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 *** ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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‘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 ...
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‘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 ...
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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+ ...
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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 ...
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‘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 ...
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‘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) ...
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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 ...
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