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Frank J. Avella

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Frank J. Avella is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and film journalist. His plays include FROCI and VATICAN FALLS, screenplays include LURED and CONSENT. Short film: FIG JAM. He is a staff writer for The Contending and a contributor for Edge Media Network. Frank is a member of the New York Film Critics Online and the East Coast Rep for GALECA - The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics. He's a proud queer Italian-American.

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
Hanna K. (1983) B- EDIT “Watching the film again all these decades later, I was surprised by the many things that work, including Clayburgh’s fully invested performance and themes that would definitely play better today than back in the early ‘80s.” – The Contending Jan 19, 2026 Full Review Dogtooth (2009) 94% B+ EDIT “Yet, as absurdist, enigmatic and dark as Dogtooth gets, it’s mild in comparison to his recent work. But it still provides quite the palpably biting sting.” – The Contending Jan 19, 2026 Full Review Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) 87% B EDIT “...groundbreaking in a number of ways and...still provides great drama and some fabulous camp, even if William Hurt’s flamboyant, Oscar-winning turn hasn’t necessarily aged well. I was, however, entranced by Raul Julia--completely overlooked by AMPAS. ” – The Contending Jan 19, 2026 Full Review Birth (2004) 42% B+ EDIT “With Birth, Kidman, Glazer, and his co-writers, Jean-Claude Carrière and Milo Addica take big risks that mostly pay off, although the sheer nervy nature of the film may have scared both audiences and critics in 2004 as it received mixed reviews.” – The Contending Jan 19, 2026 Full Review Sinners (2025) 97% A EDIT “Ryan Coogler’s truly terrifying yet exhilaratingly entertaining thriller, Sinners, is one of the most original and fascinating films of 2025. ” – The Contending Dec 29, 2025 Full Review Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) 92% A EDIT “The ensemble is fabulous beginning with Josh O’Connor, who does some of his best work... Also standing out in a cast of stand-outs, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Andrew Scott, Thomas Haden Church and, yes, Glenn Close (her hammy style works well here). ” – The Contending Dec 29, 2025 Full Review Hamnet (2025) 86% A EDIT “A second viewing of Chloé Zhao’s devastating yet sublime film, Hamnet, dug deeper into my gut. The first time around I was appreciating the film and then, blown away by the finale. On watch number two, I savored the mysticism... ” – The Contending Dec 29, 2025 Full Review Marty Supreme (2025) 93% A EDIT “When I first saw Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme I tweeted that it was "an instant cinematic classic."...I stand by that assessment because it’s truly inspiring filmmaking...” – The Contending Dec 29, 2025 Full Review A Sad and Beautiful World (2025) B EDIT “The film soars because of the wonderful performances of its two leads, specifically Akl, who imbues Yasmina with great nuance. The direction is assured and the script, by Aris and Bane Fakih, is smart, funny and properly bittersweet.” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review Father (2025) B+ EDIT “This searing emotionally-compelling drama, inspired by real events, shows how one tragic mistake can instantly shatter the lives of those involved, but Nvotová delves deeper into notions of blame and judgment as well as responsibility.” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review Heart of the Man (2025) B- EDIT “The gorgeous and gifted Australian actor Parker Little is the reason to see David Cook’s Heart of the Man, a queer-positive movie that can’t decide what it wants to be and is riddled with cliché dialogue. ” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review Fine Young Men (2024) B- EDIT “And just when you think you’re watching a film about two teens navigating the inherent homophobia in a repressed Catholic surrounding, the narrative completely shifts focus—it’s a twist you don’t necessarily see coming.” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review No Dogs Allowed A EDIT “German director Steve Bache’s feature debut, No Dogs Allowed, is a bold, ambitious and disturbing film that takes on difficult subject matter and proceeds to explore taboo themes in the most impressive, non-exploitative manner.” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) 69% B EDIT “Bergman and Cooper have great chemistry and Paxinou seizes the screen, stealing all her moments...” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review Dead of Night (1945) 96% B+ EDIT “...the most chilling involving a ventriloquist (Michael Redgrave) and his being driven mad by his dummy. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what terrible fate was awaiting these folks—a testament to the solid storytelling.” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review Howards End (1992) 94% A EDIT “The film is quite pointed in its indictment of upper-class privilege while also examining characters that stay true to their integrity and idealism in a society that is constantly attempting to erode such things.” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review The Front Page (1931) 88% B+ EDIT “Both Menjou as Walter Burns and Pat O’Brien as Hildy Johnson do spectacular work and Mae Clarke, who got grapefruited by James Cagney in The Public Enemy, superbly attacks all her moments as the much-maligned Molly Malloy. ” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review His Girl Friday (1940) 99% A EDIT “There’s a moment where (Rosalind) Russell’s Hildy is standing in the doorway of the press room, trying to decide whether to stay or go...What she does with no words and just a few facial expressions and body movements is nothing short of miraculous. ” – The Contending Dec 23, 2025 Full Review King and Country (1964) 90% B+ EDIT “King and Country ... tends to lean a bit on the filmed-play side, but the superb acting and keen direction make it a must for film lovers.” – The Contending Dec 5, 2025 Full Review Altered States (1980) 86% A- EDIT “...while the final cut of Altered States might not have been to Chayefsky’s liking, it’s certainly a fascinating and transfixing cinematic achievement.” – The Contending Dec 5, 2025 Full Review Scoop (2006) 42% B EDIT “Scoop is a moderately amusing Woody Allen comedy with a terrific cast of actors whose winning performances greatly enhance the film.” – The Contending Dec 5, 2025 Full Review Él (1953) 100% A- EDIT “Buñuel’s melodramatic romance-turned-terrifying thriller is also peppered with wonderful surreal touches as he dives into societal and religious hypocrisy and take the Catholic Church to task for forever promoting fear and shame.” – The Contending Dec 5, 2025 Full Review A Second Life (2025) B+ EDIT “Rouselle is transfixing here as she was in Julia Ducournau's "Titane," and Lawther impresses as well. ” – Edge Media Network Nov 28, 2025 Full Review We Shall Not Be Moved (2024) B+ EDIT “Pierre Saint-Martin’s first feature, We Shall Not Be Moved, mixes black comedy with searing drama centering on an elderly woman’s quest for retribution...Saint-Martin’s gem builds to a fascinating climax. ” – The Contending Nov 28, 2025 Full Review Strange River (2025) B+ EDIT “A gorgeous cinematic poem, Jaume Claret Muxart’s haunting, lovely coming-of-age film Strange River...Monter is beguiling to watch as is Wenz, and together, they have the kind of gorgeous faces that inspire artists to create, and gay men to swoon.” – The Contending Nov 28, 2025 Full Review
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