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Send Help
(2026)
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Megan McLachlan
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For as over-the-top and high-concept as Send Help is, bubbling under the surface is a whip-smart two-hander from screenwriters Mark Swift and Damian Shannon that feels fresh and compelling without ever teetering into "girl boss" territory.
Posted Jan 26, 2026
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B-
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Hanna K.
(1983)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Jan 19, 2026
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B+
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Dogtooth
(2009)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Jan 19, 2026
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B
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Kiss of the Spider Woman
(1985)
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Frank J. Avella
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...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.
Posted Jan 19, 2026
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B+
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Birth
(2004)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Jan 19, 2026
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A
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Sinners
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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Ryan Coogler’s truly terrifying yet exhilaratingly entertaining thriller, Sinners, is one of the most original and fascinating films of 2025.
Posted Dec 29, 2025
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A
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Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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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).
Posted Dec 29, 2025
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A
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Hamnet
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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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...
Posted Dec 29, 2025
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A
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Marty Supreme
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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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...
Posted Dec 29, 2025
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B
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A Sad and Beautiful World
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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B+
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Father
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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B-
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Heart of the Man
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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B-
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Fine Young Men
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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A
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No Dogs Allowed
(undefined)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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B
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For Whom the Bell Tolls
(1943)
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Frank J. Avella
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Bergman and Cooper have great chemistry and Paxinou seizes the screen, stealing all her moments...
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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B+
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Dead of Night
(1945)
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Frank J. Avella
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...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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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A
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Howards End
(1992)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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B+
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The Front Page
(1931)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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A
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His Girl Friday
(1940)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 23, 2025
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B+
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King and Country
(1964)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 05, 2025
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A-
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Altered States
(1980)
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Frank J. Avella
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...while the final cut of Altered States might not have been to Chayefsky’s liking, it’s certainly a fascinating and transfixing cinematic achievement.
Posted Dec 05, 2025
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B
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Scoop
(2006)
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Frank J. Avella
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Scoop is a moderately amusing Woody Allen comedy with a terrific cast of actors whose winning performances greatly enhance the film.
Posted Dec 05, 2025
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A-
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Él
(1953)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Dec 05, 2025
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B+
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We Shall Not Be Moved
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Nov 28, 2025
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B+
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Strange River
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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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.
Posted Nov 28, 2025
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B
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Only Good Things
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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The filmmaker has a daring style all his own and his clever storytelling beguiles, as do his two leads. Both are quite alluring. Drummond looks like he just stepped out of a 1970s leather bar.
Posted Nov 28, 2025
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Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
(2025)
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Joey Moser
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Wake Up Dead Man is sinfully good. It reveals how power can be accelerated by the halls of belief and our deepest, deepest confidences.
Posted Nov 27, 2025
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Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter
(2025)
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Joey Moser
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For Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter, director Zeberiah Newman re-introduces us to an icon with fervor, love, and patient affection.
Posted Nov 25, 2025
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C-
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Pepe
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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Arias has lot on his mind including man’s hubris when it comes to his environment. As a filmmaker he shows tremendous promise. But Pepe is like a Pollock painting. You are either sucked in or alienated.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C-
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Reedland
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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Reedland a strange, visually arresting but so-slow-moving film that leans so much into atmosphere that not much else seemed to matter.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C
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Sanatorium
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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The film does dive somewhat into just how the war is psychologically affecting its patients but mostly leans on the more comedic, atmospheric side. It’s a film that didn’t really move me the way I was hoping it would.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C
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One of Those Days When Hemme Dies
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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I was most impressed with the endearing actor playing Eyüp who captivates even when the narrative meanders. Turns out, Eyüp is played by Fıratoğlu!
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C
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Don't You Let Me Go
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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Ana Guevara & Leticia Jorge’s third cinematic collaboration, Don’t You Let Me Go, is a meditation on grief, joy and friendship that will prove magical and meaningful to some and confounding and tedious to others.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C
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Magellan
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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...it all unfolds in an arduous and jumbled manner. Yes, there are stunning moments and fascinating shots (stagnant shots held way too long), but the end result is an atypical biopic (a good thing) that reeks of arthouse indulgence.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C+
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All That's Left of You
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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The overlong film is sometimes muddled and uneven and leans heavy into melodrama, but there are beautiful, moving moments as well.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C+
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Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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It’s a well-researched and worthy work, but Žbanić lost me a bit in all the business detail gobbledygook—although if you have an interest in the field, you will be in nirvana.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C+
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Banzo
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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Banzo is one of those heart-in-the-right-place films, where the production values are terrific and the themes, specifically the terribly tyranny of the upper classes over Africans, is justly exposed. It’s just not presented in the most exciting manner.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C+
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The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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I applaud his ambition, visual flair and specific-to-AIDS storytelling. I just wish the film were less repetitive and more engaging.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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C+
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Kidnapping Inc.
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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Mourral has soaked in a lot of Tarantino as well as other American crime movies, so the film moves swiftly. And his two leads, Jasmuel Andri and Rolaphton Mercure are top-notch. The end results are rather disappointingly vapid, but fun.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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A Poet
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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The film tends to meander in the final third but is still a rewarding sit mostly because of first-time actor and star Ubeimar Rios. He’s a comedic natural.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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I'm Not Everything I Want to Be
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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...though she’s not the most exciting narrator, it’s through her work that we are able to get a glimpse of the photog and her tumultuous totalitarian world.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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Beloved Tropic
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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Endara explores the harsh realities of the class divide as well as immigration, with grace.
The heart of this lovely, if overlong film is the odd bond that is formed by the two women. García, so good in Sebastian Lelio’s Gloria, is especially wonderful.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story
(2023)
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Frank J. Avella
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Disco Africa could be labeled a socially relevant ghost story. The film is about one young man’s search for identity and connection with both his land and his ancestors
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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100 Liters of Gold
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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This black comedy often feels like a western as well with surly villains always threatening the sister’s achieving their goals. Of course, they also happen to be their own worst enemies.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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The Last Dance
(2024)
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Frank J. Avella
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...an interesting look at antiquated old-world customs and the rigidity of misogynistic men who refuse to allow themselves to look at these rituals in a more modern manner. The film is sometimes silly but quite poignant...
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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Eagles of the Republic
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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Eagles of the Republic, mixes elements of an old-fashioned thriller with dark political satire and adds a dash of romance. For the most part, it all blends together rather satisfactorily.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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Hijra
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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This female-centric film, which world premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival, delves into the generational differences of its characters but also shows a subtle move towards a kind of defiance, while still maintaining their faith.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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Little Trouble Girls
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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This compelling coming-of-age film only disappoints at the very end, where it simply loses its grit.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B
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Under the Flags, the Sun
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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The film very powerfully juxtaposes speeches about the regime being a champion for human rights with footage of young protesters being beaten on the streets... stuff made all the more spine-chilling when you take a look at our own country today.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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B-
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The Southern Chronicles
(2025)
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Frank J. Avella
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Grinys, who has a perfect world-weary quality, holds the film together delivering a charming and, ultimately, seductive turn.
Posted Nov 22, 2025
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