Filmrecensies van Don Shanahan

Taking stock over the entire kitchen sink that is this sequel and franchise finale, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom feels like a movie that gave up itself or had puppeteers do it for them in post-production– as rumored with extensive rewrites and reshoots– once a new regime arrived. Recensie

The Boys in the Boat is far from the first hero worship movie for the departed Greatest Generation, but, by staying solely on their titular young men, the film lacks a sizable antagonistic presence or well-established moral opponent to make the eventual victory more impactful. Recensie

Thanks to these three and the entire mood around every ordeal, The Iron Claw stands with its proverbial hand held high to be one of the most powerful films of 2023 and one of the damndest stories of brotherhood you’re going to find. Recensie

Poor Things is a movie of unsavory urges and scratched itches that pull the viewer down a pernicious drain of unconscionable behavior. There is a dark comedy buried in the muck of Poor Things that curdles to the surface in the final third as our strong female becomes the master of her own fate, body, heart, and business. Recensie

This lovely approachability in a fabulous package should come as no surprise for a film directed by Paul King of two cherished Paddington films and co-written by his series partner Simon Farnaby. Recensie

With American Fiction, those emotions balance each other, and audiences get the best of both worlds with arguably the year’s best satire packaged within a tissue-pulling, affecting drama. Recensie

To say Bradley Cooper threw himself into his work is an understatement. He is a marvel to behold. The actor was operating with a spot-on imitation of Bernstein’s vocal annunciations, inflections, cadence, and tone. Recensie

The booming choral score of composer Martin Phipps evaporates to a weak flute motif, and scenes that should showcase the intellect and ignite sources of passion within the famous sovereign plod by, like the lead actor, with wincing disinterest. Recensie

Haynes is left with a mood piece of examining taboo with more taboo and it gets unattractively lost in just that very vibe. Recensie

The visual beauty of Wish does something surprising most Disney animated films do not normally do and that is outshine the musical bread-and-butter. Recensie

If anything, Trolls keeps growing and evolving with its audience. Recensie

Like the main character, The Killer and David Fincher unfurl a mercilessness honed of precision that is as impressive as it is disturbing. It is a movie that stalks its prey and you. Recensie

Thanks to heart-pumping peril and committed performances, Nyad evokes maximum inspiration possible. Recensie

Some of the greatest enjoyment of The Marvels comes from the three screenwriters playing wildly with an otherworldly version of the screwball body-swap movie plot device. Recensie

Priscilla is likely not trying to make apologies, sugarcoat, protect, sanitize, or hide the sordid truth from the matriarch’s own memoir, but maybe, just maybe, it was too soft. That likely falls on Sofia more than Priscilla herself. Recensie

Killers of the Flower Moon does not create sweep for its compelling history, lift a credible romance for an emotional anchor, or even formulate fearful evil to resonate with an audience. It breaks no new ground and settles on being an actor’s showcase for two titans who didn’t need the help. Recensie

There’s a creative slightness that does not escalate a trippy premise that needed some additional atmosphere. Recensie

The Burial merges these intersecting pushes and pulls into a tightly composed picture that checks all the boxes. Recensie

A film like Black White and the Greys shows that money doesn’t matter if passion and honesty exist for the story to tell. Thurman and Nelson have something truly special here that is as profound as it is painful. Recensie

About half of Saturday Night Inside Out is a simplistic quest towards the next drink or next joint. It’s living fairly in its moment and saving itself for the end. Yet, a movie like this could have used one more gear of energy akin to something like Swingers to raise the rooting interest and measurable excitement level for what the viewer feels could be coming. Recensie

Phoebe Dynevor, though, is the real find. Perfect for that prescribed mindset, Dynevor is unflinching to the task in just her third feature film. Keep an eye on her career. She’s going places. Recensie

This is a singular piece of original science fiction made for a manageable price with minority representation and solid world-building that is thankfully not interested in exhaustive sequels or franchises. Recensie

Even before it makes it to its “run through lightning with your dick out” metaphor, this pandemic time capsule stands tall as a sure-fire message movie for its time. Recensie

While the character evolution to lean on and bend stereotypes in Outlaw Johnny Black is admirable, that course saps the fun, satirical approach possible within Minns and White’s screenplay. Recensie