https://screenrant.com A complete list of movie reviews and ratings from the Screen Rant film critics and industry experts - helping movie lovers decide which films to watch for over 15 years. Sun, 10 Dec 2023 21:50:10 GMT en-US hourly 60 Mike Roth’s Merry Little Batman is a kid-friendly addition to the DC animated universe that the whole family can enjoy. The art style is reminiscent of 2010s Cartoon Network and is as hilarious as it is nostalgic, harkening back to Roth’s time on Regular Show. We have pretty much only seen one version of Damian Wayne up to this point, and Merry Little Batman is bold enough to flip the script on the son of Batman. The film is genuinely funny, and the voice acting is top-notch, including our newest Batman, Luke Wilson. Just in time for the holidays, writers Morgan Evans (Teen Titans Go!) and Jase Ricci have found the perfect balance of heart and hilarity in this cartoon caper.

]]> Sun, 10 Dec 2023 21:50:10 GMT https://screenrant.com/merry-little-batman-movie-review/ Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies is an uplifting musical with great dance numbers and an even better twist on the classic comic strip. This take on Archie offers new concepts and a lot of perspective on the source material. The film opens on an animated retelling of British rule in India in conjunction with the creation of Riverdale. Recent efforts by The CW and Netflix have shown that the world of Archie has a lot to offer, but The Archies takes it up a notch, especially doing a good job of adapting without pandering. The tone can occasionally be a bit muddled, but The Archies is a refreshing take on a classic story.

]]> Sun, 10 Dec 2023 14:56:16 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-archies-movie-eview/ Jenn Wexler’s latest effort, The Sacrifice Game starts strong but never lives up to the promise of its opening scene. She co-wrote the film with Sean Redlitz, and the result is an average film for Shudder, but a slog for those unfamiliar with the streamer's film slate. The production value is solid but doesn’t elevate the film. However, the costumes and music do a lot to make The Sacrifice Game stylish, if nothing else. Like many projects with children at the center, the performances can be hit or miss. Here, the cast is working within the confines of the script to make a campy and grotesque horror film. The Sacrifice Game is nothing special, but it might get the job done for die-hard Shudder fans.

]]> Fri, 08 Dec 2023 22:01:09 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-sacrifice-game-movie-review/ Concrete Utopia is an intense thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The concept is simple, but it's executed brilliantly as writer-director Tae-Hwa Eom has a complete understanding of the subject matter. The film centers on what people would do if society collapsed. Though we’ve seen these movies time and again, Concrete Utopia finds the nuances that bring a sense of necessity to its story. That being said, some of the line delivery can be excessive, but it's never without purpose and the cast is impeccable overall. In particular, Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game) gives it his all and is easily the standout performance. The setting calls for a large amount of green screen and, at times, it's distracting, but the cast and crew make the most out of the production so that Concrete Utopia succeeds where it counts most.

]]> Fri, 08 Dec 2023 19:48:28 GMT https://screenrant.com/concrete-utopia-movie-review/ Getting away from it all, in theory, can be a freeing thing. Shutting off your phone, unplugging the Wi-Fi, and truly being in the moment — it's what we all want out of a vacation. That's the idea Leave the World Behind begins with. Julia Roberts' high-strung marketing exec Amanda wakes up her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) and announces that she's booked them a vacation, and they are leaving that morning. She figures if she packs the family's things and has everything in order, it gets every obstacle out of the way that would lead them to reject the relaxing weekend. But when they get to the rural Long Island house adorned with slate gray wood floors, marble counters, and a locked liquor cabinet with a top-shelf selection, things begin to go terribly wrong. It's certainly not what Amanda had in mind when she envisioned a relaxing weekend with her family.

]]> Fri, 08 Dec 2023 13:33:58 GMT https://screenrant.com/leave-the-world-behind-movie-review/ The feeling I least want to be my prevailing reaction to a movie before sitting down to review it is frustration, because I find it challenging to write fairly about wasted potential. Lord of Misrule is not a bad film, but it is an underachieving one. The good ideas it has are buried under too much cliché to breathe. It spends so much energy pretending the things we know are happening might not be, and squanders some intriguing imagery and traces of characterization that had the makings of compelling drama. Even the ending, which takes an interesting, unearned turn, does not salvage what came before so much as illuminate a better path the filmmakers did not take. Having potential at all means there must be things to recommend it, and there are - but it becomes difficult to think of them as positives when they are so intertwined with the movie's failings.

]]> Thu, 07 Dec 2023 22:25:46 GMT https://screenrant.com/lord-of-misrule-movie-review/ The name Adrian Monk may not have the same effect as it did 14 years ago, which the movie itself acknowledges, but Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie still delivers a satisfying journey to the past that is both nostalgic and heartfelt. Helmed by long-time Monk director Randy Zisk in a project that sees the return of executive producers Andry Breckman (who created the show and also wrote the movie) and David Hoberman, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie could not have been more creatively close to the TV show. While this means the movie does not present major surprises in terms of tone or humor, it also means that those of us who followed Mr. Monk’s weekly adventures in the early 2000s will get everything we could hope for.

]]> Wed, 06 Dec 2023 16:00:21 GMT https://screenrant.com/mr-monks-last-case-a-monk-movie-review/ Not every character needs an origin story, but Willy Wonka, the character from Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, gets one in Wonka. Directed by Paul King, who co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby, Wonka attempts to bring the whimsical and light-hearted tone that melted our hearts in Paddington and its much-beloved sequel Paddington 2. But Wonka is not Paddington, and though it has its merits, an excellent supporting cast, and a few fun musical numbers, Wonka wobbles in its journey and storylines even while remaining heartfelt.

]]> Mon, 04 Dec 2023 21:00:27 GMT https://screenrant.com/wonka-review/ Since its first appearance onscreen in 1954, the kaiju monster Godzilla has taken the film industry by storm. While some of the earlier entries in the franchise gave us quality blockbusters, more recent films failed to live up to their epic potential. Godzilla Minus One, the 37th Godzilla film, brings the franchise back to glory in both quality and entertainment. Japanese director Takashi Yamazaki takes us back to the beginning — a post-war Japan, where the horrors of the atomic bomb yield a new crisis in the form of a gigantic monster that won’t go down easily. If there was ever a time to rally behind a Godzilla film, it’s now with Godzilla Minus One.

]]> Fri, 01 Dec 2023 13:30:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/godzilla-minus-one-review/ After 30 years since their original collaboration in Boomerang, Eddie Murphy, Reginald Hudlin, and Brian Grazer reunited for a holiday comedy adventure for this year’s Christmas season. The film, Candy Cane Lane, is inspired by the real-life hub for Christmas displays in El Segundo, California. Given the impressive nature of the event, which draws in many people who simply want to catch a glimpse of decorated properties, the film had to measure up to the Christmas magic and holiday spirit. Starring Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Jillian Bell, Candy Cane Lane takes on its real-life inspiration with creativity and glee. This family-friendly feature captures the magic of Christmas with fun and spirit thanks to a fantastic cast and crew.

]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:00:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/candy-cane-lane-review/ The Shift is flat and way too long. Writer-director Brock Heasley (Flicker) does his best to interpret the story of Job, but his attempt at merging sci-fi and religion misses the mark entirely. The film simply cannot decide which of the two genres it will be from scene to scene, and it shows. The lead performance by Kristoffer Polaha (Jurassic World Dominion) won’t blow anyone away, but it is solid enough to carry the film throughout its two hours of meandering soliloquies.

]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2023 15:32:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-shift-review/ When it comes to comedy, the body swap genre is a reliable one. There's something inherently funny about someone being transported into a body they're not supposed to be in, whether it's that of a relative or just their older selves. With the former situation, Freaky Friday remains the gold standard, but Netflix's new original movie Family Switch aims to go bigger. What results is a movie that yields some laughs, some cringe, and a fair amount of heart, even if it doesn't tread new ground in this ridiculous, yet beloved premise.

]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2023 04:11:12 GMT https://screenrant.com/family-switch-review/ Poor Things could be easily slotted into any number of genres — a coming-of-age tale, a sex comedy, a riff on the Frankenstein trope. Yorgos Lanthimos' latest film, like its protagonist Bella Baxter, defies categorization to become something else altogether — a horny, hedonistic, and hysterical gem of a film with an all-time great performance from Emma Stone. Lanthimos has often bewildered audiences with his sensibilities, but Bella Baxter proves to be the perfect muse for the director's inherent curiosity, a lens through which to look at the world that reveals harsh truths and startling beauty.

]]> Wed, 29 Nov 2023 17:06:44 GMT https://screenrant.com/poor-things-review/ I don't typically like the term "guilty pleasure," especially when it comes to genre movies. Whatever we think is good or interesting belongs in the same category of thought and discussion, regardless of its packaging. But, I have to admit, I feel a little guilty about liking Silent Night. I've often found it rewarding to think too hard about films that don't actively invite it, but some that felt solid can crumble under the extra pressure in retrospect, something I usually take into account in a review. In this case, for whatever reason, no amount of clarity about its hollowness has put a dent in my enjoyment. So, all I can offer in the way of criticism is a glimpse into my cognitive dissonance — an accounting of all the reasons I shouldn't recommend Silent Night, and why I do anyway.

]]> Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:41:57 GMT https://screenrant.com/silent-night-review-2023/ Belatedly arriving 26 years after its 1997 predecessor, Good Burger 2 positions itself as a fun nostalgia ride for fans of Nickelodeon's signature All That sketch and the innate chemistry between Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. Good Burger 2 has just as much good-natured, family-friendly charm as the original Good Burger, but it also leans a bit too heavily into the aforementioned nostalgia, particularly in its first half. However, Thompson and Mitchell's famed Abbott & Costello-style riffing and Mitchell's eternally endearing portrayal of Ed still make Good Burger 2 a largely satisfying Good Meal.

]]> Thu, 23 Nov 2023 14:45:06 GMT https://screenrant.com/good-burger-2-review/ Over the course of its 100 years as a studio, Disney has perfected its typical formula of impressive animation, imaginative stories, and addictive soundtracks. In recent years, the studio has come under closer scrutiny for its overreliance on known properties and a turn towards live-action over animation, but that hasn't stopped Disney from producing a movie at least partially geared towards celebrating its enduring legacy. Wish, the new animated effort from directors Chris Buck (Frozen, Frozen 2) and Fawn Veerasunthorn, acts as both an homage to the company and a new original story, though the success of the latter isn't quite as strong as the former. At the same time, it's hard not to be charmed by the magic on display here.

]]> Mon, 20 Nov 2023 15:52:06 GMT https://screenrant.com/wish-review/ Adam Sandler is back on Netflix with another original movie. The star’s history with the streamer stretches back to the earliest days of the platform’s original content, with his critically panned The Ridiculous Six predating the first season of Stranger Things. Sandler’s new film, Leo, is produced under the star’s Happy Madison production company and written by Sandler, alongside longtime collaborators Robert Smigel and Paul Sado. The animated film calls to mind another Sandler-Smigel collaboration, Hotel Transylvania, although it remains to be seen whether the new film will see the same franchise success.

]]> Sat, 18 Nov 2023 14:35:47 GMT https://screenrant.com/leo-review/ Fellow movie watchers, it’s the most wonderful time of year — the Netflix Christmas movies are here. The on-the-nose named Best. Christmas. Ever! brings us Brandy Norwood and Heather Graham in a sweet, sentimental Christmas adventure directed by Pet Sematary’s Mary Lambert. In this latest holiday offering, we have Brandy’s Jackie Jennings beaming with festive joy and Graham’s Charlotte Sanders as the skeptical, sour party pooper ready to unmask the seemingly perfect Jackie. These former friends come together for the first time in ages and learn some valuable lessons befitting of the holiday season.

]]> Thu, 16 Nov 2023 20:50:53 GMT https://screenrant.com/best-christmas-ever-review/ It might seem unfair to measure Manodrome against generation-defining explorations of masculine rage like Taxi Driver and Fight Club, but this movie seems to invoke them. Its protagonist is a driver, but for Uber; he joins a cultish, all-male club, but they do more chanting and shopping than mayhem. The list of concepts touched upon as he spirals downward is long enough to understand that writer-director John Trengove aims to speak to our moment as those movies did to theirs, but his work is ultimately defined by something it doesn't carry over — voiceover narration. Manodrome lacks depth as either social commentary or character study, in large part because of how it positions us in relation to its protagonist's perspective. Though we are tied to his experience, this closeness doesn't come with the same flirtation with complicity at the core of both those touchstones, resulting in a movie that, while admittedly mood-altering, is relatively toothless.

]]> Thu, 16 Nov 2023 18:53:37 GMT https://screenrant.com/manodrome-review/ In 2007, Eli Roth pitched Thanksgiving via Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's Grindhouse opus, filming a faux trailer that played in between the two topline director's entries in the experimental double feature. It was a grisly mix of low-grade visuals, cheap kills, and a concept that had long felt outdated. Now, 16 years later, Roth's is the second faux trailer to be made into a full-fledged feature (Danny Trejo's Machete being the first). Like its predecessor, Thanksgiving is a recipe for success, and it should take its place among the greats of the Holiday Horror subgenre. Thanksgiving is special in the way all good slashers are — it's funny and gruesome, with a trashy B-movie energy and a solid whodunit at the center of it all.

]]> Wed, 15 Nov 2023 17:42:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/thanksgiving-review/ It's official — 2023 may be the year of the bratty man-child. From Mark Ruffalo in Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos' strange masterpiece, to Jacob Elordi as Elvis in Sofia Coppola's Priscilla, a slew of high-profile men have played absolute terrors in films this year. Joaquin Phoenix is the latest name to be added to this list as he reunites with Ridley Scott for the director's latest historical epic, Napoleon. Phoenix's performance and Scott's take on the towering (in name only) figure is surprisingly funny, often tedious, and full of bloody battles that don't skimp on the gore. It's a bold swing from the director and, despite it being tonally uneven and a bit messy, Napoleon can be still quite fun.

]]> Wed, 15 Nov 2023 03:00:56 GMT https://screenrant.com/napoleon-review/ After watching Trolls Band Together, it's obvious why the hot topic surrounding the movie has been star Justin Timberlake reuniting with his will boy band *NSYNC after more than two decades. There is simply not much else worth commenting on, despite the myriad storylines buzzing around in order to accommodate the ever-growing cast of A-listers. The third film in the Trolls franchise opens with the revelation that the grumpy Branch (Timberlake) was once the bright-eyed baby of the boyband BroZone (not voiced by *NSYNC, but more on that later) — until the failure to achieve a perfect harmony ripped them apart and sent them crooning in separate directions.

]]> Tue, 14 Nov 2023 15:00:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/trolls-band-together-review/ For a movie so rooted in science fiction, Share? is as human of a story as you will see. Writer-director Ira Rosensweig (Mr. Student Body President) and co-writer Benjamin Sutor (Where’s The Money) have crafted a simple story with minimal production value. The end result is an entertaining yet meditative take on the mundanity of everyday life. Anchored by lead performances from Melvin Gregg (American Vandal) and Bradley Whitford (Get Out), the acting in Share? is undeniably engaging. With a single set repurposed multiple times, Share? makes the most out of a little — metaphorically and literally.

]]> Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:27:57 GMT https://screenrant.com/share-review/ It is a truth universally acknowledged — for the most part — that The Hunger Games movies are among the best book-to-movie adaptations. Misguided two-part finale aside, the films directed by Gary Ross and Francis Lawrence impressively brought author Suzanne Collins' dystopian novels to the big screen through striking visuals, gorgeous production and costume design, and memorable performances. Now, eight years after the last of the main series, the franchise comes alive again with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Again directed by Lawrence, this new installment is based on Collins' 2020 prequel revolving around the fascistic President Snow (Donald Sutherland in the original movies).

]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 19:00:19 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes-review/ The third cinematic entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5, The Marvels serves as a sequel to Marvel Studios' 2019 success, Captain Marvel, while also introducing characters from the Disney+ shows WandaVision and Ms. Marvel to the big screen. Despite highlights like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, MCU Phases 4 and 5 have struggled to connect with audiences, especially after the massive success of Avengers: Endgame. However, The Marvels is a return to form for the MCU, with all the goofy fun and superhero hijinks of Marvel's best fare. The Marvels is an uproariously fun and action-packed comic book movie that's made all the more delightful by the heartwarming dynamic of the leads.

]]> Wed, 08 Nov 2023 17:00:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-marvels-review/ Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson are actors who used to garner great excitement for the projects they starred in. Lately, that excitement isn’t quite there as the duo, outside of recognizable IP films, haven’t picked the best projects for their particular talents. The Kill Room offers a glimmer of hope as Thurman and Jackson share the screen in an understated but funny dark satire about the world of hitmen and art.

]]> Fri, 03 Nov 2023 20:40:25 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-kill-room-review/ Fingernails is a gentler movie than one might guess from its premise. In its early moments, it seems poised to take one of two swerves, toward either the dark, skewering absurdism of The Lobster or the quirky, heartfelt surrealism of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Both projects can be felt at times, the latter especially, but director Christos Nikou is interested in a more grounded approach to exploring the lofty concepts of love and relationships. Keeping us close to the film's talented cast is a decided strength of this, and the performances add nuance to a largely straightforward viewing experience. But it's hard not to wish Fingernails had grander designs. It shows just enough of its full potential to leave us wanting to see those ideas expressed more fully.

]]> Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:12:44 GMT https://screenrant.com/fingernails-review/ Quiz Lady is silly and even occasionally ridiculous, but it works somehow. Directed by Jessica Yu from a screenplay by Jen D’Angelo, the comedy offers a different kind of road-trip buddy scenario that centers on sisters who couldn’t be more wildly different from one another. The script won’t knock your socks off or anything, but there’s something utterly charming and whimsical about the whole story that is sure to warm your heart. It may not be laugh-out-loud funny at every turn, but Quiz Lady, with an irresistible cast, is entertaining with just the right amount of heart and energy.

]]> Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:46:55 GMT https://screenrant.com/quiz-lady-review/ Neil Burger has directed a diverse slate of films — from The Illusionist and Limitless to Divergent and The Marsh King’s Daughter, Burger’s latest starring Daisy Ridley and Ben Mendelsohn. The latter is a slow-burn drama that centers childhood trauma and the ways it shapes someone’s entire life. The film can be an intense thriller, and while it’s elevated by strong performances, it avoids focusing too much on the critical intervening years following the daughter’s escape, and the dawdling pace prevents the narrative from fully being realized. While it’s to the detriment of the story and a disservice to the characters, The Marsh King’s Daughter, adapted by Elle Smith and Mark L. Smith from the novel by Karen Dionne, manages to maintain our interest until the very end.

]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:39:56 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-marsh-kings-daughter-review/ Is there any actor more synonymous with the rom-com than Meg Ryan? The beloved star has made her mark on the genre with classics such as When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, and she now returns to the screen with another earnest entry to the rom-com canon. What Happens Later, arriving in theaters this week after being postponed by another romance icon, Taylor Swift and her Eras Tour movie, marks Ryan's first movie in eight years, and the second she has directed. In many ways, it feels like the perfect project to bring the actor/director/writer back to movie-making, with its simple setup paving the way for a timeless sort of story. What Happens Later isn't without some hiccups in its execution, but with Ryan at the helm, it's impossible not to feel charmed.

]]> Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:00:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/what-happens-later-review/ Just last year, the King of Rock and Roll received a biopic bursting with life, but as Elvis took awards season by storm, another movie featuring the prolific music artist was in production. Sofia Coppola's follow-up to 2020's On the Rocks adapts Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, focusing on the woman behind the icon, who became one in her own right. Priscilla is another masterwork from Coppola, a study of a woman in a gilded cage and her journey to freedom with two central performances that will go down as some of the best in Coppola's entire filmography.

]]> Tue, 31 Oct 2023 19:42:06 GMT https://screenrant.com/priscilla-review/ It’s not often that a school-based drama is so intense and thrilling, but that’s essentially what describes director Ilker Çatak’s The Teacher’s Lounge (Das Lehrerzimmer in German), a film he co-wrote with Johannes Duncker. The German film delivers a heart-pounding story that will leave you with quite a few emotions and thoughts well after its closing scene. What makes The Teacher’s Lounge exceptional is in the way it explores the lack of trust between students and teachers, who are so fixated on finding a perpetrator that they abuse their power. With an outstanding performance by Leonie Benesch, whose interiority is on full display, the school drama is sharply written and psychologically arresting.

]]> Fri, 27 Oct 2023 23:25:02 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-teachers-lounge-review/ Five Nights at Freddy’s adapts the video game of the same name from creator Scott Cawthon. In what seems like the first entry in a franchise, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a simple story grounded by a solid performance by Josh Hutcherson as Mike, who gives a committed performance. The film’s backstory is pretty dark, but the horror itself isn’t particularly scary, with typical, lukewarm jumpscares and only the occasional pop of blood. Directed by Emma Tammi from a screenplay she co-wrote with Cawthon and Chris Lee Hill, Five Nights at Freddy’s delivers a basic story uplifted by the sibling dynamic and Mike’s personal journey. It's fine for what it's going for — just don't expect to be wowed.

]]> Thu, 26 Oct 2023 14:52:34 GMT https://screenrant.com/five-nights-at-freddys-review/ The directorial debut of Noora Niasari, Shayda is a harrowing but gentle exploration of an Iranian woman’s life after escaping an abusive husband in Australia. From the film’s opening scene to its final moments, Niasari exhibits empathy while sensitively handling a delicate topic. Shayda is sorrowful, distressing, and intense; the film, which was also written by Niasari, is equally full of love for Iranian culture as it is a story about trauma. Bolstered by an emotionally sensitive and heartbreaking performance by Holy Spider’s Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Shayda explores the unnerving, arduous journey of its title character with great care.

]]> Wed, 25 Oct 2023 20:08:54 GMT https://screenrant.com/shayda-review/ Promising Young Woman made waves upon its release in 2020, and sparked multiple think pieces and conversation. Writer-director Emerald Fennell’s sophomore feature, Saltburn, aims to do the same with its acerbic style and bombast. The film is a gothic thriller that dissects class, privilege, obsession, lust, and the levels of cruelty birthed from various power dynamics. The film has similarities to The Talented Mr. Ripley, though it’s not as expertly crafted. Saltburn has enough to keep our eyes glued to the screen, curious to see how everything unfolds, but it isn’t necessarily as insightful as it thinks it is. Anchored by a strong, eerie performance by Barry Keoghan, Saltburn is wickedly twisted, alluring, and darkly satirical, though it’s lacking some bite.

]]> Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:05:39 GMT https://screenrant.com/saltburn-review/ Nyad tells the incredible story of Diana Nyad’s swim from Cuba to Florida. It’s the first feature film from directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the team behind Free Solo and The Rescue. As such, Nyad is very much a transitional film for the duo. It has a lot of great, empowering moments, but it might have worked better as a documentary. As a narrative feature, Julia Cox’s screenplay doesn’t have much depth. It’s so hyper focused on Diana Nyad’s swimming achievements that it neglects the rest of her life save for her beautiful friendship with Bonnie Stoll. The biopic has its moments, certainly, and it’s stronger thanks to a marvelous cast, but it could have been better had it dived beyond the surface.

]]> Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:31:30 GMT https://screenrant.com/nyad-review/ All of Us Strangers is brimming with emotion. It’s the kind of film that asks us to embrace the hardest conversations or the warmest of touches. The story is haunting, but lovingly carried out; it’s tender and heartbreaking, visually breathtaking and chilling. Written and directed by Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers, which is adapted from the novel by Taichi Yamada, often encapsulates all that can be said and all that remains unsaid. With a moving performance by Andrew Scott, the fantasy drama is compelling and captivating as it tackles grief, loneliness, and all that is lost to trauma and the inability to move on past loss.

]]> Tue, 24 Oct 2023 20:50:31 GMT https://screenrant.com/all-of-us-strangers-review/ Writer-director Kristoffer Borgli delivers a zany, evocative film that examines the price of fame, cancel culture, masculinity, and anxiety-driven impotence. Dream Scenario starts off as a series of comedic events that grow dark over the course of the film. And while the tonal shift doesn’t fully work, and the final third barely scratches the surface of corporate-funded celebrity and fallout, Dream Scenario boasts a layered performance from Nicolas Cage, and thought-provoking, focused themes that are largely well-executed throughout a magnetic, smart, and imaginative film.

]]> Tue, 24 Oct 2023 16:55:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/dream-scenario-review/ Sometimes a movie comes along that is so outrageous and bizarre that it’s a wonder it was ever made. Dicks: The Musical is that film. Directed by Larry Charles from a screenplay by Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp, who also wrote and starred in the off-Broadway musical the film is based on, Dicks: The Musical is weird, over the top, rarely as funny as it’s trying to be, and somewhat pretentious and very annoying. Its premise is interesting enough — it’s Parent Trap meets Broadway — but the musical is simply trying too hard to be funny, engineering its entire persona around seeing how far it can go.

]]> Mon, 23 Oct 2023 18:24:59 GMT https://screenrant.com/dicks-the-musical-review/ Butcher’s Crossing isn’t necessarily a straightforward Western but when it departs from that genre good things happen. Director Gabe Polsky (In Search Of Greatness), who wrote the script in partnership with Liam Satre-Meloy, brings John Williams' (Stoner) book to life with aspects of both a thriller and adventure film. At no point does the script ever rise to anything above average. That being said, the cinematography by David Gallego (War Pony) portrays the American West in a way that makes the wide shots gorgeous. Led by The White Lotus' Fred Hechinger and the always reliable Nicolas Cage, Butcher’s Crossing has no weak links in its casting but its story and execution won’t wow audiences.

]]> Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:48:16 GMT https://screenrant.com/butchers-crossing-review/ Standup comedian Bill Burr is no stranger to pushing the limits in his comedy. And in his directorial debut, Old Dads, he pushes it far. Burr stars as Jack Kelly, a businessman, husband, and father with a temper and raunchy mouth that puts him in more trouble than it's worth. When an eccentric, new millennial CEO takes over the company he’s made with his best friends Connor (Bobby Cannavale) and Mike (Bokeem Woodbine), Jack’s anger boils over, sending him possibly to a point of no return. Old Dads is packed with secular and, at times, offensive jokes which often overstay their welcome. Yet, there’s something honest (and fun) about this film that will sit well with some viewers, even if the jokes grow old.

]]> Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:28:47 GMT https://screenrant.com/old-dads-review/ Filmmaker Maryam Keshavarz dips a toe into her own history in The Persian Version, which is finally seeing a limited theatrical release after its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. It won the Audience Award for the US Dramatic Competition there, and for good reason. The movie weaves a mother and daughter's parallel narratives together with ease, celebrating Iranian-American culture through fresh eyes and exploring familial dysfunction from a place of love.

]]> Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:02:52 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-persian-version-review/ The Deep South simmers with guilt, shame, and revenge in Desperation Road, which is directed by Nadine Crocker. The movie follows a single mother named Maben (Willa Fitzgerald, fresh off her powerful turn in The Fall of the House of Usher) who is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her young daughter Annalee (Pyper Braun). A seemingly unconnected thread begins with Russell (Garrett Hedlund, Mudbound), whose prison sentence doesn't seem like enough punishment for his crime. The two are thrown together in an unexpectedly violent way, opening the door for a redemption neither thought possible.

]]> Wed, 18 Oct 2023 14:40:21 GMT https://screenrant.com/desperation-road-review/ Killers of the Flower Moon may be one of Martin Scorsese’s best films to date. The film, which is based on a true story and adapted from the book by David Grann, is devastating, showcasing the cruelty, violence, and greed from William King Hale and his accomplices, and the agony the Osage Nation suffered because of their heinous actions. As a director and writer, Scorsese, who co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth, is at the top of his game, intricately crafting a dark story with a multitude of moving parts. With a phenomenal cast, captivating visuals, and a story that will break your heart and anger you simultaneously, Killers of the Flower Moon is a must-see film.

]]> Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:35:25 GMT https://screenrant.com/killers-of-the-flower-moon-review/ Most mental illnesses are often misunderstood by the general public, with stereotypes and harmful misconceptions popping up in media more often than not. The new film Exposure, written and directed by Peter Cannon and soon making its debut at the Newport Beach Film Festival, aims to present a nuanced take on obsessive compulsive disorder, told through the lens of a twisty thriller. In many ways, it succeeds in presenting OCD without judgment and telling a genuinely compelling story that raises some fascinating moral questions. Though it's not always an easy watch, as Exposure's main characters often say, discomfort is sort of the point here.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:00:27 GMT https://screenrant.com/exposure-review/ Divinity has the energy of a bad acid trip, but man does it look good. Writer-director Eddie Alcazar (Perfect) has a very particular vision that blends classic sci-fi motifs with his new perspective on the genre. The film's visual style is stunning and gives it a wholly original look. Though there is too much going on in the script at times, the sheer ambition is a marvel to behold. Performance-wise, Alcazar has brought together a great cast and puts them in an environment they embody perfectly. The world-building and black-and-white film stock in Divinity is enough to get any fan of truly weird movies excited.

]]> Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:40:44 GMT https://screenrant.com/divinity-review/ Foe adds a unique layer to the failing marriage narrative. Directed by Garth Davis from a screenplay he co-wrote with Iain Reid, who authored the novel the film is based on, Foe takes into account the consequences of climate change and AI to deliver an intimate story that isn’t par for the course when the aforementioned are involved. You won’t find a stereotypical futuristic city, or openly robotic entities in the story. Rather, the film offers an intriguing, thought-provoking take on marriage. It’s a slow burn and sometimes confusing film with an emotionally gutting twist that, if you’re willing to go along for the mysterious, somewhat strange ride, is worth it in the end.

]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:31:35 GMT https://screenrant.com/foe-review/ Maestro begins with a quote from its real-life subject, Leonard Bernstein: "A work of art does not answer questions, it provokes them; and its essential meaning is in the tension between the contradictory answers." As a mission statement, I struggled to reconcile it with the film that followed. With 2018's A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper showed himself to be a filmmaker of striking emotional clarity, and this quality carried over to his second feature — I did not feel like I was being left with questions. Only after thinking about it for some time did I realize Cooper's epigraph does not describe his movie, but his Bernstein. This is not a biopic of an artist so much as a human artwork, capturing the many questions he provokes and the contradictory answers that define him. Seeing it in this light has helped me appreciate the project as a whole more than I did at the time, when it spoke to me only in pieces.

]]> Tue, 10 Oct 2023 20:07:24 GMT https://screenrant.com/maestro-review/ The serial killer is to David Fincher what the gangster is to Martin Scorsese — not the sole preoccupation of their work, but a major one, and an avatar for their chief thematic interests. Each time they return to that milieu, it is with a piercing gaze, cutting through self-aggrandizement and cultural mythos to capture the smallness of the (typically) men who wear these labels to feel big. I believe The Killer, ostensibly about the more often romanticized hit man figure, is best read in this light. This is Fincher finally making the serial killer his protagonist and embarking on a feature-length process of disillusion, until any sense of grandeur is eroded. It's a journey as much defined by tedium as tension, but to paraphrase the assassin, if you can't handle a little boredom, this might not be the film for you.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 21:00:39 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-killer-review/ The anime film Blue Giant is a jazzy tribute to aspiring young musicians, offering a glimpse into the world of music in a stunningly visual way. Starring relatable characters with a solid bond of friendship, Blue Giant hits a lot of the right notes to get an interesting story while keeping the music center stage.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:30:25 GMT https://screenrant.com/blue-giant-review-visually-stunning-anime-masterpiece/ The essential project of Ava DuVernay's Origin is a challenging one. Its source material, Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, is a non-fiction book that compares America's treatment of people of color, Nazi Germany's treatment of Jews, and India's treatment of Dalits (formerly called untouchables) to show that much of what we ascribe to racism is better understood as a caste system. This film aims to explore that idea through a work of fiction, depicting Wilkerson's research process and her life at the time. I have not read Caste, and so cannot comment on how well Origin adapts it, but the tension between fiction and non-fiction is a major part of the viewer's experience regardless. What works for me and what doesn't have left me torn, and though I ultimately do recommend this movie, it's entirely possible that what I'm actually recommending is Wilkerson's book.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:15:57 GMT https://screenrant.com/origin-review/ Totally Killer gets clever by mixing slasher horror and time travel. A horror comedy can be hard to nail, but Totally Killer, directed by Nahnatchka Khan from a screenplay by David Matalon, Sasha Perl-Raver, and Jen D’Angelo, is fun and engaging. While it’s trying to do too much in terms of its plot, and doesn’t fully live up to its potential in terms of its slasher moments, the film has a great cast, and there are enough heartfelt moments and intrigue to keep the momentum going.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:08:33 GMT https://screenrant.com/totally-killer-review/ In 2019, the Pet Sematary remake was released. Directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer and written by Jeff Buhler, the remake revisited the Creed family with a few minor tweaks that ultimately did not stray too far away from the original plot of the 1989 film. The consensus was that while the film had an updated look, the resurrected story offered very little. Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, a direct prequel to the novel and the 2019 film, follows young Jud Crandall as he discovers the cemetery where the dead don’t stay dead 50 years before meeting the Creeds.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 20:41:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/pet-sematary-bloodlines-review/ “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in a court of law…” Under the fifth amendment of the US Constitution, Miranda Rights protect people from self-incrimination. We hear them often in crime shows and films, but the story behind their creation is a shocking one. Director Michelle Danner brings to life this true story based on the 1966 Supreme Court decision that changed America forever. In Miranda’s Victim, Abigail Breslin stars as a victim of one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. George Kolber and Richard Lasser developed the story and J. Craig Stiles penned the screenplay of this well-acted, shocking story of events that would change crime reporting and our justice system forever.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 19:35:26 GMT https://screenrant.com/mirandas-victim-review/ I'd be surprised if it was intended this way, but I can't help but see Hit Man as Richard Linklater's response to today's state-of-the-movies discussions. It addresses at least three of the major talking points: the dirth of feature-length comedies; the vacuum of young movie stars; and the absence of sex in mainstream cinema. Its acquisition by Netflix after lighting up festivals has been met with dismay from the critical community, because it could've tackled a fourth: the lack of non-franchise, non-family targeted options in theaters. No matter - I believe this film will find success however it releases. Hit Man is funny, engrossing, sexy, and thoughtful. As well as it plays to a packed audience, I have no doubt it'll deliver as the pick for movie night at home, though I would at least recommend getting together a few people you'd enjoy laughing with before queuing it up.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:40:34 GMT https://screenrant.com/hit-man-2023-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:00:28 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-exorcist-believer-review/ Written and directed by Jamie Childs, Jackdaw is a simple, taut thriller with enough character development and tension to keep us riveted. The cinematography has a gritty feel and the film is well-lit despite the action taking place in the dark. The story is bare bones, but that’s certainly not a knock against the film at all. Rather, Jackdaw is exactly the kind of movie we’ve been missing — straightforward, intense, and well-acted. It never needed to have multiple, or even complex, storylines to be good, and Childs delivers an intriguing, electric story without overstuffing it. With Oliver Jackson-Cohen delivering a nuanced, vulnerable yet tough performance as the film’s title character, Jackdaw is a gripping tale that is well worth the price of admission.

]]> Sun, 01 Oct 2023 19:20:00 GMT https://screenrant.com/jackdaw-review/ PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie upgrades its titular characters’ abilities, turning them into superheroes in an animated story that is sure to please its target audience. The sequel to PAW Patrol: The Movie, both of which are based on the 2013 series from Keith Chapman and Scott Kraft, is sweet and charming, if a bit humdrum. Its lessons are bare bones but relatable, with the kiddos easily able to take everything in without being overwhelmed, especially if they’re already familiar with the characters. The film offers some cute character interactions, humor (that don’t always land), a funny villain, and a story that is enough to have you rooting for the heroes, and Skye in particular.

]]> Sun, 01 Oct 2023 16:54:21 GMT https://screenrant.com/paw-patrol-the-mighty-movie-review/ Hollywood movie franchises do not typically get better the longer they go, especially when they continue for as long as the Saw franchise. The original low-budget horror movie from James Wan and Leigh Whannell proved to be a massive hit nearly 20 years ago, as Saw was responsible for launching both of their careers as directors and writers, along with giving Lionsgate a bankable franchise. The studio went back to the well countless times in the past, convoluting the timeline and creating an increasingly complicated canon in the process of fleshing out characters all tied to John Kramer's original Jigsaw mission. While 2021's Spiral marked the first installment without Tobin Bell's Jigsaw, Saw X brings him back like never before. This could have resulted in the movie being a cheap cash grab, but Saw X delivers the most personal and bloodiest entry to date, easily making it the best Saw movie sequel and ultimately proving that there is still life in this franchise.

]]> Sat, 30 Sep 2023 14:12:36 GMT https://screenrant.com/saw-x-review/ 2018’s Shoplifters brought the work of director Hirokazu Kore-eda to a larger audience with his Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nomination. His hotly anticipated follow-up, Monster, sees him leave the writing to screenwriter Yûji Sakamoto (We Made a Beautiful Bouquet) and focus on directing. The result is another phenomenal work of art. From cinematography to performances to the score, Monster is as relentless with its pursuit of perfect filmmaking as it is with its desire to keep the viewer at arm's length from what is really going on.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:13:57 GMT https://screenrant.com/monster-review-2023/ Smugglers has something for everyone — friendship, family, betrayal, and a kick-ass female cast. The tone of the film is hilarious and brutal and director Seung-wan Ryu (Veteran), who co-wrote the film with Cha-won Choi, Seung-wan Ryu, and Kim Jung Youn, is in full control of both. Smugglers plays like a heist film but the character development brings so much more to the table than the average caper. By the time the fight choreography begins, the film is exploding with energy. Everyone from the leads to the friend who barely gets a line is spectacular and Smugglers boasts a cast without a single weak link. Ryu and the film's co-writers have crafted a very fun adventure with high stakes and slick action scenes.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:45:32 GMT https://screenrant.com/smugglers-review/ The tension built throughout Mimang is undeniable, the character development is extremely realistic, and the filmmaking is gorgeous. The film harkens back to Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise trilogy and even 2023’s Past Lives. And the only knock against writer-director Taeyang Kim’s subtle relationship drama is that it does not live up to those movies. It’s not fair to judge the film on that basis; on the other hand, if the only flaw is not being one of the best movies in your genre, and you are a first-time filmmaker, then Kim is already off to a great start.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:57:43 GMT https://screenrant.com/mimang-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2023 13:34:58 GMT https://screenrant.com/memory-review-2023/ Not everything is as it seems in Reptile, the new Netflix movie from director Grant Singer. What looks like a fairly straightforward, if shockingly brutal, murder holds deeper secrets and plenty of twists and turns. And yet, for all of its intrigue, it can't help but feel frustratingly generic at times. There's a distinct feeling of familiarity, so there's a very good chance viewers will predict where the plot is going. That doesn't entirely hinder its watchability, but it does make for a less memorable experience. Reptile gets an extra edge thanks to its rock-solid cast and sufficiently gripping mystery, but it never coalesces into anything incredible.

]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2023 13:00:23 GMT https://screenrant.com/reptile-review/ Superhero movies have become the norm in Hollywood, but rarely do we get to see something a bit different when it comes to origin stories. That’s where Sri Asih: The Warrior comes in. Directed by Upi from a screenplay co-written alongside Joko Anwar, the socially conscious Indonesian action film combines mythology, MMA, and superhero tropes to bring us a mostly engaging film with slick fight sequences and intriguing, if somewhat hollow, twists that keep our attention. While the story itself is occasionally too stuffed for its own good, and drags a bit after the midway point, Sri Asih delivers clear, sharp action and an empowering story.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 21:02:03 GMT https://screenrant.com/sri-asih-the-warrior-review/ The homes in Cabrini-Green were demolished in 2011. A Chicago neighborhood comprised of both good and bad, what it represented more than anything was the America we made for ourselves. The residents' legacy now lives in the year's most surprising film, We Grown Now. Writer-director Minhal Baig made waves with 2018’s Hala, a teenage drama with a star-turning performance from Geraldine Viswanathan (Miracle Workers). In Baig's latest offering, Jurnee Smollett (Love Craft Country) and Law & Order alum S. Epatha Merkerson are turning in career-best work as well. But it is Baig’s vision that makes We Grown Now sing in a way that is totally incomparable. Every shot, every musical choice, everything that makes a riveting movie is on display and at its very best here.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 19:58:25 GMT https://screenrant.com/we-grown-now-review/ There’s Something in the Barn is genuinely funny. It’s a horror Christmas comedy that balances its ridiculous aspects and fun tone with plenty of gore and hilarity. Directed by Magnus Martens from a screenplay by Aleksander Kirkwood Brown, the film doesn’t take itself too seriously. Boasting an engaging cast, all of whom are in on the joke, There’s Something in the Barn is rarely excessive and always entertaining. Influenced by the 80s, the horror film isn’t afraid to get bloody, leaning into its sense of humor and happily making jokes about Norway and the US in equal measure.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 19:38:11 GMT https://screenrant.com/theres-something-in-the-barn-review/ Time loop movies are great. Even though we’ve seen the premise play out numerous times onscreen, most of which have been influenced by Groundhog Day, filmmakers continue using the concept in creative ways. Junta Yamaguchi’s River plays with the conceit from various angles, and the result is oftentimes sweet, hilarious, and chaotic. River knows when to speed up and when to slow down, when to infuse a brief bit of romance, and when to lean into wild sci-fi moments. It’s a film like no other that you’ll see this year, and though not everything works, River is a time loop jaunt that isn’t easy to forget, bolstered by fantastic performances and a deep sense of fun.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 18:03:26 GMT https://screenrant.com/river-review/ The Creator has assumed the position of Fall 2023's big science-fiction blockbuster, taking the spot previously held by Dune: Part Two. Through no fault of its own, Gareth Edwards' follow-up to Rogue One now has very big shoes to fill and, as an original science-fiction blockbuster, it serves as a refreshing balm to the constant deluge of sequels, franchise offshoots, and reboots. The Creator is a visually stunning epic and a feat of original storytelling on a massive scale no matter which way you look at it. Its story, from a screenplay by Edwards and his Rogue One collaborator Chris Weitz, falls short of its philosophical aspirations and ends up feeling overstuffed, but it's an easy thing to forgive when an original film is made on this scale. The Creator deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible and with two heart-wrenching performances at its center, it's an emotional ride enveloped in an engrossing world that feels a bit too close to home.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 16:32:30 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-creator-review/ Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers is one of his most likable films to date, and one of the most highly anticipated films of Fall 2023. Payne routinely writes his own films, but as with Nebraska, The Holdovers is not written by the auteur. Payne was approached to direct a pilot about a similar subject matter in the past and declined, but did stay in touch with The Holdovers screenwriter, David Hemingson (Traffic Light). Incorporating Payne's own personal experience of boarding school with Hemingson’s script, The Holdovers was born, and the director brings a sense of levity to a teenager imploding.

]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2023 14:16:02 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-holdovers-review/ The spy kids are back… again. Spy Kids: Armageddon is the fifth installment of the Spy Kids franchise following 2011’s Spy Kids: All the Time in the World. This time, we meet a new spy family out to save the world. Nora Torrez (Gina Rodriguez) and Terrence Tango (Zachary Levi) are currently the world’s greatest spies for the OSS, and they are the parents to Antonio "Tony" Torrez-Tango (Connor Esterson) and Patricia "Patty" Torrez-Tango (Everly Carganilla), who are unaware that their truth-preaching parents are lying to them about being spies. The whole charade comes crashing down on them when Tony accidentally helps a game developer unleash a potentially deadly computer virus through his advanced video game. Now, the kids must suit up and save the world via a virtual reality video game. And no, this is not Spy Kids: Game Over.

]]> Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:47:21 GMT https://screenrant.com/spy-kids-armageddon-review/ Written and directed by Bishal Dutta, It Lives Inside is more than a horror story — it weaves the immigrant experience into its tapestry while employing Hindu mythology to drive its central narrative. The horror itself is little more than slightly unsettling, but never outright scary or chilling. Rather, it’s the metaphor and character journey that truly carry this film. Dutta does a decent job exploring the lead character’s experience as an outsider, how her classmates “other” her, and the relationships that are damaged in a bid to assimilate. But the film’s disparate elements and overarching themes don’t entirely come together by the end, leaving the story’s emotional throughline weakened as a result.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 20:31:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/it-lives-inside-review/ One of the joys of movie genres is that they come with an established history. Every idea or scenario has a canon that shapes our expectations, and while filmmakers are free to ignore the past, many choose to engage with it openly. Genre films become a running conversation that audiences get to be a part of, and, with our responses, even moderate. No One Will Save You is an exciting new entry in that conversation. While not flawless in execution, it's daringly creative — the kind of movie that will inevitably cause those who see it to start talking about other movies as a way of understanding it. It's as much of an in-the-moment good time as it is worthy of lingering thought and discussion, and I hope that, from its position as a Hulu exclusive, it can make the splash it deserves.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:04:32 GMT https://screenrant.com/no-one-will-save-you-review/ It was only a matter of time until Saúl Armendáriz, the man behind the famous luchador Cassandro, got the biopic treatment. Director Roger Ross Williams, who co-wrote the screenplay with David Teague, jumps into the biopic arena with Cassandro to pay tribute to the flamboyant trailblazer, with Gael García Bernal strutting towards massive awards consideration.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 18:25:55 GMT https://screenrant.com/cassandro-review/ You can tell a lot about an actor’s vision based on his first feature film. Most debut their work with a definitive style while others concentrate on telling a proper story. But every so often, there comes a first-time director whose work makes very little sense due to poor execution. Unfortunately, the latest to fall in this category is Chris Pine’s Poolman. The film debuted at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival to terrible reception. A plethora of walkouts occurred not even at the 30-minute mark. Why, might you ask? In summary, Poolman is an unfunny spoof of neo-noir thrillers with hazy direction, even messier storytelling, and unbearable dialogue.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:45:51 GMT https://screenrant.com/poolman-review/ Netflix's latest romantic comedy, Love at First Sight, is the film adaptation of Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. It follows Hadley Sullivan (Haley Lu Richardson), an American flying to London for her father's second wedding, and Oliver (Ben Hardy), a mathematician returning home for familial obligation. Although the film's narrator, Jameela Jamil, claims this story is not about love, it is about love and fate.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:54:06 GMT https://screenrant.com/love-at-first-sight-review/ When people reflect on the 1963 March on Washington for jobs and freedom, they think of the famous and historic "I Have a Dream" speech from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., not of Bayard Rustin, the central figure in director George C. Wolfe's biopic Rustin. The march is also credited with assisting the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. With all the important moments that came from the march, it’s hard to imagine (depending on your knowledge of buried U.S. history) how one man’s influence and direct involvement could have been erased until only ten years ago. In 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Bayard Rustin with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:15:09 GMT https://screenrant.com/rustin-review/ Director Karan Boolani has helmed a picture that demands — and deserves — to be talked about with Thank You For Coming, which is celebrating its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival. The sex-positive movie was written by Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh, and the female gaze is refreshingly present throughout the nearly two-hour runtime. Thank You For Coming comes close to being a definitive sex comedy for women, with Bhumi Pednekar's star turn offering laughs and life lessons to spare.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:00:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/thank-you-for-coming-review/ Some of the best stories are the most inspiring ones, but biopics can fail the very real people they’re based on. This is especially true if the film in question is focused more on the message than the person at its center. Directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella from a screenplay by her, Bettina Gilois, and Hernán Jiménez, A Million Miles Away is based on the true story of José Hernández, a Mexican-American son of a farmworker who dreamed of becoming an astronaut and going to space. A Million Miles Away is genuine in the way it presents its story, and the struggle Hernández endures, but it’s also so laser-focused on his space goals that it forgets to explore his inner life.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 12:53:32 GMT https://screenrant.com/a-million-miles-away-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 12:30:21 GMT https://screenrant.com/fremont-review/ Editor’s note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 21:16:14 GMT https://screenrant.com/pain-hustlers-review/ Screenwriters in Hollywood always amaze me when they find the most obscure and peculiar stories based on true events to adapt into film. One of these recent examples is inspired by a 1999 New Yorker article written by Jonathan Harr. In it, he describes a civil trial in Jackson, Mississippi with attorney Willie Gary on behalf of Jeremiah O'Keefe against the Loewen Funeral Company over a contractual dispute. It’s a classic tale of David vs. Goliath; a small business owner vs. an industry giant; power to the people over corporate greed. Led by an exceptional Jamie Foxx, The Burial is sensational, balancing its audaciously vibrant spirit with its poignantly rich story.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:38:43 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-burial-review/ Fifteen years after his directorial debut, Michael Keaton returns to the director’s chair for the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. His latest is Knox Goes Away, which sees him starring as John Knox, a contract killer diagnosed with a fast-paced form of dementia. Right as he’s set to retire, his estranged son Miles (James Marsden) rushes to his doorstep in desperate need of John’s help. For John, this is the chance for him to redeem himself after all these years. But will he be able to save the day with the police closing in on him and his dementia making every decision more challenging? This is the story of one man’s intriguing redemption journey against time.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 20:52:43 GMT https://screenrant.com/knox-goes-away-review/ Taika Waititi, known for his ability to incorporate humor in even the most upsetting scenarios, returned to the Toronto International Film Festival this September to premiere his new feature. His latest is centered around the American Samoa national football team after their infamous 31-0 defeat in the 2002 World Cup qualifying match. That fact alone has generated some laughs across the soccer community, and Waititi has taken it one step further. According to the director, Next Goal Wins contains some embellishments, but its biggest mishap is missing the mark on jokes and limiting the character development for almost every person in the film. Sure, the movie includes the uplifting Cinderella story we’d all expect, but it fails its characters and culture in the process.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 18:53:34 GMT https://screenrant.com/next-goal-wins-review/ The year 2020 is infamously known as the year that changed all our lives for good. Whether it was due to losing a friend or loved one or being locked up in the house for months, most of us agree that it’s the year we’re happy to forget. For Keith Gill, better known as "Roaring Kitty," his is a different story. In 2020, Gill began to publicly advocate for GameStop stock through a series of videos and on Reddit. Little did he know his efforts would lead to one of the greatest short squeezes in the history of the stock market. It’s no surprise then that his story would be adapted into a film only a few years later. Directed by Craig Gillespie, Dumb Money is a crowd-pleasing story with great performances and a script that keeps it simple.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:24:04 GMT https://screenrant.com/dumb-money-review/ Cord Jefferson, esteemed writer of some of the most popular television series episodes (Watchmen, Succession, and The Good Place), has recently turned his talents to directing. The award-winning writer turned director premiered his feature directorial debut at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. American Fiction is adapted from Percival Everett’s 2001 novel, Erasure, which sees a dissection of the publishing industry with respect to pigeonholing Black writers into one dimension. In the film adaptation, Jefferson brings this important issue to life through a satirical lens that will leave a lasting impression. The film stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sterling K. Brown, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, and a plethora of other renowned actors. But don’t let cameos fool you, American Fiction is packed with important commentary, clever jokes, and a story that’ll have you coming back for me.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:59:56 GMT https://screenrant.com/american-fiction-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:38:18 GMT https://screenrant.com/woman-of-the-hour-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Sat, 09 Sep 2023 23:01:23 GMT https://screenrant.com/a-haunting-in-venice-review/ After its premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Justine Triet’s feature, Anatomy of a Fall, took home the prestigious Palme d’Or and for good reasons. Written by Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, the smart and sharp script challenges our perception of the truth while dissecting power dynamics within a failing marriage. Sandra Hüller stars as Sandra Voyter, who is on trial for the suspicious death of her late husband Samuel Maleski (Samuel Theis). With superb performances to back an incredible script that bends facts, fiction, and perception, Anatomy of a Fall is one of the best courtroom dramas ever made.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 21:06:14 GMT https://screenrant.com/anatomy-of-a-fall-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:08:57 GMT https://screenrant.com/sitting-in-bars-with-cake-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 23:00:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/my-big-fat-greek-wedding-3-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 15:44:26 GMT https://screenrant.com/bottoms-review/ Editor’s note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:45:43 GMT https://screenrant.com/perpetrator-review/ Editor’s note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:28:35 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-good-mother-review/ Editor’s note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Fri, 25 Aug 2023 19:15:37 GMT https://screenrant.com/vacation-friends-2-review/ Editor’s note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:00:36 GMT https://screenrant.com/retribution-review/ Editor’s note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:23:52 GMT https://screenrant.com/you-are-so-not-invited-to-my-bat-mitzvah-review/ This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 16:00:19 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-hill-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Fri, 18 Aug 2023 20:25:34 GMT https://screenrant.com/puppy-love-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:00:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/strays-movie-review/