Reviews (Page 41) | The Spool

Reviews (Page 41)

10 films sure to spook us at Fantasia 2022

A few films to thrill the blood and stir the loins at Montreal's premiere genre film festival.

Both Sides of the Blade is dull no matter how you slice it

By: Marshall Estes

Despite its stellar cast, Claire Denis’ latest romantic drama fails to engage with its audience. NOW STREAMING: Powered by JustWatch Despite society’s conviction that love is everlasting, a relationship is, in fact, a fragile thing. With a single act, you can sever a bond that takes years to create. As such, the tenuous nature of ... Both Sides of the Blade is dull no matter how you slice it

HBO docuseries The Anarchists underdelivers

By: Michael Frank

HBO's docuseries suffers from rehashing too much information viewers already know.

Unraveling pop-culture one thread at a time

The Spool is an irreverent, informative source for film and television coverage, focused on diverse, thoughtful opinions that seek out a greater understanding of the media we love.

What We Do in the Shadows Season 4 is a balm for the soul in these troubled times

By: Gena Radcliffe

While not quite as much of a non-stop joke machine as past seasons, it’s more than made up for by the genuine warmth that develops between the four roommates (and Gizmo).

Strange New Worlds remakes The Original Series with a twist in its rousing season finale

Reimagining the Enterprise’s first encounter with the Romulans leads to meaningful moments for Pike, Kirk, and Spock.

Thor: Love and Thunder commits too hard to the joke

By: Clint Worthington

Taika Waititi buys too much into his own hype with his followup to Thor: Ragnarok, a scattered farce that grows tiring faster than a bolt of lightning.

The Sea Beast sets out for sea with an entertaining action-oriented tone in its sails

The Sea Beast, which channels Treasure Planet more than The Secret Life of Pets, is swashbuckling fun for kids and adults.

Criterion Corner: Shaft remains a bad mutha, on a great 4K upgrade

The first Black superhero in cinema history gets a groovy 4K release, packed with extras (and the film's sequel).

Apples sees Christos Nikous harvest the seeds of identity to appealing results

By: B.L. Panther

Apples' memory-destroying pandemic proves a juicy, multilayered vehicle for its musings.

Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 flouts traditional running times to largely emotionally satisfying results

By: Tim Stevens

The 80's nostalgia trip wrangles the messy, fractured season into a conclusion that somehow largely works.

The Princess doles out pure popcorn punches

By: Nguyên Lê

Joey King stars as fantasy-adventure royalty so fun in combat she rises above the hyper-simplicities of her fight.

The beauty of the Fire of Love

Sara Dosa’s documentary about two volcanologists in love will have you falling in love with her film. NOW STREAMING: Powered by JustWatch v Katia Conrad and Maurice Krafft grew up in Alsace, France and fell in love at nearly the exact same time, twice over. First, they fell in love with volcanoes, and then they ... The beauty of the Fire of Love

Black Bird flies over predictable ground, occasionally soars

By: Tim Stevens

AppleTV+'s newest drama puts strong acting and writing towards another story of young women victims and the people who fight for them.

Strange New Worlds marries healing catharsis and abject terror

By: Andrew Bloom

Another Gorn attack comes with both claustrophobic horror and a stirring sacrifice.

Only Murders in the Building finds fresh blood in Season 2

By: Michael Frank

Hulu's hit mystery series expands its scope in its second season and hits a darker pattern to its true-crime pastiche.

Strawberry Mansion is a gorgeous, surreal, thoughtful dreamscape

By: B.L. Panther

With Strawberry Mansion, directors Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney take a dreamy journey into the fantastic—one that now boasts wonderful blu-ray presentation.

Tribeca 2022: Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz riff on their star personas in Official Competition

By: Peter Sobczynski

Mariano Cohn and Gaston Duprat’s charming takedown of the movie industry features giddy turns from two of the world’s greatest stars. (This review is part of our coverage of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.) NOW STREAMING: Powered by JustWatch As comic premises go, the notion of portraying people in the movie industry as pretentious vain, ... Tribeca 2022: Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz riff on their star personas in Official Competition

Tribeca 2022: Rudy! A Documusical can’t find a key for its odious subject

By: Peter Sobczynski

Jed Rothstein's mostly-conventional musical doc tries to lampoon the disgraced Trump lackey, but can't do either particularly well.

Tribeca 2022: Lynch/Oz takes the Yellow Brick Road to the Black Lodge

By: Peter Sobczynski

Alexandre O. Phillippe's latest essay film shows the links between the Hollywood classic and Hollywood's greatest weirdo.

KinoKultur: Out of Sight, The UFO Incident, Savage Sisters, Stunt Rock

By: B.L. Panther

From Soderbergh's steamy thriller to Australian stunt mockumentaries, Kino Lorber's recent offerings help you beat the heat.

Tribeca 2022: An Act of Worship is a striking look at life spent among intolerance

Nausheen Dadabhoy explores a wide array of Muslim-American experiences in this overstuffed, but impactful documentary.

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