Creative Loafing - Rotten Tomatoes

Creative Loafing

Creative Loafing is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Felicia Feaster, Matt Brunson
Rating
Title/Year
Author
1
2.5/4
Schlock (1973)

Matt Brunson

Exactly the sort of low-budget picture one would expect to be the calling card of a young kid weaned on classic movies and tattered issues of Famous Monsters of Filmland.
Posted Oct 29, 2018
2
3/4
Trick 'r Treat (2007)

Matt Brunson

A cleverly constructed work.
Posted Oct 29, 2018
3
3/4
Creepshow (1982)

Matt Brunson

A certain measure of generosity and goodwill is necessary to fully enjoy this endeavor from director George Romero, since the stories by Stephen King aren't anything special.
Posted Oct 29, 2018
4
2.5/4
Blood and Black Lace (Sei donne per l'assassino) (1964)

Matt Brunson

While there would be better giallo films arriving in later years, the postmark on this one makes it essential viewing.
Posted Oct 29, 2018
5
2/4
Johnny English Strikes Again (2018)

Matt Brunson

Even fans of 2003's Johnny English (raising my hand here) and 2011's Johnny English Reborn (raising only a finger here) will be disappointed in this Johnny-come-lately.
Posted Oct 29, 2018
6
2/4
Hunter Killer (2018)

Matt Brunson

If the new motion picture Hunter Killer were real life, it would merit four stars. Unfortunately, the film isn't a striking example of cinema verite but rather a complete piece of fiction. As such, it's a rampaging mediocrity.
Posted Oct 29, 2018
7
3/4
Trilogy of Terror (1975)

Matt Brunson

This earns its stripes solely for the last story, powered by Black's excellent performance, director Dan Curtis' imaginative staging, and that genuinely freaky doll.
Posted Oct 24, 2018
8
3/4
Leave No Trace (2018)

Matt Brunson

If Leave No Trace isn't quite as formidable as Debra Granik's Winter's Bone, it's still a potent drama marked by a superlative turn from teenage actress Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie.
Posted Oct 24, 2018
9
3.5/4
Three Identical Strangers (2018)

Matt Brunson

Starts out as a feel-good human interest story before morphing into something decidedly darker and disturbing.
Posted Oct 24, 2018
10
3.5/4
Shampoo (1975)

Matt Brunson

A savage satire that sets its sights on hypocrisy, superficiality, and sexual mores.
Posted Oct 24, 2018
11
2.5/4
[REC] 4: Apocalypse (2015)

Matt Brunson

Somewhat gets the series back on track.
Posted Oct 24, 2018
12
2/4
[REC] 3 Genesis (2012)

Matt Brunson

Inconsequential.
Posted Oct 24, 2018
13
2/4
[Rec] 2 (2010)

Matt Brunson

An explosion of information removes much of the raw terror from the premise.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
14
3.5/4
[Rec] (2007)

Matt Brunson

A sterling effort in the eventually overplayed "found footage" genre.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
15
4/4
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Matt Brunson

This remains not only the best of the adaptations but also one of the best horror/sci-fi films ever made.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
16
3/4
City Slickers (1991)

Matt Brunson

Many of the character exchanges are priceless (including a discussion on how to properly program a VCR), and the performances are uniformly fine.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
17
3/4
Bad Ronald (1974)

Matt Brunson

The '70s was a fertile breeding ground for ominous made-for-television movies that continue to stumble around in the minds of those who came of age during that decade. Bad Ronald is one such endeavor.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
18
2.5/4
In My Country (2005)

Matt Brunson

Better than its mangy reputation.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
19
2.5/4
The Evil (1978)

Matt Brunson

Risible in a few spots but competently presented most of the time.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
20
1.5/4
The Swarm (1978)

Matt Brunson

As an adult, I recognize that The Swarm is, well, not good, but I can now enjoy it as a so-bad-it's-brilliant endeavor.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
21
3.5/4
A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

Matt Brunson

A groundbreaking work that manages to be both specific to the African-American experience and universal in its themes of hope, change, and upward mobility.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
22
3.5/4
La Historia Oficial (The Official Story) (1985)

Matt Brunson

Simultaneous serves as a crackling political thriller and a deeply moving family drama.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
23
2.5/4
The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

Matt Brunson

It's an irresistible story, but the movie suffers from clunky dialogue and a barrage of mismatched performances that represent just about every school of acting known to man.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
24
3.5/4
The Last Hurrah (1958)

Matt Brunson

Terrific entertainment until it's stopped dead in its tracks by a painfully protracted finale.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
25
1.5/4
House on Haunted Hill (1999)

Matt Brunson

The passage of time hasn't improved this version one iota, although at least home viewers don't have to subject themselves to the lobby posters sporting that year's daftest tagline ("Evil Loves To Party").
Posted Oct 23, 2018
26
3.5/4
The Hate U Give (2018)

Matt Brunson

A powerful drama.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
27
2.5/4
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

Matt Brunson

A throwback to the Tarantino days.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
28
2.5/4
The Old Man & the Gun (2018)

Matt Brunson

Moderately entertaining.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
29
3/4
First Man (2018)

Matt Brunson

Chazelle's approach might keep emotions grounded longer than necessary, but First Man nevertheless takes flight when it matters most.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
30
2/4
Halloween (2018)

Matt Brunson

Well, I guess this is what happens when a valuable franchise is entrusted to the guys who foisted Your Highness upon an unsuspecting world.
Posted Oct 23, 2018
31
2/4
The Other Side of Midnight (1977)

Matt Brunson

Hampered by colorless characterizations and extreme overlength.
Posted Oct 6, 2018
32
3/4
The Naked Prey (1966)

Matt Brunson

Brutal in its depictions of both tribal savagery and English arrogance, the film nevertheless avoids lazy stereotyping.
Posted Oct 6, 2018
33
2/4
Looker (1981)

Matt Brunson

Slightly easier to take than such Crichton duds as Runaway and Congo.
Posted Oct 6, 2018
34
3/4
The Farmer's Daughter (1947)

Matt Brunson

Young won the Best Actress Oscar for her charming if hardly award-worthy turn (her win is still considered one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history).
Posted Oct 6, 2018
35
1.5/4
The Cyclops (1957)

Matt Brunson

Even given my own proclivity for '50s fantasy flicks, this one is rough going.
Posted Oct 6, 2018
36
3/4
The Bravados (1958)

Matt Brunson

A hard-hitting Western saga which sports a chilling twist at the end.
Posted Oct 6, 2018
37
3.5/4
A Star Is Born (2018)

Matt Brunson

A Star Is Born demonstrates that good stories never die; they just patiently rest as filmmakers figure out how to bring back their sparkle.
Posted Oct 6, 2018
38
1/4
Scream for Help (1984)

Matt Brunson

It's a buffet of badness.
Posted Sep 30, 2018
39
2/4
Good Times (1967)

Matt Brunson

As for Sonny's acting talents, let's just say he makes Ringo Starr look like Daniel Day-Lewis by comparison.
Posted Sep 30, 2018
40
2.5/4
The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday (Wildcat) (1976)

Matt Brunson

I can't say that the picture is a success, but fans of bawdy comedies will appreciate at least some of its choices.
Posted Sep 30, 2018
41
1/4
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Matt Brunson

Exorcist II: The Heretic is a perfect mix of tedium and hilarity, and it's easy to understand why audiences back in the day actually threw items at the screen (you'll doubtless fight similar urges).
Posted Sep 30, 2018
42
3.5/4
The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Matt Brunson

Director Fred Zinnemann, scripter Kenneth Ross, and editor Ralph Kemplen (earning this film's sole Oscar nomination) all deserve high marks.
Posted Sep 30, 2018
43
2.5/4
The Bride (1985)

Matt Brunson

The Bride might be inspired by Mary Shelley, but its nature seems to draw from Robert Louis Stevenson. Aping the latter's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this feels like two separate movies battling for the upper hand, with the end result basically being a tie.
Posted Sep 30, 2018
44
3/4
The Baby (1973)

Matt Brunson

A terrific twist ending is what puts this one over the top.
Posted Sep 30, 2018
45
3/4
American Animals (2018)

Matt Brunson

Here's a movie that takes a tattered genre and manages to add some fresh elements to it.
Posted Sep 30, 2018
46
2/4
Night School (2018)

Matt Brunson

An ideal movie starring Hart and Haddish would make them comedic equals along the lines of Cheech & Chong or Laurel & Hardy. Instead, they're more like Martin & Lewis, Abbott & Costello and Groucho/Chico/Harpo & Zeppo.
Posted Sep 30, 2018
47
3.5/4
My Man Godfrey (1936)

Matt Brunson

This scintillating comedy was the first film to be Oscar-nominated in all four acting categories.
Posted Sep 24, 2018
48
3/4
Gold (1974)

Matt Brunson

Sandwiched between the releases of Roger Moore's initial two outings as 007, this benefits from director Peter Hunt's able handling of the tense mining sequences as well as engaging performances from the entire cast.
Posted Sep 24, 2018
49
2/4
Life Itself (2018)

Matt Brunson

The sort of sprawling saga meant to make audiences laugh, cry, and nod approvingly at moments they might recognize from their own roller coaster lives. Unfortunately, a deep sigh and a dismissive shrug will be all that many folks might be able to muster.
Posted Sep 24, 2018
50
1.5/4
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)

Matt Brunson

If this soulless slog is any indication of what to expect from future Amblin wannabes, then we're all in trouble, as it isn't Back to the Future as much as it's bleak for the future.
Posted Sep 24, 2018