The Latest in Film Reviews | Film Festivals

This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Ramy Youssef, background, and Emma Stone in a scene from "Poor Things." (Yorgos Lanthimos/Searchlight Pictures via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: In 鈥楶oor Things,鈥� Emma Stone takes an unusual path to enlightenment

Emma Stone plays a re-animated Victorian woman in 鈥淧oor Things,鈥� the latest demented confection from Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos.

This image released by GKIDS shows Himi, voiced by Karen Fukuhara in English and AIMYON in Japanese, left and Mahito Maki, voiced by Luca Padovan in English and Soma Santoki in Japanese, in a scene from Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy And The Heron." (Studio Ghibli/GKIDS via 麻豆传媒app)

Review: Swan song or not, Hayao Miyazaki鈥檚鈥楾he Boy and the Heron鈥� is a master surveying his empire

Watching Hayao Miyazaki鈥檚鈥淭he Boy and the Heron鈥� is like returning to a faintly familiar dreamland.

This image released by Netflix shows Mahershela Ali from left, Myha'la Herrold, Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke in a scene from "Leave the APBehind." (JoJo Whilden/Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楲eave the APBehind鈥� is a terrific blend of thriller, disaster and satire

If you like your thrillers to have an apocalyptic backdrop look no further than Netflix鈥檚鈥淟eave the APBehind,鈥� says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy.

FILE - Beyonce appears at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021. Beyonc茅 releases a concert film this week titled "Renaissance: A Film by Beyonc茅 ." (APPhoto/Chris Pizzello, File)

Review: In concert film 鈥楻enaissance,鈥� Beyonc茅 offers glimpse into personal life during world tour

Beyonc茅 ran her Renaissance APTour like a machine. But the superstar singer who is viewed as one of music鈥檚 hardest-working performers confesses she鈥檚鈥渘ot a machine.鈥�

This image released by Neon shows Thomasin McKenzie, left, and Anne Hathaway in a scene from "Eileen." (Jeong Park/Neon via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楨ileen,鈥� a wonderful novel about an 鈥榠nvisible鈥� young lady becomes an oddball film

Something strange has happened to Eileen Dunlop, and we don鈥檛 just mean the plot of 鈥淓ileen.鈥� The adaptation of novelist Ottessa Moshfegh鈥檚 delicious coming-of-age heroine has had a weird birth onto film, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy.

This image released by Netflix shows Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre, right, and Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in a scene from "Maestro." (Jason McDonald/Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Review: Bradley Cooper鈥檚鈥楳aestro鈥� leaves many notes of Bernstein unplayed

Bradley Cooper鈥檚鈥淢aestro,鈥� a high-wire act of a biopic, leaps constantly between on stage and off, flying through Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 very public life as a conductor while diving into his more private marriage to Felicia Montealegre.

This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows a scene from "Saltburn." (Amazon Prime Video via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Emerald Fennell chronicles a promising young man in audacious, shock-filled 鈥楽altburn鈥�

Anticipation has been hot for Emerald Fennell鈥檚 second feature ever since her bracingly original 鈥淧romising Young Woman鈥� won a screenplay Oscar.

This image released by Disney shows Asha, voiced by Ariana DeBose, in a scene from the animated film "Wish." (Disney via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Disney鈥檚 musical fairy tale 鈥榃ish鈥� is beautiful, but lacking magic

Chris Pine voices King Magnifico, the ruler of the Kingdom of Rosas who has the ability to grant wishes to his subjects in 鈥淲ish,鈥� the new Disney Animation musical in theaters Tuesday.

This image released by MUBI shows Alma P枚ysti, left, and Jussi Vatanen in a scene from "Fallen Leaves." (MUBI via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楩allen Leaves鈥� is deadpan nirvana

In a movie year rife with grand, three-hour opuses from auteur filmmakers comes a slender 81-minute gem that outclasses them all.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from "Napoleon." (Apple TV+ via 麻豆传媒app)

Review: In Ridley Scott鈥檚鈥楴apoleon,鈥� the emperor has no clothes but plenty of ego

This Napoleon, as played by Joaquin Phoenix, isn鈥檛 extraordinary nor is he much of a man.

This image released by Netflix shows Julianne Moore, right, and Natalie Portman in a scene from "May December." (Fran莽ois Duhamel, Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Emotional complexity, melodramatic wit and masterful acting in 鈥楳ay December鈥�

Natalie Portman plays an actress researching a real-life subject for a role in Todd Haynes鈥� 鈥淢ay December.鈥�

This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Kaimana, foreground left, and Hilo Pelesasa, right, in a scene from "Next Goal Wins." (Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Searchlight Pictures via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Taika Waititi鈥檚鈥楴ext Goal Wins鈥� is a sweet, frothy diversion but no knee slide

In 鈥淣ext Goal Wins,鈥� a soccer coach comes from far away to lead a hapless group of athletes. He鈥檚 a fish-out-of-water type, ill-suited for the job, but rises to the occasion and everyone feels good at the end.

This image released by Lionsgate shows Tom Blyth, right, and Rachel Zegler in a scene from "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." (Lionsgate via 麻豆传媒app)

Review: The Hunger Games return in 鈥楾he Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,鈥� with the odds in its favor

Two hours and 37 minutes is pretty long for a 鈥渂allad,鈥� but you can鈥檛 call it 鈥淭he Hunger Games: The Three-Cycle Opera of Songbirds and Snakes鈥� now, can you?

This image released by A24 shows Nicolas Cage in a scene from "Dream Scenario" (A24 via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Nicolas Cage finds fame to be highly overrated in chillingly funny 鈥楧ream Scenario鈥�

Nicolas Cage, perhaps best known for his onscreen volatility, takes a fascinating swerve to play a mundane, schlubby, balding professor at nowhere famous in Kristoffer Borgli鈥檚鈥淒ream Scenario.鈥�

This image released by Disney shows, from left, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in a scene from "The Marvels." (Laura Radford/Disney-Marvel Studios via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Iman Vellani is a scene-stealer in low-stakes 鈥楾he Marvels鈥�

Nia DaCosta joins the Marvel Universe with 鈥淭he Marvels,鈥� sequel to 2019鈥檚鈥淐aptain Marvel,鈥� starring Brie Larson, Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris.

This image released by Netflix shows Michael Fassbender as an assassin in a scene from "The Killer." (Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: In David Fincher鈥檚鈥楾he Killer,鈥� an assassin hides in plain sight

鈥淭he Killer鈥� is a terse, minimalist thriller in the cool, cold-hearted tradition of Jean Pierre Melville鈥檚鈥淟e Samoura茂.鈥�

This image released by Participant/Pantelion Films shows Eugenio Derbez in a scene from "Radical." (Participant/Pantelion via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: In 鈥楻adical,鈥� an unorthodox teacher in a violent Mexican border town

鈥淩adical鈥� is a conventional but stirring entry in the crowded canon of uplifting educator tales like 鈥淪tand and Deliver,鈥� 鈥淟ean on Me鈥� and 鈥淭he Class.鈥�

This image released by A24 shows Kaylee Nicole Johnson, Jannie Hampton, Jayah Henry in a scene from "All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt." (A24 via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: A serene debut from Raven Jackson in 鈥楢ll Dirt Roads Taste of Salt鈥�

Nature provides much of the soundtrack to 鈥淎ll Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,鈥� the debut feature from writer-director Raven Jackson.

This image released by Netflix shows Jeffrey Mackenzie Jordan, left, and Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in a scene from "Rustin." (Parrish Lewis/Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楻ustin鈥� with an outstanding Colman Domingo is a terrific look at March on Washington

The 1963 March on Washington was a triumph of peaceful protest. It likely wouldn鈥檛 have happened without the work of a master strategist: Bayard Rustin, a gay Black socialist and pacifist-activist.

This image released by Netflix shows Chris Evans as Brenner, left, Andy Garcia as Neel, center, and Emily Blunt as Liza in a scene from "Pain Hustlers." (Brian Douglas/Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楶ain Hustlers鈥� tells a sadly familiar story with a kitchen-sink style

鈥淧ain Hustlers鈥� tells a tale both familiar and tragic, the latest in a string of films about the opioid crisis.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Bonnie, Freddy Fazbear and Chica in a scene from "Five Nights at Freddy's." (Universal Pictures via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Video game-to-horror flick 鈥楩ive Nights at Freddy鈥檚鈥� misfires badly

Just in time for Halloween comes 鈥淔ive Nights at Freddy鈥檚,鈥� a video game adaptation with the potential treat of demented Chuck E.

This image released by A24 shows Jacob Elordi as Elvis, right, and Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla, in a scene from "Priscilla." (Philippe Le Sourd/A24 via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Teen dreams and adult nightmares in Sofia Coppola鈥檚鈥楶riscilla鈥�

Dreamily gazing at the album covers of Elvis Presley was not, statistically speaking, a rare habit among American teen girls in the late 1950s and early 鈥�60s.

This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Layla Mohammadi, foreground left, and Niousha Noor in a scene from "The Persian Version." (Yiget Eken/Sony Pictures Classics via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楶ersian Version鈥� finds laughter, tears in Iranian American tale of resilient women

In the autobiographical 鈥淭he Persian Version,鈥� Maryam Keshavarz chronicles a young woman鈥檚 struggle to reconcile two identities: her Iranian heritage and her current American life as an aspiring filmmaker who longs to be an Iranian Martin Scorsese.

This image released by Focus Features shows Da'Vine Joy Randolph, from left, Paul Giamatti and Dominic Sessa in a scene from "The Holdovers." (Seacia Pavao/Focus Features via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: A holiday movie with some bite in Alexander Payne鈥檚鈥楾he Holdovers鈥�

鈥淪ideways鈥� filmmaker Alexander Payne brings audiences to a New England boarding school in 1970 in 鈥淭he Holdovers,鈥� about three lonely and mismatched souls stuck together over Christmas break.

This image released by Netflix shows Bobby Cannavale, right, and Bill Burr in a scene from "Old Dads." (Michael Moriatis/Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Netflix鈥檚鈥極ld Dads鈥� is a recycling of PC grievances and a Bill Burr career nadir

The new Netflix movie 鈥淥ld Dads鈥� has a title problem, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy. He says it really should be called 鈥淥ld Dads Raging at Paper Straws.鈥�

This image released by Netflix shows Annette Bening as Diana Nyad in a scene from the film "Nyad." (Liz Parkinson/Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: In 鈥楴yad,鈥� Jodie Foster swims away with a showcase for Annette Bening

In 鈥淣yad,鈥� there are two feats of perseverance on display. First, there is the ceaseless determination of Diana Nyad, played by Annette Bening, to accomplish a marathon swim from Cuba to Florida across 110 miles of open, shark-infested waters.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows John le Carr茅 in a scene from "The Pigeon Tunnel." (David Appleby/Apple TV+ via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Cornwell/le Carr茅, through Errol Morris鈥� lens, in riveting 鈥楾he Pigeon Tunnel鈥�

David Cornwell, better known by his pen name John le Carr茅, was the spy-turned-novelist whose erudite tales of espionage and betrayal defined an era, gave literary heft to a genre and inspired numerous adaptations.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows, from left, JaNae Collins, Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers and Jillian Dion in a scene from "Killers of the Flower Moon." (Melinda Sue Gordon/Apple TV+ via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Scorsese鈥檚 epic 鈥楰illers of the Flower Moon鈥� is sweeping tale of greed, richly told

There tends to be lots of fast talking and fast moving in Martin Scorsese films. But in his elegant, masterfully told 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon,鈥� everything seems to slow down, especially when the camera lands on Lily Gladstone.

Taylor Swift arrives at the world premiere of the concert film "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles. (APPhoto/Chris Pizzello)

Movie Review: In the elated 鈥楾aylor Swift: The Eras Tour,鈥� every seat is the best seat in the house

The hypnotic 鈥淭aylor Swift: The Eras Tour鈥� film is a near exact replica of her blockbuster concert performance, which recaps all 10 of her studio albums across 17 years of recorded work.

This image released by Neon shows, from left, Samuel Theis, Sandra H眉ller and Milo Machado Graner in a scene from "Anatomy of a Fall." (Neon via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: In 鈥楢natomy of a Fall,鈥� a sharp courtroom drama that will end relationships

Justine Triet鈥檚 Palme d鈥橭r-winning film 鈥淎natomy of a Fall鈥� finds a writer on trial for the suspicious death of her husband.

This image released by Netflix shows Alden Ehrenreich, left, and Phoebe Dynevor in a scene from "Fair Play." (Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: In 鈥楩air Play,鈥� a battle of the sexes on Wall Street

Since its hit arrival at the Sundance Film Festival, 鈥淔air Play鈥� has been hailed for reviving the long-dormant-but-often-missed erotic thriller.

This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows Jamie Foxx in a scene from "The Burial." (Skip Bolen/Amazon Prime Video via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Jamie Foxx leads a crowd-pleasing courtroom drama in 鈥楾he Burial鈥�

Jamie Foxx plays a slick personal injury lawyer who finds himself in over his head when he鈥檚 recruited for a contract case in 鈥淭he Burial.鈥�

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Ellen Burstyn, left, and Leslie Odom, Jr. in a scene from "The Exorcist: Believer." (Anne Marie Fox/Universal Pictures via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楾he Exorcist: Believer鈥� doesn鈥檛 desecrate the original but it won鈥檛 compel you

There may be no holier ground in horror than 鈥淭he Exorcist.鈥� As endlessly as William Friedkin鈥檚 1973 film has been ripped off and resurrected, its power remains unalloyed.

This image released by Neon shows Jessica Henwick, left, and Julia Garner in a scene from "The Royal Hotel." (Neon via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Check out 鈥楾he Royal Hotel鈥� but don鈥檛 linger in this subtle horror flick

鈥淭he Royal Hotel鈥� is a horror movie but don鈥檛 expect any jump-cuts, scary masks or serial killers. It鈥檚 more like the dawning horror a frog gets when it realizes it is being boiled alive.

This image released by Magnolia Pictures shows Joan Baez in a scene from the documentary "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise." (Albert Baez/Magnolia Pictures via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Her voice is lower, but Joan Baez has songs to sing and secrets to tell in new doc

Joan Baez was once a teenager with a guitar around her neck singing 鈥淲e Shall Overcome.鈥� She was singing about civil rights of course, but we learn in the new documentary 鈥淛oan Baez: I Am a Noise鈥� just how much the celebrated folk singer needed to overcome in her own life: anxiety, depression, lonel

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Madeline Voyles in a scene from "The Creator." (20th Century Studios via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Humans take a back seat in the stunning AI, sci-fi epic 鈥楾he Creator鈥�

Director and co-writer Gareth Edwards takes on Artificial Intelligence in the new film 鈥淭he Creator,鈥� releasing in theaters nationswide Friday.

FILE - Carlos Santana performs at the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival in Napa, Calif., on May 26, 2019. A new documentary "Carlos" covers the music career of the multi-Grammy Award-winning artist. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/麻豆传媒app, File)

Movie Review: Documentary 鈥楥arlos鈥� is a loving, respectful portrait of guitar god Santana

The documentary 鈥淐arlos鈥� is a traditional linear tale, tracing rock icon Carlos Santana鈥檚 formative years in Tijuana, Mexico, his set at Woodstock, his dive into spirituality and his triumphant 1999 鈥淪upernatural鈥� album.

This image released by Lionsgate shows Sylvester Stallone in a scene from "The Expend4bles." (Lionsgate via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: St4llone, St4tham are back in 鈥楨xpend4bles,鈥� yet another expend4ble sequel

Maybe this was supposed to be the clever new thing about the fourth 鈥淓xpendables鈥� movie 鈥� the title has the number 鈥�4鈥� embedded in the word. Nice try, guys.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Eve Hewson, left, and Or茅n Kinlan in a scene from "Flora and Son." (Apple TV+ via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie review: A star-making turn for Eve Hewson in the feel-good 鈥楩lora and Son鈥�

John Carney, the Irish filmmaker of 鈥淥nce,鈥� 鈥淪ing Street鈥� and 鈥淏egin Again,鈥� makes the movie version of 鈥渢hree chords and the truth.鈥�

This image released by Neon shows Megan Suri in a scene from "It Lives Inside." (Neon via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: An immigrant teen who wants to fit in enters a nightmare in 鈥業t Lives Inside鈥�

A beautiful Indian American teen, Samidha (Megan Suri), just wants to fit in with her suburban classmates in the new horror 鈥淚t Lives Inside,鈥� which opens in theaters Friday.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Paul Dano as Keith Gill in a scene from "Dumb Money." (Claire Folger/Sony Pictures via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楧umb Money鈥� recalls GameStop squeeze, when regular folk put the screws on Wall Street

The little guy 鈥� or at least the little guy with a few hundred bucks to sink into the stock market 鈥� gets a movie to cheer with 鈥淒umb Money,鈥� the real story of a recent financial rebellion that shook Wall Street.

This image released by Netflix shows Haley Lu Richardson in a scene from "Love at First Sight." (Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: A charming Haley Lu Richardson anchors sappy but sweet rom-com 鈥楲ove at First Sight鈥�

She鈥檚 American, charming, chronically late, and her phone is always running out of juice. He鈥檚 British, prompt, has a fully charged phone and spouts statistics.

This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows Gael Garcia Bernal in a scene from "Cassandro." (Amazon Prime Video via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楥assandro,鈥� with Gael Garcia Bernal as a liberated luchador, is a winner

Anyone who has eagerly followed Gael Garcia Bernal since his breakthrough roles in 鈥淎mores Perros鈥� and 鈥淵 tu mam谩 tambi茅n鈥� likely never foresaw him one day in the world of lucha libra wrestling.

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot, left, and and Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver in a scene from "A Haunting in Venice." (20th Century Studios via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Kenneth Branagh crafts a sumptuously spooky 鈥楢 Haunting in Venice鈥�

Kenneth Branagh indulges in the kind of macabre theatricality that only a crumbling Venetian palazzo on a stormy Halloween night can provide in 鈥淎 Haunting in Venice,鈥� which co-stars Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill and Camille Cottin.

This image released by Prime shows Rosa Salazar, left, and Michael Pena in a scene from "A Million Miles Away." (Prime via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楢 Million Miles Away鈥� charms and inspires with the tale of an unlikely astronaut

If ever there was an inspirational story about reaching for the stars, it鈥檚鈥淎 Million Miles Away,鈥� about the real-life journey of how a boy who grew up as a migrant farmworker became a NASA astronaut.

This image released by Focus Features shows Nia Vardalos, left, and John Corbett in a scene from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3." (Yannis Drakoulidis/Focus Features via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: In 鈥楤ig Fat Greek Wedding 3,鈥� the wedding鈥檚 in Greece and the formula feels ancient

When in Greece, all roads lead to ... a wedding. How could they not, in a sequel to Nia Vardalos鈥� enormously successful rom-com 鈥淢y Big Fat Greek Wedding鈥�?

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Taissa Farmiga as Sister Irene in New Line Cinema's horror thriller "The Nun II." (Warner Bros. Pictures via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Oh, sister, what happened? 鈥楾he Nun II鈥� is a face-plant horror splat

鈥淭he Conjuring鈥� Universe celebrates 10 years in business this fall with the dull 鈥淭he Nun II,鈥� a movie that seems destined to pound a nail into this franchise鈥檚 coffin, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy.

This image released by Netflix shows a scene from "El Conde." (Pablo Larra铆n/Netflix via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Pinochet as a vampire in surreal, frightening 鈥楨l Conde鈥�

The Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is not dead in Pablo Larra铆n鈥檚鈥淓l Conde.鈥� He is instead a 250-year-old vampire living in semi-exile and wishing for death in this audacious allegory about history鈥檚 tendency to repeat itself, shot in sublime, otherworldly black and white, writes Lindsey Bahr in

This image released by Sony Pictures Entertainment shows Denzel Washington in a scene from "The Equalizer 3." (Stefano Montesi/Sony Pictures Entertainment via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: Denzel Washington鈥檚 vigilante battles the Italian mafia in 鈥楨qualizer 3'

Antoine Fuqua鈥檚鈥淓qualizer 3,鈥� a taut and textured sequel to Washington鈥檚 vigilante series, isn鈥檛 one of the actor鈥檚 best films. It wouldn鈥檛 crack his top 10.

This image released by Orion Releasing shows Ayo Edebiri, left, and Rachel Sennott in a scene from "Bottoms." (Orion Releasing via 麻豆传媒app)

Movie Review: 鈥楤ottoms鈥� is a gonzo gay high-school comedy that comes out on top

The rites and rituals of the raunchy high-school comedy can be as prescribed as a class syllabus, but what makes Emma Seligman鈥檚鈥淏ottoms鈥� such an anarchic thrill is how it couldn鈥檛 care less.