Reviews

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"Bad Behaviour boasts an all-in, powerful performance from Jennifer Connelly, but it's too messy, tonally unbalanced, and narratively all-over-the-place to connect with. It wastes too much time being nonsensical before the mother-daughter relationship gets interesting. Disappointing.

I'm unaware of how much of a personal project this is or even if it's personal at all. Still, Bad Behaviour is one of those films I just couldn't connect with in any shape or form. There's a layer of exaggeration and overdramatization that makes it all feel fictional and less grounded. And that, to me, turns into a massive obstacle to overcome. I hope others can feel the opposite."

Rating: D+

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"Polite Society looks straight out of a comic book. Endlessly energetic, witty humor, and packed with pretty great stunts. Nida Manzoor's quick edits, slow-motion, and stylistic title cards make this a distinctively fun feature debut. Not perfect, but the over-the-topness of it all brought it home for me.

If the action doesn't really impress you or if the purposefully exaggerated tone is too much to handle, then this may not be for you. But if Manzoor's maximalist style conquers your full attention, then you'll hardly leave unsatisfied."

Rating: B.

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"Sometimes I Think About Dying tackles social anxiety and loneliness in a purposefully dull yet intriguing fashion. Lingering cinematography, atmospheric score, and a phenomenal Daisy Ridley - a career-best performance - somehow make it all work, but its uneventful, repetitive narrative won't be for everyone.

Still, after a good night's sleep, I actually feel more positive than yesterday, so maybe it's a film that will grow on people over time. As one character puts it, "it's hard being a person". And with that, I can fully relate to."

Rating: B-

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"Alice, Darling brilliantly tackles the sensitive topic of abusive relationships. Alanna Francis' script stands out with a profound, respectful look into an emotionally disturbed Anna Kendrick - career-best performance - but also into the genuine best of female friendship.

A non-exploitative look into how psychological violence can be as traumatic as any other kind of physical abuse, as well as how insanely difficult it is to leave such a toxic relationship.

Mary Nighy cannot escape the subgenre's formulaic boundaries, but she should be proud of such an enlightening, impactful feature directorial debut."

Rating: B+

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*Based on the full first season handed to press*

"The Last of Us is the first live-action videogame adaptation able to finally break the frustrating curse, reaching the so-desired unprecedented level of excellence.

Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann construct a complex character study driven by fascinating protagonists, Joel and Ellie, exploring the grief, traumas, and tragedies of their lives through unimaginable moral dilemmas, emotionally heavy conversations, and devastating moments.

Save for rare exceptions, the episodic narrative formula is remarkably efficient, offering a panoply of intriguing characters and outstanding performances - Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey clearly stand out from the rest. A more intimate, grounded version of a post-apocalyptic world that doesn't lack gory, violent action/horror sequences. Gustavo Santaolalla's score couldn't be a better fit.

If I was already excited to venture into the video game, now I can't wait for that day to come."

Rating: A-

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"M3GAN doesn't reinvent the respective subgenre of killer robots or AI that turns against humans, but it kept me entertainingly invested throughout its entire runtime.

Akela Cooper's premise is pushed to its limits - and even beyond - being elevated by excellent performances, a clever satirical narrative, eyebrow-raising killings, and meaningful messages about parenting and technology's role in a child's upbringing. It doesn't take itself too seriously or tries to be more than what it truly is.

Far from being a masterpiece, but if only all January horror flicks were like this one..."

Rating: B.

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"Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery would never disappoint. Rian Johnson succeeds, once again, with his clever, witty humor and continuous entertainment throughout just over two hours of yet another whodunnit classic with tremendous replay value.

The central mystery holds countless twists and turns, almost always captivating and amusing. Exceptional performances from a shockingly talented cast - Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe are the standouts - elevate a screenplay slightly lacking in character depth as well as better control over its clear yet repetitive message concerning opportunism, vanity, and hypocrisy.

Original remains supreme, but this sequel deserved a worldwide premiere on the big screen."

Rating: B+

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"Spirited efficiently applies a Christmas formula. Harnessing the undeniable, palpable chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, along with original holiday tunes filled with the typical humor from the actors, Sean Anders delivers a musical entertaining enough to entertain the average spectator.

Not all the songs succeed, nor their timing in the story is always the right one, and the generic narrative doesn't exactly help with the surprise factor. Still, I'm happy enough with the essential message that people can, in fact, change for the better."

Rating: B-

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"Marcel the Shell with Shoes On transported me back to the precious times I shared with my late grandfather.

An extraordinarily creative, moving story surrounded by incredibly genuine humor and filled with meaningful, memorable messages about family, friendship, life, and love. Complex themes dissected through the fascinatingly simplistic eye of a small shell. Efficiently short runtime to take the viewers through a contemplative yet quite spirited experience.

One of my favorite films of the year, do NOT miss it!"

Rating: A-

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"The Adam Project is the typical "streaming blockbuster", but one that manages to add some characterization and genuine emotion to its generic entertainment...

Ryan Reynolds delivers a balanced performance - finally portraying a non-caricatured role of himself - and Shawn Levy steers the story through energetic, fast-paced action sequences. The filmmaker both plays and takes advantage of the cliches from time-travel movies.

Ultimately, it's harmless, silly fun with a touch of sci-fi for any viewer to enjoy."

Rating: B-

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"Avatar: The Way of Water clearly sets itself apart from other blockbusters, building on 13 years of preparation to deliver a memorable CINEMA experience by the one and only James Cameron.

A visually, technically breathtaking adventure, particularly in the truly stunning underwater sequences. Score (Simon Franglen) remains epic, and the genuine dynamics between the characters of the Sully family lead the viewer to strongly, emotionally invest in them - the performances of the cast, namely Zoe Saldaña, are vital for the film's success.

Too bad the recycled, generic narrative doesn't keep up with the creativity, dedication, and innovation levels allocated to the technical elements. Underwhelming to the point of making the three-hour runtime feel heavier than it should, but for fans of the original - which remains supreme - it's far from ruining one of the year's must-see theater experiences."

Rating: B+

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"Emancipation struggles tremendously to justify its existence. The overly performative, superficial screenplay fails to elevate and distinguish the unique, true story of "Whipped Peter" from all the other generic movies that treat slavery as a mere plot point to "yet another" action/survival flick - surely there's a better way to adapt these stories?!

Cinematography (Robert Richardson), cast - mainly Will Smith - and some of Antoine Fuqua's direction do a lot of the heavy lifting, but it starts to get tiring and painful to continue to watch shameful, traumatic events of our history being used repeatedly for pure Hollywood entertainment."

Rating: C-

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"Pinocchio retells the famous tale of the wooden puppet through visually lovely stop-motion animation, featuring several bold narrative changes that make this remake more human, emotional, and thematically profound than so many other adaptations.

Unforgettable dialogues about loss, love, and being the best version of ourselves elevate an adventure of self-discovery. The voice cast couldn't have been better, while the (new) music manages to be both playful and lyrically rich.

Guillermo del Toro simply cannot fail."

Rating: B+

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"The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is irrefutable proof that James Gunn just can't fail. A Christmas special surrounded by the seasonal, familiar spirit, packing a huge heart and full of the filmmaker's typical, efficient humor. The main cast shares incredibly authentic chemistry, with Pom Klementieff standing out this time with a hilariously sweet, emotional performance.

Final remark for the musical numbers with amusing lyrics and Kevin Bacon perfectly playing... Kevin Bacon. I hope Marvel continues to make these TV specials."

Rating: A-

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"Bones and All holds committed, chemistry-filled performances from Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet, telling a complex, interpretive story about true love and what we really need to survive.

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross' score shines and is the work's greatest chance of receiving an Oscar nomination, taking into account the shocking approach to cannibalism - it partially affects the connection with the protagonists - and horror aspects.

A thought-provoking screenplay by David Kajganich and unrestrained direction by Luca Guadagnino elevate a film that deserves to be seen - and felt - on the big screen."

Rating: B.

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"The Wonder takes time to transform its mysterious premise into a truly captivating narrative, but the displays of Florence Pugh and especially Kíla Lord Cassidy - one of the most impressive performances to come from a 13-year-old - bear the struggles in the least relevant moments.

As a character study, the film approaches the protagonists' distinct grieving processes in a gradually more profound manner, with some surprises along the way. Filmmaker Sebastián Lelio makes the most of the atmospheric cinematography (Ari Wegner) and the contemplative score (Matthew Herbert) to elevate the slow pacing, but not always successfully.

For fans of period pieces, see it."

Rating: B-

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"The Woman King shares an immensely captivating, culturally significant story about the Agojie, a unit of female warriors who fight to protect their own. Viola Davis shines, but Thuso Mbedu delivers one of the best feature film debut performances I've ever witnessed.

The anti-slavery, anti-racism and equal human rights messages are well conveyed, but the authentic, emotionally resonant character dynamics stand out due to a chemistry-filled cast. Action sequences hold high levels of brutality, accompanied by excellent choreography and an energetic score.

One of the best movies of the year... ignoring the butchered Portuguese."

Rating: A-

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"Violent Night is one of the biggest surprises of the year, instantly becoming a contemporary Christmas classic! David Harbour expertly embodies a shockingly brutal, savage version of Santa Claus that somehow still delivers lovely messages.

Fighting sequences feature truly violent practical stunts, taking advantage of the R rating to provide unmeasurable amounts of gore. Creative use of Christmas songs will leave audiences crying with laughter.

A brilliant homage to the seasonal genre classics that should be seen in a packed theater!"

Rating: A-

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"Devotion tells a character-driven story with emotionally complex protagonists, proudly focusing on honoring forgotten heroes and interestingly developing moral themes despite the somewhat repetitive structure.

It may not have the energetic, intense action of "that other planes flick", but it doesn't need to either, as the film's engine is found in the in-depth arcs of each character. Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell are phenomenal, bringing tremendous authenticity to their roles and interactions.

A character study that won't have the success of its genre counterpart but that deserves to be seen on the big screen."

Rating: B.

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"Wendell & Wild tells a simple yet beautiful story about the grieving process and how people who have gone through it have as much or more potential to change the future.

It doesn't reinvent the narrative wheel, being a screenplay close to the usual formulas, but as a stop-motion animation fanatic, the impressive visual quality is more than enough to grab this viewer. Despite the central theme and the characters needing to be more detailed, it's still a viewing that I consider mandatory, especially for families."

Rating: B-

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"The Good Nurse uses the phenomenal cast at its disposal to elevate a shocking true story that will remain in my memory for a while.

Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne shine through a screenplay that follows a mentally unstable serial killer who demonstrated the glaring lack of morals and institutional inhumanity of hospitals and administrators more concerned with protecting themselves than saving the lives of hundreds of patients.

The pinnacle of human incompetence and ignorance with a light of genuine kindness at the end of the tunnel."

Rating: B.

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"Werewolf by Night exhibits once again the immense talent of Michael Giacchino, but this time, in addition to delivering an excellent score, he also shines as a director.

From the stunning black-and-white cinematography to the instantly entertaining premise, the filmmaker creates such a distinctive style that no one would guess this special belongs to the MCU. A dive into the horror genre that pays homage to past decades and surprises with the level of depth given to the characters in such a short runtime.

Final praise for the superb performances."

Rating: B+

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"Pearl may be a prequel to X, but Ti West turns this slasher into an incredibly complex character study represented - and co-written (!) - by Mia Goth.

The new star of the horror genre deepens the protagonist Pearl, exploring her tremendous desire to fulfill her dream of wanting to become something more than a mere farm girl, including a mesmerizing monologue of nearly ten uninterrupted minutes, where raw, insane, wholly genuine emotion of the character comes across in a fascinating manner. Extra appreciation for the practical effects and the fact that basically the entire movie is shot during broad daylight.

Gore sequences become somewhat repetitive, and the narrative doesn't escape its predictability, being an overall less captivating film than its predecessor."

Rating: B.

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"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may not quite measure up to its predecessor, but it leaves a proud, beautiful, silent tribute to the legacy of Chadwick Boseman, telling an emotionally powerful, resonant story about how grief can truly be love persevering.

The screenplay runs into problems when it deviates from the central theme and tries to mix in other MCU stories/characters, with Namor and Riri suffering collateral damage. Technically, the action set pieces are mostly riveting, despite some inconsistent VFX and lighting. Score and sound production stand out in a remarkably memorable manner.

Brutally passionate, moving performances, especially from Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, and Danai Gurira. Exquisite pacing reduces the weight of the long runtime.

Totally worth the emotional investment."

Rating: B+

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"Enola Holmes 2 maintains the levels of light, adventurous fun of the original, surpassing it due to a much more cohesive, intriguing central narrative, in addition to overall better pacing. The different storylines mesh together nicely, and Harry Bradbeer's distinctive visual style remains a standout.

Millie Bobby Brown shines as Enola, as does Henry Cavill as Sherlock - the latter even too much, sometimes stealing the spotlight from a female-empowered story partially based on a real event with a significant impact on the evolution of women's rights.

Highly recommend it as a weekend viewing."

Rating: B.