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Voices & Visions

Voices & Visions is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer® when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Jim Laczkowski.

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Rating Title | Year Author Quote
Altered States (1980) Jim Laczkowski Altered States ignites some kind of fire that keeps the collective unconscious warm and the capacity for personal human inquiry ablaze. It's one of the best films that questions why we're here.
Posted Nov 04, 2021  Edit critic review
The French Dispatch (2021) Jim Laczkowski One of the year's most joyful movie-going experiences. Even if some of the cast gets the short shrift, it still comes together wonderfully in ways only Anderson can accomplish.
Posted Nov 01, 2021  Edit critic review
Anne at 13,000 ft (2019) Jim Laczkowski One of the better films about the challenges that come with unstable mental health that I've seen in quite some time.
Posted Sep 08, 2021  Edit critic review
The Night House (2020) Jim Laczkowski Unsettling, scary, sad. But the central mystery left me with questions that I'm not sure make it an entirely satisfying experience. The reason to see this is Rebecca Hall without question.
Posted Aug 19, 2021  Edit critic review
Pig (2021) Jim Laczkowski The great Nicholas Cage absolutely makes this incredibly unique film about food, companionship (and much more) well worth your time.
Posted Aug 19, 2021  Edit critic review
Annette (2021) Jim Laczkowski A mixed bag with a terrific opening. Wish it was something other than a maudlin critique on toxic celebrity culture but it's carried by some of the songs and the always great Adam Driver.
Posted Aug 04, 2021  Edit critic review
Seance (2021) Jim Laczkowski Seance is a solid, satisfying, spooky little tale that proves Barrett is as capable and confident behind the camera as he is penning screenplays. This is a great showcase for his many strengths as a master storyteller in the horror genre.
Posted May 20, 2021  Edit critic review
Royalty Free: The Music of Kevin MacLeod (2020) Jim Laczkowski MacLeod ends up coming across as a true inspiration and this documentary highlights why his business model remains a success. A fully realized character piece that showcases imperfect moments as well as the triumphs.
Posted Feb 25, 2021  Edit critic review
I Blame Society (2020) Jim Laczkowski I Blame Society is one of the year's best that happens to be one of the funnier, darker excursions into the wildly ambitious mind of someone who is mad as hell and decides not to take it anymore.
Posted Feb 19, 2021  Edit critic review
On the Rocks (2020) Jim Laczkowski A mediocre, rather tame film that is confident in doing what it does, although we're left wondering who it's doing it for and why it isn't quite as emotionally sound or surprising as her previous work.
Posted Oct 08, 2020  Edit critic review
The Swerve (2018) Jim Laczkowski One of the year's best, carried brilliantly by Azura Skye as well as Dean Kapsalis' assured vision that is on par with Polanski in terms of creating dread and tension in the midst of a mental collapse.
Posted Oct 08, 2020  Edit critic review
She Dies Tomorrow (2020) Jim Laczkowski Best film of 2020 so far from a remarkable talent. As much as this fully realized story is about a contagion of unadulterated apprehension, it's also about the purity of anxiety in ways that are both funny and terrifying.
Posted Jul 31, 2020  Edit critic review
The Vast of Night (2019) Jim Laczkowski Truly one of the year's most engaging films and one that captured my interest and imagination from beginning to end. A story that's been told before, but still manages to maintain originality and a modest budget all the same.
Posted May 30, 2020  Edit critic review
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (2019) Jim Laczkowski One of the year's best documentaries. An exhilarating experience for those who are interested in the craft of sound editing and design and for regular filmgoers with avid curiosity
Posted Oct 30, 2019  Edit critic review
From Shock to Awe (2019) Jim Laczkowski Psychedelic medicine may in fact be the future of treating PTSD and it's great to see a film that covers this in such an inspiring, emotionally engaging manner.
Posted Oct 30, 2019  Edit critic review
Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019) Jim Laczkowski Individual scenes brought a smile to my face but it's almost too episodic to come together in a satisfying way. The last act, in particular, is questionable.
Posted Aug 04, 2019  Edit critic review
Under the Silver Lake (2018) Jim Laczkowski One of the more interesting and absurdly entertaining mind puzzles. Should not be overlooked or ignored since it comes from one of the most inventive filmmakers working today.
Posted Apr 23, 2019  Edit critic review
Depraved (2019) Jim Laczkowski This is an incredibly thoughtful, original horror parable with a strong sense of morality and unwavering compassion that is rare these days.
Posted Apr 23, 2019  Edit critic review
Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) Jim Laczkowski I've yet to see a Mike Flanagan film I didn't appreciate and although this isn't a passion project and more of a work-for-hire, he still brings his A-game and combines scares with pathos - it's a superior improvement over the original.
Posted Feb 02, 2019  Edit critic review
They Live by Night (1948) Jim Laczkowski Might be the best debut feature in movie history. A stunning examination of intimacy mixed with apprehension that showcases why Nicholas Ray is one of the all-time greats.
Posted Feb 02, 2019  Edit critic review
Phantom Thread (2017) Jim Laczkowski One of the best movies of the past ten years. Granted, I think everything PTA does is up my alley, but this one particularly strikes all the right chords and says a lot about co-dependence.
Posted Feb 01, 2019  Edit critic review
Three Identical Strangers (2018) Jim Laczkowski A jaw-dropping, compelling story about the questionable ethics of psychological studies, to a degree, but also how brotherly bonds can break in unexpected ways due to the possibility of trauma.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Transit (2018) Jim Laczkowski Petzold continues to prove he knows how to craft a compelling story and conclude it with grace and ease. Suspense derives from character interaction and decision-making that may or may not be selfish but we understand the actions either way.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Everybody Knows (2018) Jim Laczkowski Farhardi seems incapable of making something unworthy of attention or interest, yet the consistency seems left behind. This time, the story doesn't always ring with domestic truths despite reliably great performances.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Dolores Claiborne (1995) Jim Laczkowski We should be examining this one again for daringly showcasing how men get away with their impulsivity and evil deeds. Great works of art like this are telling truths we want to bury and forget, but our subconscious won't let us.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
A
Blue Valentine (2010) Film4 Staff Cassavetes would be proud of this heartbreaking portrayal of the discovery and disintegration of love - which can be the healthiest or the most destructive thing to ever grace someone's life. Performances and commitment like this are rare.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Nocturnal Animals (2016) Jim Laczkowski A movie that aimed for the mind and the heart, but it comes up short for both. Only the performances stand out here, and I was mostly left perplexed rather than engaged.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
A Ghost Story (2017) Jim Laczkowski A mostly meditative, haunting portrayal of grief, love lost and the homes we hold on to. Too bad a monologue pops up along midway to explain what we are already discovering for ourselves.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
The Endless (2017) Jim Laczkowski The ending of The Endless feels like a cheat. Wish I was drawn in the way everyone else seems to be, yet one can't help but want to know how this all comes together based on a great setup involving a cult.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) Jim Laczkowski Delves deeply into fallibility and how human beings operate, just with a skin of a far creepier film laid over top. Says a lot about how we don't own up to our mistakes in a way that only Lanthimos can.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
An Ordinary Man (2017) Jim Laczkowski A flawed film, saved by two great performances and a short running time. Kingsley manages to do a lot with very little so if you're a fan, no need to pass this by entirely.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Mandy (2018) Jim Laczkowski I warmed up to its first hour only to find myself a bit distanced by the second, due to its familiarity of revenge movie tropes and gory confrontation that we've seen many times before.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Await Further Instructions (2018) Jim Laczkowski It isn't always pleasant to watch a family disintegrate into chaos and madness, but this is a compelling example that goes in directions that are more than surprising, they're shocking.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Empathy, Inc. (2018) Jim Laczkowski A terrific example of a sharp science fiction thriller done exceptionally well, in ways that are refreshing and challenging. At times I was reminded of Shane Carruth with just a touch of Being John Malkovich!
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
25th Hour (2002) Jim Laczkowski A reminder of how human beings can lose their humanity in the face of grief and tragedy but can find it again through helping others rather than turning a blind eye. It's an important work of art.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Safe (1995) Jim Laczkowski One of the all-time great films. Screams out with existential terror showcasing how the lack of identity is not only anxiety-inducing but potentially inevitable due to the modern world we live in.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Hail, Caesar! (2016) Jim Laczkowski A conflicted story that is also about losing faith in established institutions like Hollywood. Hail, Caesar! finds The Coens in a comfort zone all while paying homage to vintage filmmaking with a wink.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Take This Waltz (2011) Jim Laczkowski This is experiencing the acceptance of disconnection, which can manifest every time we meet someone new and/or feel displaced with someone we thought we'd love forever. Polley is an important director to fearlessly capture this here.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Under the Skin (2013) Jim Laczkowski An experience I wrestle with, in a mostly positive way. Contains a lot of tremendous strengths, including an intoxicating score and a lot of blank spaces for the individual viewer to fill with interpretation.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
You're Sleeping Nicole (2014) Jim Laczkowski There hasn't been a more beautifully melancholic movie this decade that has captured what I've experienced both inside and out. It's about fragility, friendship, personal growth and being okay with the mundane.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Carol (2015) Jim Laczkowski Carol filled me with hope and promise, which felt completely unexpected coming from Todd Haynes. Yet there's still a lingering fear in every frame, the presence of facades, gesture and shadow, the feeling of a set of eyes upon you. It's a masterpiece.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
Wildlife (2018) Jim Laczkowski Wildlife is a special film due to the level of talent involved, as we discover there are great depths and complexities to be mined within the apprehensions of mother, father and son.
Posted Oct 31, 2018  Edit critic review
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