‘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.
Read More‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ is the twenty-fifth theatrical instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the second film in the MCU’s Phase Four. With Marvel fatigue high after the epic conclusion of the Infinity Saga, and multiple delays in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, how does ‘Shang-Chi’ fare compared to its predecessors?
Read MoreWhile ‘Vacation Friends’ contains decent performances, its story feels way too predictable, which combines with dull humor to produce a forgettable comedy.
Read MoreAudiences finally get to witness the latest horror cult-classic revival, Candyman. All the ingredients are there for this to be the next great film from recently prolific writer/producer Jordan Peele and director Nia DaCosta and bring the iconic character into the modern world. Instead, audiences are given an uneven mess that could have been so much more.
Read MoreThe entire premise of Lisa Joy’s directorial debut, ‘Reminiscence’, is enough to entice any fans of mind-bending sci-fi films, but in film, execution trumps everything else. An artist can have the greatest idea in the world for a movie, TV show, or book, only for it to be a mediocre experience if the execution of that said idea wasn’t successful.
Read MoreWhile the new formula of ‘Don’t Breathe 2’ explores new avenues in Norman’s character, it never truly commits to engaging with the potential complexity of his character, bypassing the monstrous acts of his past.
Read MoreIn this current, limited, cinematic world full of sequels, franchises, and adaptations, ‘Free Guy’ enters the game as a refreshingly original idea. Guy (played by Ryan Reynolds), a non-player character in the fictional video game, Free City lives a pleasant life as a bank teller, dreams of one day breaking free of his regimented video game existence. In doing so, ‘Free Guy’ crafts what can easily be considered a perfect summer film.
Read MoreWith James Gunn at the helm, The Suicide Squad is a self-aware, gore-filled, anti-Superhero comedy that was tasked with resuscitating the franchise and providing a shot in the arm to the DCEU. Being Warner Brothers’ and DC’s second stab at Task Force X, and with viral campaigns targeting the DCEU constantly, there was a lot of pressure for this film to perform and please audiences
Read MoreAdapted from a 14th century poem by an unknown author, The Green Knight is a medieval coming-of-age story that doesn’t center around the usual players, and has only been put on screen a few times (clearly, not often enough).
In doing so, A24 and Director David Lowry convincingly conveys to modern audiences what medieval fantasy films should and can be.
“Old” is the latest horror film from the King-of-Twists himself, M. Night Shyamalan, which premiered this Friday exclusively in theaters worldwide. But is Shyamalan’s fourteenth film a standout of the genre in the 2021 movie season or yet another blemish on M. Night’s controversial filmography?
Read MorePig is a masterful portrait of human fragility and the potential memories we find in cooking, while its theme of loss is lyrically paced and honestly portrayed by its leading stars.
Read MoreNavot Papushado’s Gunpowder Milkshake has plenty of flash and style, but forgets that story and character should come first before trying to expand their universe for multiple sequels and spin-offs.
Read MoreNatasha Romanoff’s solo film doubles as an origin story and a peek into what happened to Natasha following the events of 2016’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, but is it too late?
Read MoreWhile “The Tomorrow War” contains explosive action sequences, its undeveloped main story and characters quickly fizzle out.
Read MoreThe vicious allegorical image of the werewolf allows Josh Ruben to probe into the social and political distrust that remains in the post-Trump era, but Werewolves Within inability to tighten up the tried-and-tested horror-comedy genre with various gags that fizzle out may ultimately irritate some.
Read MoreWhile ‘Flashback’ uses the time-loop genre to warn us of predictive data analysis, its message doesn’t fully align with its cryptic story.
Read More‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ provides the strongest story of the Warrens yet, plenty of well-executed contortionist horror, and an intriguing case study that bodes well for the franchise, yet tries so hard to be different than its predecessors that it loses focus of the story it wants to tell. Michael Chaves does what he can, but James Wan’s presence behind the camera is sorely missed.
Read MoreJohn Krasinski shuffles his cinematic deck in A Quiet Place: Part II - a slick, tension-filled thriller which expands and builds on this silent science-fiction world.
Read MoreDisney’s Cruella offers a visually dynamic and terrifically entertaining villain origin story, with Emma Stone’s best on-screen performance at its core.
Read More“Army of the Dead” from director Zack Snyder released this Friday on Netflix and in select theaters nationwide. But how does this zombie flick stand out higher amongst others of its kind and bring new life into zombie horror?
Read More![‘The Power of the Dog’ Review: Cumberbatch Shines in Unevenly Paced Melodrama [TIFF 2021]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5816af52e6f2e15be207b0cd/1631463292125-AKJC10QW3OUSXLDHNLBE/benedict.jpg)
