Cinematic Considerations

Cinematic Considerations is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer® when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Matt Ward
Rating Title/Year Author
The Banker (2020) Matt Ward A welcome distraction in a world of uncertainty and something worth seeking out at home. EDIT
Posted Oct 20, 2020
Bad Education (2019) Matt Ward Viewers who come into Bad Education without any history with the true story may be confused as to how things turned sideways. One (Hugh) Jackman smile and it all makes sense. EDIT
Posted Apr 26, 2020
Blow the Man Down (2019) Matt Ward A striking, exceptionally crafted work of art that pulls in some of the best elements of Fargo, Agatha Christie and Gilmore Girls to create a unique take on the (noir) genre. EDIT
Posted Apr 19, 2020
Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story (2019) Matt Ward More than just a simple sports documentary, "Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story" is a revealing, heartwarming look at a man who lived fully and unapologetically for others... EDIT
Posted Apr 12, 2020
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) Matt Ward Portrait of a Lady on Fire builds from embers into a raging inferno of emotion in one of the best romance films in ten years. EDIT
Posted Mar 3, 2020
The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) Matt Ward The Last Thing has the pizzazz and the cinematic bravado necessary for a taut political thriller, but the film falls flat from the outset. EDIT
Posted Mar 3, 2020
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) Matt Ward Although "Birds of Prey" suffers from an identity issue... the fantabulous highs far outweigh the middling lows... EDIT
Posted Mar 3, 2020
Just Mercy (2019) Matt Ward In the least heralded great performance of 2019, (Rob) Morgan blows audiences away with a remorseful passion mixed with bewilderment and confusion... EDIT
Posted Jan 19, 2020
1917 (2019) Matt Ward A visual marvel unlike any other, 1917 requires a grandiose, epic cinematic experience to match the vastness of the film itself. EDIT
Posted Jan 13, 2020
Uncut Gems (2019) Matt Ward The Safdies, who have sought Sandler for the role of Howard for the better part of a decade, perfectly pen a character to fit the longtime comedic actor's unique quirks... EDIT
Posted Jan 6, 2020
Little Women (2019) Matt Ward Little Women leaps off the pages of Gerwig's screenplay with a frantic, chaotic energy... radiates a palpable heat that cinema - especially period historical fiction - rarely strives towards. EDIT
Posted Dec 27, 2019
The Report (2019) Matt Ward The Report is a solid directorial debut for a filmmaker who clearly hasn't figured out a visual style. EDIT
Posted Dec 24, 2019
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) Matt Ward Compelling and emotional, "A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood" is a worthy drama that focuses on impact over legacy in a tale of fathers and sons that will tug at heartstrings. EDIT
Posted Dec 24, 2019
Marriage Story (2019) Matt Ward Deeply thoughtful, emotional and yet surprisingly entertaining, "Marriage Story" is without question one of 2019's top five films and a must see. EDIT
Posted Dec 24, 2019
Richard Jewell (2019) Matt Ward Paul Walter Hauser gives perhaps the best performance of the year as Jewell with an approachable honesty to the portrayal that disarms audiences. EDIT
Posted Dec 24, 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) Matt Ward There's something for everyone in "Skywalker" that should drive audiences to theaters and though it's worth the experience on a big screen, something feels incomplete. EDIT
Posted Dec 24, 2019
The Irishman (2019) Matt Ward If this is the last film of Scorsese's career - though those odds are unlikely - The Irishman is a fitting culmination of a master's work. EDIT
Posted Nov 15, 2019
Jojo Rabbit (2019) Matt Ward Boldly creative in the style of Wes Anderson but with his own satirical quirks, Waititi's Jojo Rabbit is among 2019's best films. EDIT
Posted Nov 10, 2019
Dolemite Is My Name (2019) Matt Ward Murphy gives such an affable twist to each poetic slander and crass comment that it's nearly impossible not to root for his Rudy regardless of how many four-letter words fly. EDIT
Posted Nov 3, 2019
Parasite (2019) Matt Ward A contender for the best film of the decade, Parasite is a thrilling, absolute masterpiece from one of the world's greatest auteur directors. EDIT
Posted Nov 3, 2019
The Laundromat (2019) Matt Ward The Laundromat isn't the kind of film that requires going out of the way to see in theaters but is certainly worth taking a chance on now that it's available to stream. EDIT
Posted Oct 23, 2019
Judy (2019) Matt Ward Somewhere over the rainbow, there's a good film to be made about the life of a Hollywood icon like Garland. Unfortunately, Judy largely misses the mark. EDIT
Posted Oct 23, 2019
Joker (2019) Matt Ward Joker is a better film the further writer/director Phillips stays away from the movie's comic book origins and hones in on Arthur's wavering grasp on sanity. EDIT
Posted Oct 6, 2019
Ad Astra (2019) Matt Ward Technically proficient and understated in its beauty, Ad Astra has moments of action grandeur largely obscured by extensive sequences highlighting the vast emptiness of space. EDIT
Posted Sep 30, 2019
Hustlers (2019) Matt Ward (Lopez) dominates the screen from start to finish and yet always feels elusively just out of reach, helping audiences to share Dorothy's idolization of Ramona almost to mythicizing her. EDIT
Posted Sep 29, 2019
The Goldfinch (2019) Matt Ward An exceptionally artistic film with high-minded philosophical discussions of criticism, fine art and antiques; and yet the whole affair is remarkably distant and vague. EDIT
Posted Sep 29, 2019
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) Matt Ward Raw and unrefined, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a testament to the power of independent filmmaking.....Gottsagen steals scene after scene... EDIT
Posted Sep 2, 2019
American Factory (2019) Matt Ward Though viewers are likely to take one side or the other, Bognar and Reichert tell the story of Fuyao as impartially as possible which allows their subjects remarkable authenticity. EDIT
Posted Aug 22, 2019
Blinded by the Light (2019) Matt Ward A film that doesn't particularly excel at any one aspect but is more than the sum of its parts.... EDIT
Posted Aug 21, 2019
Good Boys (2019) Matt Ward ...the kind of movie that will live on in frat houses eight years from now when the sixth graders this film is actually intended for will be old enough to drink... EDIT
Posted Aug 18, 2019
The Souvenir (2019) Matt Ward ...a portrait of an artist struggling to define herself. Whether that portrait is of Julie the character, Joanna the filmmaker or somewhere in between is the unanswerable question. EDIT
Posted Aug 17, 2019
Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2019) Matt Ward Bernadette is a quaint, simple movie that will warm hearts over the course of two hours and should have a long shelf life as an easily rewatchable film. EDIT
Posted Aug 16, 2019
The Farewell (2019) Matt Ward Powerfully subdued and thoughtful, The Farewell is a terrific independent film that will remain among the year's best . EDIT
Posted Aug 11, 2019
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) Matt Ward Written at a "straight-to-DVD" level but produced on a blockbuster budget, Hobbs and Shaw has its moments, but wavers considerably on the enjoyment level. EDIT
Posted Aug 4, 2019
Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019) Matt Ward The fact that a rare good late-career Al Pacino appearance here is the 17th or 18th best thing about Once Upon A Time says a lot about this film's incredible depth. EDIT
Posted Jul 28, 2019
The Lion King (2019) Matt Ward Lion King swaps hand drawn cartoon animation for photo realistic computer graphics... Disney and Favreau have excised the soul of the film as a sacrifice to visual innovation. EDIT
Posted Jul 21, 2019
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018) Matt Ward ...an interesting, frequently engaging look at a largely forgotten filmmaker whose influence and precedent setting far outweighed her notoriety. EDIT
Posted Jul 18, 2019
Stuber (2019) Matt Ward "Stuber" reeks of a script penned in the wake of buddy cop films that stagnated on a studio executive's shelf until actors could be convinced to sign on. EDIT
Posted Jul 14, 2019
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) Matt Ward Although Far From Home may feel like a step or two down from Avengers: Endgame, it's still an impressive summer blockbuster. EDIT
Posted Jul 4, 2019
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) Matt Ward The Last Black Man in San Francisco is perfectly imperfect, a singular vision from a soulful first-time feature film director whose technical flaws bring his movie to life. EDIT
Posted Jun 28, 2019
Toy Story 4 (2019) Matt Ward Kids will watch Toy Story 4 with wide eyes enjoying the whole ride and not fully understanding how good what they're seeing actually is. EDIT
Posted Jun 23, 2019
Murder Mystery (2019) Matt Ward Watching "Murder Mystery" is a chore to endure and one you wouldn't want to have to sit through in public. Yet somehow, it still isn't the worst film to be released in 2019. EDIT
Posted Jun 17, 2019
Late Night (2019) Matt Ward (Late Night) blends sharp tongues and wide-eyed optimism for an exceptional dramedy with a fresh point of view. EDIT
Posted Jun 15, 2019
Booksmart (2019) Matt Ward Booksmart is likely the best film you won't see in theaters but will watch six months from now and kick yourself from not finding it sooner. EDIT
Posted Jun 9, 2019
Rocketman (2019) Matt Ward Rocketman captures the fantasy and majesty of John's enduring legacy in a magical way, cranking up the tunes in a dream-hazed portrait that lives and breathes his identity. EDIT
Posted Jun 2, 2019
Aladdin (2019) Matt Ward "Aladdin" is more a star vehicle for Smith than the original was for Robin Williams. Though Smith is energetic, his Genie isn't half as good with twice the on-screen presence. EDIT
Posted May 24, 2019
John Wick: Chapter 3 -- Parabellum (2019) Matt Ward For a franchise designed to be a vehicle to watch anonymous bad guys die in creative ways, Parabellum is a huge success. EDIT
Posted May 17, 2019
The Hustle (2019) Matt Ward Director Chris Addison's film is a rip-off: a beat-for-beat, scene-for-scene copy of a comedy classic, except in the case of The Hustle, everything is about 75 percent worse. EDIT
Posted May 15, 2019
The River and the Wall (2019) Matt Ward Masters' film takes a complex political problem and removes partisanship from the equation, relying a boots-on-the-ground vantage point to provide a fresh perspective. EDIT
Posted May 9, 2019
Long Shot (2019) Matt Ward Casually enjoyable in the moment yet just as forgettable, Long Shot is a perfect date night on the couch, getting drunk off a bottle of cheap wine movie. EDIT
Posted May 5, 2019