DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS (1995)
This week we're revisiting Carl Franklin's sorely under-appreciated neo-noir, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month.
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY GETS LOST DOWN A GIANT PLOT HOLE IN "A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE"
With its weakest hour yet, Lovecraft Country turns in a story that is at turns dull, derivative, and disturbing (but not in a good way).
LOVECRAFT COUNTRY HITS ITS STRIDE, AND JURNEE SMOLLETT SHINES, IN "HOLY GHOST"
Jurnee Smollett gives a stunning performance in the strongest, most emotionally compelling episode of Lovecraft Country so far.
SPIRITED AWAY (2001)
This week we're getting Ghibli with it, as we sit down for The Unenthusiastic Critic's first viewing of Hayao Miyazaki's weird and wonderful animated classic.
WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS (2020) LANGUISHES AT THE PERILOUS BORDER BETWEEN FILMS AND NOVELS
Great films are rarely made from great books, and Ciro Guerra's film of J.M. Coetzee's novel underlines the perils—and even the pointlessness—of many literary adaptations.
OTHER RECENT POSTS
FILM REVIEWS
US (2019)
Jordan Peele's triumphant sophomore effort is a smart and terrifying cinematic ordeal, and a disturbingly dark mirror held up to America.
March 24, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
POINT BREAK (1991)
Surfing? Bank robbery? Homoerotic bromance? We've found a film The Unenthusiastic Critic can be enthusiastic about.
March 19, 2019
FILM REVIEWS
GLORIA BELL (2019)
The race for the Best Actress Oscar begins here, with Julianne Moore's remarkable portrayal of an unremarkable woman.
March 18, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
THE QUIET MAN (1952)
For St. Patrick's Day, we're heading back to the Emerald Isle with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara for some John Ford paddywhackery.
March 12, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
CROOKLYN (1994)
We're switching seats this week, and The Unenthusiastic Critic is picking the movie: Spike Lee's semi-autobiographic joint Crooklyn.
March 6, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
STIR CRAZY (1980)
That's right, we bad, we bad…and so, to be honest, is STIR CRAZY.
February 19, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)
They call him MISTER Tibbs: we're celebrating Black History Month with one of Sidney Poitier's greatest performances.
February 12, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP (1982)
In the world according to the Unenthusiastic Critic, she wouldn't have to watch movies like this.
February 5, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
GOODFELLAS (1990)
Damn it feels good to be a gangster, as The Unenthusiastic Critic enjoys her first viewing of Martin Scorsese's classic mob movie. Plus: Oscar talk!
January 29, 2019
FILM REVIEWS
COLD WAR (2018)
Rapturous and resonant, Pawel Pawlikowski's new film is a deceptively simple cinematic masterpiece.
January 24, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is thinking about chucking her wedding ring into Mt. Doom.
January 22, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
BROADCAST NEWS (1987)
This week we're discussing all the news that's fit to podcast (and some that isn't).
January 17, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
The Unenthusiastic Critic is an avowed hater of musicals, but can even her cold heart resist the infectious charms of the most beloved musical of all time?
January 9, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972)
For New Year's Eve, we're rockin' the boat with Master of Disaster Irwin Allen and a star-studded, ultimately disposable cast.
January 1, 2019
FILM REVIEWS
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (2018)
Lush, lyrical, and deeply romantic, Barry Jenkins celebrates the sustaining beauty in one of James Baldwin's darkest stories.
December 30, 2018
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
GREMLINS (1984)
In which we learn the true meaning of Christmas (and never to feed The Unenthusiastic Critic after midnight).
December 26, 2018
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
BRAZIL (1985)
In this holiday season, we're all in it together…except for The Unenthusiastic Critic.
December 18, 2018
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
DIE HARD (1988)
It's the holiday season, so we're holding The Unenthusiastic Critic hostage for her first viewing of the Christmas-adjacent action classic Die Hard.
December 4, 2018
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) & BODY HEAT (1981)
To celebrate #Noirvember, we're enjoying a femme-fatale face-off, and Nakea's taking lessons on how to have your husband murdered.
November 28, 2018
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
STRIPES (1981)
I didn't talk the Unenthusiastic Critic into this: she needed this.
November 13, 2018
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
On our Election Day episode, The Unenthusiastic Critic goes looking for some Capraesque idealism.
November 6, 2018
DOCTOR WHO
DOCTOR WHO 11×03: "ROSA"
"This ain't history here," Doctor Who reminds us in the smart, powerful, and horrifyingly timely "Rosa."
November 4, 2018
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
EVIL DEAD 2 (1987)
The Unenthusiastic Critic's 2018 Horror Movie Marathon turns to Ash.
October 31, 2018
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
RAW (2016)
Finger-food is served as The Unenthusiastic Critic's Horror Movie Marathon continues.
October 24, 2018