DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
In 1990, Kevin Costner's epic western was widely hailed as major progress in Hollywood's representation of indigenous people. But what will The Unenthusiastic Critic make of it 30 years later?
IT'S A "STRANGE CASE" OF JEKYLL IN HYDE PARK ON A CHALLENGING LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
Questions of identity, duality, and transformation abound in a disturbing and surprisingly complicated episode of Lovecraft Country.
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).
THE STRANGERS (2008)
There's no place like home, as The Unenthusiastic Critic's 2020 Halloween Movie Marathon concludes with Bryan Bertino's harrowing home-invasion thriller.
HEREDITARY (2018)
What's scarier than family? So we're talking about Ari Aster's breakthrough horror movie this week, as The Unenthusiastic Critic's Halloween movie marathon continues.
OTHER RECENT POSTS
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×03: "THE LONG NIGHT"
Visually muddy, and emotionally clichéd, "The Long Night" begs the question: What sort of ending are we hoping for from Game of Thrones?
May 3, 2019
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×02: "A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS"
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is Game of Thrones at its absolute best. It is a last chance to remember—before all hell breaks loose—that this show was always about people, not special effects.
April 24, 2019
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 8×01: "WINTERFELL"
"Winterfell" feels a little too much like a box-checking prologue to the final season of Game of Thrones, not the exciting opening chapter.
April 21, 2019
BLOG
NEW BOOK, NOW AVAILABLE: THE UNAFFILIATED CRITIC'S GUIDE TO SEASONS 1-3 OF GAME OF THRONES
Announcing the first of three e-books, collecting all my writing on Game of Thrones.
April 20, 2019
GAME OF THRONES
GAME OF THRONES 7×07: "THE DRAGON AND THE WOLF"
The Wall is down, and the games are over, and the surviving characters must now prove whether they've actually absorbed any of the show's lessons.
April 7, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)
Last year, the Unenthusiastic Critic met Sean Connery's James Bond. Now, she's ready for Moore.
April 2, 2019
THE UNENTHUSIASTIC CRITIC
REAL LIFE (1979)
We're celebrating the 40th anniversary of Albert Brooks' seminal, and absurdly prescient, comedy.
March 26, 2019
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