Anna Smith

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Empire, Time Out, Time Out London
For 194 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 44% higher than the average critic
  • 3% same as the average critic
  • 53% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 5.2 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

Anna Smith's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average review score: 60
Highest review score: 100 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Lowest review score: 20 Leap Year
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 194
  2. Mixed: 137 out of 194
  3. Negative: 6 out of 194
194 movie reviews
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    • 86 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Showing Up
    From Certain Women to First Cow, Reichardt has delivered some deep and powerful storytelling, and seeing her commit more fully to her lighter side is both refreshing and slightly frustrating by comparison. Still, Showing Up is an amiable watch that has something to say about power dynamics, the art world and our relationship with animals – who are used for all their symbolic worth.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    The Cat Returns (2002)
    There's little tension or opportunity for emotional involvement in the brief story, and despite competent animation the cats are rarely anthropomorphised to good comic effect. One for anime - and animal - lovers only.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Last Chance Harvey
    Undemanding, observant and beautifully performed, this is Richard Curtis-lite with added reassurance: no challenging questions here.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Namesake
    This Indian immigrant family saga is a pleasant watch, but given the emotive source novel, it’s surprisingly superficial.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Beginners
    With good performances and characters, Beginners is an enjoyable, amusing and occasionally poignant watch. Indie film fans will want to catch it, but it falls short of being a must-see.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Wendy and Lucy
    Slow, ponderous, meticulously rendered realism that will appeal to specific audiences of slow, ponderous, meticulously rendered realism, with a heart.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Everlasting Moments
    Superficially interesting in many ways but this doesn't really engage on a deeper level.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Deep Water
    A sad story, but well told, with respect for its subject and an eye for the Shakespearian tragedy in the tale.
    • 25 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
    Kid-friendly with some neat visuals. Adults will appreciate the dulcet tones of Frasier as the Tin Man.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Miss Bala
    That innocuous title disguises a Mexican thriller with genuine bite, though the hokey ending doesn't quite live up to the edgy plotting and Sigman's classy turn as a tough heroine in an impossible situation.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Las Acacias
    A moving drama set against beautiful Latin American backdrops - just don't expect fireworks.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Alice, Darling
    It’s a believable portrayal of the impact of gaslighting and brainwashing: Alice’s conviction that she’s at fault will resonate with many audiences.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Dark Horse
    It's hard not to be seduced by this folky yarn.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Tomboy
    A tender, sensitive French drama rich in hazy atmosphere.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    A Woman's Life
    Don’t expect Austen-style humour, though: ultimately, you may be frustrated by a narrative that punishes its pleasant protagonist so thoroughly. But credit to Brizé and crew for an impressive piece of filmmaking with a refreshingly contemporary approach.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Appropriate Behavior
    Not all of it works but it does breeze along, thanks to its likable characters and dry wit.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    New York Doll
    A fascinating portrait of a broken rock star picking up the pieces, this misses a few tricks but still entertains.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Akeelah and the Bee
    There's charm in this simple underdog tale, but clunky plotting and characterisation mean it has 'telemovie' written all over it.
    • 21 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Geostorm
    Geostorm is a watery blend of Armageddon and 24, with enough action to entertain on a basic level. It’ll probably be most appealing to scientists looking for a good laugh.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Ethel & Ernest
    A charming animation with funny — if samey — moments and a quality voice cast.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Water Horse
    Likeable stuff despite being slow paced and rather sentimental.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Emma.
    If this energetic, fitfully funny version introduces the story to a new generation, heck, bring on a new ‘Sense and Sensibility’ too.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Florence Foster Jenkins
    A fizzy, funny, period dramedy with top-notch performances, Florence Foster Jenkins doesn't take many risks but it's a very entertaining experience. And yes, she was that bad.
    • 37 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    The United States of Leland
    It's poetic, hypnotic and well-performed, but fails to either draw out its characters with conviction or fully draw its audience in.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Benjamin
    It is an unusual mix of intense, angsty character-driven drama and laugh-out-loud jokes about the film industry. It’ll be best enjoyed by those who live in the milieu it depicts, along with fans of Amstell’s bittersweet wit – and there’s probably overlap between the two.
    • 38 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?
    Touches on some interesting philosophical ideas, but it's poorly-produced and unclear in tone.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Peepli Live
    While the tone may shift from satire to farce at times, this is a highly assured debut by Rizvi.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Bastards
    An impassioned, fly-on-the-wall look at a serious social issue.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Ginger & Rosa
    Despite some strong moments, Ginger and Rosa fails to really convince.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Potiche
    Like a Gallic "Nine To Five," Ozon's comedy is a uniquely French skew on the gender politics of the home and the workplace. It's mostly funny, fast and fondly made although it drags a little towards the end.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    You're Next
    A solid watch for gore fans.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Fast Five
    Overlong but slick, this still gets away with simplistic dialogue and characters, perhaps because it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The BFG
    Giant expectations may lead to tiny disappointments in this two-hander that’s slow in parts. But it still offers magic and visual delights, and the final act is a treat.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    We Don't Live Here Anymore
    If you're looking for a film to put you off marriage, children, affairs, and indeed life itself, look no further than this melancholic ensemble piece about listless adulterous couples in small-town New England.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    La Vie en Rose
    A far-from-rosy life story makes this lengthy biopic entertaining, but despite a strong lead performance it fails to get under Piaf’s skin.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Unmade Beds
    Light and entertaining, if a little clunky at times.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Elf
    The gags swing between mildly inventive and screamingly obvious, but even the latter are performed and timed well enough to draw a laugh.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Bandslam
    Surprisingly watchable despite the formulaic teen format.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Ramona and Beezus
    Fans of the Ramona Quimby books will be disappointed, but tween girls will love it.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    American Made
    Liman mines the story for familiar but fun comedy...though it never reaches the comedic heights of rise-and-fall classics such as Goodfellas or The Wolf of Wall Street.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Easy Virtue
    Though occasional acerbic touches remain, the sections that are drawn directly from the original remain hampered by the loss of Coward's dialogue. But the first half of the film, an addition detailing events only described in the play, is pure Hitchcock, its combination of conciseness and idiosyncrasy demonstrating his mastery of silent narration.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Breakfast on Pluto
    This has charm and glamour but little profundity.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Damned
    While billed as a psychological horror, it may be best approached as a dark drama or thriller, rather than a fully terrifying experience. But if you invest in its characters, it offers a thought-provoking insight into the depths of the human mind when faced with the laws of survival. It’s grim, but good.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Layla
    As each character veers between confidence and awkwardness, it feels credible but doesn’t dig terribly deep.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Quartet
    A frothy and often charming directorial effort from Hoffman, his first in a Hollywood career that's spanned five decades, that will keep Downton fans happy.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Miss Sloane
    Hard to root for but mesmerising to watch, Sloane is expertly portrayed by Chastain in this dialogue-heavy lobbyist thriller that should please fans of both actor and genre.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Proof
    Paltrow does an excellent job as the shy loner, affecting youthful, sulky mannerisms without resorting to stereotype. Anthony Hopkins, meanwhile, brings both gravitas and dark humour as Catherine's mentally ill father, while Jake Gyllenhaal makes for an effective, if buff, maths geek.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Chéri
    This glimpse into a decadent era has its charms, but they’re mostly visual. While Pfeiffer and Friend perform well, the script is tonally confused and lacks edge.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Friends with Benefits
    This coasts along just fine thanks to charm and comical interludes, but it fails to deliver the sassy story it promises. Fine for a romantic comedy, but an inferior follow up to director Gluck's edgier "Easy A."
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Suite Française
    Sterling performances lift the occasionally soapy storyline in this semi-successful adaptation.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Borg vs. McEnroe
    LaBoeuf is good, but his performance is – ironically – desperately serious, as is the tone of this film.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Undertow
    While the quirky structure could be taken as a bold move, the story still feels frustratingly incomplete, rendering the preceding hour or so a tantalising glimpse at what could have been.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Conversations with Other Women
    Witty and articulate but the continual editing devices can distract from the momentum.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Help
    A simplistic portrayal of historic race relations boosted by terrific performances from some of the best actresses working in Hollywood today. Sure, it's corny, but it mostly works.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Muppets Most Wanted
    Story aside, this is about the gags, songs and then more gags. On the upside, the jokes are great: the usual jolly mix of character humour, situation comedy, farce, satire and wordplay.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    At Any Price
    Heather Graham and Maika Monroe add heat to this handsome, slow-burning thriller that lacks the urgency of Bahrani’s previous effort, "99 Homes."
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Light Between Oceans
    Vikander and Fassbender are riveting in a handsome period drama that begins beautifully, but becomes increasingly contrived as it tries to wring as much drama as possible from its set-up.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Seducing Doctor Lewis
    Amused, maybe - but you won't be seduced.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    My Afternoons with Margueritte
    Charming slice of small-town France.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Little Manhattan
    Not quite as nauseous as its plot might suggest, Little Manhattan is sassy as well as sweet.
    • 39 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Trap for Cinderella
    Some developments seriously stretch credulity and the dialogue doesn’t always ring true. But the performances — including a sinister, matronly Kerry Fox — are as enjoyable as the tawdry film noir vibe.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Music and Lyrics
    Music And Lyrics never really finds its tone. Fans of Barrymore and Grant are likely to enjoy their pleasing ramblings, and the modern-day, down-to-earth courtship is handled well. But this is unlikely to go down as either actor’s finest hour.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
    As awkward as McGregor's geeky hero and almost as confused as the titular plan, Salmon Fishing is still very likable if you're prepared to take the bait. And it might even be Scott Thomas' funniest turn since "Four Weddings And A Funeral."
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Roses
    The Roses gets off to an enjoyable start, but like the marriage at its centre, the novelty wears off.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Fame
    The song and dance scenes are hard to beat in terms of sheer energy and atmosphere, but the dramatic storylines leave several loose ends.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    In Bed With Victoria
    An amusing watch, this has a freshness and naturalism rarely found in the typically over-styled French romcom genre.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Turbo
    Kids should be game for the ride, and the colourful characters offer humour and poignancy: Paul Giamatti’s cautious snail Chet shares a sweet friendship with reckless Turbo. Comparisons with Pixar’s ‘Cars’ are easy to make, but that’s no bad thing.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Prime
    This has the raw material for a decent rom-com, but the aimless structure and ambiguous tone undermine both humour and romance.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    G.B.F.
    The joke wears a bit thin and performances vary: this isn’t as slick as the teen movies it draws from, such as ‘Clueless’ and ‘Mean Girls’. But an original premise and earnest tone go a long way.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Wall
    The Wall isn’t a terrifically exciting thriller, but it’s thoughtful and fitfully suspenseful – a lean, character-driven and quietly rewarding film.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Adam
    A very superficial look at what it may be like trying to romance someone on the autistic scale.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Chorus
    There’s little interest in probing characterisation, but the plot progress is steady and the performances likeable.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Score
    The Score doesn’t always strike the right notes, but it has its high points thanks to a simple, rewarding romantic arc.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Mansfield 66/67
    While this has its pleasures, it feels more like a doc you’d watch on terrestrial TV rather than seek out in the cinema.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Thanks for Sharing
    The Kids Are All Right writer Stuart Blumberg's first directorial effort is a frothy affair with typically strong turns from Ruffalo and Paltrow.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Goodbye Christopher Robin
    Macdonald, playing an outsider with wisdom, is by far the most sympathetic character; the movie has plenty to say about the parenting traditions of the wealthy, not much of it favorable.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
    Greg avoids the curse of the three in the third outing for the Wimpy Kid. Hardly groundbreaking but plenty of fun for its target audience.
    • 37 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Made of Honor
    A strong opening, bursting with wit and vigour, gives way to a predictable, patronising and immensely lazy second half. Could have been so much more.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Because of Winn-Dixie
    It means well, but it's all just a bit too tired a formula - even by the standards of a kids film. Put this one in the top field to 'rest'.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Anemone
    This family endeavour is an acting masterclass, and we should be grateful that it’s lured Daniel Day-Lewis back into acting after eight years in the metaphorical woods.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Hysteria
    Lightly humorous, well performed and not nearly as smutty as you might imagine. The earth may not move, but there are tingles of pleasure along the way.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Jig
    A toe-tapping triumph for dance fans, though less so for non-converts.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Beauty Shop
    This has the power to unite a female audience ready and willing to overlook its supposed weaknesses.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Parthenope
    Sorrentino is clearly trying to move with the times – even if he’s still most comfortable in the decades he’s depicting here on screen.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Pusher (2012)
    Nail-biting and genuinely heartbreaking moments mean it's emotionally involving, even if it isn't the cheeriest drug dealer saga in town.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Machine
    The characters could use more depth – Vincent’s backstory is told too swiftly, and his bonding with Ava is brief. But it’s still a smart, thought-provoking little thriller with strong central performances.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Murder on the Orient Express
    If it's all a little too crowded with characters, Branagh’s pacy direction keeps the story zip along to a conclusion that’s tense even if you remember whodunnit.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Last Holiday
    Money can buy you happiness in this inferior remake - although its makeover storyline may please fans of "The Princess Diaries" et al.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Epic
    While it’s not a crossover classic, this has enough wit and charm to entertain both big and little people.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Asylum
    It may not be as daring as Young Adam, but this is a well-performed adaptation of an absorbing melodrama.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Aquamarine
    This fantasy comedy should entertain its pre-teen female market – and repel those silly superficial boys (swoon).
    • 51 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    The Face of Love
    A soapy but stirring romance with two committed leads.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    The Walker
    Attempting to encompass too many genres dulls the overall effect but this still commands a certain fascination.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 40 Anna Smith
    Hotel for Dogs
    Inventive and endearing in places but ultimately an unsatisfying mix of slow plotting and superficial characterisation.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Lovelace
    Seyfried is fine but has little character depth to work with: Sarsgaard impresses with a more complex character, as does a barely recognisable Sharon Stone as Linda’s bitter mother. If only the whole film were as well-rounded.
    • 50 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Afternoon Delight
    Six Feet Under scribe Jill Soloway offers a wry perspective on married life as Temple's stripper-with-a-heart is lobbed into this domestic yarn like a firecracker in an arms cache.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Chloe
    Strong turns from its female leads and Amanda Seyfried elicits more sexual tension from proceedings than "Jennifer's Body" ever managed.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Wilson
    The film’s bouts of slapstick and sentiment sit slightly oddly with its downbeat tone, but if Wilson isn’t entirely consistent as a character, Harrelson is consistently funny – and if anyone can make a sociable misanthrope believable, he can.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    Clifford's Really Big Movie
    Bland, but wholesome.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 Anna Smith
    One Direction: This Is Us
    1D in 3D: the closest thing to a Shine A Light for Directioners.
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