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Valerie Kalfrin
Tomatometer-approved critic
I'm a multiple award-winning journalist who has left crime reporting behind to focus on fictional mayhem. I'm a member of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists who writes reviews, essays, criticism, and deep dives into film, entertainment, pop culture, and storytelling for The Hollywood Reporter (Heat Vision), RogerEbert.com, In Their Own League, The Script Lab, Script magazine, Film Racket, ScreenCraft, CC2K, Final Draft, and more.
Movies reviews only
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Toll (2023) |
(An) immersive and intimate mother-son story ... Kauan Alvarenga (TV’s Crime Time), who plays her son, Tiquinho, is its shattering heart. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Sep 14, 2023
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Ariel: Back to Buenos Aires (2022) |
a curious film—or rather, two films in one. ... Each story has satisfying moments, but the latter is far more compelling—and has a more serious tone—than the former, giving the more dramatic storyline an ambivalence instead of emotional impact. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Sep 14, 2023
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The Inventor (2023) |
(M)ature themes still might make The Inventor a challenge for younger viewers. ... Nevertheless, The Inventor is a whimsical and occasionally poignant look at a prolific artist with relatable anxieties that bring him down to earth. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Sep 14, 2023
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Portrait of the Queen (2022) |
(T)he bulk of the film involves behind-the-scenes stories from a handful of photographers about how they took certain shots. While that makes Portrait of the Queen diverting enough for Anglophiles and photography buffs, others might wish for more. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Sep 14, 2023
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Before, Now & Then (2022) |
The film’s languid pacing proves a challenge in some parts ... [but Happy Salma] proves an absorbing, nuanced performer. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 29, 2023
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Love Life (2022) |
A believable portrait of grief and its aftermath, LOVE LIFE shows us a likable couple in crisis, one where viewers will be curious to see what happens next. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 29, 2023
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Marisol (2023) |
As Marisol, newcomer Esmeralda Camargo is mesmerizing, her expressive face showing every bit of the character’s confusion, trepidation, and heartache. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 29, 2023
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Meg 2: The Trench (2023) |
more sharks but no bite ... Statham, also an executive producer, returns as diver Jonas Taylor, but he seems bored. Or miserable. His performance has a grumpy flatness, not even the winking humor of THE MEG. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 29, 2023
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Barbie (2023) |
This funny, eye-catching film sports pitch-perfect performances from Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, paying tribute to the iconic toy while skewering the patriarchy and feminist window-dressing. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 29, 2023
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The Unknown Country (2022) |
even in quiet moments, [Lily] Gladstone holds the screen. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 29, 2023
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Two Tickets to Greece (2022) |
a tart yet touching look at how friendships nurture us, even when one thought they’d died on the vine. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 29, 2023
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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One (2023) |
It takes off ... at a full-tilt run, a nimble, entertaining thriller that zings along thanks to crackerjack action sequences and the chemistry of its cast. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Aug 29, 2023
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Barbie Nation: An Unauthorized Tour (1998) |
This zippy history of Barbie touches on some of the controversies surrounding the doll since her debut—and reveals surprising places where her fandom intersects. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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The Miracle Club (2023) |
THE MIRACLE CLUB is a quiet film not for everyone, though that’s perhaps befitting its theme of quiet miracles.
- AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) |
a warmhearted sendoff for the globe-trotting archaeologist that puts star Harrison Ford—at eighty—back in the saddle for one more adventure. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy (2022) |
an immersive kaleidoscope of reflections from the people who helped Midnight Cowboy come to be. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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I.S.S. (2023) |
a meaty, suspenseful story, exploring not aliens from other worlds but the monsters of distrust within ourselves. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Cold Copy (2023) |
There are absolutely uncovered stories out there or ones covered the wrong way. Yet instead of creating a believable dilemma for a dynamic protagonist, COLD COPY serves up yesterday’s news.
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Uncharted (2023) |
Ostensibly about a nonprofit songwriting and mentoring camp (Alicia) Keys co-founded with other women in the recording industry, UNCHARTED also is a call to action for putting more women behind the music. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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The Listener (2022) |
a testament to the power of empathy and connection in a world often aching with loneliness. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Maestra (2023) |
An engrossing look at a select group of women at the top of their profession, MAESTRA soars not just on its music but in the details. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Elemental (2023) |
despite some charming animation, the movie fizzles where it should pop, weighted by an overstuffed story that works much too hard. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive (2023) |
an affectionate and engrossing documentary filled with confessional interviews, historical videos, and intimate footage of disco’s onetime queen recording her first gospel album. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) |
some new characters (human and robot) ... liven up things enough for the first half. Yet it ultimately devolves into a big smashing robot movie that’s so-so - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Breaking the News (2023) |
a fascinating watch. ... an absorbing look at walking the talk. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) |
an energetic, multifaceted adventure... As visually inventive as its 2018 predecessor, ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE again delivers eye-catching action along with characters of depth and nuance both behind and outside of the mask. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Jul 08, 2023
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Fast X (2023) |
After 22 years, the Fast and Furious franchise finally gets a memorable villain in Fast X, thanks to Jason Momoa. This series needs an adversary as gonzo as its off-the-wall antics, and bless Momoa for going the extra mile and then some. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted May 29, 2023
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Victim/Suspect (2023) |
an infuriating yet essential watch exposing institutional and cultural biases, as well as some frankly lazy police work - AWFJ.org
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| Posted May 29, 2023
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Montréal Girls (2022) |
An aspiring doctor with a poet’s heart rethinks his life’s path in Montréal Girls, a low-key coming-of-age story that captures twentysomething unease among that city’s art scene.
- AWFJ.org
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| Posted May 29, 2023
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The Little Mermaid (2023) |
Disney’s new live-action take on The Little Mermaid goes along swimmingly in its sweet romance, but it doesn’t diverge enough from its animated roots to truly make a splash. ... adorable enough in parts, but its story largely stays on the surface. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted May 29, 2023
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Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West (2023) |
[Filmmaker Ashley Avis'] affection for them is plain, down to the catch in her voice when she speaks of those who die during the roundups or later. When she sees sadness and betrayal in the liquid eyes of the captured horses, it’s hard to disagree. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted May 12, 2023
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) |
an eclectic and affectionate mixtape that’s funny, thrilling, shattering, and bittersweet. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted May 12, 2023
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023) |
If you know a tween girl—or you remember being one—go see ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET. ... [It's] funny, empathetic, and affecting. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Apr 26, 2023
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Mafia Mamma (2023) |
The game-for-anything Toni Collette inherits a mafia clan in Mafia Mamma, an uneven comedy where the jokes and the tone are as scattershot as some characters’ aim.
- AWFJ.org
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| Posted Apr 12, 2023
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Boston Strangler (2023) |
a decent journalism time capsule that aligns more with 2015’s Spotlight than with a suspenseful thriller like Silence of the Lambs. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Apr 05, 2023
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) |
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves proves to be thoroughly entertaining, and that’s no roll of the dice. ... filled with clever sequences and close escapes, it’s a rousing adventure that also scores points for unexpected heart.
- AWFJ.org
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| Posted Apr 01, 2023
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The Magician's Elephant (2023) |
The Magician’s Elephant casts a beautiful and emotional spell. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Mar 21, 2023
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Moving On (2022) |
fun all the way through, made even more delightful by the lived-in, playful chemistry of stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Mar 21, 2023
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How to Be a Good Wife (2020) |
"an overall uneven mix of imagery and manners. ... the film swings between comedy and an awakening toward gender equality without focusing enough on its characters to make for a rewarding journey." - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Mar 21, 2023
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Creed III (2023) |
More of a split decision than a knockout, CREED III immerses viewers in visceral boxing scenes but falls short in the character development that made the first two entries in this franchise such a delight.
- AWFJ.org
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| Posted Mar 05, 2023
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Sharper (2023) |
SHARPER is dull and predictable, with a plodding pace, little suspense, and twists that anyone who loves heist films will identify well in advance. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Mar 05, 2023
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Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023) |
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA leaves some unanswered questions, and its action scenes rely more on fisticuffs than clever size-shifting props and fight choreography. It’s still a fun outing with likable characters, just not a fantastic voyage. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Feb 17, 2023
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Seriously Red (2021) |
[T]he humor and emotional beats never fully click.
- AWFJ.org
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| Posted Feb 15, 2023
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Lamya's Poem (2021) |
A thoughtful and compassionate film, Lamya’s Poem recognizes that “sometimes the world keeps breaking your heart until it opens”—but keeping your heart open is the only way to defeat hate. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Feb 15, 2023
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The First Step (2021) |
The documentary serves as a primer on influential lobbyist Van Jones and a reiteration of his commitment to social justice, countering those in the film who call him a liar, an “Uncle Tom,” and worse. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Feb 13, 2023
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Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) |
a stop-motion animated masterpiece, rich with emotion, texture, and detail both on the surface and within the story itself. - Their Own League
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| Posted Dec 23, 2022
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18 1/2 (2021) |
gamely entertaining ... The biggest problem with 18 1/2 is keeping track of the Watergate figures. ... 18 1/2 might be enjoyable for history buffs, but others may wonder what the fuss is about. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Dec 23, 2022
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Decision to Leave (2022) |
While the case is a slow burn ... [DECISION TO LEAVE] delivers a clever payoff—and a disturbing denouement. Gradually shattering, it engulfs little by little, growing sadder and more unsettling with each wave. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Dec 23, 2022
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Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) |
Eleven years after his swashbuckling solo adventure, the orange tabby voiced by Antonio Banderas returns in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, a lively sequel with an earnest message as comforting as warm milk. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Dec 23, 2022
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Babylon (2022) |
A messy, bloated epic about Hollywood’s early years, Babylon is more interested in shattering movie magic mythos than indulging in any. It spends the bulk of its time on behind-the-scenes grime—and rubbing our noses in it. - AWFJ.org
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| Posted Dec 18, 2022
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