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drama

“Departure” is most thrilling at its most procedural

Departure
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Christopher Plummer & Archie Panjabi investigate a mysterious aircraft incident in Peacock’s solid new drama.

Justin Harrison Posted on September 15, 2020September 18, 2020

“Antebellum” wastes its potential time and time again

Antebellum
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Gerard Bush & Christopher Renz’s feature debut is a misguided, crass, often silly tale that throws away its cast and premise.

Matt Cipolla Posted on September 15, 2020September 14, 2020

“The Nest” is hard to look away from and harder to argue with

The Nest
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The latest from Sean Durkin is a quiet, searing look at a family falling into disarray featuring stellar work from Carrie Coon.

Matt Cipolla Posted on September 14, 2020September 14, 2020

“Tenet” is thrilling if you can look past all the self-seriousness

Tenet
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Christopher Nolan’s latest sci-fi thriller is often something to behold, but it’s nowhere near the brilliant art it thinks it is.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on September 3, 2020September 1, 2020

“Synecdoche, New York” is an excruciating, exciting trip to nowhere

Synecdoche, New York
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Charlie Kaufman’s minimalist meditation on mortality is as hard to get through as it is oddly rewarding.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on August 31, 2020August 31, 2020

“Lingua Franca” is a heartfelt tale of love at the fringes of society

Lingua Franca
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Isabel Sandoval directs & stars in a layered story of a woman struggling to live in a hostile world.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on August 26, 2020August 25, 2020

“Fatima” is a timely story of the endless battle between science & belief

Fatima
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Marco Pontecorvo directs a thoughtful look at why we often choose faith over fact.

Dot Green Posted on August 25, 2020August 25, 2020

Fantasia 2020: “Cosmic Candy” leaves a bitter taste

Cosmic Candy
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Rinio Dragasaki’s quirky comedy-drama about an unlikely parent-child relationship means well, but relies on a tiresome trope.

Gena Radcliffe Posted on August 17, 2020August 18, 2020

“Oldboy” remains as intimate as it is brutal

Oldboy
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A half-remembered tale of revenge, Park Chan-wook’s 2003 thriller is still as steeped in extreme cinema as it is ancient tragedy.

Michael Frank Posted on August 12, 2020August 12, 2020

“Joint Security Area” is a split decision

Joint Security Area
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Rough around the edges but fascinating nonetheless, Park Chan-wook’s breakout hit remains a signal of his later work.

Tim Stevens Posted on August 8, 2020August 8, 2020

“Out Stealing Horses” is too self-conscious to be self-reflective

Out Stealing Horses
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Hans Petter Moland’s adaptation of Per Petterson’s novel is a sensual look at growing up, but it’s more inert than introspective.

Matt Cipolla Posted on August 6, 2020September 29, 2020

The “Moneyball” we got delivers a baseball movie for Ben Shapiro

Moneyball
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Bennett Miller’s adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book is an overlong, overcrowded sports biopic partially redeemed by its cast.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on August 3, 2020September 11, 2020

“The Secret: Dare to Dream” serves up a steaming pile of hokum

The Secret: Dare to Dream
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Rhonda Byrne’s bestselling “law of attraction” nonsense gets a cloying, predictable romantic spin with better performances than it deserves.

Gena Radcliffe Posted on July 30, 2020July 30, 2020

“Charlie Wilson’s War” wins some of its battles

Charlie Wilson's War
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A token of the aughts and a swan song for Mike Nichols, this 2007 drama runs on more hermetically sealed Aaron Sorkin writing to okay results.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on July 27, 2020July 27, 2020

“Phone Booth” is a tightly wound study in obsolescence

Phone Booth
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Joel Schumacher’s cracked tableau of New York City’s shifts at the turn of the millennium remains a time capsule in the guise of a neo-noir.

Tim Stevens Posted on July 22, 2020July 22, 2020

“Scent of a Woman” proves a putrid example of early ’90s Oscar bait

PSH I Love You Scent of a Woman
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1991’s Scent of a Woman remains one of the most baffling recipients of Oscar gold, a prep-school drama lifted only by an early Philip Seymour Hoffman turn.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on July 20, 2020July 14, 2020

“Dirt Music” proves a poor attempt at a love story

Dirt Music
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Tim Winton’s novel gets the film treatment in Gregor Jordan’s seventh feature, exploring an underdeveloped love triangle to frustrating results.

Dot Green Posted on July 16, 2020July 17, 2020

“A Time to Kill” is a misguided page-turner of a movie

A Time to Kill
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Joel Schumacher’s second John Grisham adaptation is a myopic look at race and the criminal justice system in the American South.

Beau North Posted on July 15, 2020July 14, 2020

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