All Articles

A spoiler free review of Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story begins with its confidence as a documentary. Directed by Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern, it leans on Glen David Andrews and Louis Armstrong to give the material a human centre. At story level, America's, The Big Easy and captures shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. Those ingredients give the film a useful foundation, but the lasting impression depends on how well it balance

Hatching does not need a plot heavy introduction to make its case. This is a horror film shaped by performance, pacing and a strong central hook. Directed by Hanna Bergholm, it leans on Siiri Solalinna and Sophia Heikkilä to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws She, gymnast and tries into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. From there, execution matters more than novelty. ⁠ Its most effective weapon is anticipati

There is an appealing directness to Dual. It knows it is a comedy, understands the expectations attached to that label, and then looks for small ways to give the material its own voice. Directed by Riley Stearns, it leans on Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul to give the material a human centre. At story level, woman, cloning and procedure shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. ⁠ Comedy lives or dies on rhythm, and the film is at its best

Too Cool to Kill approaches its comedy material with more interest in character than a quick synopsis might suggest. Directed by Wenxiong Xing and Ru Qian, it leans on Li Ma and Xiang Wei to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws Wei Chenggong, Wei Xiang and Milan into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. The film's first job is to make that setup feel worth following, and it establishes the necessary stakes efficie

At its best, Lignes de fuite works as a comedy that puts tone and performance ahead of empty explanation. Directed by Miryam Bouchard and Catherine Chabot, it leans on Marc Auger Gosselin and Thierry Bellevue to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup is easy to grasp, allowing the film to spend its time on character, tone and consequence. The result has a recognisable personality from the opening stretch. ⁠ The humour lands most consistently through charact

Enys Men is a horror film with a clear idea of the experience it wants to create. Directed by Mark Jenkin, it leans on Mary Woodvine and Edward Rowe to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws Cornish, uninhabited and island into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. That is enough context to enter the film without spoiling the turns that give it shape. ⁠ The horror works best through atmosphere rather than constant no

A spoiler free review of When You Finish Saving the World begins with its confidence as a comedy. Directed by Jesse Eisenberg, it leans on Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard to give the material a human centre. At story level, Evelyn, Ziggy and oblivious shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. Those ingredients give the film a useful foundation, but the lasting impression depends on how well it balances mood, character and momentum. ⁠

Both Sides of the Blade does not need a plot heavy introduction to make its case. This is a thriller shaped by performance, pacing and a strong central hook. Directed by Claire Denis, it leans on Juliette Binoche and Vincent Lindon to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws triangle, story and woman into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. From there, execution matters more than novelty. ⁠ Suspense grows from the ga

There is an appealing directness to The Silent Twins. It knows it is a crime drama, understands the expectations attached to that label, and then looks for small ways to give the material its own voice. Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska, it leans on Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance to give the material a human centre. At story level, June, Jennifer Gibbons and Wales shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. ⁠ The crime framework gives

The Sparring Partner approaches its crime drama material with more interest in character than a quick synopsis might suggest. Directed by Cheuk Tin Ho, it leans on Wai Lun Yeung and Pui Tung Mak to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws Pleading, based and shocking into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. The film's first job is to make that setup feel worth following, and it establishes the necessary stakes effici

At its best, Saint Omer works as a drama that puts tone and performance ahead of empty explanation. Directed by Alice Diop, it leans on Kayije Kagame and Guslagie Malanda to give the material a human centre. At story level, Follows Rama, Laurence Coly and Saint Omer Criminal Court shape the central setup, but the later turns are best left for the film to reveal. The result has a recognisable personality from the opening stretch. ⁠ Its strongest quality is attention to charact

One Fine Morning is a romance with a clear idea of the experience it wants to create. Directed by Mia Hansen Løve, it leans on Léa Seydoux and Pascal Greggory to give the material a human centre. The spoiler light setup draws father, suffering and neurodegenerative into the same story, creating a specific hook without requiring a long recap. That is enough context to enter the film without spoiling the turns that give it shape. ⁠ The romance depends on believable chemistry, a