John Morris | Film Festival Today

Film Review: A Heartwarming Story of Adoption Outshines Passable Laughs in “Instant Family”

November 15, 2018

Tribeca Review: “Mark, Mary & Some Other People” Get It On, Get Off and Get Lost
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 10, 2021
Mark, Mary & Some Other People (Hannah Marks, 2021) 3 out of 4 stars. Twentysomething sexual freedom sounds like a great idea. On some level, most people probably think a little bit about what it would be like to experiment, while those who are older and never did wish they had. But what if you wed early on? Ethical non-monogamy offers married couples the chance to fool around with partners outside their primary relationship without ... >>
Film Review: The Young Cast of “Skater Girl” Shines Despite a Disjointed Script
By Robin C. Farrell
June 10, 2021
Skater Girl (Manjari Makijany, 2021) 2½ out of 4 stars. Skater Girl treats both the titular character and her sport with a lot of heart. Beautiful intentions are on display here, between some gorgeous, energetic cinematography and a few stellar performances by young and relatively unknown actors. The downsides are an inconsistent tone and a plot that builds to an abrupt and limited ending, dulling the many other elements of this story ... >>
What to See at Tribeca 2021
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 7, 2021
In 2018 and 2019, I attended the Tribeca Film Festival, writing coverage for this site. In 2020, as with so many other festivals caught flat-footed by the global pandemic, Tribeca didn’t quite happen as planned, though some critics (like me) were able to watch a limited number of films and the festival still gave out awards. The five I did see and reviewed (for Hammer to Nail, where I am lead film critic) were the following: Jacinta, Kubrick by ... >>
Film Review: Skydivers and Filmgoers Alike Will Enjoy “Super Frenchie”
By Adam Vaughn
June 3, 2021
Super Frenchie (Chase Ogden, 2020) 2½ out of 4 stars. Who wouldn’t enjoy a documentary about intense, real-life BASE jumping and skiing? Chase Ogden’s film comes with all the intensity and thrill of the sport, itself, along with splashes of humor and personality that come through in his protagonist and supporting characters. While Super Frenchie keeps its viewer interested in the journey of a veteran athlete through stunning visuals and witty ... >>
Film Review: “Tove” Paints a Vibrant Portrait of Its Subject, Even If Some Details Are Obscured
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 2, 2021
Tove (Zaida Bergroth, 2020) 3 out of 4 stars. Tove Jansson (1914-2001) is a titan among Finns, creator of the Moomin universe, which includes comic strips, stage plays, children’s books and even a theme park. Her work comes almost exclusively from her own rich imagination, and though she may or may not be well-known here in the United States, she has a strong following throughout the world, even beyond Finland and its neighboring countries. I ... >>

Film Review: “Queen of Spades” Thrills with Its Horror Aspects, but Has No Other Tricks up Its Sleeve
In >> Breaking, Film Reviews, Matt Patti, Spotlight
Film Review: “In the Heights” Rocks the Screen
In >> Breaking, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Film Reviews, Spotlight
Series Review: Okey “Loki,” I Guess …
In >> Breaking, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Series, Spotlight
Film Review: Despite Predictable Silliness, “Spirit Untamed” Shines in Its Portrait of Strong Young Women
In >> Breaking, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Film Reviews, Spotlight

Film Review: “In the Heights”
June 10, 2021
Broadway behemoth Hamilton must have been a fluke. This is a musical without songs. And the ...>>
Film Review: “Those Who Wish Me Dead”
May 22, 2021
It’s best seen at a movie theater. It’s Angelina Jolie’s return to films, though she has not been ...>>
Film Review: “Spiral, from the Book of Saw”
May 18, 2021
Chris Rock has reached the apex of Hollywood stardom. He has a sure hit franchise. In a wacky Good ...>>
Film Review: “The Odds”
March 8, 2021
Bravo! A Herculean effort to deliver a highly original two-character horror movie. You want to ...>>