Category: Mini Review
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Mini Review: Twinless
Feeling the Sundance withdrawal with #Twinless, & mad that a lack of 🇨🇦 release meant having to wait til 2026 to watch this one. Dylan O’Brien is impressive as always, but it’s Sweeney’s script & direction that succeeds in nailing an incredibly emotional gut-punch. A great film!
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Mini Review: The Testament of Ann Lee
Fastvold’s vision for #TheTestamentofAnnLee is refreshing & bold, making the crossover of musical & biopic of the Shakers movement work in its own way. The choreography & music is impressive, as is Seyfried’s lead performance. It’s just a little too visually bleak for my liking.
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Mini Review: Arco
#Arco does a lot in a short amount of time, with many plot points requiring you to just accept and move on. But in that short time it manages to deliver an impressive amount of heart, & some incredible visuals. The flying sequences are particularly incredible. Well worth a watch.
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Mini Review: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
I was hesitant about #28YearsLaterTheBoneTemple, particularly given my dislike of the ending of its predecessor, but boy was I glad I gave it a chance. The emotional payoff is well worth it & makes me genuinely excited to see where this franchise goes. Ralph Fiennes is legendary!
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Mini Review: TRON: Ares
The visuals spectacle & soundtrack are great in #TronAres, and the script asks a lot of interesting questions about the morality & ethics of AI. But the film feels absolutely disinterested in answering any of those questions or making any strong statements. A missed opportunity.
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Mini Review: Father Mother Sister Brother
Told through short vignettes of three dysfunctional families, Jim Jarmusch’s #FatherMotherSisterBrother is a calm, meditative experience. While overall pleasant, given the stories are more connected in spirit than narrative, there isn’t too much to latch on to. Mileage may vary.
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Mini Review: A House of Dynamite
The story & detail in #AHouseOfDynamite is certainly impressive & unfortunately all too real. And the massive cast is incredible for the split second you see them. But its the structure of the film that lets it down, getting less tense as the film goes on. A bit of a miss for me.
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Mini Review: DJ Ahmet
#DJAhmet is a real comfort film, treading on familiar tropes of young love & rebellion, but set in the conservative world of North Macedonia. There’s an authenticity & earnestness to the film & cast that is so endearing. Truly hard not to smile, laugh & enjoy this very sweet film
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Mini Review: Avatar: Fire and Ash
#AvatarFireAndAsh differs from its predecessor by focusing more on plot versus world building. As a result, the film feels more purposeful, but is filled with too much narrative bloat. Those hoping for a deeper dive into the fire clan will be disappointed. Still a fun adventure.
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Mini Review: The Voice of Hind Rajab
#TheVoiceofHindRajab mounts its heartbreaking tension before leaving you absolutely speechless. The blending of the real & dramatized is so interesting & seamlessly blended. And the atrocities that are revealed remain unbelievably devastating. A true cinematic experience.
Year in Cinema 