Alejandra Martinez

Alejandra Martinez

Alejandra Martinez is an award-winning writer, film critic, and archivist based in Austin, TX. She is a member of the Austin Film Critics Association. Her writing has been published in multiple outlets including The Austin Chronicle, The Wrap, RogerEbert.com, and Letterboxd Journal.
‘Predators’ Review: Engrossing Examination at How the Rise of True Crime Shows Revealed its Complicity [A] – Sundance Film Festival‘Predators’ Review: Engrossing Examination at How the Rise of True Crime Shows Revealed its Complicity [A] – Sundance Film Festival

‘Predators’ Review: Engrossing Examination at How the Rise of True Crime Shows Revealed its Complicity [A] – Sundance Film Festival

If the phrase, “Hello, I’m Chris Hansen,” means anything to you, you are probably familiar with its source: To Catch… Read More

February 1, 2025
‘The Dating Game’ Review: Violet Du Feng’s Relationship Doc Struggles with the Balance of Political and Personal [C] – Sundance Film Festival‘The Dating Game’ Review: Violet Du Feng’s Relationship Doc Struggles with the Balance of Political and Personal [C] – Sundance Film Festival

‘The Dating Game’ Review: Violet Du Feng’s Relationship Doc Struggles with the Balance of Political and Personal [C] – Sundance Film Festival

In The Dating Game, the latest documentary from Violet Du Feng (Hidden Letters, Nanking) the complications of modern-day romance are… Read More

February 1, 2025
‘Brides’ Review: Innocence is Lost as Two Girls Fall Prey to Extremism in Nadia Hall’s Empathetic Story [B] – Sundance Film Festival‘Brides’ Review: Innocence is Lost as Two Girls Fall Prey to Extremism in Nadia Hall’s Empathetic Story [B] – Sundance Film Festival

‘Brides’ Review: Innocence is Lost as Two Girls Fall Prey to Extremism in Nadia Hall’s Empathetic Story [B] – Sundance Film Festival

When you don’t feel accepted or understood at home or in the world outside of it, where can you go?… Read More

January 31, 2025
‘Train Dreams’ Review: Joel Edgerton Stars in a Moving Examination of Life’s Fleeting, Stunning Nature [A] – Sundance Film Festival‘Train Dreams’ Review: Joel Edgerton Stars in a Moving Examination of Life’s Fleeting, Stunning Nature [A] – Sundance Film Festival

‘Train Dreams’ Review: Joel Edgerton Stars in a Moving Examination of Life’s Fleeting, Stunning Nature [A] – Sundance Film Festival

Days spent in the lush green forests of the Pacific Northwest, a child’s giggles bubbling up by a stream, a… Read More

January 30, 2025
‘Atropia’ Review: Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner Charm in Absurdist Tale of Love in the Time of the Iraq War [B] – Sundance Film Festival‘Atropia’ Review: Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner Charm in Absurdist Tale of Love in the Time of the Iraq War [B] – Sundance Film Festival

‘Atropia’ Review: Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner Charm in Absurdist Tale of Love in the Time of the Iraq War [B] – Sundance Film Festival

Atropia exists somewhere between reality and fiction, between earnest emotion and absurdity. This title is also the name of the… Read More

January 30, 2025
‘Elton John: Never Too Late’ Review: The Award-Winning Musician Sings a Final Farewell to His Fans and For Himself | TIFF‘Elton John: Never Too Late’ Review: The Award-Winning Musician Sings a Final Farewell to His Fans and For Himself | TIFF

‘Elton John: Never Too Late’ Review: The Award-Winning Musician Sings a Final Farewell to His Fans and For Himself | TIFF

There are only so many ways to capture an icon on film. In Elton John’s case, there are now two.… Read More

September 16, 2024
‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ Review: Rungano Nyoni Blends Fantasy and Reality in Daring Story of Generational Trauma and Relief | TIFF‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ Review: Rungano Nyoni Blends Fantasy and Reality in Daring Story of Generational Trauma and Relief | TIFF

‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl’ Review: Rungano Nyoni Blends Fantasy and Reality in Daring Story of Generational Trauma and Relief | TIFF

A car passes along a dark road at night, then stops when a body appears. The driver, dressed like Missy… Read More

September 16, 2024
‘The Life of Chuck’ Review: Mike Flanagan’s Offbeat Stephen King-Based Tom Hiddleston Drama Mostly Hits the Mark | TIFF‘The Life of Chuck’ Review: Mike Flanagan’s Offbeat Stephen King-Based Tom Hiddleston Drama Mostly Hits the Mark | TIFF

‘The Life of Chuck’ Review: Mike Flanagan’s Offbeat Stephen King-Based Tom Hiddleston Drama Mostly Hits the Mark | TIFF

“Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)” So goes Walt Whitman’s… Read More

September 12, 2024
‘The Substance’ Review: Coralie Fargeat Feeds Us Moore Gore in Blood-Soaked Rumination on Female Body Image | TIFF‘The Substance’ Review: Coralie Fargeat Feeds Us Moore Gore in Blood-Soaked Rumination on Female Body Image | TIFF

‘The Substance’ Review: Coralie Fargeat Feeds Us Moore Gore in Blood-Soaked Rumination on Female Body Image | TIFF

Women know body horror all too well. Before we can even really grasp what they mean, the standards embedded in… Read More

September 9, 2024
‘The Last Showgirl’ Review: Gia Coppola Gives Pamela Anderson the Role of a Lifetime in a Performance of Tenderness and Grace | TIFF‘The Last Showgirl’ Review: Gia Coppola Gives Pamela Anderson the Role of a Lifetime in a Performance of Tenderness and Grace | TIFF

‘The Last Showgirl’ Review: Gia Coppola Gives Pamela Anderson the Role of a Lifetime in a Performance of Tenderness and Grace | TIFF

There is a scene towards the latter half of Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl that encapsulates the lonely, tender heart… Read More

September 8, 2024