Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983)::rating::4::rating::4::rating::4

L et's imagine Return of the Jedi as a standalone film, forced to stand on its own technical and storytelling merit. In that alternate universe, Jedi endures as a milestone achievement. After all, its special effects push the envelope for 1983, the story bursts with vivid characters, and the final act blends an epic space battle…

ByTodd WoffordApril 11, 20250Comments

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A Complete Unknown (2024)::rating::4.5

A Complete Unknown succeeds in every way Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic resoundingly failed. Unlike that wrongheaded misfire, director James Mangold (who co-writes with Jay Cocks) realizes that no one film could capture the sheer scope of Bob Dylan’s epic life and outsized influence. As such, the best we could ever hope for is a…

ByTodd WoffordApril 5, 20250Comments

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Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (1980)::rating::5

I f the original Star Wars represented the potential of modern cinema, then The Empire Strikes Back is the wondrous payoff. Everything that made the first film a gloriously giddy romp gets improved here: The special effects are enhanced with new imagination and innovation, and they work at the service of thrilling new action scenes. New characters will…

ByTodd WoffordApril 2, 20250Comments

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Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (1977)::rating::5

W ith full confidence, I can now point to the exact moment I became a movie nerd. As Star Wars' famed opening crawl faded into the star field, and two warships dueled above the sand swirls of a distant planet, I was hooked. I fell in love with movies, science fiction, and fantasy, all in the…

ByTodd WoffordMarch 27, 20250Comments

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)::rating::4.5

W ith every rewatch, my thoughts on Return of the King grow a little more complex. On one hand, this is most thrilling film in the trilogy. It pays off the emotional and action beats of the previous two films with absolute perfection. The franchise’s cinematic legacy couldn’t exist without the awe-inspiring grandeur…

ByTodd WoffordMarch 12, 20250Comments

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Anora (2024)::rating::4.5

A nora is a throwback to the great American character studies of the 1970s. Many emotions and filmmaking genres meld into an impressively coherent story. By turns, this is a searing drama, a sly comedy, and a subtle piece of social commentary. It's heartbreaking, redemptive, frustrating, and magnificent. Writer-editor-director Sean Baker delivers showy cinematic flourishes next…

ByTodd WoffordMarch 8, 20250Comments

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)::rating::5

W ith this middle chapter, Peter Jackson's epic trilogy hits its stride. The Two Towers is darker, more suspenseful, and more richly textured than its predecessor. It's also more focused and dramatically satisfying than Return of the King. (These critiques come with the caveat that all three films are top-tier cinema.) Much like The Empire Strikes…

ByTodd WoffordMarch 5, 20250Comments

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Emilia Pérez (2024)::rating::4

D espite its accolades, Emilia Pérez has also amassed a stunning swell of controversy. Members of the trans community have stated the film is not an accurate depiction of their lives. Similarly, Mexicans have expressed frustration at what they feel is a stereotypical and one-dimensional portrayal of their country. To further complicate matters, controversial tweets…

ByTodd WoffordMarch 4, 20250Comments

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)::rating::4.5

P erhaps the biggest triumph of this movie is that it even exists at all. Tolkien's behemoth novels were so sweeping and ambitious, many readers swore they could never be filmed. The special effects would be too intensive and expensive, and the books' fractured storytelling would make any traditional three-act movie feel rushed and incoherent.…

ByTodd WoffordFebruary 26, 20250Comments

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Total Recall (1990)::rating::3.5

T otal Recall marries some truly audacious sci-fi concepts to a traditional Arnold Schwarzenegger action epic. It's an unholy union, to say the least: A man's shaky grasp of his own shifting reality occupies the same movie as oily bad guys getting their arms ripped off and an endless barrage of cheeseball one-liners. (Of course,…

ByTodd WoffordFebruary 19, 20250Comments