Movies


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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse weaves a perfect web of story, style, and sound

Woven into Across the Spider-Verse's colorful animation and humor is a deft exploration of the complexities of morality and destiny.

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Let Carmen dance you through darkness

A story of unlikely companionship, Carmen urges its audience to question what family means when blood runs out.

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The Origin of Evil is tacky, timely, and true

The beauty of The Origin of Evil, and of Filmfest DC writ large, lies in its capacity to create kinship within hardship.

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Renfield is a bloody good time!

Renfield embodies everything that one would hope for in a hilariously horrifying film. 

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AIR is the perfect sneakerhead movie

The film, shot with the precision and smoothness of Michael Jordan’s own jumper, masterfully honors both the shoe line and the player.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is fun for normal people, too!

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves is a hilarious fantasy heist movie that satisfies both lifelong D&D fans and those who know nothing about the game.

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Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has too much goop

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023) fails on nearly every front where its predecessors triumph. 

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If you suspend belief, Sharper may charm you

Stilted dialogue and an unbelievable story blunt Sharper’s self-proclaimed wit. 

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Magic Mike’s Last Dance strips away logic with its barely there plot

Magic Mike’s “final tease” swaps drugs and tear-away pants for pseudo-feminism and an ill-developed romance. 

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Turn Every Page documents a legendary literary duo’s fear of legacy, mortality, and … semicolons?

Gottlieb showcases her artistic talent through this emotional journey of their respective lives, legacy, and love

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Bones and All’s writing is just bare bones: This cannibalistic romance lacks real depth

The romance of Bones and All, despite what it lacks in its writing, shines through in its cinematography.

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Armageddon Time: The power of white privilege

In this semi-autobiographical film, Gray attempts to show the power, privilege, and advantages of being white in America. 

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She Said offers an engaging (if imperfect) look at the story behind the #MeToo Movement

Adapted from the 2019 book of the same name, She Said (2022) doesn’t directly grapple with the impacts of the article that started it all.

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Empire of Light bites off more than it can chew

In this ’80s period film, Colman portrays Hilary, a middle-aged movie theater manager in an English coastal town.

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Legacy honored as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tenderly chaperones its audience through grief and loss

But the movie is an ode to Boseman. Wakanda Forever is, at its core, a story of grief, resilience, and recovery.

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Smile is an entertaining horror film that squanders its thematic potential

Perhaps this recent shift in consumer interest helps make sense of the seeming contradiction between Smile’s aggressive promotion and thematic scope. 

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Black Adam: A boring attempt

2/10. Less than mid.

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Aftersun is all hazy memories and melancholy

Sunshine, salt air, and sadness color this stunning portrayal of a father-daughter bond.

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Cleanse your palettes: The Menu is a meal you won’t want to miss

Once you’ve peeled back its layers, The Menu proves to be a clever satire on food culture as well.

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Good Night Oppy: a story of human love and innovation

Good Night Oppy (2022) looks at the most human thing we’ve sent to Mars: twin rovers named Spirit and Opportunity.