Manuel São Bento 
In recent years, films that set out to explore non-traditional relationships or unconventional family dynamics have become more common, but they don’t always manage to do so with the necessary depth. Most fall into the trap of using the theme as a mere gimmick, without delving into the genuine emotions …
I wasn’t familiar with the work of James Sweeney (Straight Up), but there’s always something fascinating when a filmmaker decides to take on so many roles in a single project: writing, directing, producing, and, on top of that, playing one of the main characters. That kind of total exposure naturally …
Before watching a new Ron Howard film, I always carry with me a certain map of expectations. The filmmaker behind A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Apollo 13 (1995) has built a career marked by human stories with strong emotional appeal, coupled with a classical, assured direction that’s rarely devoid of …
Preparing to watch a contemporary western is always an exercise in expectation and curiosity. The genre, so often revisited, can be both fertile ground for reinvention and a minefield of clichés. Tony Tost, in his first feature as writer and director, takes on this risky premise with Americana, a hybrid …
When Night Always Comes opens with news reports and radio shows hammering the housing crisis – wages too low to cover rent and basic expenses, evictions looming – the promise is clear: a direct plunge into a reality that pushes people to the edge. As the protagonist heads out to …
When Nobody (2021) premiered, it was received as a sort of distant cousin to John Wick, but with its own identity rooted mainly in the unexpected charisma of Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) and the spot-on balance between action, violence, and humor. Four years later, the sequel arrives under the …
There’s something curious – and even a bit uncomfortable – about seeing one of the names responsible for creating some of the most iconic Cartoon Network series – and, consequently, a big part of my childhood – heading down such an… adult path. Fixed, written by Genndy Tartakovsky (Hotel Transylvania) …
Over the last few years, my relationship with Ari Aster’s filmography could best be described as a rollercoaster ride. Hereditary is one of the defining works of modern horror and among my favorite films of the century. In 2019, Midsommar captivated me with its fusion of visual beauty and psychological …
Some filmmakers only need their very first feature film to leave an indelible mark. For Zach Cregger, it was his second movie that achieved just that: Barbarian, one of the most refreshing and unpredictable surprises in recent horror cinema. Cregger showed willingness to take creative risks, even if it meant …
In a year full of forgettable productions and releases that fly under the radar, The Pickup arrives as just another film filling a slot on the calendar. With virtually nonexistent marketing and extremely low expectations – especially considering the names involved – this heist flick, written by Kevin Burrows & …
Based on the novel of the same name by Jordan Harper, She Rides Shotgun follows Nate McClusky (Taron Egerton, Rocketman), an ex-convict who is forced to kidnap his 11-year-old daughter, Polly (Ana Sophia Heger), to protect her from a hit order issued by a neo-Nazi gang after Nate killed their …
Over the decades, slapstick comedy and deadpan humor have become increasingly rare. In a cinematic landscape where physical satire and innocent laughter have given way to biting irony or postmodern self-referential humor, the return of the The Naked Gun franchise feels like a breath of fresh air… or, forgive me, …
There are films that, regardless of their cinematic quality, earn a very special place in the hearts of audiences. Happy Gilmore (1996), starring Adam Sandler and co-written with Tim Herlihy, is one such case. Much like many of Sandler’s comedies from the ’90s and early 2000s, it didn’t stand out …
I’ve never truly connected with the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise. Even when the 1997 original tried riding the success of Scream, it always felt like a lesser echo. The iconic image of the hook-wielding fisherman, the soaked streets of Southport, and that unforgettable scream – “What …
Following up on a surprisingly entertaining origin story, The Old Guard 2 attempts to expand the universe created by Greg Rucka (writer of the original The Old Guard comic and film) and once again directed for the screen – this time under the hand of Victoria Mahoney (Yelling to the …
Ever since I watched Ilya Naishuller’s sophomore flick, Nobody (2021), starring Bob Odenkirk – a visceral action flick laced with dry, stylized humor – his name stuck in my memory. Even so, I have to admit my expectations for Heads of State were quite low. The premise sounded over-the-top even …
Without knowing absolutely anything about Deep Cover, I began watching it at home with zero expectations – sometimes, that’s truly the best way to discover little cinematic surprises throughout the year. The lack of anticipation allows one to fully enjoy the unpredictability of the humor and the narrative lightness of …
It’s inevitable. With every new live-action remake released by Disney, the same cycle of controversy, ridiculous boycotts, and deafening noise from hate groups and internet users who can’t handle any deviation from the established norm repeats itself – even if that “norm” is just their highly romanticized childhood memories. Casting …
I made the mistake of ignoring the release of the Fear Street trilogy in 2021… a blunder I corrected this past week in preparation for the saga’s fourth installment, Prom Queen. It’s essential to highlight just how underrated and overlooked Leigh Janiak’s original three films remain – remarkable examples of …
Hurry Up Tomorrow is directed by Trey Edward Shults (It Comes at Night), a filmmaker who here collaborates with Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Reza Fahim (The Idol) on the screenplay. Starring Jenna Ortega (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) and Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin), with Tesfaye himself playing a fictionalized version …