Reviews (Page 123) | The Spool

Reviews (Page 123)

Sundance 2020: “Promising Young Woman” Finds Catharsis

Sundance 2020: “Promising Young Woman” Finds Catharsis

Emerald Fennell's feature debut may be flawed, but it's an empathetic portrayal of rage, anguish, and black comedy.

“Fugitive of Judoon” Reminds Fans of Why They Love Doctor Who

“Fugitive of Judoon” Reminds Fans of Why They Love Doctor Who

Fully recovered from the misstep of "Orphan 55," the latest episode is well-paced & full of surprises.

“The Outsider” Recap: “Que Viene El Coco”

“The Outsider” Recap: “Que Viene El Coco”

Holly picks up one thread after another, & begins to get a full, chilling picture of what the team might be up against.

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Sundance 2020: “The Mountains Are a Dream That Call to Me”

Sundance 2020: “The Mountains Are a Dream That Call to Me”

Cedric Cheung-Lau's super slow burn overdoes itself at points, but it finds its beauty—and then finds it again.

Sundance 2020: “Whirlybird” Probes LA From Above

Sundance 2020: “Whirlybird” Probes LA From Above

Matt Yoka's documentary snaps a picture of a city -- and a family -- in transition.

Sundance 2020: “Possessor” Is a Grab Bag of Sci-Fi Clichés

Sundance 2020: “Possessor” Is a Grab Bag of Sci-Fi Clichés

Brandon Cronenberg's second feature is a po-faced collection of genre tropes that wastes its cast and a modest sense of style.

Sundance 2020: “Spree” Goes for the Kill But Lacks the Edge

Sundance 2020: “Spree” Goes for the Kill But Lacks the Edge

Eugene Kotlyarenko's satire about a rideshare driver who murders for online fame lacks the bite or nuance its premise deserves.

Sundance 2020: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” Beautifully Explores the Female Gaze

Sundance 2020: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” Beautifully Explores the Female Gaze

Eliza Hittman's tender tale of a teenage girl seeking an abortion is about far more than its description would suggest.

Sundance 2020: “Jumbo” Kisses a Tilt-A-Whirl and Likes It

Sundance 2020: “Jumbo” Kisses a Tilt-A-Whirl and Likes It

Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Noémie Merlant gets sweet on a theme park ride in this charming, if conventionally quirky dramedy.

Star Trek: Picard and a “Remembrance” for its Best Performer

Star Trek: Picard and a “Remembrance” for its Best Performer

Despite solid performances all around, the episode struggles with tone, plotting & what kind of show it wants to be.

Sundance 2020: “Zola” Is Raunchy, Riotous, and Challenging

Sundance 2020: “Zola” Is Raunchy, Riotous, and Challenging

Janicza Bravo's retelling of the 2015 viral Twitter thread boasts great performances and surprisingly solid filmmaking, even if it ends on a shrug.

Sundance 2020: “Ema” Is a Hallucinatory, Familial Fever Dream

Sundance 2020: “Ema” Is a Hallucinatory, Familial Fever Dream

Pablo Larraín's neon-caked tale of a tattered family is ambitious if uneven eye candy that's bound to get audiences talking.

Sundance 2020: “Luxor” Gets Lost In Translation

Sundance 2020: “Luxor” Gets Lost In Translation

A solid first half and great work from Andrea Riseborough aren't quite enough to make up for Zeina Durra's Egyptian indie.

Sundance 2020: “The Painter and the Thief” Finds Activity in Passivity

Sundance 2020: “The Painter and the Thief” Finds Activity in Passivity

Benjamin Ree documents the budding, murky friendship between a painter and the man who stole her painting.

Make Room for “Shrill” Season 2, or Get Out of the Way

Make Room for “Shrill” Season 2, or Get Out of the Way

Annie makes amends & demands a place in the world in a quietly powerful sophomore season of the Hulu comedy-drama.

Sundance 2020: “Summertime” Is Hot Mess Worth Cherishing

Sundance 2020: “Summertime” Is Hot Mess Worth Cherishing

Sandwiched between a rough start and too tidy of an ending, Carlos López Estrada's latest finds love in its large ensemble.

“Star Trek: Picard” Goes Fine, But Not Boldly

“Star Trek: Picard” Goes Fine, But Not Boldly

Patrick Stewart returns to his iconic role in a new Star Trek series in desperate need of a shakedown cruise.

The Disappearance of My Mother Review: Sight Unseen Son Onscreen

The Disappearance of My Mother Review: Sight Unseen Son Onscreen

Beniamino Barrese's new doc is an intriguing dichotomy that lacks enough self-awareness and comprehension of its themes.

Color Out of Space: Home on Deranged

Color Out of Space: Home on Deranged

Richard Stanley makes his feature directing return with a can’t-miss combination of Nicolas Cage and H.P. Lovecraft.

From Wilted to Wistful in “Broken Flowers”

From Wilted to Wistful in “Broken Flowers”

Part deadpan comedy, part drama, and part neo-noir, Jim Jarmusch's 2005 indie remains one of his most textured—and one of his most approachable.

Troop Zero Review: Lite-le Miss Sunshine

Troop Zero Review: Lite-le Miss Sunshine

Amazon Prime's girl scout comedy wastes its cast and period setting to make for an involving, generically cute indie.

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