Fresh Fiction
Fresh Fiction is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this
publication only count toward the Tomatometer when written by the following
Tomatometer-approved critic(s):
Courtney Howard, James Clay, Kip Mooney, Preston Barta
Rating
Title/Year
Author
1
Jackass Forever (2022)
In between the junk-punching madness and sideshow mayhem in JACKASS FOREVER lies resounding commentary on friendship, aging and reflection.
Posted Feb 2, 2022
2
A-
Living (2022)
3
Summering (2022)
It's Stand By Me for a new generation. Ponsoldt and Percy efficiently balance the sincere with the somber, the heartrending with the horror and the frank with the fantastical.
Posted Jan 24, 2022
4
A-
Fresh (2022)
It's a symphony of tawdry elegance, a perfect, percolating mix of trash and class. Cave and Kahn have crafted a timeless, twisted AF feminist allegory.
Posted Jan 21, 2022
5
B-
It's easily the weakest entry in the series, but it's also harmless. You can't ignore how it makes you smile.
Posted Jan 13, 2022
6
Beanie Mania (2021)
It not only captures a moment in pop culture's history, but also provides commentary on the psychology behind the sensation.
Posted Dec 22, 2021
7
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
A terrific, awe-inducing, meta mind-bender completely in line with the franchise's legacy.
Posted Dec 21, 2021
8
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Superb surprises bolster some of the more sluggish storytelling aspects.
Posted Dec 13, 2021
9
Don't Look Up (2021)
10
A-
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)
This version of high camp Oscar bait is so easy to lap up, digest, and beg for more; it's as if the influence of Frank Perry's MOMMIE DEAREST was in Showalter's filmmaking DNA.
Posted Nov 11, 2021
11
Eternals (2021)
Zhao delivers a uniquely evocative, extraordinarily epic superhero film that features a thought-provoking, thematically dense narrative and enriching emotional stakes.
Posted Oct 24, 2021
12
A
The French Dispatch (2021)
There's so much creative magnetism within ['The French Dispatch'] that it'll knock your socks off.
Posted Oct 13, 2021
13
A
C'mon C'mon (2021)
Mills' film is a beautifully cinematic visual essay about human connection and how mothers wear superhero capes. Joaquin Phoenix has never been better.
Posted Oct 13, 2021
14
B-
15
B-
Free Guy (2021)
An overall enjoyable movie with egregious scene forms of IP placement in film history.
Posted Oct 13, 2021
16
B
The Execution (2021)
Its gut-wrenching anxiety, chilling tone and nuanced approach make it an immersive journey from start to finish.
Posted Oct 7, 2021
17
A-
Lamb (2021)
Part dark folkloric fantasy, part harrowing parental drama, it's a bold work of genius you won't soon forget.
Posted Oct 7, 2021
18
C+
No Time To Die (2021)
Some action scenes are truly worthy of note, like watching Ana de Armas kick some tail. But the wows are all followed with too much disengagement.
Posted Oct 1, 2021
19
C
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
To simultaneously be outlandishly hysterical, surprisingly sweet and bafflingly middling is quite the feat - something this sequel achieves.
Posted Sep 30, 2021
20
The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
Threads the needle beautifully delivering a deeply engrossing origin story.
Posted Sep 21, 2021
21
A
Zola (2021)
22
B-
Copshop (2021)
Despite the less than arresting aspects holding it back from total success, its atmospheric throwback qualities make it effortlessly watchable - and possibly re-watchable.
Posted Sep 15, 2021
23
A
Come From Away (2021)
24
B
It makes narrative leaps that are as joyful as they are tuneful. You'll adore its huggable characters!
Posted Sep 10, 2021
25
B-
Afterlife of the Party (2021)
The magic of this film is how it packs in a disarming amount of palpable poignancy that sneaks up on its audience when they least expect it.
Posted Sep 2, 2021
26
B-
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021)
However, this could be the lovely piece of Springtime cinema you pop on every time the flowers bloom for those who are still a kid at heart.
Posted Aug 31, 2021
27
B
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Little added touches like Jesse Plemmons' strange Bavarian accent and whatever Paul Giamatti was going for in the film elevates JUNGLE CRUISE from eye-rolling to good.
Posted Aug 31, 2021
28
Lily Topples the World (2021)
Celebratory, sweet-natured and poignant, it's the kind of wholesomeness our world can use right now.
Posted Aug 30, 2021
29
A-
Candyman (2021)
30
A-
Candyman (2021)
Like any truly great horror movie, DaCosta's film is rife with opportunity and allegorical interpretations. It impeccably builds upon the original foundation. It's a chilling work.
Posted Aug 25, 2021
31
B+
Whitney (2018)
Isn't afraid to push into the dark history of the Houston family.
Posted Aug 20, 2021
32
The Protégé (2021)
With a dynamic heroine who is allowed to demonstrate her own agency, the story spun is an exciting, scintillating thrill-ride.
Posted Aug 19, 2021
33
Reminiscence (2021)
It's an ingenious, taut neo-noir with the right amount of romance and intrigue.
Posted Aug 18, 2021
34
1/5
White Girl (2016)
The feature debut of writer-directed Elizabeth Wood tries and fails to balance being harrowing and disarmingly funny.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
35
1/5
Dog Eat Dog (2016)
The whole movie is the textbook definition of 'trying too hard.'
Posted Aug 9, 2021
36
4/5
Christine (2016)
37
3/5
A United Kingdom (2017)
38
D
Rupture (2017)
Had loads of potential to be truly frightening, or at least intriguing, but it's dead on arrival.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
39
B-
A perfectly adequate World War II story that features one tremendous performance and little else.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
40
C
Strange Weather (2017)
Indie road trip dramedies are a dime a dozen now, and aside from Hunter's performance, there's not much to distinguish this one from so many others.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
41
C+
Pilgrimage (2017)
Severely dull in its first half and breathless in its second.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
42
C+
Bushwick (2017)
Provides relentless thrills on a scale beyond its small budget. That's impressive, even if the finished product isn't.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
43
C-
I Do... Until I Don't (2017)
Never earns its laughs, lessons or length.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
44
C+
Year by the Sea (2017)
The script never gives the characters as much depth as these talented actors deserve.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
45
B-
The Tiger Hunter (2017)
It's not original, but it works.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
46
C
LBJ (2017)
Settles for lionization when the man's life demands to be explored in all its contradictions.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
47
C
Entanglement (2018)
Tries to be a drama about mental health, a missing-person mystery and a twee romantic comedy at the same time. It succeeds at none of it.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
48
B
The Party (2018)
At just 71 minutes, this movie is short but never outstays its welcome.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
49
D+
Slice (2018)
All audiences get is reheated leftovers in a nice box.
Posted Aug 9, 2021
50
B-
Love, Gilda (2018)