Elizabeth Weitzman

By stripping away anything even remotely extraneous, [Chiarella's] achieved a palpable sense of gothic anguish. And by casting his leads so perfectly, he’s also made one of the most touching romances of the year.

Ultimately, Carney has constructed a crowd-pleasing wedding band of a movie, but a high-quality one, with a strong lead singer and solid backing. And who doesn’t want to celebrate good times? Come on.

It’s not a perfect movie, but it’s also never, as Lori grudgingly notes about Julian’s work, uninteresting. And in this cultural moment, that’s an authentic win.

Because the movie’s on-the-fly style is as scruffy as its protagonists, it’s easy to underestimate the intelligence and artistry it takes to make something so silly.

It seems impossible for anyone to remain unmoved by Harper’s thoughtfully-constructed history.

A sensitive drama that marks a notably personal feature debut.

This is as essential a historical document as you could ever hope to find. It should be considered required viewing for every American who has the slightest interest in our nation’s history, politics, or culture. And, come to think of it, also for those who don’t.

The filmmakers’ connection to the material is always palpable and undeniably affecting.

Bamford seems remarkably at home in her unsettled state, to such a degree that her self-awareness feels downright aspirational.

There’s something oddly appealing about the fact that Rebecca Zlotowski’s understated thriller, A Private Life, stubbornly refuses easy definition – other than as a modest romp that allows Jodie Foster to perform in another language. And if you’ll watch Foster acting in anything, you’re gonna love watching her do it in French.