Category Archives: Reviews

Review by John Dugan Throughout the past decade or so, live action adaptations of classic cartoons and animated media have become a staple of blockbuster cinema. As a fan of animation, I cannot say these adaptations were something I felt effectively captured the charm of the works they were based on. Unfortunately, Tom and Jerry:Continue reading “Tom and Jerry: The Movie”

Review by Katie Lynch The 2021 documentary, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal (Chris Smith) is an account of the scam headed by William Rick Singer which bought places at Ivy League colleges for wealthy students. Known as the “side door”, Singer’s method was to doctor and bolster evidence of participation in niche sportsContinue reading “Operation Varsity Blues”

Review by Cat Earley In a climate of increasing political tension and particularly aggressive surges of nationalism, the decision to adapt the story of a man who spent 14 years imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay is a commendable one. From the very beginning, Kevin Macdonald’s The Mauritanian (2021) is faced with the impossible task of providingContinue reading “The Mauritanian”

Review by John Dugan The premise of The One is rather simple: a matchmaking service that can genetically determine your perfect mate with a DNA sample from a single strand of hair. This idyllic sounding premise however, results in a show focused on anything but. In its first 8-episode season airing on Netflix, based onContinue reading “The One”

Review by James Mahon After describing the plot of Yes Day (Miguel Arteta) to a friend of mine he proclaimed, “That sounds terrible”. Caution is always advised when giving weight to a judgment based on a loose plot description. In this case, however, my friend had captured my thoughts exactly after I watched the whirlwindContinue reading “Yes Day”

Review by Katie McKenna One of last year’s (many) oddities was its lack of Marvel films. While most blockbusters were postponed, no absence was felt quite as much as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The pause of Marvel’s clockwork-like release schedule added to the chaos of an already turbulent year. So, when the trailer forContinue reading “Wandavision”

Review by Sophie Brennan Black Bear (Lawrence Michael Levine, 2020) takes part in two parallel acts connected by the reoccurring establishing shot of Allison (Aubrey Plaza) arising from a balcony in a red swimsuit. The phenomenon of the ‘red dress effect’ in film also has two effects. The first effect may heighten the sexual attractivenessContinue reading “Black Bear”

Review by Mia Sherry Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth, bespeckled and greying, deeply in love, reckoning with loss. What more could you want? That seems to be the question – and, indeed, the promotional tactic – for Harry Macqueen’s Supernova. And while that’s all fine and well on the surface, it turns out that, whenContinue reading “Supernova”

Review by Lila Funge “You can kill a revolutionary, but you can’t kill the revolution.” Striking. Powerful. Enraging. These are the words that came to mind when the credits for Judas and the Black Messiah began to roll down my screen. Director Shaka King proves he can stand with the greats in this gripping biopicContinue reading “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Review by Saoirse Mulvihill The White Tiger (Ramin Bahrani, 2021) is the dark, rags-to-riches story of Balram Halwai (effectively portrayed by Adarsh Gourav) within India’s corrupt democracy and classist caste system, adapted from the novel of the same name. It is an excellent film for anyone who wants to view a faithful representation of IndianContinue reading “The White Tiger”