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EVIL GENIUS: THE TRUE STORY OF AMERICA’S MOST DIABOLICAL BANK HEIST: Strangely Gripping
EVIL GENIUS: THE TRUE STORY OF AMERICA’S MOST DIABOLICAL BANK HEIST: Strangely Gripping

It isn’t the glossiest documentary, and there isn’t a significant style or a comfortable flow, but what Evil Genius lacks in pizzazz in makes up for in persistence and unearthing.

ADRIFT: Not Quite Lost, Not Quite Found
ADRIFT: Not Quite Lost, Not Quite Found

With a divide between masterful filmmaking and a hard to buy love story, audiences will find Adrift enjoyable, but with a disposable romance.

BOOK CLUB: Gather The Ladies, There's (Some) Fun To Be Had
BOOK CLUB: Gather The Ladies, There’s (Some) Fun To Be Had

Uniting four legends of the screen for a shot of summer silver screen cinema, Book Club is every bit as formulaic, disposable and harmless as you would expect.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY: A Solid If Underwhelming Star Wars Entry
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY: A Solid If Underwhelming Star Wars Entry

Too heavy in its fan service at times, Solo: A Star Wars Story is not a terrible Star Wars entry, with enough fun moments to please.

THE TALE: Harrowing & Necessary Study Of Abuse
THE TALE: Harrowing & Necessary Study Of Abuse

Many audiences will likely shy away from the graphic depiction of abuse within director Jennifer Fox’s autobiographical film The Tale, but the film’s frankness is often its greatest asset.

HEREDITARY: A Confident, but Overhyped, Directorial Debut
HEREDITARY: A Confident, Provocative Debut That Offers Nothing Below The Surface

Just like his earlier short, Hereditary feels like nothing more than a provocation, updating the parental anxieties of Rosemary’s Baby for the modern era — and adding no substantial allegory that makes it feel any deeper than this.

IRREPLACEABLE YOU: A Forgettable Moment of Catharsis
IRREPLACEABLE YOU: A Forgettable Moment Of Catharsis

While cathartic in the emotional expression of the finality of death, Irreplaceable You fails to be memorable, forgotten long after the credits have rolled.

SFIFF Review: A KID LIKE JAKE: Parsons & Danes Impress In This Family Drama
SFIFF Review: A KID LIKE JAKE: Parsons & Danes Impress In This Family Drama

A Kid Like Jake succeeds on behalf of Howard’s confident direction, Pearle’s sharp-witted and empathetic script, and two outstanding performances from Danes and Parsons.

THE JURASSIC GAMES: Less Than The Sum Of Its Many, Many Parts
THE JURASSIC GAMES: Less Than The Sum Of Its Many, Many Parts

Despite its absurd concept lending itself to occasional entertaining satire, The Jurassic Games suffers from poor visuals, bland cinematography, and poorly developed stereotypical characters.

IBIZA: A Lighthearted Girls Trip To Spain
IBIZA: A Lighthearted Girls Trip To Spain

If you’re stuck at home and need something to watch, maybe Ibiza might be for you if you want to escape reality for a little while.

LOVE ALWAYS, MOM: A Hopeful Documentary Full of Life
LOVE ALWAYS, MOM: A Hopeful Documentary Full Of Life

While Love Always, Mom waves a large price tag in the eyes of its viewers, it is an engrossing film that shows a hope in the depths of darkness while displaying the benefits of sheer determination and will.

FAHRENHEIT 451: Smolders But Doesn't Ignite
FAHRENHEIT 451: Smolders But Doesn’t Ignite

With the inclusion of a MacGuffin and the eventual predictable narrative that follows, Fahrenheit 451 misses out on a golden opportunity to connect with a modern audience.

I FEEL PRETTY: Ambitious, But Never Quite Comes Together
I FEEL PRETTY: Ambitious, But Never Quite Comes Together

Although the widespread negative reaction to I Feel Pretty is slightly unfair, the film still feels mechanically engineered to do nothing more substantial than pass the time.

COLD NOVEMBER: Heartwarming Female-Centric Coming-Of-Age
COLD NOVEMBER: Heartwarming Female-Centric Coming-Of-Age

It doesn’t always manages to keep your attention, but when Jacob’s inspired cinematography and the cast’s strong acting appear on screen, Cold November demands your attention and it surely gets it.

Crime + Punishment: Urgent Empathy and Action through Narrative
CRIME + PUNISHMENT: Urgent Empathy & Action Through Narrative

Stephen Maing’s documentary deals with corruption and institutional racism in the NYPD – and recognises the police officers who are fighting a court case to help stamp this out once and for all.