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
() 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
Knock Down the House (2019) Matt Ward By focusing entirely on the 2018 Democratic primaries, Lears' film is solely about a movement of political outsiders taking on the establishment rather than issue politics. EDIT
Posted May 4, 2019
Avengers: Endgame (2019) Matt Ward Avengers: Endgame is a satisfying, expertly made sequel in the franchise and combines with Infinity War to create the MCU's best, most compelling storytelling. EDIT
Posted May 3, 2019
The Highwaymen (2019) Matt Ward A somber, yet relentless film, The Highwaymen perfectly pairs Costner and Harrelson for a classic modern Western worth checking out. EDIT
Posted Apr 17, 2019
Shazam! (2019) Matt Ward In a vacuum, Shazam is an exceptionally average film. Among superhero movies, and especially those outside the Marvel brand, there's a lot to like about Shazam. EDIT
Posted Apr 8, 2019
Dumbo (2019) Matt Ward ....a clunky mishmash of the 1941 original and an absurd caricature of corporate greed that subtly reeks of a takedown of Disney's business model. EDIT
Posted Apr 4, 2019
Us (2019) Matt Ward Us is the thinking man's thriller, a film where Peele will point audiences in a direction and then push them to interpret the narrative of Us in their own way. EDIT
Posted Mar 25, 2019
Triple Frontier (2019) Matt Ward Technically profound, yet dense thematically, it's the kind of film that requires a concentrating, engaged audience, which is a harder sell on Netflix than at a crowded movie theater. EDIT
Posted Mar 19, 2019
Captain Marvel (2019) Matt Ward Captain Marvel is a good movie that will inspire young girls to strive for the best versions of themselves. It just isn't one audiences have to fight through crowds to see. EDIT
Posted Mar 11, 2019
Thunder Road (2018) Matt Ward Thunder Road is a striking and poignant piece of independent cinema that will leave audiences wondering how no one made them see it weeks ago. EDIT
Posted Mar 1, 2019
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) Matt Ward A mildly entertaining adventure with a lot to see and sequels to set up, Alita: Battle Angel is a better representation of the future of film than a good film itself. EDIT
Posted Feb 21, 2019
High Flying Bird (2019) Matt Ward High Flying Bird cuts against the grain at every turn, defying convention with rapid fire, two-handed dialogue and masterful use of place to frame scenes and performers. EDIT
Posted Feb 11, 2019
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) Matt Ward With Beale Street, (director Barry) Jenkins cements his status as this generation's cinematic poet laureate of the American condition. EDIT
Posted Jan 21, 2019
Vice (2018) Matt Ward It's almost uncanny just how much of a doppelganger Bale becomes as the cinematic version of Cheney, a dry man of few words that exudes a boring outward persona. EDIT
Posted Jan 14, 2019
On the Basis of Sex (2018) Matt Ward A middling, unexceptional biopic of Ginsburg that drives home equality for all under the law, but with a lack of relentlessness or passion that Ginsburg has been known for. EDIT
Posted Jan 14, 2019
The Favourite (2018) Matt Ward Certainly the year's most bombastic, perversely funny feature, The Favourite may be for more open-minded audiences, but it's such a charmingly quirky film. EDIT
Posted Jan 4, 2019
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) Matt Ward While clearly influenced by the original in both tone and plot, Rob Marshall's film is a delightful, charming adventure aimed to be the Mary Poppins for a new generation. EDIT
Posted Dec 21, 2018
Lion (2016) Matt Ward Lion is as poignant of a film as it is wholly due to Pawar's unique ability to draw audiences in and captivate their hearts, a talent few adults - let alone children - have. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Manchester by the Sea (2016) Matt Ward The masterful screenplay comes to life with such vibrancy that it's difficult to remember that viewers are watching a movie rather than peeking on a Boston family's real lives EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Loving (2016) Matt Ward (Loving) is a fractured, painstakingly tedious art-house drama that fails to connect on many levels, in spite of some wonderful moments of intimacy. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Fifty Shades Darker (2017) Matt Ward Far too often, the (film) has Johnson acting against a whispering wall of emotionless abs regurgitating lines off a page rather than a composed, professional performer. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
The Great Wall (2016) Matt Ward Damon seems to understand just how absurd and misguided the film's plot is and acts accordingly as a man taking a large paycheck to sell his star power. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Logan (2017) Matt Ward Without question, Logan is an instant classic and one of the most intriguing, impactful performances in (Hugh) Jackman's career. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
The Last Word (2017) Matt Ward It might take a little bit of extra effort to find The Last Word, but the cinematic experience and Maclaine's wonderful performance is well worth the journey. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Going in Style (2017) Matt Ward The "go big or go home" mentality of the plot doesn't particularly mesh well with the low energy screen adaptation, making Going In Style a largely forgettable movie. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Gifted (2017) Matt Ward Gifted, a film that could easily have been written and produced on the Lifetime Movie Network, is a surprisingly refreshing family dramedy. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Baby Driver (2017) Matt Ward A smooth cinematic adventure, Baby Driver is the kind of film you're going to want to watch over and over again. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Matt Ward Finally, the Spider-Man movie we've all been waiting for is here. And it delivers. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
The Big Sick (2017) Matt Ward The Big Sick is one of the most honest, straightforward, quality pieces of American cinema this decade. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Dunkirk (2017) Matt Ward Christopher Nolan cements his directorial seal on the historical drama genre with "Dunkirk," a sweeping World War II film unlike anything you've ever seen before. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Atomic Blonde (2017) Matt Ward Leitch's film feels drenched in spray paint... permeates its way into every aspect of "Atomic Blonde" from cinematography to the action sequences to the acting performances. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Detroit (2017) Matt Ward Where Detroit shines the most is in its deep, talented cast that provides knockout performance after knockout performance. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
The Glass Castle (2017) Matt Ward A flawed, but promising family drama, The Glass Castle might be fairly accused of playing things too even-handed. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Wind River (2017) Matt Ward When the tone flips on its head later in the film, Wind River becomes something else entirely: a vivid, gripping peek into life on the fringes. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) Matt Ward The Hitman's Bodyguard represents yet another paint-by-numbers, rushed product that seeks to trick viewers with flashy trailers in hopes of quick cash. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Home Again (2017) Matt Ward Something's clearly missing, though it's never quite clear if the extra oomph Home Again needed was left on the cutting room floor or out of the script entirely. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
American Assassin (2017) Matt Ward There's nothing particularly ground-breaking or special about American Assassin, but that doesn't mean it's not above average action fodder. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) Matt Ward Casual viewers may be left confused as to the film's meaning as The Crimes of Grindlewald ultimately serves as an extended prologue for three movies to come. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Creed II (2018) Matt Ward What plays on screen is a caricature of the franchise, a film so loathe to have its own identity that it forgets everything that made previous installments must-see cinema. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Mid90s (2018) Matt Ward Brutal and uncompromising, Mid90s packs more emotional punch than would be expected of a slacker skater movie. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Roma (2018) Matt Ward Worth seeing in any format, Roma is best when viewed on the biggest possible screen with the least amount of distractions. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018
Widows (2018) Matt Ward Widows... rewards audiences willing to let themselves be pulled into an interwoven tale of crime and corruption, race and class, politics and prejudice. EDIT
Posted Dec 19, 2018