AwardsWatch - Film Reviews

Film Review: Riz Ahmed stuns again in ‘Mogul Mowgli,’ Bassam Tariq’s powerful exploration of cultural identity

Reyzando Nawara October 29, 2020

Riz Ahmed is on a roll this year. Following his titanic, career-best performance as a drummer on a journey of accepting his loss of hearing... Read More

NEWFEST Reviews: ‘Cowboys,’ ‘Rūrangi,’ ‘The Strong Ones,’ and ‘Tahara’

Sara Clements October 28, 2020

In her second dispatch of NewFest, Sara Clements reviews Cowboys, Rūrangi, The Strong Ones and Tahara. Don’t miss her first round of reviews of Dating... Read More

Film Review: ‘March For Dignity’ doc powerfully explores the bravery of Tbilisi Pride

Emily Maskell October 28, 2020

In James Eames’ pertinent documentary, the rumbles of a revolution begin to reverberate. It begins in the subdued streets of Tbilisi, where a quiet game... Read More

NEWFEST Reviews: ‘Dating Amber,’ ‘Forgotten Roads,’ ‘ Monsoon,’ ‘ Two of Us,’ and ‘Uncle Frank’

Sara Clements October 22, 2020

David Freyne’s Dating Amber takes gays back to high school. A charming comedy of a relatable experience where sex is on everyone’s mind and where... Read More

Film Review: ‘Borat 2’ is some good, some no, but more why is here

Dewey Singleton October 21, 2020

One of the biggest pitfalls that some critics run into is separating their personal feelings about a particular release. Often critics will walk into a... Read More

AFI FEST Review: The brilliant ‘Belushi’ captures a complicated artist by those who knew him best

Catherine Springer October 18, 2020

One of the biggest problems with fame, I would imagine, is the sense that, because everyone knows who you are, they think they know you.... Read More

AFI FEST Review: ‘Sound of Metal’ is thunderous

Catherine Springer October 18, 2020

Writer/director Darius Marder’s new film, The Sound of Metal, explores, quite beautifully and somewhat elegiacally, how losing all control of your life can be the... Read More

AFI FEST Review: ‘Whirlybird’ is a fascinating chronicle of the birth of breaking news

Catherine Springer October 17, 2020

I live in Los Angeles, and I can tell you two things are ubiquitous: helicopters and an insatiable appetite for live news. If you don’t... Read More

AFI FEST Review: ‘I’m Your Woman’ flips the script on your dad’s mob drama

Catherine Springer October 16, 2020

Hollywood, despite its recent struggles, still remains at the forefront of the movement to push through more opportunities for women and minorities. With that push... Read More

Film Review: Even with a unique twist on the classic body swap premise, ‘Freaky’ fails to outrun its clunky and dated shortcomings

Daniel Trainor October 13, 2020

The body swap genre has been through the modern-day movie meat grinder. There have been highs (Lindsay and Jamie Lee!), there have been lows (Rob... Read More

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