Young CriticLa Fortuna
Alejandro Amenabar’s TV debut is a contemplation of the value of culture In treasure-hunting films, the great achievement by characters is in becoming immensely wealthy after having beaten the puzzles and tricks set befo
Reviews tagged: drama
Young Critic
Young CriticInventing Anna
Shonda Rhimes’ second contribution to her Netflix deal is a dangerous disappointment Humankind has always been one for posturing, from politicians to celebrities. However, today’s world, filled with the constant observat
Young CriticDeath on the Nile (2022)
Kenneth Branagh's latest Agatha Christie novel is once again unbalanced Kenneth Branagh is an admirable director in how easily he is able to flit between blockbusters ( Thor (2011)), mid-budget films ( Murder on the Orie
Young CriticParallel Mothers
Pedro Almodovar’s latest is his boldest to date Pedro Almodóvar’s first batch of films during the Spanish cultural movement of “La Movida” sought to be a-historical after the brutal dictatorship of Francisco Franco. His
Young CriticBeing the Ricardos
Aaron Sorkin’s Lucille Ball biopic is a smart as ever if also emotionally distant Aaron Sorkin is undoubtedly one of the wittiest and most intelligent screenwriters working in Hollywood. His characters are always envious
Young CriticThe King's Man
Matthew Vaughn’s prequel is caught in an indecisive structure Matthew Vaughn has single-handedly revamped the super-hero and spy genres when they seemed to have become entrenched in a formula. His Kick-Ass (2010) success
Young CriticNightmare Alley
Guillermo Del Toro’s follow-up to his Best Picture winner is a bold new step in the director’s filmograph Guillermo del Toro is a director like few others, that has imprinted such a unique style on his pictures that you
Young CriticLicorice Pizza
Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest is an effective work on nostalgia and unconventional structure Paul Thomas Anderson has cemented a reputation as a director who consistently delivers unique and different films. Despite only
Young CriticThe Lost Daughter
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut is an incomparable triumph While some may scoff at the idea of actors jumping into the director’s chair, seeing a mixture of nepotism and self-indulgence, performers can sometimes ma
Young CriticWest Side Story (2021)
Steven Spielberg’s remake tops the original in a risky and captivating manner I have to say, despite Steven Spielberg being behind the idea of remaking West Side Story (1961), I was reticently skeptical. Nevertheless, fo
Young CriticThe Power of the Dog
Jane Campion’s return to the big screen is a haunting western triumph Jane Campion is considered one of the pioneering female directors to break into mainstream consideration after her success with The Piano (1993). Howe
Young CriticHouse of Gucci
Ridley Scott’s latest feature is an ambitious film to a fault Some true family stories are so incredulous that they make for fascinating drama. Such is the case in the fashion world with Versace, which was immortalized i
Young CriticKing Richard
Will Smith gives a masterclass performance in an otherwise generic film Will Smith is one of the unsung treasures of modern cinema. The American actor can quite literally do anything, from television, to action, comedy,
Young CriticTick, Tick...BOOM!
Lin Manuel Miranda’s debut is a risky but very effective adaptation It’s hard to imagine a more poetic and tragic story than that of Jonathan Larson. The musical playwright had been struggling to produce his ambitious oe
Young CriticBelfast
Kenneth Branagh’s most personal film, might be his strongest “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland is a subject that has been explored cautiously in film, always with the same conclusion of the horrible ripping of society t
Young CriticMaixabel
Iciar Bollain’s latest is too restrained with its touchy subject, but largely triumphs The ETA conflict is still an incredibly touchy subject in much of Spain. After the Basque separatist terrorist group announced the en
Young CriticSpencer
Pablo Larrain’s new biopic is an unconventional and bravely effective one We seem to be coming upon a Princess Diana resurgence, with the last season of The Crown (2016-) helping inspire countless new documentaries on th
Young CriticEternals
Chloe Zhao's Nomadland follow-up is an unsatisfying jumble Chloe Zhao has had quite the rise in the film industry. In just a year she’s gone from garnering two Oscars for Nomadland (2020) to directing part of the bigges
Young CriticPassing
Rebecca Hall's directorial debut is an effective long-awaited adaptation For mainstream audiences, it might seem that black voices are finally being heard in the art world after decades of toiling pioneers. However, blac
Young CriticAntlers
Scott Cooper’s foray into horror is a brooding successful one Scott Cooper is a filmmaker that has managed to capture the reality of rural America unlike many of Hollywood’s directors. From Crazy Heart (2009), to Out of
Young CriticDune
Denis Villeneuve's ambitious adaptation is a true achievement “Dune” by Frank Herbert is an adaptation that has broken many of the best cinematic minds. In the 1970s Alejandro Jodorowsky attempted an adaptation with Mick
Young CriticThe Last Duel
Ridley Scott's epic take on a medieval Rashomon- esque tale of sexual assault is cautiously powerful Ridley Scott is one of the few working directors with a fascination of history. He has made innumerable historical epic
Young CriticTitane
Julia Ducournau's continues evolving her bold and disturbing style Creating provocative and shocking art is something that has slowly bled away from the film industry. With more blockbusters and less indies, the bold and
Young CriticThe Many Saints of Newark
The prequel to The Sopranos is a well-made if pale imitation of its inspirations Films following successful TV series seem to take an eternity to get made; so much so that they risk missing their moment of popularity. Th