Attack of the Clone’s necessity to tie every character, significant or not, to the original trilogy at the detriment of story is only mildly negated by some inspired action sequences, improved dialogue—and far less Jar Jar.
6.5 out of 12 Tamales
“Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace”: Throwback-Tamales Review
The Phantom Menance kept fandom in anticipation for a long, long time for a cinematic universe far, far away—only to give us Jar Jar Binks and a mouthful of CGI.
4.5 out of 12 Tamales
“The Irishman”: One-Sentence Review
The truth may, or may not, be sleeping with the fishes in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman; regardless, the deft mafia underworld surrounding Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance pulls you in—even if a digitally modified Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci foreshadows a hit on gangster films as we know them.
9 out of 12 Tamales
“Queen & Slim”: One-Sentence Review
The premise is inspired and relevant, yet Queen & Slim’s leading characters’ connection, romantic or otherwise, feels inauthentic— a disarticulation that dooms the entire movie from the start.
6 out of 12 Tamales
“Knives Out”: One-Sentence Review
No source material, a hard-to-get-right genre, no problem, Knives Out is this year’s most original—most inventive—movie, a whodunnit that truly keeps you guessing, and laughing, until the closing credits.
11.5 out of 12 Tamales
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”: One-Sentence Review
If looking for a good Mister Rogers movie, you’re better off watching last year’s documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor because not even Tom Hanks, or Daniel Tiger, can help A Beautiful Day make sensible directorial choices.
5 out of 12 Tamales
“Frozen II”: One-Sentence Review
Frozen II lets the formula go, lets the characters’ mature, except for a funnier than ever Olaf, and gives fans what they really came for, another catchy soundtrack.
10 out of 12 Tamales
“Ford v Ferrari”: One-Sentence Review
With Christian Bale’s Ken Miles firmly in the driver’s seat and Matt Damon’s Carroll Shelby competently co-piloting, Ford v Ferrari handles each dramatic turn and thrilling race scene like a champ.
10.5 out of 12 Tamales
“Jojo Rabbit”: One-Sentence Review
World War II’s not supposed to be funny—Hitler much less—yet writer-director Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit defies the odds and the stigma by channeling his inner Wes Anderson/Mel Brooks to give us this year’s top comedy.
11 out of 12 Tamales
“Terminator: Dark Fate”: One-Sentence Review
The only future director Tim Miller’s Dark Fate predicts is one of middling Terminator storylines that not even a game-ready Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton—nor stylish action sequences—can save.
6.5 out of 12 Tamales
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