United States

THE PACKAGE: Doesn't Quite Fulfil The Promise Of Its Premise
THE PACKAGE: Doesn’t Quite Fulfil The Promise Of Its Premise

The Package suffers from being a little too conventional for its own good – a generic teen rom-com with a dissected dick slapped on top.

TUCKED: A Slice Of Life Smeared With Glitter, Laughter & Tears

It might focus on a man with cancer, but Tucked remains resolutely upbeat in its belief that true happiness can only be found when we are true to ourselves.

RONNIE COLEMAN: THE KING: Bodybuilder Biopic Has Weight

Seeing a successful bodybuilder physically breaking apart toes the line towards Ronnie Coleman: the King being a cautionary tale, but it’s ultimately saved by the view of his private life.

JULIET, NAKED: A Luke Warm But Serviceable Romantic Dramedy
JULIET, NAKED: A Lukewarm But Serviceable Romantic Dramedy

There’s plenty about Juliet, Naked that isn’t ideal, but it is cozy and predominantly feel-good.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL: Heart Is In The Right Place
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL: Heart In The Right Place

Hope Springs Eternal deals with depressing subject matter – but does so with a sweetness that’s touching and entertaining.

LIKE FATHER: Surprisingly Effective Father-Daughter Journey
LIKE FATHER: Surprisingly Effective Father-Daughter Journey

Like Father is not a radical or subversive family comedy, but the cast has good chemistry and the big, tear-jerking moments make an impact.

PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH: Gory Slasher Comedy Is An Instant Cult Classic
PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH: Gory Slasher Comedy Is An Instant Cult Classic

For all of its merciless violence, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is a clever exercise in genre thrills and impossibly twisted humor.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS: Is the World Ready?
CRAZY RICH ASIANS: Is the World Ready?

Frank H. Wu reviews and examines Crazy Rich Asians: It already is a phenomenon. May it inspire much more.

CHAPPAQUIDDICK: Thoughtful Character Study Of The Overshadowed Kennedy Tragedy
CHAPPAQUIDDICK: Thoughtful Character Study Of The Overshadowed Kennedy Tragedy

To watch Chappaquiddick and then ponder the life of Ted Kennedy in such a manner undoubtedly must lead to introspection.

WHITNEY: Portrait Of Popstar Is Vivid, Shocking & Essential
WHITNEY: Portrait Of Popstar Is Vivid, Shocking & Essential

Whitney’s monumental accomplishments as a recording artist and harrowing personal problems are sensitively detailed in Kevin Macdonald’s terrific biography.

SNAPSHOTS: Love, Loss and Longing Across Three Generations
SNAPSHOTS: Love, Loss and Longing Across Three Generations

While Snapshots is far from a perfect film, it made with such an admirable degree of earnestness, with so much feeling, that it is easy to overlook the flaws.

TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE: An Endearing Lana Condor & The Evolution Of The YA Genre
TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE: The Evolution Of The YA Genre

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a testament to how far young adult films have come, resisting stereotypes and cliches despite seeming to fall into a gimmicky premise.

Bluestocking Film Series 2018: A Wonderful, Women-Centric Collection
Bluestocking Film Series 2018: A Wonderful, Women-Centric Collection

Bluestocking Film Series is a 2-day event held in Portland, Maine, showing shorts with strong female protagonists. Here’s our take on the films this year.

THE MEG: A Hefty Splash Of Summer Fun With Jason Statham

The Meg is not a masterpiece, but it is a perfect Jason Statham vehicle: packed with action and still a ton of fun.

CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS: Not Quite Out Of This World

By bouncing back and forth between too many stories, Calling All Earthlings, while intriguing, doesn’t provide the complete picture of any of them.