Brian Lowry

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Variety
For 153 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 46% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 49% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 13 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

Brian Lowry's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average review score: 53
Highest review score: 100 The Pelican Brief
Lowest review score: 10 Cool World
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 153
  2. Mixed: 104 out of 153
  3. Negative: 17 out of 153
153 movie reviews
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    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    The Great Lillian Hall
    “The Great Lillian Hall” operates as a love letter to the theater while catering to those who can appreciate an “All About Eve” reference or two.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    1917
    The key is that Mendes (whose eclectic resume includes "American Beauty" and two Bond films, "Skyfall" and "Spectre") doesn't sacrifice the movie's heart in the service of its logistical considerations.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
    The Bee Gees were adored, hated and as seen through Marshall's lens, somewhat forgotten. Yet after watching this documentary, even if you didn't have an especially deep love for the band in their heyday, you might find yourself humming those tunes all over again.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    You, Me & Tuscany
    Unlike its protagonist, there’s a refreshing lack of guile or pretense here about what this modest but breezy movie is and wants to be.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
    Like everything else she's done, Rita Moreno is an exceptional storyteller, turning Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It -- an "American Masters" documentary hitting theaters first -- into a dazzling look at the much-adorned star's career, and the doors left shut, despite her success, by being a Latina in Hollywood during the days of the studio system.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Till
    Getting the delicate balance of the story mostly right, “Till” captures how Mamie Till Mobley turned the inconsolable grief over the murder of her son, Emmett, into resolve and activism. Anchored by Danielle Deadwyler’s towering performance, it’s a wrenching portrayal of reluctant heroism under the most horrific of parental circumstances.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    Nope
    If “Get Out” refreshed the genre in part by weaving in themes that invited a thoughtful conversation about race and racism, Nope is more modest in its intentions in a way that makes it more enjoyable the less you dwell on the details, ultimately feeling quirky without fully paying off its more intriguing ideas.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 40 Brian Lowry
    Malcolm & Marie
    Writer-director Sam Levinson spends a good deal of time in Malcolm & Marie complaining about critics, which feels like a boxer leading with his chin. Pairing Zendaya and John David Washington, the movie -- quickly and stealthily shot during the pandemic -- wins points for ingenuity, then loses them with its shrill tone and the uneven hairpin turns of its writing.
    • 50 Metascore
    • 55 Brian Lowry
    Disenchanted
    Amy Adams nimbly steps back into the role of an animated princess trying to adapt to the live-action world, in an epilogue to “Enchanted” that has moments of magic without completely delivering on the premise.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 40 Brian Lowry
    You Don't Mess with the Zohan
    The off-the-wall comedy of Robert Smigel and Judd Apatow leaves a mark on the script, but it would require a talent of Peter Sellers' magnitude to conquer this material, and he's not around.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Maestro
    Watching Cooper and Mulligan portray their characters across decades, it’s hard not to be impressed, while nurturing a greater appreciation for why Cooper found Bernstein’s contributions and complications deserving of such a tribute.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Project Hail Mary
    Ryan Gosling and a faceless rock creature forge an unlikely bromance in an adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel that manages to be alternately touching, stirring and silly.
    • 46 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    Yes Man
    Genial but slim, picture is certainly a light-hearted alternative to weighty year-end awards bait, but the conceit isn't realized fully enough.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Waitress: The Musical
    Sara Bareilles headlines this adaptation for which she wrote the lilting songs, in a show that manages to be alternately sweet and silly, touching and raunchy.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    Chang Can Dunk
    It’s more a layup than a slam dunk qualitatively, rattling around a bit before finally paying off.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Brian Lowry
    Spring Awakening: Those You've Known
    Part valentine to the theater, part unconventional love story, Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known celebrates the show and its original cast, while also providing a broader look at the issues of teen rebellion and alienation that turned the musical into a sensation.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    The White Tiger
    The final act isn't quite equal to the build-up, but by then, The White Tiger has already pretty well sunk its teeth into you, making the investment in understanding Balram's fate feel like two hours well spent.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    The Trial of the Chicago 7
    The Trial of the Chicago 7 feels timely in an at-times jolting way, with images of chaos in the streets and angry crowds chanting "The whole world is watching." At its core, though, writer-director Aaron Sorkin takes the "trial" part to heart, leading to a largely courtroom-bound affair that -- while entertaining and splendidly cast -- at its best echoes his early triumph with "A Few Good Men."
    • 45 Metascore
    • 35 Brian Lowry
    The Mother
    The kill count generally provides the requisite thrills, but everything else seems stitched together from genre clichés.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Mucho Mucho Amor
    A central takeaway is not only about the man but the warm nostalgia that he represents -- the memories, as Miranda and others recall, of grandmothers hushing them during the minutes he came on each day, running through the Zodiac with horoscopes filled with a persistent sense of hope.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty
    Making the most of its extensive access to Giancarlo Granda, the figure at the center of it all, Hulu’s “God Forbid: The Sex Scandal that Brought Down a Dynasty” pulls back the curtain on a salacious tale of sex, lies, hypocrisy, and political intrigue – for streaming purposes, a divine cocktail if there ever was one.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 55 Brian Lowry
    Spencer
    It's possible to admire the performance and still come away feeling director Pablo Larrain's fictionalized movie doesn't significantly add to a story many of us already know in exhaustive detail.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    No Sudden Move
    No Sudden Move fares better with the quirky, unpredictable nature of the characters, the impeccable period touches -- from the overall look to the music -- and disarmingly witty bits of dialogue.
    • 42 Metascore
    • 55 Brian Lowry
    Locked Down
    Thanks to Chiwetel Ejiofor and Anne Hathaway it's mildly watchable, but mostly an artifact that might look better after a few years in the Covid time capsule.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone
    Without breaking the two down shot for shot, Coppola's editing feels as if it accentuates ties to the earlier films. Yet there's only so much that can be done by rearranging pieces, and it's not the sort of significant makeover associated with celebrated "director's cuts," a la "Blade Runner" or "Brazil."
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    King Richard
    Smith aces the performance, which is the main attribute in elevating the story above the standard sports-movie conventions.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    Shirley
    Shirley was clearly intended for the film-festival circuit, offering a narrowly pitched story where it's easy to admire the performances without feeling like the journey adds up to much. While Moss captures the complexity of Shirley's personality, the movie sheds scant light on the underlying why of it all.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    Howard
    Howard serves as a fitting celebration of that life and career. It's a chance for those who knew him to pause and fondly look back, in a way that merely adds to an appreciation of the parade that he helped start.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    The Woman King
    Somehow, the film manages to feel like a throwback to the action movies of old while featuring people who were seldom allowed to occupy prominent roles back then. If the finish is a bit too busy to be as rousing as intended, by then, The Woman King has made the most of its formidable arsenal.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Brian Lowry
    The Truth
    Playing an aging star estranged from her daughter might not seem like a major stretch, but Deneuve and Japanese writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda (whose "Shoplifters" took top honors at the Cannes Film Festival) spin that premise into a cinematic breath of fresh air.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Final Account
    The "important" label can weigh heavily on a documentary, but the description applies to "Final Account," director Luke Holland's decade-long odyssey to capture and preserve the memories of Germans who lived through the Holocaust, acknowledging their complicity to varying degrees. While much has been done to chronicle survivors' stories, this sobering companion belongs on the shelf alongside them.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    Encanto
    Encanto compensates for the dearth of traditional conflict with a colorful world filled with powers and an abundance of music.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 50 Brian Lowry
    Extraction
    Far more interested in stunts than story, Extraction is a simple-minded action vehicle for Chris Hemsworth that should benefit from providing a theatrical-style adrenaline rush when the spigot for such fare has closed. Basically, Netflix is serving up an old-fashioned B movie, at a moment when the A-list blockbusters have been postponed.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    The Forever Prisoner
    The Forever Prisoner asks the right questions regarding not just Zubaydah but the broader prosecution of the war against terrorism. As the film makes clear, it's the answers that have proven elusive.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    Belfast
    Branagh has directed all kinds of movies over the past 30 years, from his frequent adaptations of Shakespeare to "Cinderella" and the aforementioned "Thor." It's perhaps appropriate, though, that his most personal film would also turn out to be his crowning achievement.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    Civil War
    The images of the US turned into a war-torn country provides a sobering dystopian backdrop for an action movie that works on that level, without lingering in the mind as long as it could or should have.
    • 45 Metascore
    • 50 Brian Lowry
    The Rhythm Section
    The Rhythm Section can't quite get its act together. Featuring a solid performance by Blake Lively, it's not bad exactly, but plays like a malnourished Jason Bourne wannabe, crossed with the grittier side of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    Raya and the Last Dragon
    There's some gorgeous imagery along the way, and a strong payoff after what amounts to the episodic nature of Raya's journey. But the film feels too conspicuously like a work by committee than one of inspiration (the film credits four directors or co-directors, and 10 names as having contributed to the story), missing the spark that has characterized the studio's best animated fare, including Pixar's recent "Soul."
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    Funny or Die Presents: Donald Trump's the Art of the Deal: The Movie
    Other than skewering Trump, both personally and politically, this is obviously a rather slim construct. And while Depp throws his all into perhaps his hammiest role since Jack Sparrow, it probably would have benefited from a bit less length and a tighter focus.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    The Equalizer 3
    The Equalizer 3 might not be totally convincing as a “final” anything; still, the latest outing does have the benefit of feeling like it reaches a nice point at which to close the books for now on Robert McCall, all things, you know, being equal.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 55 Brian Lowry
    The Good Liar
    The world-class pairing of Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen is the only calling card that The Good Liar needs. Yet even these two knighted performers -- in a rare star vehicle for a pair of senior citizens -- can't elevate this adaptation of Nicholas Searle's book, which clearly wants to be twisty and Hitchcockian but never quite gets there.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    They Cloned Tyrone
    Slow to start, the movie taps into a genre of “What’s behind the curtain?” paranoia that’s provocative, if a little slim on detail.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    Bones and All
    It’s a strange and intriguing but ultimately unsatisfying stew.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    Dune: Part One
    "Part One" represents an admirable effort to do the material justice.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Plan B
    Every year seems to bring some new teen comedy that breaks through the clutter, showcasing new talent, and in this case, speaking to the times in a very specific way. 2021 is still young, but unless or until something better comes along, "Plan B" lays a pretty strong claim to that mantle.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
    Energetic and sporadically funny, it’s a passable effort to jump-start a comic-book franchise that has enjoyed a long if uneven crawl across the screen.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Brian Lowry
    Val
    Val Kilmer joins the ranks of celebrities that fastidiously documented their lives via video, then shared that in documentary form. But Val feels more deeply personal and fascinating than most, catching its star in the wake of a terrible illness and exploring the "difficult" label he bore as an actor, one whose career choices didn't always serve him well.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    Joy Ride
    Built around a predominantly Asian-American cast, it’s so determined to be crude and edgy that while its friendship dynamic lingers, its initial cleverness gets left in the rear-view mirror.
    • 44 Metascore
    • 40 Brian Lowry
    Heart of Stone
    A self-conscious effort to build a spy franchise around Gal Gadot, Heart of Stone plays like a poor woman’s “Mission: Impossible,” mostly thwarting even its star’s Wonder-ful charisma. Despite solid action moments scattered over its two hours, this Netflix movie plays like an inoffensive but lifeless addition to the “You might like” feature that, alas, you probably won’t.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    tick, tick...Boom!
    Deftly expanding the source material into a movie, the film is anchored by a sensational performance by Andrew Garfield as Larson.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    She Said
    At a time when journalism is often under siege, there’s value in displaying its noblest qualities and loftiest aspirations. Even with hiccups and quibbles, She Said achieves that central mission.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
    The Brooks-Reiner banter is so understated and natural as to basically feel like eavesdropping on one of their lunches, which practically yields more memories than insights.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    On the Rocks
    An entertaining, wonderfully simple comedy with the qualities of a smooth martini -- it goes down easy, but delivers a bit of kick.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    Miss Juneteenth
    It's also a terrific showcase for star Nicole Beharie.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 50 Brian Lowry
    The Iron Claw
    The movie’s earnestness can’t wriggle away from the pretty powerful temptation to tap out.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Woodstock 99: Peace Love and Rage
    Woodstock 99 makes a compelling case that the sewage from that weekend didn't stop flowing when the music stopped, metaphorically if not literally.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    The Fight
    The American Civil Liberties Union battles the Trump administration on multiple fronts in "The Fight," an excellent documentary that captures the heady political moment for which the organization was born. Presented in a taut, tense way, it's a glimpse into what makes the ACLU tick with the pacing and stakes of a dramatic thriller.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 50 Brian Lowry
    Robin's Wish
    The heartbreaking aspect of Robin's Wish lies in the fact that Williams died without knowing what was happening to him, while there's uplift in Schneider Williams' determination to set the record straight. How well that works translating that specific mission into a stand-alone documentary is, to some extent, another matter.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Brian Lowry
    Inside Out 2
    Whatever one’s age, there’s much to like in a movie that offers the requisite laughs and sweetness, while managing to feel quite profound.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    The Fall Guy
    The Fall Guy is too flat in the early going to fully meet that challenge, rallying toward the end without reaching the heights required to make a really big splash.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    Creed III
    If only the script and story were in the same kind of fighting shape as its leads. Grounding the narrative in Adonis Creed’s past does provide a weightier foundation, but the tradeoff is an element of sluggishness in a movie that, despite its impressive cast, never feels particularly light on its toes.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Spaceship Earth
    What Spaceship Earth makes clear is that before booking a ticket, the devil is in the details.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Air
    While this represents a considerably lighter story than his Oscar-winning “Argo,” in terms of its sheer appeal Air flies pretty high indeed, in part because its coach is savvy enough to let his winning lineup of all-stars take the ball and run with it.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)
    Given the frequent weeping captured from her die-hard, singing-along fans, 4DX would really be the killer app, approximating the spray of their abundant tears of joy.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
    Deliver(s) adrenaline-fueled thrills, before fatigue creeps into the unrelenting mayhem about halfway through.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    Supernova
    Supernova is by any measure a modest production, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do: Creating a touching, low-key showcase for its stars, one that allows them to cast a bright light.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    Lucy and Desi
    Lucy and Desi puts a big heart around Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, not only as the beloved stars of "I Love Lucy" and one of Hollywood's great power couples, but as TV pioneers. Drawing upon personal recordings and home videos, director Amy Poehler has served up a warm valentine that leans into celebrating their lives and away from the tabloid fodder.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Hoppers
    Hoppers certainly has the vibrant feel of a plush-toy merchandising bonanza waiting to happen.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
    Puss in Boots: The Last Wish brings a playful quality to the animated feline as well as a deeper message. When it comes to long-delayed sequels it’s wise to be careful what you wish for, but overall the film manages to nimbly land on its feet.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    Jay Kelly
    Think of “Jay Kelly” as a taller and better-looking version of Woody Allen’s “Stardust Memories."
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    The Killer
    The Killer has an old-fashioned feel and still manages to nail its target by bringing dashes of freshness, wit and unpredictability to this well-worn genre.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    Cars
    Periodic bursts of cleverness brighten the festivities, but they're too few and far between, and the trademark humor that appeals to adults and kids often misfires.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    Slay the Dragon
    Slay the Dragon does an extraordinarily good job of taking a complex issue and connecting the dots, which seems particularly appropriate for a documentary about gerrymandering.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 50 Brian Lowry
    Ferrari
    “Ferrari” doesn’t click on all cylinders, featuring a miscast Adam Driver as the automotive mogul, in a Michael Mann-directed movie with some arresting moments that add up to less than the sum of its parts.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    News of the World
    Overall, News of the World is a solid if unspectacular film, presenting a familiar story against an interesting historical backdrop. It just doesn't deliver quite the much-needed escape from their troubles to a contemporary audience that Kidd promises his crowds.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Brian Lowry
    The 40 Year Old Virgin
    Crude, sophomorically homophobic but frequently funny, pic also overstays its welcome a bit and indulges in some juvenile excesses. All told, though, The 40 Year Old Virgin delivers enough belly laughs.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You
    Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You is a valentine to his fans, an ode to friendship and a celebration of the E Street Band. The latest documentary from the prolific artist also marks the continued migration of what he describes as his "45-year conversation" with his audience into the visual media of film and streaming -- this time via Apple TV+.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    Dark Waters
    Beyond the fundamental horror of corporate greed trumping public-health concerns, the movie -- while often bleak and unsettling -- does find hope in the idea that one ordinary guy can make a difference. Dark Waters' message, though, is something bigger -- namely, that turning the tide is a task that will ultimately require a commitment from all of us.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    CODA
    What could feel cliched at various turns deftly avoids that, capturing Ruby’s plight in a way that recalls any number of coming-of-age stories while still feeling unexpectedly fresh and distinctive. There have been a number of first-rate movies about teenage girls in the last few years, but few that were better.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 55 Brian Lowry
    Fire Island
    Fire Island primarily wants to be fun, not necessarily profound, so it needs to be consumed on those terms. Austen adaptations clearly never go out of style, but this latest variation reminds us that alone doesn't mean they pack enough accessories to completely validate the trip.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical
    While the ranks of musicals brought to the screen probably does merit some family planning, “Matilda the Musical” offers a sprightly demonstration that there’s always room for another good one.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    Ammonite
    Ammonite joins a long list of forbidden love stories, yielding a movie presented in washed-out tones, which shines principally thanks to Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. The result is a slow-moving, somewhat predictable but finally effective period romance that primarily serves as an old-fashioned testament to star power.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    Promising Young Woman
    Promising Young Woman combines a promising star and timely premise into a provocative but less-than-satisfying thriller.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    M3GAN
    Director Gerard Johnstone builds up nicely toward those moments, smartly taking its time before the casualties and coincidences start piling up. The film is also a savvy rumination on the perils of letting technology serve as the ultimate babysitter, with Cady becoming a bit of a little monster herself when deprived of M3GAN’s company.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    Belushi
    Belushi turns out to be a lot more than just another look at a star who succumbed to drug abuse, but rather a celebration of John Belushi's talent -- and an era -- as recalled by those who knew him best. R.J. Cutler's documentary has its melancholy moments, but from the opening glimpse of Belushi's "Saturday Night Live" audition video, it surely won't give you the blues.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    Power
    Power makes an intellectual argument, but it’s built on a visceral foundation, purposefully bleeding from past generations into the current one.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    Sleepless in Seattle
    Yet for all the enjoyable flourishes, and there are many, Ephron keeps pausing to remind us, through various contrivances, that this is a movie, making it hard for anyone to really get lost in the story.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Brian Lowry
    Four Hours at the Capitol
    Four Hours at the Capitol might be unlikely to change many hearts or minds, but watching the evidence months removed from the heat of the moment and the chaos that unfolded live on TV makes it difficult to entertain arguments that the media has overblown or misrepresented those images.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    Orion and the Dark
    Even if the movie’s head is occasionally in the clouds, “Orion’s” heart is very much in the right place.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
    What ensues, though, is essentially a rather low-octane thriller, punctuated by trips down memory lane. And while there are some fine moments buried within all that -- some showcasing Gilligan's quirky streak, like an incongruous rendition of the song "Sharing the Night Together" -- it still feels a trifle unnecessary.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    Candyman
    For all that the film does well, in trying to balance its cerebral, visceral and sequel aspects, Candyman appears to have bitten off a bit more than it can chew.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise
    It is, frankly, a lot to absorb — and would risk crumbling under the weight of Lee’s ambition were it not for the second gut punch to the region that BP’s horrifying blunder delivered.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
    Ultimately, “Dungeons & Dragons” delivers enough laughs and thrills to justify braving a trip to the theater. And for these purposes, that’s game, set and match.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 55 Brian Lowry
    Society of the Snow
    Both in its cultural specificity and the passage of time, Society of the Snow delivers a credible take on a remarkable story – augmented by the prolific Michael Giacchino’s score – while hampered somewhat by the limitations imposed by how those events unfolded.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 65 Brian Lowry
    The Suicide Squad
    On the plus side, writer-director James Gunn's movie is superior to its predecessor on most every level. Balancing that, the R-rated mayhem becomes a trifle numbing, blunting the overall effect.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
    There's always the risk of sounding preachy in this sort of exercise in a way that scares off those who can be reached, or perhaps worse, being unduly optimistic. Attenborough finds a middle ground.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Brian Lowry
    The Invisible Man
    Moss, whose gift for speaking volumes with purposeful stares is well-documented on "The Handmaid's Tale," perfectly captures the sense of invasion Cecelia feels, and at first, helplessness. Her growing strength, in the face of such an overwhelming threat, is the movie's most empowering element.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    The Batman
    In Pattinson, the producers have found a Dark Knight worthy of the hoopla, while creating a Gotham much in need of him. As new chapters go, it's a strong beginning; if only it had known when to end.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Brian Lowry
    David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived
    Alternately uplifting and devastating, a warm reminiscence about the Harry Potter franchise and a glimpse into child stardom, it’s finally a tribute to its namesake, who concludes that he’d “better tell my story, or it won’t be told.”
    • 71 Metascore
    • 75 Brian Lowry
    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings conjures a slick addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one that owes less to the comics than most of its predecessors. The movie not only strikes a welcome blow for inclusion with its predominantly Asian cast, but deftly juggles epic world building with lighter comedy in a way that should appeal to audiences, depending on how many can be lured back to theaters at this moment.
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