celebration of close female friendships and a reflection on self-discovery in your 30s. Johnson is as hilarious as she is charming.
Posted Jan 25, 2022
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|
A
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Cha Cha Real Smooth
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
Cha Cha Real Smooth is a heartfelt, romantic dramedy that focuses on self-growth, learning to love, and celebrating differences. More than that, it's very charming. Dakota Johnson shines.
Posted Jan 24, 2022
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A+
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Lucy and Desi
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
Lucy and Desi is a masterpiece. It is not only the definitive work on Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's relationship, but a moving love letter to the two most instrumental figures in TV history.
Posted Jan 23, 2022
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B
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Dual
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
Dual is an original, creative sci-fi film with a smart and unpredictable script that will leave you guessing until the final frame.
Posted Jan 23, 2022
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B+
|
Breaking
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
892 is an intensely engaging true story, highlighting the many issues facing our veterans, including lack of support and mental health. Boyega gives a career-best performance.
Posted Jan 22, 2022
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A
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Fresh
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
Fresh is one of the most twisted, original horror film I've seen. My jaw was on the floor 30 minutes in and has remained so ever since. Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones are brilliant.
Posted Jan 21, 2022
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C+
|
When You Finish Saving the World
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
When You Finish Saving The World is not bad, it's just not terribly memorable, despite strong performances from Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard.
Posted Jan 21, 2022
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A-
|
Scream
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
Scream is a bloody good time and entertaining from beginning to end, inviting audiences to cheer on our scream queens, laugh at the inside jokes... and think twice about answering the phone.
Posted Jan 14, 2022
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B-
|
The 355
(2022)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
The 355 may not be the most memorable espionage thriller, but it checks the boxes of what I want to see in a spy film, including a great cast and entertaining action scenes.
Posted Jan 07, 2022
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A
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West Side Story
(2021)
|
Lauren Bradshaw
|
Spielberg's West Side Story does not feel like a money-grabbing remake, but instead a love letter that acknowledges the story's problems, while celebrating one of the best musicals of all time.
Posted Dec 11, 2021
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