Young CriticRomeria
Carla Simon's third feature continues her exploration of memory What is history if not memories compiled, and what is memory, if not multiple individual narratives of singular pasts, and yet what is that individual memor
Reviews tagged: drama
Young Critic
Young CriticDownton Abbey: The Grand Finale
The finale that proves sometimes it’s best to let go Downton Abbey (2010–2015) was a comfort watch for many during its run, providing the subtle dramas of the English nobility in the 1910s and ’20s. Essentially a remake
Young CriticThe Captive
Alejandro Amenabar's latest is confused in its structure “Don Quijote de la Mancha” is considered the most-read novel in the history of mankind, surpassed only in readership and circulation by religious texts like “the B
Young CriticHighest 2 Lowest
Spike Lee's adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's classic is serviceable if muted Despite being one of the foremost auteurs in American cinema, Spike Lee is no stranger to remakes. He remade the Korean action classic Oldboy (20
Young CriticThe Conjuring: Last Rites
The fourth and supposed final entry is a stuporous disappointment James Wan sparked a horror renaissance in the early 2010s when he delivered the one-two punch of Insidious (2010) and The Conjuring (2013). Both films spa
Young CriticSorry, Baby
Eva Victor’s first feature listens where others sensationalize Despite being one of the most horrific yet ancient of crimes, rape and sexual assault did not receive serious exploration or attention in Western society unt
Young Critic28 Years Later
A thoughtful sequel with heart, hindered by frantic editing Every franchise with even the faintest hint of sequel potential is being squeezed for every last cent. This has needlessly revived properties like The Blair Wi
Young CriticSirat
Oliver Laxe’s trance-like odyssey blurs myth and rave The road movie—or road story—has been a device used by storytellers since the first fictional tale was inscribed onto a tablet with The Epic of Gilgamesh . There is
Young CriticF1: The Movie
Apple’s F1 spectacle features real racers, but the plot is stuck in neutral Despite being one of the most popular sports in the world—and featuring many dramatic real-life stories—Formula 1 has rarely appeared in Hollywo
Young CriticWarfare
A Gripping War Story That Forgets Some of Its Victims There have been anti-bellicose films since the early days of cinema. You can trace a throughline from All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), to Paths of Glory (19
Young CriticBlack Bag
A Spy Thriller Where Secrets Cut Deeper Than Betrayal Steven Soderbergh continues his prolific filmmaking schedule, delivering his second film of the year—and we’re only three months in. These two films are also vastly d
Young CriticI'm Still Here
Walter Salles' return to directing delivers a cinematic and acting achievement A dictatorship is one of the most traumatic events a country can endure. Art has long attempted to portray the horrors people suffer under su
Young CriticPresence
Steven Soderbergh's haunted house spin brings an original perspective Steven Soderbergh hasn’t been able to stay away from filmmaking, despite multiple “retirements” from the industry. Since returning with his heist film
Young CriticThe Brutalist
A new American epic showcases the dark-side of the American dream There is a common refrain when people complain about long films: “ A movie is as long as it needs to be .” While many films are unnecessarily lengthy, som
Young CriticA Complete Unknown
James Mangold delivers Bob Dylan's definitive, if sometimes overly-familiar, biopic Bob Dylan’s enigmatic nature has inspired many films attempting to capture his essence and revolutionary influence. Todd Haynes took the
Young CriticThe Room Next Door
Pedro Almodovar's first English-language film is slightly distant Pedro Almodóvar has been hinting at a jump into English-language filmmaking since the late 1980s, yet he previously admitted to feeling intimidated by the
Young CriticBabygirl
The erotic film is too timid in its plotting and creativity to grasp attention The erotic romance had its moment in the 1980s and 90s, with 9 ½ Weeks (1986), Fatal Attraction (1987), and Basic Instinct (1992). It phased
Young CriticParthenope
Paolo Sorrentino's latest continues to keep viewers at arm's length Paolo Sorrentino is a director mesmerized by beauty, be it in art, landscapes, architecture, or human beings. His Oscar-winning film The Great Beauty (2
Young CriticQueer
Luca Guadagnino's second film of the year has Daniel Craig deliver his best work Luca Guadagnino has become fascinated with romances of confused lovers. It’s been a common thread from A Bigger Splash (2015) through Call
Young CriticGladiator II
The sword-and-sandals sequel plays it safe by retelling the same story When it comes to sequels, Hollywood often seems afraid to take stories forward, opting instead for safe, pseudo-remakes. This was the case with Star
Young CriticA Real Pain
Jesse Eisenberg's sophmore film is an irresistible dramedy Actors can quickly become typecast into specific roles. Jesse Eisenberg, for example, has consistently played a neurotic, socially awkward intellectual since Th
Young CriticJuror #2
Clint Eastwood's potential final film is his strongest in a decade Clint Eastwood is 94 and yet the American filmmaker has been consistently making films. In the last decade alone, he’s produced eight movies. However, ag
Young CriticHere
Robert Zemeckis' latest wrings out more from its gimmick than you expect Aside from Robert Zemeckis’ obsession with cutting edge cinematic technology, he’s been fascinated with time and the way humans interact and reflec
Young CriticEmilia Perez
The musical takes heavy inspiration from Almodovar Jacques Audiard is a director known for his deep empathy, using it to tell stories about disparate and diverse characters—from 19th-century American cowboys in The Siste