Film Review

A collection of 656 posts

Film Review

First impressions of If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

Rose Byrne lives up to the demands of her most intense role in Mary Bronstein’s exasperating, exhausting anxiety attack of a movie.

Film Review

First impressions of Anemone

It is often the case in Anemone that we see in profile the head of our grizzled, tormented, mysterious subject, a recluse named Ray Stoker, and his remarkably large ear is at the center of the frame. This is a meaningful and, I suspect, deliberate choice on the part of

Film Review

First impressions of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

I approached the new Kogonada film with trepidation. I've learned to trust his artistry, but this trailer set off all kinds of alarms. Should you see it? Here's my recommendation.

Chad Hartigan

First impressions of The Threesome

Chad Hartigan's fourth feature finds him once again dodging genre conventions and finding something singular, as he plants intriguing characters in messy situations and chooses grace over ruin.

Boys Go to Jupiter

First impressions of Boys Go to Jupiter

In recent years, the highlights for me have been lower-budget, higher-creativity movies. Here's another one—a weird, hilarious, unpredictable musical running on a deep current of sadness.

Netflix

It's not too late: Ava DuVernay's 13th is shock treatment for America's conscience

From the Looking Closer Archives: Here's my original review of Ava Duvernay's astonishing Netflix documentary, which I originally wrote for Christianity Today.

Seth Worley

First impressions of Sketch

One of 2025's brightest surprises, bound to become a new family favorite, Seth Worley's film understands the dangers of suppressing imaginations, even those that disturb us.

Alex Garland

In 2003, 28 Days Later revitalized a genre, cautioned us about viruses and rage, and divided Christian film critics

From the archives at Looking Closer, here's my original review of 28 Days Later, along with reactions from critics I quoted in my Film Forum column at that time.

Eva Victor

First impressions of Sorry, Baby

In this free post, I urge everyone to call up a friend and make plans to see Sorry, Baby, while it's still in theaters. If it's too late, rent and stream it. It's one of 2025's best.

Brad Pitt

F'ing up: Thoughts on F1 on an IMAX screen

These notes may include some spoiler-ish comments. But the movie's so predictable, does it matter? Here are my thoughts—more importantly, my concerns—about the summer's biggest IMAX adrenaline rush.

Superman

Time to catch up! Here are some overdue notes on Superman.

I'm late to the party. But then, the party would not have enjoyed my take on James Gunn's Superman. Here's the first of several catch-up reviews I plan to post this week.

Constance Tsang

First impressions of Blue Sun Palace

One of my favorite films of 2025, and perhaps the most promising directorial debut, focuses on women struggling for survival, companionship, and hope in the dangerous context of a massage parlor.

Steve McQueen

Only twelve years ago, 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture at the Oscars

My notes on this film were originally published at Looking Closer on November 2, 2013. It's time to republish them.

Film Review

Why Flow is my favorite film of 2024

Director Gints Zilbalodis and co-writer Matīss Kažathe invite us into an animated vision of a flooded world in which animals reflect the dangers of who we are and the glory of who we can be.

Film Review

Is The People's Joker the best Joker movie yet? (I know how I'm voting.)

Vera Drew's fantastical truth-telling will discomfort those who are terrified of trans individuals. What's more — it will challenge Batman fans.

The Phoenician Scheme

First (and second) impressions of The Phoenician Scheme

After two viewings (and more on the way), here are my notes on Wes Anderson's latest—his first led by Benicio Del Toro , and, more importantly, his first to feature Michael Cera and Mia Threapleton.

Satire

Galaxy Quest (1999)

More than a quarter-century later, this Star Trek spoof remains a gold standard for sci-fi satire. With the announcement of a new Star Wars spoof, maybe it's time to remember what's possible

Danny Boyle

First impressions of 28 Years Later

Danny Boyle returns to direct the third episode of the series he began in 2002. This one features the best performances in the series so far, but in service of what? What does this movie love?

Harvey Weinstein

All the Pretty Horses (2000)

For 25 years, I've wanted to see a movie that Harvey Weinstein destroyed. Here are my original notes on the wreckage of Billy Bob Thornton's Cormac McCarthy adaptation, and dismaying footnote.

Carson Lund

First impressions of Eephus

I'm back from a long, hard road to offer my overdue review of one of the year's funniest movies: an elegiac comedy about America’s declining traditions and communities.

Stephen King

First Impressions of The Life of Chuck

Despite its charming dance numbers, Mike Flanagan's feature film based on a Stephen King short story thinks it's so much more profound than it is.

Isaiah Saxon

First impressions of The Legend of Ochi

What mash-up of movies will you find in this odd, surprising fantasy? Is it Gremlins meets Into the West? E.T. meets The Neverending Story? Princess Mononoke meets The Secret of Roan Inish?

J.J. Abrams

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

From the archives at LookingCloser.org, here's my original 2016 review of a thriller that I saw on a memorably surprising night as I celebrated my completion of my MFA in creative writing.

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

First impressions of On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

The new film from Rungano Nyoni, director of "I Am Not a Witch," is an early but strong contender for my favorite film of 2025.

Michael Fassbender

Don't miss a chance to open Soderbergh's Black Bag of tricks

In his best work since the peak of the Oceans trilogy — maybe since 1998's Out of Sight — Steven Soderbergh surprises us with one of the year's best films.