The Latest in Film Reviews | Film Festivals

FILE - Carlos Santana performs at the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival in Napa, Calif., on May 26, 2019. A new documentary "Carlos" covers the music career of the multi-Grammy Award-winning artist. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Movie Review: Documentary ‘Carlos’ is a loving, respectful portrait of guitar god Santana

The documentary “Carlos” is a traditional linear tale, tracing rock icon Carlos Santana’s formative years in Tijuana, Mexico, his set at Woodstock, his dive into spirituality and his triumphant 1999 “Supernatural” album.

This image released by Lionsgate shows Sylvester Stallone in a scene from "The Expend4bles." (Lionsgate via AP)

Movie Review: St4llone, St4tham are back in ‘Expend4bles,’ yet another expend4ble sequel

Maybe this was supposed to be the clever new thing about the fourth “Expendables” movie — the title has the number “4” embedded in the word. Nice try, guys.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Eve Hewson, left, and Orén Kinlan in a scene from "Flora and Son." (Apple TV+ via AP)

Movie review: A star-making turn for Eve Hewson in the feel-good ‘Flora and Son’

John Carney, the Irish filmmaker of “Once,” “Sing Street” and “Begin Again,” makes the movie version of “three chords and the truth.”

This image released by Neon shows Megan Suri in a scene from "It Lives Inside." (Neon via AP)

Movie Review: An immigrant teen who wants to fit in enters a nightmare in ‘It Lives Inside’

A beautiful Indian American teen, Samidha (Megan Suri), just wants to fit in with her suburban classmates in the new horror “It Lives Inside,” which opens in theaters Friday.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Paul Dano as Keith Gill in a scene from "Dumb Money." (Claire Folger/Sony Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Dumb Money’ recalls GameStop squeeze, when regular folk put the screws on Wall Street

The little guy — or at least the little guy with a few hundred bucks to sink into the stock market — gets a movie to cheer with “Dumb Money,” the real story of a recent financial rebellion that shook Wall Street.

This image released by Netflix shows Haley Lu Richardson in a scene from "Love at First Sight." (Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: A charming Haley Lu Richardson anchors sappy but sweet rom-com ‘Love at First Sight’

She’s American, charming, chronically late, and her phone is always running out of juice. He’s British, prompt, has a fully charged phone and spouts statistics.

This image released by Amazon Prime Video shows Gael Garcia Bernal in a scene from "Cassandro." (Amazon Prime Video via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Cassandro,’ with Gael Garcia Bernal as a liberated luchador, is a winner

Anyone who has eagerly followed Gael Garcia Bernal since his breakthrough roles in “Amores Perros” and “Y tu mamá también” likely never foresaw him one day in the world of lucha libra wrestling.

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot, left, and and Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver in a scene from "A Haunting in Venice." (20th Century Studios via AP)

Movie Review: Kenneth Branagh crafts a sumptuously spooky ‘A Haunting in Venice’

Kenneth Branagh indulges in the kind of macabre theatricality that only a crumbling Venetian palazzo on a stormy Halloween night can provide in “A Haunting in Venice,” which co-stars Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill and Camille Cottin.

This image released by Prime shows Rosa Salazar, left, and Michael Pena in a scene from "A Million Miles Away." (Prime via AP)

Movie Review: ‘A Million Miles Away’ charms and inspires with the tale of an unlikely astronaut

If ever there was an inspirational story about reaching for the stars, it’s “A Million Miles Away,” about the real-life journey of how a boy who grew up as a migrant farmworker became a NASA astronaut.

This image released by Focus Features shows Nia Vardalos, left, and John Corbett in a scene from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3." (Yannis Drakoulidis/Focus Features via AP)

Movie Review: In ‘Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,’ the wedding’s in Greece and the formula feels ancient

When in Greece, all roads lead to ... a wedding. How could they not, in a sequel to Nia Vardalos’ enormously successful rom-com “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”?

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Taissa Farmiga as Sister Irene in New Line Cinema's horror thriller "The Nun II." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Oh, sister, what happened? ‘The Nun II’ is a face-plant horror splat

“The Conjuring” Universe celebrates 10 years in business this fall with the dull “The Nun II,” a movie that seems destined to pound a nail into this franchise’s coffin, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy.

This image released by Netflix shows a scene from "El Conde." (Pablo Larraín/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Pinochet as a vampire in surreal, frightening ‘El Conde’

The Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is not dead in Pablo Larraín’s “El Conde.” He is instead a 250-year-old vampire living in semi-exile and wishing for death in this audacious allegory about history’s tendency to repeat itself, shot in sublime, otherworldly black and white, writes Lindsey Bahr in

This image released by Sony Pictures Entertainment shows Denzel Washington in a scene from "The Equalizer 3." (Stefano Montesi/Sony Pictures Entertainment via AP)

Movie Review: Denzel Washington’s vigilante battles the Italian mafia in ‘Equalizer 3'

Antoine Fuqua’s “Equalizer 3,” a taut and textured sequel to Washington’s vigilante series, isn’t one of the actor’s best films. It wouldn’t crack his top 10.

This image released by Orion Releasing shows Ayo Edebiri, left, and Rachel Sennott in a scene from "Bottoms." (Orion Releasing via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Bottoms’ is a gonzo gay high-school comedy that comes out on top

The rites and rituals of the raunchy high-school comedy can be as prescribed as a class syllabus, but what makes Emma Seligman’s “Bottoms” such an anarchic thrill is how it couldn’t care less.

This image released by Bleecker Street shows Camille Cottin, left, and Helen Mirren as Golda Meir in a scene from. the film "Golda." (Bleecker Street via AP)

Movie Review: Filmmakers behind biopic ‘Golda,’ starring Helen Mirren, get lost in a swirl of smoke

Golda Meir was many things. She was modern Israel’s first and only female head of government and a wartime prime minister.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Bug, voiced by Jamie Foxx, Reggie, voiced by Will Ferrell, Maggie, voiced by Isla Fisher, and Hunter, voiced by Randall Park, in a scene from "Strays." (Universal Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Strays’ is furry, foul, filthy, feculent — and occasionally funny

Reggie, a border terrier with an optimistic outlook on life, loves his owner, Doug. Doug despises Reggie.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Xolo Maridueña in a scene from "Blue Beetle." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Review: ‘Blue Beetle’ is a little more than a bug in the superhero system

The young protagonist of “Blue Beetle” is the first Latino superhero in a leading role in a DC film. It’s not just token casting, either.

This image released by Netflix shows Gal Gadot in a scene from "Heart of Stone." (Robert Viglasky/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Gal Gadot turns superspy in ‘Heart of Stone’

A month after Tom Cruise faced off with an AI supervillain comes a very “Mission: Impossible”-like international espionage thriller with an equally fancy and powerful machine.

This image released by Amazon Studios shows Taylor Zakhar Perez, left, and Nicholas Galitzine in a scene from "Red, White & Royal Blue." (Jonathan Prime/Amazon Studios via AP)

Movie Review: The movie version of a beach read arrives in Amazon’s ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’

“Red, White & Royal Blue,” a new rom-com arriving on Prime Video on Friday, is based on a popular novel by Casey McQuiston that quickly became a New York Times bestseller upon its debut in 2019 about the son of the American president and a British prince who start a secret relationship.

This image provided by MTV Documentary Films shows Augusto Gongora, right, and Paulina Urrutia in a scene from "The Eternal Memory." (MTV Documentary Films via AP)

Movie Review: Documentary ‘The Eternal Memory’ shows that love is stronger than dementia

“The Eternal Memory” begins with a confused Augusto Góngora waking up one morning as his wife of two decades gently greets him. “Nice to meet you,” he tells her.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Archie Madekwe, left, and David Harbour in a scene from "Gran Turismo." (Gordon Timpen/Sony Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Gran Turismo’ movie drifts into cliches and video game aesthetics

In 2006, a Nissan marketing executive had a truly insane idea to create a competition and an “academy” to turn gamers into race car drivers.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Jason Statham in a scene from "Meg 2: The Trench." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Spoiler alert! Jason Statham jumps even bigger sharks in ‘Meg 2.’ (Also, dinosaurs)

“Meg 2: The Trench” is a movie that screams: “Sequel! What do we do NOW?” Director Ben Wheatley’s answer is to make everything bigger, and more: More Megs.

This image released by Mubi shows Franz Rogowski, left, and Adèle Exarchopoulos in a scene from "Passages." (Mubi via AP)

Movie Review: Passion and love get messy in Ira Sachs’ smoldering ‘Passages’

The new film “Passages” is centered on Tomas, a German living in France with his English husband Martin who begins an affair with a French woman, Agathe.

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows, from left, Michelangelo "Mikey", voiced by Shamon Brown Jr., Donatello, "Donnie" voiced by Micah Abbey, Leonardo "Leo", voiced by Nicolas Cantu and Raphael "Raph", voiced by Brady Noon in a scene from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." (Paramount Pictures via AP)

Movie review: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back, and maybe better than ever

There are some good gags and clever innovations in the animated “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.”

This image released by Apple TV shows Zach Galifianakis in a scene from "The Beanie Bubble." (Apple via AP)

Film review: ‘The Beanie Bubble,’ with Zach Galifianakis, plunges into a plush toy ‘90s craze

Who knew so many movie ideas could be found while rummaging through your attic? This year we’ve had movies on Tetris (“Tetris”), Nike (“Air”), Blackberry (“Blackberry”) and Cheetos (“Flamin’ Hot”).

This image released by Disney Enterprises shows, from left, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish and Danny DeVito in a scene from "Haunted Mansion." (Disney Enterprises via AP)

Movie Review: Baby’s first horror? Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ conjures up a story about grief

LaKeith Stanfield plays a grief-stricken astrophysicist who tries to help a single mother played by Rosario Dawson out with her haunted house in “Haunted Mansion,” based on the Disney ride.

This image released by A24 Films shows Sophie Wilde in a scene from "Talk to Me." (A24 via AP)

Movie Review: Horror flick ‘Talk to Me’ is a hand-some high-five for twin Australian filmmakers

You’ve got to hand it to the Philippou brothers. They’ve taken the old horror cliche of a severed hand and made something worth, well, applauding, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy.

This image released by Sideshow/Janus Films shows Thomas Schubert, left, and Paula Beer in a scene from "Afire."

Movie Review: Tensions boil over in Christian Petzold’s haunting summer drama ‘Afire’

Fire is in the air this summer, literally, and at the movies. In Christian Petzold’s “Afire,” friends descend on a family home for a working vacation, one is a writer, one is a photographer, to find a mysterious guest already in the house.

This image released by Apple TV+ shows Stephen Curry in a scene from the documentary "Stephen Curry: Underrated." (Apple TV+ via AP)

Movie Review: The resilience of basketball star Stephen Curry explored in Apple TV+ doc

“Stephen Curry: Underrated” is a portrait of a man — the greatest three-point shooter of all time — who has felt inferior playing the game he loves since he was a scrawny kid playing on his local under-10 team.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cillian Murphy in a scene from "Oppenheimer." (Universal Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: A bomb and its fallout in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’

Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is a kinetic thing of dark, imposing beauty that quakes with the disquieting tremors of a forever rupture in the course of human history.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ryan Gosling, left, and Margot Robbie in a scene from "Barbie." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: She’s Perfect Barbie. He’s Scene-Stealing Ken. Their life in plastic looks fantastic

She’s been Astronaut Barbie, Teacher Barbie, Doctor Barbie, President Barbie. And now after 64 years, we have live-action Movie Star Barbie.

This image released by Netflix shows, from left, Gonzalo de Castro, Georgina Campbell, Mario Casas and Naila Schuberth in a scene from "Bird Box: Barcelona." (Andrea Resmini/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Cheap thrills in tedious Netflix spinoff ‘Bird Box Barcelona’

Netflix tries to capitalize on the popularity of its 2018 film “Bird Box” with “Bird Box Barcelona,” set in the Spanish city around the same time, with a new cast that does not include Sandra Bullock.

This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows a scene from "Theater Camp." (Searchlight Pictures via AP)

Film review: Musical theater meets mockumentary in ‘Theater Camp’

Among the low-hanging fruits of satire, sleepaway theater camps would dangle about as low as social-media influencers and Def Leppard cover bands.

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Tom Cruise in a scene from "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One." (Paramount Pictures via AP)

‘Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning, Part One’ movie review

Wondering if you should choose to accept the latest “Mission: Impossible” entry? Put it another way: Do you really want to disappoint Tom Cruise?

This image released by Lionsgate shows Sabrina Wu as Deadeye, from left, Ashley Park as Audrey, Sherry Cola as Lolo, and Stephanie Hsu as Kat, in a scene from "Joy Ride." (Ed Araquel/Lionsgate via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Joy Ride’ is a cheerfully gross-out comedy that soars, thanks to a terrific cast

The raunch comes early and often in “Joy Ride,” from first-time director Adele Lim. But the gross-out factor is balanced by the film’s huge heart and abundant opportunities for belly laughs, writes Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Patrick Wilson in Screen Gems' "Insidious: The Red Door." (Sony Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Insidious: The Red Door’ fails to scare up a winning formula for franchise’s finale

The “Insidious” franchise folds back on itself for the fifth installment, returning to its roots with the movie equivalent of getting the band back together.

This image released by Bleecker Street shows Daryl McCormack in a scene from "The Lesson." (Anna Patarakina/Bleecker Street via AP)

Movie Review: ‘The Lesson’ provides a spicy literary thriller

The egos are as vast and thorny as the gardens on the lush estate of a prominent author in “The Lesson,” an erudite chamber piece about a master, a tutor and a family after loss starring Richard E.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Ruby Gillman, voiced by Lana Condor, and Connor, voiced by Jaboukie Young-White) in DreamWorks Animation's "Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken." (Universal Pictures via AP)

A sea monster is celebrated in ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’

We landlubbers have gotten it all wrong: Kraken aren’t terrible sea monsters who destroy our sailing ships and munch on our sailors. They’re kind and helpful.

This image released by Focus Features shows Alicia Roth Weigel, from left, River Gallo and Sean Saifa Wall during the filming of the documentary "Every Body." (Focus Features via AP)

What does it mean to be intersex? ‘Every Body’ sheds light on little-known subject

The new documentary “Every Body” opens with footage of elaborate, often absurd “gender reveals.” But by the end of this illuminating film, viewers will be forced to confront something much deeper and more insidious: society’s need to divide humans into a binary system, and its sometimes disastrous r

This image released by Lucasfilm shows Harrison Ford in a scene from "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." (Lucasfilm Ltd. via AP)

Harrison Ford gets a swashbuckling sendoff in ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’

Harrison Ford returns as Indiana Jones one last time in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” directed by James Mangold.

This image released by Netflix shows character Nimona, voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz, in a scene from the animated film "Nimona." (Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: A fantasy adventure with riot-grrrl energy in ‘Nimona’

A powerful, shapeshifting teenage girl and a disgraced knight-in-training suspected of killing a beloved queen are at the heart of “Nimona,” a vibrant and irreverent animated adventure set in a futuristic fantasy kingdom.

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Jennifer Lawrence, left, and Andrew Barth Feldman in a scene from "No Hard Feelings." (Macall Polay/Sony Pictures via AP)

Movie review: Jennifer Lawrence in the raunchy teen comedy ‘No Hard Feelings’

In a saner world, we would have already had a dozen Jennifer Lawrence comedies. As if to make up for lost time, Lawrence has in “No Hard Feelings” made the kind of R-rated teen comedy that has usually launched young actors.

This image released by Netflix shows Chris Hemsworth in a scene from "Extraction 2." (Jasin Boland/Netflix via AP)

Movie Review: Chris Hemsworth returns in ‘Extraction 2,’ a gun-for-hire who pulls you completely in

Tyler Rake was clinically dead when we last saw him at the end of “Extraction,” tumbling over a bridge in Bangladesh with a fatal, burbling bullet wound to his neck.

This image released by Disney/Pixar Studios shows Ember, voiced by Leah Lewis, in a scene from the animated film "Elemental." (Disney/Pixar via AP)

Movie review: Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ won’t set the world on fire, but it holds water

Pixar’s “Elemental” conjures a diverse metropolis where the elements — fire, water, earth and air — live like ethnicities mostly ghettoized from one other.

This image released by Focus Features shows Scarlett Johansson in a scene from "Asteroid City." (Focus Features via AP)

Movie Review: Americana, told Wes Anderson-style, in star-filled ‘Asteroid City’

Wes Anderson returns with a sprawling cast for “Asteroid City,” a play within a play set in the midcentury American desert at a stargazer convention of kid geniuses.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ezra Miller, from left, Michael Keaton and Ezra Miller in a scene from "The Flash." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Movie review: Ezra Miller speeds back to the future in ‘The Flash,’ fueled by calories and cameos

The long-awaited standalone “Flash” movie has arrived. Especially in the early going it has some humor and heart, plus a compelling performance from its embattled star, Ezra Miller, who deftly inhabits two versions of their character.

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Wheeljack and Arcee in a scene from "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts." (Paramount via AP)

Movie Review: Who let the beasts out? New ‘Transformers’ tries but fails to energize the saga

With the “Transformers” franchise clearly at a crossroads, its latest protectors have turned to their deep bench of characters.

This image released by Magnolia Pictures shows Rosy McEwen in a scene from "Blue Jean." (Magnolia Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: In ‘Blue Jean,’ a nuanced picture of life as a lesbian in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain

A high school gym teacher grappling with her sexual identity is challenged on both a micro and macro level in 1988 England in “ Blue Jean,” a quietly complex portrait of compartmentalization and self-actualization.

This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Jesse Garcia in a scene from "Flamin' Hot," a tale of how a Mexican American janitor came up with the idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. (Emily Aragones/Searchlight Pictures via AP)

Movie Review: Flamin’ Hot Cheetos get a loaded origin story, one that’s worth the crunch

Flamin’ Hot Cheetos get an origin story worthy of any Marvel superhero with Hulu’s totally engrossing “Flamin’ Hot.”

This image released by A24 shows Greta Lee, left, and Teo Yoo in a scene from "Past Lives." (Jon Pack/A24 via AP)

Movie review: ‘Past Lives’ is a gorgeous meditation on love, chance — and the choices we make

Two minutes away, the Uber app promises at one point in “Past Lives.” And if you’re like me, you may find yourself — perhaps for the first time in your Uber-riding life — hoping that promise is a bald-faced lie.