Movies & Streaming Reviews
The latest movies & streaming reviews from Jim Schembri, professional film reviewer since 1980.

Never mind the baseless controversy, ‘Sound of Freedom’ is simply a good thriller with a straight message about the evils of child sex trafficking
Justice warrior: Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel) fights the child sex slave trade in ‘Sound of Freedom’. SOUND OF FREEDOM *** ...
Read More
Read More

MIFF PICK: ‘The Disappearance of Shere Hite’ offers a compelling profile of the remarkable life and career of an all-but-forgotten feminist pioneer
Life reflections: The feminist game-changer is profiled in ‘The Disappearance of Shere Hite’. MIFF PICK The Disappearance of Shere Hite ...
Read More
Read More

MIFF PICK – Ambitious low-budget Australian race-against-time thriller ‘Mercy Road’ is a mildly interesting failure
Driver’s seat: Luke Bracy in ‘Mercy Road’. Mercy Road * (85 minutes) Well, as far as recommendations go this one ...
Read More
Read More

‘Godland’, a harsh, haunting art movie epic; MIFF PICK ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’, an OK eco-themed thriller that’s nowhere near as explosive as it sounds
Don’t smile: Elliott Crosset Hove as a priest in the Danish film ‘Godland’. GODLAND **** (143 minutes; subtitled) M There ...
Read More
Read More

‘Strays’, a novelty adults-only dog movie has enough laughs but leaves a nasty aftertaste
Puppy love: Abandoned terrier Reggie gets it on in ‘Strays’. STRAYS **1/2 (93 minutes) MA The unconditional love we typically ...
Read More
Read More

MIFF PICK – ‘How to Have Sex’: a confronting look at raunch culture as three teenage girls hit a hot holiday spot
Not-so-happy holiday: Mia McKenna-Bruce as Tara in ‘How to Have Sex’. HOW TO HAVE SEX ***1/2 (98 minutes) Unclassified 18+ ...
Read More
Read More

MIFF PICKS – ‘The Rooster’, a meandering directorial debut; ‘The Adults’, a finely etched family dramedy
Odd couple: Hugo Weaving and Phoenix Raei in ‘The Rooster’. MIFF HIGHLIGHTS THE ROOSTER – The directorial debut from actor ...
Read More
Read More

‘Gran Turismo’ is an extended PlayStation ad; ‘Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter’ a Goth-horror bore
All revved up: Orlando Bloom in ‘Gran Turismo’. GRAN TURISMO ** (134 minutes) M Based on the hugely popular PlayStation ...
Read More
Read More

‘Meg 2: The Trench’, a nicely cranked out creature feature; fine faith-driven drama in ‘The Miracle Club’; ‘Chevalier’ a solid biopic about a little-known black musician in pre-revolutionary France
Down boy: Jason Statham deals with a big fish in ‘Meg 2:The Trench’. MEG 2 THE TRENCH *** (116 minutes) ...
Read More
Read More

With ‘Asteroid City’, Wes Anderson delivers his most beautiful and most boring film yet
Frame up: Jason Schwartzman in Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’. ASTEROID CITY *1/2 (105 minutes) M The competition might be stiff ...
Read More
Read More