‘The Power of the Dog’ Review: Cumberbatch Shines in Unevenly Paced Melodrama [TIFF 2021]

‘The Power of the Dog’ is Jane Campion’s first film in 12 years, since the release of 2009’s ‘Bright Star’, and tells the story of Phil Burbank (Cumberbatch), who runs a cattle ranch with his brother George (Jesse Plemons). Cumberbatch and Plemons are a phenomenon on screen, but its uneven script quickly degrades the film into a sappy melodrama.

'The Card Counter' Review: A Gamble That Doesn't Quite Pay Off

‘The Card Counter’ is a film that gambles, but doesn’t quite play a winning hand. Imagine the illegitimate love child of ‘Rounders’, ‘Drive’ and ‘The Big Short’. Then imagine that it was haphazardly executed with a weak script and had no clear direction or intention. That’s ‘The Card Counter’.

DramaKaleena SteakleSeptember 10, 2021the card counter, oscar isaac, paul schrader, tiffany haddish, tye sheridanComment

‘Stowaway’ Review: Star-Studded Space Film Does Little to Impress

“Stowaway” looks pretty and boasts a formidable cast, but its story feels much hollower than writer-director Joe Penna wants it to be.

‘Nobody’ Review: The Reawakening of Violence Inside a Man

Bob Odenkirk proves himself capable of being the next big action hero in “Nobody”, where his fighting prowess helps the film’s excellent action sequences overcome its flat story.

'Cherry' Review: Ambitious Storytelling Falls Short in Execution

“Cherry”, the newest film from the Russo brothers, is a coming-of-age odyssey exploring one man’s descent into addiction and destruction. Tom Holland’s performance electrifies an otherwise uneven viewing experience.

Drama, Movie Review, Teen Drama, Heist FilmLaura DevineFebruary 25, 2021Cherry, Tom Holland, Russo brothers, Apple TV+, Film ReviewComment

'Supernova' Review: Queer Memory Fading Fast

The first words spoken in “Supernova” are a lovely little threat: “We’re not going back, you know.”

Drama, LGBTQ+Miko ReyesFebruary 5, 2021supernova, drama, stanley tucci, colin firth, LGBTQ+Comment

‘Malcolm & Marie’ Review: A Stunning Portrayal of Relationships, and a Monochrome Two-Hander Triumph

It might be contentious among critics, and certainly targets a particular kind of film lover as its audience, but “Malcolm & Marie” is an absolute godsend of a film that demands viewing when it arrives on Netflix this Friday.

'The White Tiger' Review: A Rise and Fall Story... with No Fall

A Jay-Z-infused satire of the Indian caste system? We never thought we’d see it, until Netflix gave us “The White Tiger”.

Drama, Crime ThrillerMiko ReyesJanuary 28, 2021the white tiger, NetflixComment

‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’ Review: A Flat Adaptation, But A Soaring Sendoff for Chadwick Boseman

While Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom - like the play that inspired it - doesn’t quite capitalize on its opportunity for potent social commentary, this adaptation features incredible performances all around, including a career-best final turn from the late, great Chadwick Boseman that is sure to run as an Oscars favorite.

‘Songbird’ Review: Exploiting a Real Life Crisis for a Fictional Failure

Setting aside all of its eyesore-inducing cinematography and wasted cast, cinema’s most blatant attempt yet to capitalize on COVID-19, an action-infused romance set in a nightmare scenario imagined future, can be boiled down to one word: offensive.

Drama, Movie Review, Romance, ThrillerZach MarshDecember 11, 2020Songbird, Movie Review, Michael Bay, KJ Apa, Sofia Carson, Adam MasonComment

‘Sound of Metal’ Review: Riz Ahmed's Lead Performance Makes Him a Worthy Oscar-Contender

After spending the past few years in the Supporting Role category, Riz Ahmed’s latest performance in Amazon Prime Video “Sound of Metal” pushes him to the Lead and proves, he’s worth the part.

Drama, Movie ReviewLaura DevineDecember 3, 2020movie, Movie Review, Amazon, Prime Video, Riz Ahmed, Sound of MetalComment

'Mank' Review: Fincher's Triumphant Biopic Demonstrates the Difficulty of Buying into Hollywood

Absent for the last six years, director and auteur, David Fincher returns with an elegant, cynical look at old-school Hollywood and the parallels to today.

Movie Review, DramaRyan McQuadeNovember 13, 2020netflix movie review, Netflix, David Fincher, Mank, Gary Oldman, oscar movies

‘2 Hearts’ Review: A Cliche, But Sweet Romantic Drama

Though suffering from some typical romantic cliches, the film is strong in its emotional center and reels the audience in with promises of hope and faith.

Romance, DramaKaleena SteakleOctober 20, 20202 hearts, jacob elordi, adan cantoComment

“The Boys in the Band” Review: The Band Plays On In A Reverent Rendition of a 1970’s Queer Classic

Under the intricately crafted script and blessing of the story’s original playwright, the late Matt Crowley, “The Boys in the Band” magnifies the lives of eight gay men (and one “straight” one) inside a flaming powder keg of a birthday party.

DramaMiko ReyesSeptember 25, 2020The Boys in the Band, Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, Ryan Murphy, LGBTQ+, netflixComment

'Pieces of a Woman' Review: Vanessa Kirby Captivates In This Devastating Portrait Of Grief And Loss [TIFF 2020]

“Pieces of a Woman” is not for the faint of heart; it’s a truly heartbreaking, intimate, unflinching, and harrowing look at one woman’s unimaginable loss and her process to recovery.

'Nomadland' Review: An Authentic, Heartfelt Piece of Americana [TIFF 2020]

Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland”, based on the novel by Jessica Bruder is the story of a forgotten part of the Boomer generation who has to keep moving to work, and working to live.

'Concrete Cowboy' Review: A Gift-Horse The Filmmakers Looked In The Mouth [TIFF 2020]

“Concrete Cowboy” is a story about a forgotten aspect of Black-America which needs to be told. That is why it is such a shame that it gets lost in an otherwise formulaic ‘coming of age’ film for inner-city youth.

‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ Review: Charlie Kaufman’s Latest is a Captivatingly Cold Wonderland

Charlie Kaufman, everyone’s favorite emperor of existential crises is back with the Netflix release of his latest film, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”; and this time, he takes no prisoners.

‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ Review: A Reminder that Hope and Humanity Is Never Gone [TIFF 2019]

We might look at some of the forgotten childhood tidbits that have been chipped away from our soul and scoff at the idea, but A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood reminds us not only are these things natural, they can come back into our lives easily. Here’s our review.

‘Joker’ Review: Todd Phillips Ushers in a New Era of Auteur-Driven Comic-Book Films [TIFF 2019]

Joker utilizes the popularity of the comic book movie platform to deliver a new character story. In a repulsive, vile, and evil exploration of one of comics’ most iconic villains, Phillips changes the lens through which we view films in this genre.