3.5
EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE Review
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is a mouthful of a title for a surprisingly vacuous biopic that never gives decent grounds for its existence.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
3.5
4
MARY MAGDALENE Review
Wanting to redefine a biblical figure with a centralizing spotlight, Mary Magdalene stumbles irrevocably into formulaic and superficial territory.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
8.5
MISSING LINK Review
Missing Link brings the expected technical proficiency and heartwarming storytelling that Laika built its reputation on but with an added sense of classical adventure for good measure.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
3
THE DIRT Review
Jeff Tremaine’s Mötley Crüe biopic demonstrates that certain films deserve to stay in development hell until they burn out and fade away for good.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
7
SXSW 2019: WELL GROOMED Review
While the community it focuses on takes niche to its most extreme lengths, Well Groomed is a refreshingly even-handed journey through the beyond-strange world of creative dog grooming.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
7.5
CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS Review
Cradle of Champions offers an intimate yet unfocused look into the New York Golden Gloves competition that underlines the tradition and spectacle of the event
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
6.5
PROSECUTING EVIL: THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF BEN FERENCZ Review
Prosecuting Evil proves to be an engrossing, if shallow, portrait of one the most significant figures in international criminal law.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2019: DOCUMENTARY Review
The nominees this time around confront enduring stigmas, draw parallels to our political climate from history, surmise personal and global crises, and collectively challenge their audiences’ worldview.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2019: ANIMATION Review
Their brevity aside, the assembled nominees for this year’s Academy Awards demonstrate the benefits of working with condensed production cycles based on the timeliness of their selected subjects.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
THE OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2019: LIVE ACTION Review
This year’s live-action shorts make a case that they have something to say even if the Oscar telecast doesn’t want to give them the time.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
5
WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN Review
Who Killed Cock Robin is an overwrought mystery on a threadbare premise that can’t find a way to string along its audience.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
8
THE IMAGE BOOK Review
Jean-luc Godard’s The Image Book continues his late-career trip through evocative and enigmatic video essays with a horrific search for truth in cinema.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
6
ALL THESE SMALL MOMENTS Review
A strong cast and unique approach can’t outweigh the safe predictability of Melissa Miller Costanzo’s coming-of-age drama, All these Small Moments.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
4
JOBE’Z WORLD Review
Somewhat functioning as a journey film and sightseeing tour where the script constantly hops between some of the most “groovy” weirdos New York’s outsider culture can offer up, we bear witness to their inane (possibly improvised) rantings without the film deciding if they are objects of mockery, endearment, fascination or otherwise.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
Chris’ Top 20 Films of 2018
Continuing our year-end list extravaganza is Chris Luciantonio‘s top 20 films of 2018.
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
4
BIRD BOX Review
Release Date: December 21, 2018 (Netflix)
Director: Susanne Bier
MPAA Rating: R
Run Time: 124 minutes
Although this particular review will fail it, I call on all future reviewers to attempt the “Bird Box Challenge” when breaking down the
Posted by: Chris Luciantonio
