Movie reviews of Filipe Freitas

Through its pointed surface, The New Year That Never Came manages to tell us a great deal, capturing both the gravity and absurdity of life under a collapsing regime and offering viewers an evocative and thought-provoking experience. Review

The film’s diligent pacing, electrifying British post-punk soundtrack, and dynamic camera work amplify the protagonist’s sense of anxiety and disorientation, making Bird a visceral, radiant, and highly rewarding experience. Review

The premise dissipates quickly, leaving surface impressions that fluctuate between pleasantly whimsical and mildly moving. Review

Equal parts unsettling and candid, The Order doesn’t quite transcend genre expectations, yet some may find curiosity in the way Kurzel explores the themes. Review

There's a glimmer of interest in the film's narrative contortions, and it's admirable that the directors have taken its subject seriously. However, it's just not thrilling enough. Despite its ambitious themes, Sujo leaves behind a sense of untapped potential. Review

I was touched in the end, but never got hooked during the narrative process. I wanted to feel more, I guess. Yet, the ones who stay with the film may find a quiet reward in its understated power. Review

For all its intentionally bizarre qualities, the film retains a dark humor and sharp visual wit, blending hope and heartbreak with devastating emotional impact. Review

With youthful ardor, audacious storytelling, and interpretive depth, the Palme D’Or winner Anora reaffirms Baker as a standout voice in American independent cinema. It’s a thought-provoking, wildly entertaining work that leaves a lasting impression. Review

The period details are meticulously crafted, and Ed Lachman’s cinematography is nothing short of stunning, but the staging constantly oscillates between elegant mannerism and calibrated realism. Review

Despite its shortcomings, Gladiator II delivers a full-bodied adventure that skillfully balances responsiveness to its audience’s expectations with a reverence for the epic grandeur of its predecessor. Review

This profoundly affecting tale of reintegration, loneliness, and human resilience is both a bold sociopolitical critique and an intimate exploration of personal struggles. The film leaves a lasting impression, inviting viewers to reflect long after the credits roll. Review

As a mass-market confection, Wicked certainly works well enough, though its greatest strengths lie in its opulent production design and sharp humor rather than its narrative depth. Review

It’s a constant battle between polished images and undramatic sequences that could be better matured. Still, there's still something to ponder about the vengeful Count tale that's worth pondering. Review

My Old Ass is a gutsy and endearing ode to youth, a well-crafted tale of living life to its fullest and confronting the inevitable fear of loss. It’s an enjoyable, life-affirming watch that will leave you smiling, even if its charm is more fleeting than indelible. Review

The film owes everything to its gifted actors coping with the provocative ideas of a script that becomes a therapeutic trust exercise of their own. This ferocious, dichotomous masquerade is never boring. Review

Although you won’t find anything unexpected here, a naturalistic tone is maintained throughout, which crackles with an emotional energy and cackles with a repentant laughter. Review

Despite a neat visual aesthetic marked by glossy frames of war destruction, the film gets lost in the multiplicity of its ambitions and tangled in conventional triteness and sentimentality. Blitz feels weighed down by its own limitations. Review

Imaginative, subtly disconcerting, and solidly performed, A Different Man infuses a dry sense of humor while packing a cathartic emotional punch throughout. It won’t leave you indifferent. Review

Saldaña delivers a sensational performance, bringing depth and nuance to Rita, while Audiard’s ambition and willingness to take creative risks deserve recognition. Still, the film struggles to work as a whole, and I can’t say I found it exciting. Review

Even if the film offers some intriguing meditations on its weighty themes, the narrative feels overly pared down, delivering little in the way of tension or excitement... Review

Although not particularly groundbreaking in its clash of modernity and tradition within the Church, the film at least never commits the deadliest sin in cinema: boredom, providing enough good material to keep its iniquitous fires burning. Review

Samudio’s direction is marked by precision and restraint, focusing on small yet significant details and situational clarity. The performances are heartfelt and layered, while the film’s formally measured approach draws viewers into its meditative exploration of connection, resilience, and the scars left by those we love most. Review

The Outrun is a potent neo-realist drama—compassionate, intimate, and unflinchingly honest. Its unadorned approach, paired with Ronan’s deeply affecting performance, makes it a compelling exploration of addiction, redemption, and the healing power of returning to one’s roots. Review

The personifications are remarkable, the pace is exciting, and the real ambition felt throughout is an aspect that intrigues. Review