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3.5/4
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Onward
(2020)
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Dustin Putman
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Looks can be deceiving, proclaims the age-old adage, and so it goes with "Onward," a fantastical comedy with a soul both remarkably wise and touchingly human.
Posted Feb 21, 2020
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3.5/4
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Cats
(2019)
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Dustin Putman
|
The truth is, "Cats" is destined for cult status, misunderstood by the uninitiated, unaccepted by the "it's-cool-to-hate" crowd, and cherished by a special brand of audience who sees the value in art that dares to be different.
Posted Dec 20, 2019
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3.5/4
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
(2019)
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Dustin Putman
|
A rousing, thrilling, altogether touching farewell to the Skywalker legacy. It scarcely could have ended in a lovelier place.
Posted Dec 18, 2019
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4/4
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Joker
(2019)
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Dustin Putman
|
As unsettling as it is rapturous. Sobering and, yes, shocking, "Joker" creatively invigorates in its sheer unvarnished madness.
Posted Oct 02, 2019
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3.5/4
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Brittany Runs a Marathon
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
The tears, by the end, are cathartic in the best way, fully earned and nourishing.
Posted Aug 19, 2019
|
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3/4
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Good Boys
(2019)
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Dustin Putman
|
Undeniably ribald yet surprisingly sweet, the firmly R-rated "Good Boys" rings just as true as 2007's "Superbad" while holding up decidedly better within the context of its more inclusive, post-#TimesUp climate.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
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3.5/4
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Blinded by the Light
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A feel-good triumph earning every one of its spirited emotions, "Blinded by the Light" gets to the heart of the often deeply personal power of music.
Posted Jul 25, 2019
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2.5/4
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Spider-Man: Far From Home
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A satisfying step in the right direction. There's plenty of fun to be had, and a mid-credits coda teases the setup for a truly enticing and provocative third installment.
Posted Jul 02, 2019
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3/4
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Aladdin
(2019)
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Dustin Putman
|
Fantasy, comedy, music, adventure, thrills—"Aladdin" has got it all. This is a remake to be proud of, a resplendently imagined family feature that lives up to—and, in some crucial empowering ways, surpasses—the animated original.
Posted May 24, 2019
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3/4
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The Sun Is Also a Star
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A timely adaptation of Nicola Yoon's best-selling 2016 novel, "The Sun Is Also a Star" is a winsome romance caught in the tangled web of harsh reality.
Posted May 15, 2019
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2.5/4
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Poms
(2019)
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Dustin Putman
|
A simple, undemanding cinematic pleasure, a high-spirited underdog comedy with a bittersweet center.
Posted May 09, 2019
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3.5/4
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Avengers: Endgame
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Not only pays off in nearly every conceivable respect, but frequently surpasses one's loftiest hopes. For casual fans, it's the can't-miss event of the season. For die-hards, it earns its spot as the can't-miss event of the decade.
Posted Apr 24, 2019
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2/4
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Dumbo
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
This new "Dumbo," while not without a few moments of whimsy, tries to overcomplicate the beautiful simplicity of the original, and what we're left with is not even a quarter of that classic's depth and wonder.
Posted Mar 29, 2019
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2.5/4
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Shazam!
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Like a kid-friendly "Deadpool," the film combines action, broad comedy, and emotion into a pleasing brew.
Posted Mar 26, 2019
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3/4
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Isn't It Romantic
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
"Isn't It Romantic" not only understands the tropes of cinematic love stories, but also knows how to comedically reference them while also treating Natalie's personal journey seriously.
Posted Feb 14, 2019
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3.5/4
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Serenity
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
The deeper one delves into the film's brazen, unconventional pleasures, the more intimate yet expansive its ambitions become. The sooner one sees it the better; the daring and wild secrets it holds are simply too bold to risk having them spoiled.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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2.5/4
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The Kid Who Would Be King
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
An inviting, often wise family film, boasted by wonderful protagonist at its center.
Posted Jan 16, 2019
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2.5/4
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A Dog's Way Home
(2019)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Certainly manipulative but also ultimately affecting, the picture knows exactly how to wrap audiences around its furry little paw. Stone-hearted cynics need not apply.
Posted Jan 11, 2019
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0/4
|
Death of a Nation
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Intellectually dishonest, morally hypocritical swill.
Posted Dec 17, 2018
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|
3.5/4
|
Lean on Pete
(2017)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Tough to take but impossible to turn away from. An indelible, remarkably moving glimpse into the margins of American life as seen from the point of view of a boy in search of a safe place to call home.
Posted Nov 27, 2018
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2.5/4
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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
The ambition, skill, and immersive wonder of the landscape J.K. Rowling has built continues to bewitch.
Posted Nov 14, 2018
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4/4
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Roma
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A breathtaking travelogue through the profundity of memories, "Roma" exhales the magic and empathy inherent in the very best which film has to offer.
Posted Nov 12, 2018
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3.5/4
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Boy Erased
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
An exceptionally moving, beautifully modulated film, hopefully eye-opening for those whose eyes have been closed for far too long.
Posted Oct 25, 2018
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3/4
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Can You Ever Forgive Me?
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A dual showcase for colorful, albeit reclusive, late author Lee Israel and for Melissa McCarthy, who disappears into her potentially career-redefining dramatic role.
Posted Oct 20, 2018
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3/4
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What They Had
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
"What They Had" has a way of feeling low-key and explosive all at once.
Posted Oct 19, 2018
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2/4
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First Man
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A great idea in search of a film to match.
Posted Oct 10, 2018
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|
3.5/4
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Bad Times at the El Royale
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A deliberately woven tapestry deliciously toying in different tones and genres, the picture marches to the beat of its own deviously methodical drummer.
Posted Oct 10, 2018
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2.5/4
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Venom
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
There's plenty of promise percolating on a cellular level; with another installment, perhaps a merely good picture can become something more.
Posted Oct 05, 2018
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2.5/4
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The Hate U Give
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
An impassioned drama about a critical topic, and Amandla Stenberg is the shining light at its center.
Posted Oct 03, 2018
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3.5/4
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A Star Is Born
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Proves there is still plenty of life left in this tale of fame, addiction, and sacrifice. "A Star Is Born" is an emotionally intimate journey that makes itself feel like an event. An astonishing Lady Gaga positively soars.
Posted Sep 13, 2018
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3/4
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A Simple Favor
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A slick, visually dynamic true-crime treat. "A Simple Favor" isn't so simple at all, and that's the key to its mischievously layered pleasures.
Posted Sep 11, 2018
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0.5/4
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Tag
(2018)
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Dustin Putman
|
Just because "Tag" is inspired by a true story doesn't make it any less asinine. Unctuous, unfunny, & developmentally discombobulated to the extent it feels like a fever dream in retrospect, the film is 100 minutes of would-be rollicking nothingness.
Posted Aug 29, 2018
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3.5/4
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Searching
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
An urgent and unnerving masterclass in creating tension through minimalism, dripping with the peril of what has already taken place and what may occur next. "Searching" is sure to remain one of 2018's best and smartest thrillers.
Posted Aug 24, 2018
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2.5/4
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The Happytime Murders
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A freshly imagined dark comedy with more on its mind than dirty jokes.
Posted Aug 23, 2018
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3.5/4
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First Reformed
(2017)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Gripping in its unsentimental clarity of vision, startling in its portentous ruminations on belief, sacrifice, and nature, "First Reformed" is unsparing even as it spares, a cinematic jolt of agony and transcendence.
Posted Aug 22, 2018
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3/4
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Christopher Robin
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
"Christopher Robin" is an uplifting bear hug of a movie. It delights, yes, but it does one better: it makes the viewer want to be a kinder, better person.
Posted Aug 03, 2018
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3/4
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Mission: Impossible - Fallout
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
In terms of pure, sustained, crowd-pleasing excitement, it's the must-see, big-screen event of the season.
Posted Jul 26, 2018
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2.5/4
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Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Light and starry and the name of the game, above all, is the wonderful ABBA music, pulling everything together as if the tunes were written precisely for this moment in the cinematic spotlight.
Posted Jul 18, 2018
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2.5/4
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Skyscraper
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
It's big, it's far-fetched, and it's certainly not deep. It is fun, however, and sometimes that's enough. Succeeding precisely because it puts on no airs, "Skyscraper" is every bit as electrifying as it is unapologetically inconsequential.
Posted Jul 11, 2018
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|
3.5/4
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Eighth Grade
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A stirring, painfully accurate slice-of-life, the kind of film so authentically observed it sometimes feels more like a cinéma vérité documentary than a scripted feature film.
Posted Jul 11, 2018
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3/4
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Ant-Man and The Wasp
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Bursting with dynamic special effects, skillful action, and a gentle human element that never gets displaced.
Posted Jul 02, 2018
|
|
0.5/4
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Acrimony
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
"Acrimony" is a study in frustrating episodic storytelling and the revolving stages of one's reaction to where it very slowly goes. Ultimately, by the end credits, the only acrimony left is from the bamboozled viewer.
Posted Jun 29, 2018
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2/4
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Sicario: Day of the Soldado
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Technically, this is a well-made film. The problem is it didn't need to be made at all.
Posted Jun 28, 2018
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3.5/4
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Poignant, uplifting and desperately needed right about now, a compassionate embrace in filmic form.
Posted Jun 22, 2018
|
|
2.5/4
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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Director J.A. Bayona cooks up one socko, armrest-clenching situation after the next.
Posted Jun 20, 2018
|
|
3/4
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Incredibles 2
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
A giant family entertainment with deeper, more universal themes at work and a sophistication in its storytelling. "Incredibles 2" is another winner for Pixar, seemingly effortless in its savvy and confidence, excitement and heart.
Posted Jun 11, 2018
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2/4
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Ocean's 8
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Should have been sharper, smarter, and more interested in its leading ladies beyond the one or two traits each of them is given.
Posted Jun 06, 2018
|
|
1/4
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The 15:17 to Paris
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
Simply put, this is one of the most ill-advised biopics to grace screens in years.
Posted May 29, 2018
|
|
3/4
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Solo: A Star Wars Story
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
"Solo: A Star Wars Story" is a blast. A thoroughly satisfying, unusually fresh entry with a restless, free-wheeling aura and plenty of heart.
Posted May 17, 2018
|
|
3/4
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Book Club
(2018)
|
Dustin Putman
|
The act of watching this lovely film is much like losing oneself in the pages of an enthralling novel. A cozy blanket and a steaming cup of hot cocoa are optional but nevertheless recommended.
Posted May 17, 2018
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