Young CriticYoung Critic's Predictions for the Academy Awards Best Picture: Will Win: One Battle After Another Should Win: One Battle After Another Could Win: Sinners Best Director: Will Win: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle Aft
Young CriticA breathless con-man epic dismantling the myth of the American Dream The unmasking of “the American Dream” as one in which people have to con their way to the top is a thesis American cinema has explored before, going as
Young CriticA Transcendental Take on Shakespeare Shakespeare has been a well of material for artists and filmmakers, not just through adapting his works, but his life as well. Shakespeare in Love (1998) was fun theatre-kid fanfict
Young CriticA Bleak but Compelling Portrait of Motherhood Motherhood has been the surprising common theme for many 2025 releases, from Die My Love (2025) to Hamnet (2025), Bring Her Back (2025), The Perfect Neighbor (2025),
Young CriticA glossy tribute that mistakes affection for insight Tribute bands are affectionate nostalgia-bait for music fans, wishing to experience an older group in person. One of the most famous tribute bands known at Lightning &
Young CriticA harrowing portrait of innocence, bureaucracy, and the human cost of war The recent war in Gaza was bound to spark art attempting to grapple with the horrors and devastating loss it has caused. One of the most potent st
Young CriticYoung Critic's Predictions for the Academy Awards Best Picture: Will Win: Anora Should Win: Anora Could Win: Conclave Best Director: Will Win: Sean Baker (Anora) Should Win: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) Could Win:
Young CriticWalter 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 CriticA 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 CriticJames 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 journalism thriller is irresistibly gripping Journalistic thrillers capture the insatiable curiosity and inherent dangers of pursuing the truth. The subgenre has produced some of cinema’s greatest works, including Ac
Young CriticRobert Eggers' adaptation is the most faithful Dracula adaptation yet Despite Dracula being one of cinema’s most indelible figures, there has never been a truly definitive adaptation. Bela Lugosi’s iconic portrayal in
Young CriticThe animated film is transcendent and a must-watch An animated Latvian film with no dialogue, following a nameless cat as it survives a biblical flood, might sound like cliché cinephile catnip. Yet, Flow is a very real
Young CriticThe 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 CriticThe musical adaptation is winning, if overstuffed Broadway musicals don’t always translate seamlessly to the big screen. While there have been hits like Chicago (2002), there have also been duds such as Cats (2019) a
Young CriticJesse 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 CriticThe 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
Young CriticThe Vatican political thriller is gripping if at times melodramatic Vatican politics have long been a rich setting for drama, from Paolo Sorrentino’s The Young Pope (2016) and The New Pope (2020) to Fernando Meirelle
Young CriticThe Donald Trump origin story works as an effective tragedy Despite Donald Trump’s ubiquitous presence in media and culture since his first presidential run in 2016, he has rarely been depicted in dramatic film or televi
Young CriticChris Sanders' return to the genre brings an endearing film Despite animation being one of the most creatively fertile genres in recent decades—offering originality amid the superhero and sequel glut—it has increasingly
Young CriticThe layered body horror film delivers Demi Moore's best performance Hollywood has been commenting on how women are discarded as they age as far back as All About Eve (1950). The issue has been discussed for over 70 yea
Young CriticThe Pixar sequel retains its' predecessor's emotion and humor, if not its depth Pixar built its reputation on continuously outdoing itself with original and unique concepts. However, like much of Hollywood, the studio ev
Young CriticThe latest in this solid franchise is another worthy, transporting entry The recent Planet of the Apes films have been among the more contemplative blockbuster franchises in recent memory. What began as pure popcorn en
Young CriticYoung Critic's Predictions for the Academy Awards Best Picture: Will Win: Oppenheimer Should Win: Oppenheimer Could Win: Anatomy of a Fall Best Director: Will Win: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer) Should Win: Christo