Desert Warrior | Film Festival Today

“Desert Warrior” Clunks Its Way Around a Grand Battle

April 23, 2026

“Desert Warrior” Clunks Its Way Around a Grand Battle
By Adam Vaughn
April 23, 2026
Desert Warrior (Rupert Wyatt, 2025) 3 out of 5 stars Desert Warrior, the latest film from director Rupert Wyatt (Captive State), takes the viewer back to the seventh century, when a legendary Arab bandit, Hanzala (Anthony Mackie, Captain America: Brave New World), and the Princess Hind (Aiysha Hart, Salvable) unite their tribes to take on the newly appointed Emperor Kisra (Ben Kingsley, Deep Water). With the emperor’s army closing in, led by the ... >>
“I Swear” Is Foul-Mouthed but Wholesome
By George W. Campbell
April 22, 2026
I Swear (Kirk Jones, 2025) 3½ out of 5 stars Before we begin, let’s get the obvious out of the way. Written and directed by Kirk Jones (My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2), I Swear tells the true story of John Davidson, a Scottish man who developed Tourette’s syndrome as a teenager. This is the same John Davidson who shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were presenting at the 2026 BAFTAs. In the moment, the show focused on ... >>
“The Stranger” Proves Just As Elliptical As Its Source
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
April 9, 2026
The Stranger (François Ozon, 2025) 3½ out of 5 stars French author Albert Camus’ short 1942 novel The Stranger follows the story of an aimless young man who commits a murder for reasons unclear even to him and then pays the ultimate price for it, all the while shrugging his shoulders at the world. Set in colonial Algeria—where Camus (1913-1960) was himself born—the book deals seemingly tangentially with the cultural, racial, and class issues ... >>
“Miroirs No. 3” Offers Variations on Catharsis
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
April 2, 2026
Miroirs No. 3 (Christian Petzold, 2025) 3½ out of 5 stars German director Christian Petzold (Transit) specializes in films that combine elements of drama and thriller, though the latter feature does not always manifest through big external set pieces. Rather, the adrenaline rush comes from within as a slow build of emotional intensity that forces the viewer to confront uncomfortable truths. In Miroirs No. 3 (the title of which refers to a piano ... >>
“She Dances” Wears Heart on Its Sleeve
By Robin C. Farrell
March 28, 2026
She Dances (Rick Gomez, 2025) 3½ out of 5 Stars A passing glance at the trailer for She Dances and it’s clear that this is a grief story; one that focuses on the avoidance and prolonged aftermath of loss. Through a combination of road-trip hijinks, side quests, competition, and lots and lots of dancing, this is, indeed, a story exploring the necessity of truth in healing, even though it hurts. ... >>