Michael Cristofer | Film Festival Today

Sundance 2020 Review: “The Night Clerk” Never Lives up to Its Premise

February 20, 2020

Tribeca Review: While Often Chilling and Mesmerizing, “Shapeless” Takes Too Long to Get Its Point Across
By Adam Vaughn
June 22, 2021
Shapeless (Samantha Aldana, 2021) 2½ out of 4 stars. Tribeca’s midnighter lineup includes a highly artistic and hair-raising film that dives into the all-too-real effects of eating disorders. Filled with visually stunning imagery and a deep emotional connection to an aspiring nightclub singer looking to make a name for herself, Shapeless offers plenty of devotion to its topic. Unfortunately, Shapeless is also weighed down with sluggish pacing ... >>
Tribeca Review: “Do Not Hesitate” Explores the Extraordinarily Ordinary Sins of Humanity
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 21, 2021
Do Not Hesitate (Shariff Korver, 2021) 3½ out of 4 stars. In an unnamed Arab country, Dutch soldiers find themselves stranded for a few days, part of a convoy of trucks of which one breaks down. While the majority of the group returns to base, a select bunch are selected to guard the equipment until helicopters can be sent back. As they prepare camp for the night, one of them hears rustling in the bushes, panics and fires, mortally wounding the ... >>
Tribeca Review: “See for Me” Is Thrilling, Clever and Delivers a Fresh New Thriller Experience
By Adam Vaughn
June 21, 2021
See for Me (Randall Okita, 2021) 3 out of 4 stars. Director Randall Okita’s See for Me is a fun exploration of a home-invasion storyline, only this time with a twist: protagonist Sophie (Skyler Davenport) is a blind cat-sitter who’s still learning her surroundings as much as are the burglars. Sophie’s main defense is an accessibility app called “See For Me,” with customer-service operator Kelly (Jessica Parker Kennedy, The CW’s The Flash series) ... >>
Film Review: In “When I’m Her,” A Child Prodigy Heals
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 21, 2021
When I’m Her (Emily Schuman, 2021) 3½ out of 4 stars. By the age of 14, ballet dancer Michael Cusumano was a rising star in his field, repository of teachers’ hopes as the next great thing. Though he appeared outwardly poised and won kudos and competitions, inwardly he was anything but calm. Eventually, he would abandon the high-stakes world in which he had until then thrived, unwilling to subject himself to the pressure of expectations or the ... >>
Tribeca Review: “No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics” Strives to Achieve Uplifting and Personal Representation
By Adam Vaughn
June 17, 2021
No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics (Vivian Kleiman, 2021) 3 out of 4 stars. Tribeca 2021 showcases a documentary that brings to light the fascinating, seemingly untold story of the queer community within the comic book world. Introducing the vast achievements, as well as obstacles faced by, the queer comic-book artists featured in Justin Hall’s eponymous anthology – including Alison Bechdel, Jennifer Camper, Howard Cruse, Rupert ... >>

Film Review: “Luca” Is Simultaneously Fresh and Stale
In >> Breaking, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Film Reviews, Spotlight
Film Review: “Les Nôtres” Is a Harrowing Coming-of-Age Tale For Our Time
In >> Breaking, Film Reviews, Hannah Tran, Specialty Releases, Spotlight
Film Review: “Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer” Offers an Urgent, Much-Needed History Lesson
In >> Breaking, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Film Reviews, Specialty Releases, Spotlight
Film Review: “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” Is As Messy As Its Title
In >> Breaking, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Film Reviews, Spotlight

Victoria Reviews “In the Heights”
June 8, 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 ...>>