Movie reviews of Sandy Schaefer

Jojo Rabbit thrives as both an intrepid satire and a sincere coming of age dramedy, seamlessly blending wacky humor with genuine heartbreak. Review

Although it's weighed down by its hackneyed biopic framework, Harriet has a spirit and heart befitting of its daring namesake and her legacy. Review

Driven by its stars' maniacal performances, The Lighthouse makes for an impeccably crafted, though thematically uneven, blend of horror and humor. Review

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is an entertaining return to the View Askewniverse that celebrates the past while keeping an eye fixed on the future. Review

Thanks to some strong work by Smith and its better set pieces, Gemini Man partly succeeds at overcoming its bland plot and occasionally iffy visuals. Review

Lucy in the Sky gets too caught up in technical flourishes and repetitive philosophizing to do anything compelling with its premise or characters. Review

Low Tide is a promising start to McMullin's career as a director, even though it plays out as a standard crime drama with a coming of age twist. Review

Dolemite Is My Name is a simple, yet affectionate ode to Moore that brings his story to life through an appealing blend of humor, heart, and music. Review

Joaquin Phoenix goes full Clown Prince of Crime in Phillips' stylish crime drama, but it's not enough to mask the sense of emptiness at Joker's core. Review

Abominable is a kind-hearted family friendly fantasy adventure that offsets its cookie-cutter plotting with beautiful animation and playful humor. Review

Zellweger is successful enough in evoking Garland with her singing to elevate Judy, despite its struggles to break new ground for Hollywood memoirs. Review

Last Blood is an exercise in excessively gory violence and dubious political action moviemaking that adds little of value to the Rambo property. Review

Ambitious and undeniably gorgeous to look at, The Goldfinch is a sprawling mess that never finds the rhythm it needs to really come alive as a film. Review

The Parting Glass is an intimate and affecting drama fueled by great acting and sharply-drawn observations of human behavior and familial dynamics. Review

Angel Has Fallen struggles to bring greater depth to the otherwise (mostly) enjoyably cheesy throwback elements the franchise is known for. Review

Gleefully schlocky and willing to wear its social commentary on its sleeve, Ready or Not makes for a wonderfully bonkers and exhilarating thrill ride. Review

Even with a terrific performance by Cate Blanchett to propel it through its rough patches, Where'd You Go, Bernadette never truly finds its footing. Review

Often melodramatic and unapologetically goofy, Kingdom combines manga tropes with stylized fight scenes to make its subject matter entertaining. Review

Powered by Chadha's energetic direction, Blinded by the Light overcomes its formulaic narrative to deliver an infectiously endearing experience. Review

Angry Birds Movie 2 has no delusions about it own slightness and makes up the difference with gleefully silly, yet unexpectedly clever cartoon mayhem. Review

Thanks to del Toro and Øvredal's combined efforts, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark does justice by the delightfully sinister books that inspired it. Review

Good intentions and Hodge's eloquent, stirring performance help to compensate for Brian Banks' shortcomings as a thinly-sketched inspirational biopic. Review

The Art of Racing in the Rain's main conceit wields mixed returns, resulting in a family dramedy that's whimsical and manipulative in equal measure. Review

Fueled by LaBeouf and Gottsagen's screen chemistry, The Peanut Butter Falcon makes for a charmingly funny and often touching adventure. Review