Category: Festival Season 2023
'Maestro' Review: Bradley Cooper's Earnest Bio-Drama Emphasizes the Bi in Leonard Bernstein
Cooper went full “grad student doing his research paper” mode.
'Rustin' Review: Civil Rights Legend Receives His Belated Spotlight Through Solid Netflix Bio-Drama
None other than Colman Domingo, one of the most versatile working actors, can capture Bayard Rustin’s persona.
'Dream Scenario' Review: Pathetic is the New Peak Nic Cage Performance
Essentially, Cage expands his comic reach by playing a Chris Parnell-type.
'All of Us Strangers' Review: Sorrowing Andrew Scott Carries Solid and Poignant Ghost Melodrama
Think of David Lowery’s A Ghost Story if it were on Zoloft and poppers.
'Priscilla' Review: Lord Almighty, Cailee Spaeny Glows in Sofia Coppola's Solemn Elvis-Centric Drama
Spaeny delivers an eternal portrayal of Priscilla, embodying her innocent nature as a kid to a grown woman reaching her confidence, no CG de-aging included.
'Fallen Leaves' Review: A Precious, Wry Finnish Rom-Com For the Introverts | NYFF61
With how dreary Aki Kaurismäki's interpretation of Finland is, Ansa and Holappa's romance is like fresh water in a desert.
‘The Sweet East’ Review: Talia Ryder Led Picaresque Satire Takes America's East For a Ride | NYFF61
A funny American satire prospering from absurdist humor and naturalistic filmmaking.
‘Backspot’ Review: Energetic Cheerleading Drama is Hoisted by a Spirited Devery Jacobs Performance
Manages to be genuinely entertaining due to the dynamic direction of D.W. Waterson and Devery Jacobs' extraordinary performance.
'Summer Qamp' Review: The LGBTQ+ Kids are Alright | TIFF 2023
As they capture candid footage of these initially shy kids opening up and making friends with others, one would have to be a Grinch not to have their heart melted.
‘The Royal Hotel’ Review: Julia Garner Tends Bar to Toxic Aussie Men in Kitty Green's Tensive Psychological Thriller
Kitty Green made a niche for herself with the two narrative features under her belt: The Torture of Julia Garner in a Masculine Environment Cinematic Universe.
‘Fair Play’ Review: Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich Engage in a Pre-Marital Power Struggle in Engrossing Netflix Psychological Drama
For her debut, Chloe Domont's direction reveals a deft hand at mediating juicy tension in her couple's power struggle.
'Robot Dreams' Review: Pablo Berger’s Silent Animated Flick Boots Up a Bittersweet Tale of Friendship | TIFF 2023
It's one of the year's most human movies, and there's not even a single human in the film.
If you're a big fan of the macabre and the absurdist, this one's for you.