The Latest in Film Reviews | Film Festivals

This image released by Netflix shows Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre, right, and Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in a scene from "Maestro." (Jason McDonald/Netflix via AP)

Review: Bradley Cooper’s ‘Maestro’ leaves many notes of Bernstein unplayed

Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” a high-wire act of a biopic, leaps constantly between on stage and off, flying through Leonard Bernstein’s very public life as a conductor while diving into his more private marriage to Felicia Montealegre.

This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows a scene from "Saltburn." (Amazon Prime Video via AP)

Movie Review: Emerald Fennell chronicles a promising young man in audacious, shock-filled ‘Saltburn’

Anticipation has been hot for Emerald Fennell’s second feature ever since her bracingly original “Promising Young Woman” won a screenplay Oscar.

This image released by Disney shows Asha, voiced by Ariana DeBose, in a scene from the animated film "Wish." (Disney via AP)

Movie Review: Disney’s musical fairy tale ‘Wish’ is beautiful, but lacking magic

Chris Pine voices King Magnifico, the ruler of the Kingdom of Rosas who has the ability to grant wishes to his subjects in “Wish,” the new Disney Animation musical in theaters Tuesday.

This image released by MUBI shows Alma Pöysti, left, and Jussi Vatanen in a scene from "Fallen Leaves." (MUBI via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Fallen Leaves’ is deadpan nirvana

In a movie year rife with grand, three-hour opuses from auteur filmmakers comes a slender 81-minute gem that outclasses them all.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from "Napoleon." (Apple TV+ via AP)

Review: In Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon,’ the emperor has no clothes but plenty of ego

This Napoleon, as played by Joaquin Phoenix, isn’t extraordinary nor is he much of a man.

This image released by Netflix shows Julianne Moore, right, and Natalie Portman in a scene from "May December." (François Duhamel, Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Emotional complexity, melodramatic wit and masterful acting in ‘May December’

Natalie Portman plays an actress researching a real-life subject for a role in Todd Haynes’ “May December.”

This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Kaimana, foreground left, and Hilo Pelesasa, right, in a scene from "Next Goal Wins." (Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Searchlight Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Taika Waititi’s ‘Next Goal Wins’ is a sweet, frothy diversion but no knee slide

In “Next Goal Wins,” a soccer coach comes from far away to lead a hapless group of athletes. He’s a fish-out-of-water type, ill-suited for the job, but rises to the occasion and everyone feels good at the end.

This image released by Lionsgate shows Tom Blyth, right, and Rachel Zegler in a scene from "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." (Lionsgate via AP)

Review: The Hunger Games return in ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ with the odds in its favor

Two hours and 37 minutes is pretty long for a “ballad,” but you can’t call it “The Hunger Games: The Three-Cycle Opera of Songbirds and Snakes” now, can you?

This image released by A24 shows Nicolas Cage in a scene from "Dream Scenario" (A24 via AP)

Movie Review: Nicolas Cage finds fame to be highly overrated in chillingly funny ‘Dream Scenario’

Nicolas Cage, perhaps best known for his onscreen volatility, takes a fascinating swerve to play a mundane, schlubby, balding professor at nowhere famous in Kristoffer Borgli’s “Dream Scenario.”

This image released by Disney shows, from left, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in a scene from "The Marvels." (Laura Radford/Disney-Marvel Studios via AP)

Movie Review: Iman Vellani is a scene-stealer in low-stakes ‘The Marvels’

Nia DaCosta joins the Marvel Universe with “The Marvels,” sequel to 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” starring Brie Larson, Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris.

This image released by Netflix shows Michael Fassbender as an assassin in a scene from "The Killer." (Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: In David Fincher’s ‘The Killer,’ an assassin hides in plain sight

“The Killer” is a terse, minimalist thriller in the cool, cold-hearted tradition of Jean Pierre Melville’s “Le Samouraï.”

This image released by Participant/Pantelion Films shows Eugenio Derbez in a scene from "Radical." (Participant/Pantelion via AP)

Movie Review: In ‘Radical,’ an unorthodox teacher in a violent Mexican border town

“Radical” is a conventional but stirring entry in the crowded canon of uplifting educator tales like “Stand and Deliver,” “Lean on Me” and “The Class.”

This image released by A24 shows Kaylee Nicole Johnson, Jannie Hampton, Jayah Henry in a scene from "All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt." (A24 via AP)

Movie Review: A serene debut from Raven Jackson in ‘All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt’

Nature provides much of the soundtrack to “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” the debut feature from writer-director Raven Jackson.

This image released by Netflix shows Jeffrey Mackenzie Jordan, left, and Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in a scene from "Rustin." (Parrish Lewis/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Rustin’ with an outstanding Colman Domingo is a terrific look at March on Washington

The 1963 March on Washington was a triumph of peaceful protest. It likely wouldn’t have happened without the work of a master strategist: Bayard Rustin, a gay Black socialist and pacifist-activist.

This image released by Netflix shows Chris Evans as Brenner, left, Andy Garcia as Neel, center, and Emily Blunt as Liza in a scene from "Pain Hustlers." (Brian Douglas/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Pain Hustlers’ tells a sadly familiar story with a kitchen-sink style

“Pain Hustlers” tells a tale both familiar and tragic, the latest in a string of films about the opioid crisis.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Bonnie, Freddy Fazbear and Chica in a scene from "Five Nights at Freddy's." (Universal Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Video game-to-horror flick ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ misfires badly

Just in time for Halloween comes “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” a video game adaptation with the potential treat of demented Chuck E.

This image released by A24 shows Jacob Elordi as Elvis, right, and Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla, in a scene from "Priscilla." (Philippe Le Sourd/A24 via AP)

Movie Review: Teen dreams and adult nightmares in Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’

Dreamily gazing at the album covers of Elvis Presley was not, statistically speaking, a rare habit among American teen girls in the late 1950s and early ’60s.

This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Layla Mohammadi, foreground left, and Niousha Noor in a scene from "The Persian Version." (Yiget Eken/Sony Pictures Classics via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Persian Version’ finds laughter, tears in Iranian American tale of resilient women

In the autobiographical “The Persian Version,” Maryam Keshavarz chronicles a young woman’s struggle to reconcile two identities: her Iranian heritage and her current American life as an aspiring filmmaker who longs to be an Iranian Martin Scorsese.

This image released by Focus Features shows Da'Vine Joy Randolph, from left, Paul Giamatti and Dominic Sessa in a scene from "The Holdovers." (Seacia Pavao/Focus Features via AP)

Movie Review: A holiday movie with some bite in Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers’

“Sideways” filmmaker Alexander Payne brings audiences to a New England boarding school in 1970 in “The Holdovers,” about three lonely and mismatched souls stuck together over Christmas break.

This image released by Netflix shows Bobby Cannavale, right, and Bill Burr in a scene from "Old Dads." (Michael Moriatis/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Netflix’s ‘Old Dads’ is a recycling of PC grievances and a Bill Burr career nadir

The new Netflix movie “Old Dads” has a title problem, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy. He says it really should be called “Old Dads Raging at Paper Straws.”

This image released by Netflix shows Annette Bening as Diana Nyad in a scene from the film "Nyad." (Liz Parkinson/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: In ‘Nyad,’ Jodie Foster swims away with a showcase for Annette Bening

In “Nyad,” there are two feats of perseverance on display. First, there is the ceaseless determination of Diana Nyad, played by Annette Bening, to accomplish a marathon swim from Cuba to Florida across 110 miles of open, shark-infested waters.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows John le Carré in a scene from "The Pigeon Tunnel." (David Appleby/Apple TV+ via AP)

Movie Review: Cornwell/le Carré, through Errol Morris’ lens, in riveting ‘The Pigeon Tunnel’

David Cornwell, better known by his pen name John le Carré, was the spy-turned-novelist whose erudite tales of espionage and betrayal defined an era, gave literary heft to a genre and inspired numerous adaptations.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows, from left, JaNae Collins, Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers and Jillian Dion in a scene from "Killers of the Flower Moon." (Melinda Sue Gordon/Apple TV+ via AP)

Movie Review: Scorsese’s epic ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is sweeping tale of greed, richly told

There tends to be lots of fast talking and fast moving in Martin Scorsese films. But in his elegant, masterfully told “Killers of the Flower Moon,” everything seems to slow down, especially when the camera lands on Lily Gladstone.

Taylor Swift arrives at the world premiere of the concert film "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at AMC The Grove 14 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Movie Review: In the elated ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,’ every seat is the best seat in the house

The hypnotic “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” film is a near exact replica of her blockbuster concert performance, which recaps all 10 of her studio albums across 17 years of recorded work.

This image released by Neon shows, from left, Samuel Theis, Sandra Hüller and Milo Machado Graner in a scene from "Anatomy of a Fall." (Neon via AP)

Movie Review: In ‘Anatomy of a Fall,’ a sharp courtroom drama that will end relationships

Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or-winning film “Anatomy of a Fall” finds a writer on trial for the suspicious death of her husband.

This image released by Netflix shows Alden Ehrenreich, left, and Phoebe Dynevor in a scene from "Fair Play." (Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: In ‘Fair Play,’ a battle of the sexes on Wall Street

Since its hit arrival at the Sundance Film Festival, “Fair Play” has been hailed for reviving the long-dormant-but-often-missed erotic thriller.

This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows Jamie Foxx in a scene from "The Burial." (Skip Bolen/Amazon Prime Video via AP)

Movie Review: Jamie Foxx leads a crowd-pleasing courtroom drama in ‘The Burial’

Jamie Foxx plays a slick personal injury lawyer who finds himself in over his head when he’s recruited for a contract case in “The Burial.”

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Ellen Burstyn, left, and Leslie Odom, Jr. in a scene from "The Exorcist: Believer." (Anne Marie Fox/Universal Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ doesn’t desecrate the original but it won’t compel you

There may be no holier ground in horror than “The Exorcist.” As endlessly as William Friedkin’s 1973 film has been ripped off and resurrected, its power remains unalloyed.

This image released by Neon shows Jessica Henwick, left, and Julia Garner in a scene from "The Royal Hotel." (Neon via AP)

Movie Review: Check out ‘The Royal Hotel’ but don’t linger in this subtle horror flick

“The Royal Hotel” is a horror movie but don’t expect any jump-cuts, scary masks or serial killers. It’s more like the dawning horror a frog gets when it realizes it is being boiled alive.

This image released by Magnolia Pictures shows Joan Baez in a scene from the documentary "Joan Baez: I Am a Noise." (Albert Baez/Magnolia Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Her voice is lower, but Joan Baez has songs to sing and secrets to tell in new doc

Joan Baez was once a teenager with a guitar around her neck singing “We Shall Overcome.” She was singing about civil rights of course, but we learn in the new documentary “Joan Baez: I Am a Noise” just how much the celebrated folk singer needed to overcome in her own life: anxiety, depression, lonel

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Madeline Voyles in a scene from "The Creator." (20th Century Studios via AP)

Movie Review: Humans take a back seat in the stunning AI, sci-fi epic ‘The Creator’

Director and co-writer Gareth Edwards takes on Artificial Intelligence in the new film “The Creator,” releasing in theaters nationswide Friday.

FILE - Carlos Santana performs at the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival in Napa, Calif., on May 26, 2019. A new documentary "Carlos" covers the music career of the multi-Grammy Award-winning artist. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Movie Review: Documentary ‘Carlos’ is a loving, respectful portrait of guitar god Santana

The documentary “Carlos” is a traditional linear tale, tracing rock icon Carlos Santana’s formative years in Tijuana, Mexico, his set at Woodstock, his dive into spirituality and his triumphant 1999 “Supernatural” album.

This image released by Lionsgate shows Sylvester Stallone in a scene from "The Expend4bles." (Lionsgate via AP)

Movie Review: St4llone, St4tham are back in ‘Expend4bles,’ yet another expend4ble sequel

Maybe this was supposed to be the clever new thing about the fourth “Expendables” movie — the title has the number “4” embedded in the word. Nice try, guys.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Eve Hewson, left, and Orén Kinlan in a scene from "Flora and Son." (Apple TV+ via AP)

Movie review: A star-making turn for Eve Hewson in the feel-good ‘Flora and Son’

John Carney, the Irish filmmaker of “Once,” “Sing Street” and “Begin Again,” makes the movie version of “three chords and the truth.”

This image released by Neon shows Megan Suri in a scene from "It Lives Inside." (Neon via AP)

Movie Review: An immigrant teen who wants to fit in enters a nightmare in ‘It Lives Inside’

A beautiful Indian American teen, Samidha (Megan Suri), just wants to fit in with her suburban classmates in the new horror “It Lives Inside,” which opens in theaters Friday.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Paul Dano as Keith Gill in a scene from "Dumb Money." (Claire Folger/Sony Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Dumb Money’ recalls GameStop squeeze, when regular folk put the screws on Wall Street

The little guy — or at least the little guy with a few hundred bucks to sink into the stock market — gets a movie to cheer with “Dumb Money,” the real story of a recent financial rebellion that shook Wall Street.

This image released by Netflix shows Haley Lu Richardson in a scene from "Love at First Sight." (Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: A charming Haley Lu Richardson anchors sappy but sweet rom-com ‘Love at First Sight’

She’s American, charming, chronically late, and her phone is always running out of juice. He’s British, prompt, has a fully charged phone and spouts statistics.

This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows Gael Garcia Bernal in a scene from "Cassandro." (Amazon Prime Video via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Cassandro,’ with Gael Garcia Bernal as a liberated luchador, is a winner

Anyone who has eagerly followed Gael Garcia Bernal since his breakthrough roles in “Amores Perros” and “Y tu mamá también” likely never foresaw him one day in the world of lucha libra wrestling.

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot, left, and and Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver in a scene from "A Haunting in Venice." (20th Century Studios via AP)

Movie Review: Kenneth Branagh crafts a sumptuously spooky ‘A Haunting in Venice’

Kenneth Branagh indulges in the kind of macabre theatricality that only a crumbling Venetian palazzo on a stormy Halloween night can provide in “A Haunting in Venice,” which co-stars Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill and Camille Cottin.

This image released by Prime shows Rosa Salazar, left, and Michael Pena in a scene from "A Million Miles Away." (Prime via AP)

Movie Review: ‘A Million Miles Away’ charms and inspires with the tale of an unlikely astronaut

If ever there was an inspirational story about reaching for the stars, it’s “A Million Miles Away,” about the real-life journey of how a boy who grew up as a migrant farmworker became a NASA astronaut.

This image released by Focus Features shows Nia Vardalos, left, and John Corbett in a scene from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3." (Yannis Drakoulidis/Focus Features via AP)

Movie Review: In ‘Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ the wedding’s in Greece and the formula feels ancient

When in Greece, all roads lead to ... a wedding. How could they not, in a sequel to Nia Vardalos’ enormously successful rom-com “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”?

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Taissa Farmiga as Sister Irene in New Line Cinema's horror thriller "The Nun II." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Oh, sister, what happened? ‘The Nun II’ is a face-plant horror splat

“The Conjuring” Universe celebrates 10 years in business this fall with the dull “The Nun II,” a movie that seems destined to pound a nail into this franchise’s coffin, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy.

This image released by Netflix shows a scene from "El Conde." (Pablo Larraín/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Pinochet as a vampire in surreal, frightening ‘El Conde’

The Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is not dead in Pablo Larraín’s “El Conde.” He is instead a 250-year-old vampire living in semi-exile and wishing for death in this audacious allegory about history’s tendency to repeat itself, shot in sublime, otherworldly black and white, writes Lindsey Bahr in

This image released by Sony Pictures Entertainment shows Denzel Washington in a scene from "The Equalizer 3." (Stefano Montesi/Sony Pictures Entertainment via AP)

Movie Review: Denzel Washington’s vigilante battles the Italian mafia in ‘Equalizer 3'

Antoine Fuqua’s “Equalizer 3,” a taut and textured sequel to Washington’s vigilante series, isn’t one of the actor’s best films. It wouldn’t crack his top 10.

This image released by Orion Releasing shows Ayo Edebiri, left, and Rachel Sennott in a scene from "Bottoms." (Orion Releasing via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Bottoms’ is a gonzo gay high-school comedy that comes out on top

The rites and rituals of the raunchy high-school comedy can be as prescribed as a class syllabus, but what makes Emma Seligman’s “Bottoms” such an anarchic thrill is how it couldn’t care less.

This image released by Bleecker Street shows Camille Cottin, left, and Helen Mirren as Golda Meir in a scene from. the film "Golda." (Bleecker Street via AP)

Movie Review: Filmmakers behind biopic ‘Golda,’ starring Helen Mirren, get lost in a swirl of smoke

Golda Meir was many things. She was modern Israel’s first and only female head of government and a wartime prime minister.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Bug, voiced by Jamie Foxx, Reggie, voiced by Will Ferrell, Maggie, voiced by Isla Fisher, and Hunter, voiced by Randall Park, in a scene from "Strays." (Universal Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Strays’ is furry, foul, filthy, feculent — and occasionally funny

Reggie, a border terrier with an optimistic outlook on life, loves his owner, Doug. Doug despises Reggie.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Xolo Maridueña in a scene from "Blue Beetle." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Review: ‘Blue Beetle’ is a little more than a bug in the superhero system

The young protagonist of “Blue Beetle” is the first Latino superhero in a leading role in a DC film. It’s not just token casting, either.

This image released by Netflix shows Gal Gadot in a scene from "Heart of Stone." (Robert Viglasky/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Gal Gadot turns superspy in ‘Heart of Stone’

A month after Tom Cruise faced off with an AI supervillain comes a very “Mission: Impossible”-like international espionage thriller with an equally fancy and powerful machine.

This image released by Amazon Studios shows Taylor Zakhar Perez, left, and Nicholas Galitzine in a scene from "Red, White & Royal Blue." (Jonathan Prime/Amazon Studios via AP)

Movie Review: The movie version of a beach read arrives in Amazon’s ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’

“Red, White & Royal Blue,” a new rom-com arriving on Prime Video on Friday, is based on a popular novel by Casey McQuiston that quickly became a New York Times bestseller upon its debut in 2019 about the son of the American president and a British prince who start a secret relationship.