Jesse Eisenberg First impressions of A Real Pain Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg pull off a tricky challenge here, making something meaningful of their road movie about troubled cousins on a Holocaust tour in Poland.
The People's Joker First impressions of The People's Joker Vera Drew's fantastical truth-telling will discomfort those who are terrified of trans individuals. What's more — it will challenge Batman fans.
Film Review Ghostlight celebrates the healing power of community theater Kelly O'Sullivan's film about grief, reconciliation, and community theater deserves major acting awards.
My Old Ass First impressions of My Old Ass Megan Park's comedy about a young woman corresponding with her future self is unexpectedly engaging—one of 2024's most delightful surprises.
Film Review Inside Out 2 gives us all some strong anti-anxiety treatment While it doesn't quite reach the heights of Pixar's golden-age masterpieces, we can be grateful for the wisdom and whimsy of this surprising sequel.
Saturday Night First impressions of Saturday Night Jason Reitman's controlled-chaos fantasy about the launch of SNL offers a good time with rowdy comedians at a turning point in TV history.
India Donaldson First impressions of Good One Must... not... make the film's title... my review of the film...
Film Review Hit Man hits and hits... but misses when it matters most Linklater's smart, good-humored comedy looks ready to launch a fantastic franchise starring Glen Powell... and then fumbles the ball and loses the game just when it seemed like a sure win.
Between the Temples First impressions of Between the Temples Just as he did in Rushmore, Jason Schwartzman plays a young man with an irrational longing for one of his teachers, a woman much older than him. Great awkwardness ensues.
Film Review Civil War — It's not about picking a side Some of my favorite critics have serious issues with Alex Garland's speculative fiction about a near-future collapse of democracy in the U.S. And I just don't get it.
Film Review Still recovering from an evening with Hundreds of Beavers The most original movie I've seen in years is also the most outrageous comedy I've seen in years. It's an endurance test for your brain, body, and sense of humor. Brace yourselves. And dress warmly.
Sean Wang Nine reasons to see Didi Sean Wang's Sundance Award-winning coming-of-age film is a joy and one of the year's most promising directorial debuts. Here are some of the reasons I enjoyed it so much.
Film Review Unworthy of Gosling or Blunt, Fall Guy's screenplay falls short of my summer movie standards If this is your idea of a satisfying summertime movie, well... knock yourself out. Me? Life's too short, and there are just so many better ways for me to spend my summer.
Lee Isaac Chung Lee Isaac Chung gets carried away with Twisters The personal touch of Minari director Lee Isaac Chung is evident in this surprising sequel to a 1996 summer blockbuster, which turns some blockbuster cliches sideways.
Greg Kwedar First impressions of Sing Sing The latest entry in the "Art Can Change Your Life" genre has particular strengths—it's a true story, it avoids narrative contrivance, and, most of the time, it shows admirable restraint.
Film Review Love triangle aside — what is Challengers really about? Despite its tangled web (net?) of bad behavior, Luca Guadagnino's smash hit gets a lot right about the transcendence artists pursue and sometimes reach.
George Miller Dazzled and disappointed by "the darkest of angels" After weeks of reflection, here's the state of my relationship with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Film Review Low-budget, high imagination: Riddle of Fire may someday be an all-ages cult classic This retro adventure—which sends kids questing for an egg that'll help them bake a pie and save a sleeping beauty—will puzzle many moviegoers and win the hearts of a special few. I'm one of the few.
Daddio Two nightmares in Manhattan Why I probably won't revisit Daddio, a movie about a Manhattan cab driver and his fare, or A Quiet Place: Day One, a movie about a Manhattan alien invasion and a cat.
Film Review Playful, nightmarish, fantastical, political: Problemista is all over the place Julio Torres's leap from television's Los Espookys to the big screen has some remarkable highlights... and some complicated challenges.
Film Review Cabrini celebrates a true Christian vision of embracing immigrants and opposing cruelty Angel Studios' new film celebrates a woman who helped America practice what it preaches about welcoming immigrants and serving the poor. And this time, the studio gets it mostly right.
Janet Planet Just Saw It: Janet Planet Annie Baker's directorial debut is a discomforting, intimate portrait of a struggling mother and a wide-eyed, intuitive daughter who draw difficult neighbors into their orbit.
