Matt is trying his best

‘The Smashing Machine’ is a Biopic That Bores A24 While I may not care about sports, I have always enjoyed a sports movie. Stories about ambition, determination and resilience hit relatively often for me, because there’s something we can all r…

‘The sense of excitement or tension of Safdie’s previous work is entirely gone. The performances underwhelm, the pacing drags, and there’s no emotional hook to keep you invested.’

Here’s my review of #TheSmashingMachine, in theaters now.

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‘Good Boy’ is a Bold and Inventive Genre Experiment IFC Films A good gimmick can make or break a horror film. If we explore that gimmick well, it can elevate the entire experience. Ben Loenberg’s Good Boy premiered earlier this year at the SXSW Film…

‘It’s more of an interesting experiment than a great horror film, but it’s always a good thing when filmmakers are still risky enough to take bold, audacious swings like this in the horror genre.’

Here’s my review of #GoodBoy, in theaters now.

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‘The History of Sound’ Doesn’t Make Any Noise MUBI I’d been hearing about The History of Sound before cameras even rolled on the project. A queer romance based on a short story by Ben Shattuck, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, directed …

‘The film, unfortunately, is more of an endurance test than a sweeping romance. It starts off strong and then it just keeps going downhill, so much so that I left more annoyed than moved.’

Here’s my review of #TheHistoryOfSound, in theaters now.

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‘One Battle After Another’ is a Thrilling and Provocative Stunner Warner Bros. Pictures Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson’s films always feel like events, and that can be a good or bad thing. The vast majority of his films were well received and are remembered…

‘It sounds like this experience would be a who-needs-that-right-now bummer, but Anderson finds a way to let this shockingly intense action thriller live alongside very timely and provocative themes.’

Here’s my review of #OneBattleAfterAnother in theaters now.

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‘Eleanor the Great’ Left Me Cold Sony Pictures Classics The legendary June Squibb had a banner year in 2024, with Josh Margolin’s Thelma, a film that gave the 94-year-old actress her first leading role in a feature film. Thelma wa…

‘This seems like a poignant film about grief, loneliness, aging and loss. And it comes so close to saying something true about any of those subjects, that when it never does, it left me unsatisfied.’

Here’s my review of #EleanorTheGreat, in theaters Friday.

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‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ is Whimsical and Charming Sony Pictures Sometimes the element of surprise can really take a movie over the finish line. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, and there are a few central reasons wh…

‘It’s either going to strike you as meaningful, or you’ll be annoyed by the heart-on-its-sleeve earnestness of the whole thing. But in my opinion, that cheesiness is more a feature than a bug.’

Here’s my review of #ABigBoldBeautifulJourney, in theaters now.

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‘Him’ is an Ambitious Failure Universal Pictures Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has given us some very cool projects outside of Peele’s own films. With Nia DaCosta’s Candyman remake and Dev Patel’s Monkey Man, a certain l…

‘It wants to be a cautionary tale about the cost of fame and football as a religion, and once these themes are introduced, it becomes clear that’s all this script has, and the film isn’t going to give you more.’

Here’s my review of #HimMovie in theaters now.

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‘The Long Walk’ is Bleak, Brutal and Essential Lionsgate Screen adaptations of Stephen King novels can be really hit or miss. Sometimes, the filmmaker and screenwriter(s) can really understand the foundation of the story being told or they can …

‘This is incredibly bleak and upsetting viewing, and it’s not for the faint of heart, but I think it’s a film everyone should see right now. It’s a cautionary tale and a warning.’

Here’s my review of #TheLongWalk, in theaters now.

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They can replace the Boos with the bird chirps that are added to golf telecasts.

‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is a Mostly Disappointing Farewell Warner Bros. Pictures James Wan’s 2013 film The Conjuring was a big deal for the horror genre. It didn’t reinvent the genre, but it repackaged familiar horror elements in a way that felt fresh. It …

‘The first half is structured to have one scary setpiece after another. Unfortunately those jump scares are pretty predictable at this point, and there isn’t a lot we haven’t already seen.’

Here’s my review of #TheConjuring #LastRites, in theaters now.

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‘Twinless’ is Hilarious, Devastating and Unforgettable Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions I’d heard a lot about writer/director/producer/star James Sweeney’s Twinless since it debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won one of the…

‘It feels like a magic trick for a movie to have so much festival buzz and for this movie that I finally get to see months later to still feel like a where-the-hell-did-that-come-from knockout.’

Here’s my review of James Sweeney’s #Twinless, in theaters now.

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‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ Gives Fan Service a Good Name Focus Features Julian Fellowes’ megahit series Downton Abbey set the world on fire between 2010 and 2015, giving popularity to the PBS Masterpiece Classic anthology series that it hadn’t ever seen …

‘A frothy, delightful champagne cocktail of a film for the majority, then the final emotional gut-punch comes out of nowhere and leaves you thinking about how much this has all meant’

Here’s my review of #DowntonAbbey #TheGrandFinale, in theaters September 12

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‘The Roses’ is a Mostly Effective Relationship Dramedy Searchlight Pictures When you’re paying attention to them, movie release schedules can really make or break the hype for an upcoming release. For instance, I would’ve been very excited for The Rose…

‘Expecting a remake of The War of the Roses sets up unrealistic expectations. This feels like its own thing and if you’re expecting that, it’s a better time than if you’re expecting a remake of a favorite film.’

Here’s my review of #TheRoses, in theaters now.

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‘Caught Stealing’ is Unhinged, Intense and Wildly Entertaining Sony Pictures Darren Aronofsky’s films usually feel like events, for better and for worse. His films work for me some of the time. For instance, I found his 2017 film mother! to be a work…

‘Considering we’re in the doldrums of late August, when the cinema is usually a deserted wasteland, something this fun and exciting coming along is pretty rare.’

Here’s my review of Darren Aronofsky’s #CaughtStealing, in theaters Friday.

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‘Honey, Don’t!’ Waste Your Time Focus Features Ethan Coen has spent most of his career making films with his brother Joel, and they have won several Oscars together. In recent years, Joel and Ethan Coen have been doing solo work.…

'There is so much about #HoneyDont that I like so much, and it's kind of heartbreaking when the script doesn't live up to the film's best elements.'

Here's my review of Ethan Coen's HONEY, DON'T!, in theaters now.

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‘Weapons’ is Twisty and Intense Warner Bros. Writer/director Zach Cregger’s debut film Barbarian was a moderate box office hit back in 2022, but effectively set the world of Film Twitter on fire and immediately made him a name to…

‘Zach Cregger’s #Weapons is a breathless and terrifying, yet surprisingly funny horror film that sneaks up on you and will stick with you long after the house lights go up.’

Here’s my review of WEAPONS, in theaters now.

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‘Freakier Friday’ is One of the Summer’s Best Surprises Disney Director Mark Waters was really on a roll back in the early 2000s, with the one-two punch of Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, both starring the up-and-coming Lindsay Lohan. Waters arguably neve…

‘In an era where so many legacy sequels feel like crass, cynical cash grabs, #FreakierFriday feels like it was made for the right reasons.’

Here’s my review of FREAKIER FRIDAY, in theaters now.

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‘Together’ is Gross and Gnarly, Yet Surprisingly Heartfelt NEON Writer/director Michael Shanks’ debut feature film Together was the talk of the town at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, ultimately selling to Neon for $17 million after one of Park City’s …

‘This is surreal, disgusting and deeply unsettling stuff, but at its core it’s a surprisingly hopeful and romantic story about the challenges a long-term couple can face.’

Here’s my review of #Together, in theaters now.

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‘The Naked Gun’ is Weird, Unpredictable and Hilarious Paramount Pictures In today’s era of revisiting practically every franchise from the 1990s, it seemed inevitable we’d eventually get to something like The Naked Gun. Of course, I was worried about …

‘The humor is supremely goofy, unapologetically silly and deeply weird. This is one of the dumbest movies I’ve seen in ages, and I mean that as a deep compliment.’

Here’s my review of #TheNakedGun, in theaters Friday.

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‘The Home’ is Aggressively Dull and Vapid Lionsgate I was going to let this movie come and go without writing a review for it. I figure there is so much negativity on the internet, I don’t need to add to it. But honestly, if I can save eve…

‘The sales pitch of a horror movie headlined by Pete Davidson doesn’t really inspire much confidence, but The Home is an aggressively poorly made horror movie that gets almost everything wrong.’

Here’s my review of #TheHome, in theaters now.

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‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Does Marvel’s First Family Right Marvel Studios The Marvel Cinematic Universe has arguably been struggling to reclaim its former glory since 2019, when Avengers: Endgame was released. There have been several films between then and…

‘While it hardly rewrites the rules of the comic book movie, it’s a breezy and visually dazzling summer confection that’s the closest cinema has come to getting Marvel’s First Family right.’

Here’s my review of #TheFantasticFour #FirstSteps, in theaters now.

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Matt’s Worst Films of 2025 (So Far) It never feels like the right time for a worst-of list, but I genuinely feel like these lists matter. This is a public service, I see them so you don’t have to! Once again, this list is comprised o…

It never feels like the right time for a worst-of list, but I genuinely feel like these lists matter. This is a public service. I’m saving you time and money. You’re welcome!

Here are the worst films I’ve seen so far this year.

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Matt’s Best Films of 2025 (So Far) It’s hard to believe we’re already at the halfway point of 2025, and it’s been an interesting year for movies so far. I was easily able to compile a list of movies I loved and maybe didn’t, so far …

We’re already halfway through the year! Feels like this year has lasted a decade and also five minutes. Anyway, it felt like the perfect time for a list.

Here are my favorite films I’ve seen so far in 2025!

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‘Oh, Hi!’ Could Be Meaner Sony Pictures Classics Writer/director Sophie Brooks’ sophomore feature Oh, Hi! premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and I’ve been hearing about it ever since. Billed as a scre…

‘While I enjoyed a lot of what this film was doing, I left wishing #OhHi had a darker, more cynical edge and I wish Brooks’ script leaned harder into the bitterness it flirts with.’

Here’s my review for OH, HI!, in theaters Friday.

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‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ is Surprisingly Fun Sony Pictures After the box office success of the 2022 Scream reboot and its sequel, it seemed inevitable we would be returning to more horror franchises from the 1990s. Jim Gillespie’s 1997 film I…

‘This is a perfect example of a good-enough summer movie. You won’t leave with your mind blown, but I think if you’re on board for what the script is doing, you’ll have a good time.’

Here’s my review of #IKnowWhatYouDidLastSummer, in theaters now.

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‘Eddington’ is Smug, Sanctimonious and Exhausting A24 I love the first two films from writer/director Ari Aster. Hereditary and Midsommar cemented his place within the horror genre, and earned him a bunch of fans, hotly anticipating whatever he wo…

‘It’s mostly people yelling at each other for two and a half hours, and if you get enough of that in your everyday doomscrolling, it’s not the kind of thing you want when you go to the cinema.’

Here’s my review of Ari Aster’s #Eddington, in theaters Friday.

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James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Brings Heart, Humor and Joy Back to the Superhero Movie Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios The superhero genre has been going through something of a rough patch. Under the primary creative control of Zack Snyder, the DC Cinematic Universe had kind of hit …

‘Superman (2025) is a reminder of the power of decency and human kindness in a time where audiences are in need of one. It’s big and bold, thoughtful and earnest.’

Here’s my review of James Gunn’s #Superman, in theaters Friday.

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There’s A Lot Going On in ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’, and Yet Nothing Universal Pictures Ever since 1993’s definitive summer blockbuster Jurassic Park, Universal Pictures has been trying to recapture the magic of that first film. They’ve been chasing the proverbial d…

‘Sadly, even if you’re creatively bankrupt, when you have a franchise that brings in enough money, artistic integrity can exist as more of an afterthought.’

Here’s my review of #JurassicWorld #Rebirth, in theaters now.

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‘F1’ is a Superb Summer Spectacle Warner Bros. Pictures/Apple Studios In 2022, director Joseph Kosinski set the world on fire with Top Gun: Maverick, a long-in-development sequel that no one was really that excited about until they…

‘F1 isn’t breaking new ground narratively or cinematically, but it’s also a compelling argument for the summer movie in general. It’s loud, it’s exciting, it’s a wildly fun experience to have with a crowd.’

Here’s my review of #F1TheMovie, in theaters now.

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‘M3GAN 2.0’ is a Fun but Messy Sequel Universal Pictures In January 2023, Blumhouse’s horror comedy film M3GAN became something of an Internet moment. The wisecracking android who does a little dance before slaying her victims became t…

‘It can be a lot of fun, and I did laugh quite a bit, but there are quite a few classic sequel problems that M3GAN 2.0 falls right into.’

Here’s my review of #M3GAN 2.0, in theaters now.

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