James Mottram

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NME, Radio Times, South China Morning Post, Total Film
For 310 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 63% higher than the average critic
  • 3% same as the average critic
  • 34% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 3.3 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

James Mottram's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average review score: 69
Highest review score: 100 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Lowest review score: 20 Mortdecai
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 167 out of 310
  2. Mixed: 135 out of 310
  3. Negative: 8 out of 310
310 movie reviews
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    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    The Power of the Dog
    True, it has a tendency to meander and lands Last Night in Soho’s Thomasin McKenzie with an underwritten role. But at its heart is a brooding Cumberbatch, offering one of the shrewdest performances of his career. The Road’s Smit-McPhee also impresses, especially as his character grows more important in the film’s final, unexpected third.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    The Many Saints of Newark
    Violent, gripping, darkly funny and deeply human… everything, in other words, you’d expect from a Sopranos story.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    The Last Duel
    Scott’s usual scope and scale meet unreliable narrators for a thought-provoking tale of systematic abuse. In a classy cast, Comer shines brightest.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 100 James Mottram
    Dune: Part One
    An astounding spectacle, vast in scale and ambition. Prepare to have your breath snatched away.
    • 46 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    Reminiscence
    The film falters mostly with its disappointingly one-note female characters ... It’s a shame, for Reminiscence has some impressive ingredients floating around in its murky mix.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    The French Dispatch
    Another work that could really only come from Anderson’s relentless imagination: exquisite detail, eclectic storylines, superb cast.
    • 45 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    The Tomorrow War
    There’s a lack of genuine emotional heft, not helped by some clunky dialogue (lines like "we are literally living on borrowed time"). But what the film really misses, amid several ear-splitting, CG-heavy alien-attack set-pieces, is humour.
    • 32 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
    The sticking point for some will be the bone-crunching violence, of which there’s A LOT. But if you can stomach that, then this ticks that dumb-fun summer-movie box nicely.
    • 41 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    The Woman in the Window
    Classy work from director and cast, but an anti-climactic second half doesn’t quite knit together the incident and intrigue.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    The World to Come
    An exquisitely rendered period tale, The World To Come is a slow-burning but ultimately rewarding drama of the heart.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    The Little Things
    Led by a trio of Oscar winners knocking it out of the park, The Little Things is a murky must-see.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    Enola Holmes
    Enola Holmes falls into the ‘something for everyone’ category.
    • 43 Metascore
    • 20 James Mottram
    The New Mutants
    A huge misfire that even the most hardcore X-Men fans will find hard to warm to. Avoid, avoid.
    • 44 Metascore
    • 40 James Mottram
    Bloodshot
    The odd spirited turn aside, this is a throwback to the bad old ’90s days of comic-book movies.
    • 48 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    The Call of the Wild
    The excessive CGI can be distracting, some performances veer towards caricature, but this is still a big-hearted take on London’s classic.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    Just Mercy
    Jamie Foxx is on awards-worthy form.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    The Gentlemen
    Ritchie makes a solid return to his wheelhouse with a crime yarn that turns the air so blue you can swim in it.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 40 James Mottram
    21 Bridges
    A generic cop thriller that rumbles along thanks to a quality cast but ultimately offers nothing fresh.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    Ready or Not
    Not subtle (and might put you off getting hitched), but hits its mark with baseball-bat force.
    • 26 Metascore
    • 40 James Mottram
    Rambo: Last Blood
    There’s still a thrill seeing Stallone dig out a classic character for one last rumble, but this is formulaic action fare.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    Hustlers
    Riotously told and enthusiastically performed, Hustlers is hugely entertaining. Edgy, provocative and full of ker-ching
    • 45 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    A Million Little Pieces
    Powered by the magnetic Aaron Taylor-Johnson, it’s rough around the edges, but still intoxicating.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 100 James Mottram
    Ad Astra
    Sublime and stupendous. Beautiful, bold and remarkably executed, this is Gray’s masterpiece, driven by a career-best turn from Pitt.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    The Angry Birds Movie 2
    Pleasingly silly sequel is a colourful, creative, deliciously daft animation.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
    Testosterone, muscles, action, guns and cars… it’s Fast & Furious business as usual. Could be tighter, mind, and the constant dick-measuring gets a little wearying.
    • 48 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    Child's Play
    If your humour skews towards the sick and twisted, then this box-fresh Child’s Play will give you one almighty kick.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    Pet Sematary
    Led by some fine performances, this is an impressive and intense example of how to adapt Stephen King.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 100 James Mottram
    Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
    Rowling’s universe just got bigger and more complex, but Yates never forgets to sprinkle stardust on top.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 James Mottram
    Bohemian Rhapsody
    Definitely not Killer Queen, but thanks to a blinding turn from Malek, fans of the band will get their kicks.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 James Mottram
    Bad Times at the El Royale
    If the film isn’t quite as inventive as the game-changing horror that was Cabin in the Woods (which boasted Joss Whedon as co-scripter), it’s infused with affection and craft.
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