Monica Castillo

Select another critic »
RogerEbert.com, The A.V. Club, The New York Times, The Playlist, TheWrap, Village Voice
For 366 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 50% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 45% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 2 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

Monica Castillo's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average review score: 64
Highest review score: 100 Hokum
Lowest review score: 0 The Departure
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 233 out of 366
  2. Mixed: 67 out of 366
  3. Negative: 66 out of 366
366 movie reviews
view
per page
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Monica Castillo
    Nouvelle Vague
    Linklater not only pays his respects to Godard but also shares that adoration for his craft with his own audience.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 50 Monica Castillo
    The Threesome
    The Threesome ends up kind of a mixed bag, cute but a bit disjointed.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 75 Monica Castillo
    Love, Brooklyn
    Ultimately, the spirit of “Love, Brooklyn” is tenderness. It is both a love letter and a sympathy card: an acknowledgement that growing up sometimes means letting go, embracing the changes that come with time, and that loving someone does not always mean holding on to them.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Monica Castillo
    What We Hide
    As a whole, “What We Hide” has the feeling of an old after-school special, a melodramatic lesson about a topical issue.
    • 39 Metascore
    • 38 Monica Castillo
    My Oxford Year
    The couple doesn’t quite light up the screen with their chemistry, and the writing feels much too basic, given these are meant to be characters in a literature degree program. Thankfully, there are moments of levity, a number of cross-cultural jokes, and supporting characters to lighten the mood.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 63 Monica Castillo
    Diciannove
    Written and directed by Giovanni Tortorici, “Diciannove,” which means “nineteen” in Italian, plumbs the depths of young adulthood in that strange transition year, from the dizzying highs of feeling invincible on the dance floor to realizing just how much about the world you still have to learn.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 88 Monica Castillo
    Apocalypse in the Tropics
    [Costa's] outsider perspective gives no warmth of familiarity, only the startling realization of what they have accomplished so far and what remains ahead for a democracy trying to regain its footing.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 25 Monica Castillo
    Pretty Thing
    We could all use a little distraction these days, and there are worse ways to spend the time than in the company of an engrossing erotic thriller. Unfortunately, “Pretty Thing” isn’t one of them. Between stilted conversations, murky cinematography, and the story’s intimate partner violence, the film is distracting in an unpleasant way.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 100 Monica Castillo
    Sorry, Baby
    Victor’s offbeat film may not resonate with everyone, but their approach to this story and its heavy topic is impressive. It feels refreshing to see characters discuss this taboo topic without making it the defining focus of their lives.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 50 Monica Castillo
    Echo Valley
    Michael Pearce’s grim thriller “Echo Valley” is a melodramatic mess redeemed by the performances of the film’s exceptional cast.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 50 Monica Castillo
    I Don't Understand You
    Although charming, the slight “I Don’t Understand You” struggles to sustain its spark. It’s a series of silly events that get progressively ridiculous and bloodier.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Monica Castillo
    Bring Her Back
    It may not meet the high watermark of the brothers’ first outing, but “Bring Her Back” is still quite the wild ride and shows the pair still have plenty of spooky tricks up their bloody sleeves.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 75 Monica Castillo
    Desert of Namibia
    Somehow, Yamanaka finds a balance for her complicated character to navigate her tantrums and tender moments.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Monica Castillo
    The Moogai
    With “The Moogai,” Bell wrestles with the horrors of the past and acknowledges the history of the Aboriginal children who never had a chance at a future.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 50 Monica Castillo
    Salvable
    Written by Franklin, “Salvable” struggles to find its footing as both a family and crime drama, but it does one better than the other.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 75 Monica Castillo
    Invention
    Invention is a unique collaboration between director Stephens and actress Hernandez that melds fact, fiction, and commentary all in one tribute to an estranged family member. As the movie progresses, there are moments where reality and fiction blur together.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 63 Monica Castillo
    The Uninvited
    Conners’ first narrative feature is a rocky start but not without some promising notes.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 88 Monica Castillo
    When Fall Is Coming
    In addition to Ozon’s impressive work as writer and director, much of the credit for “When Fall is Coming” belongs to the ensemble cast, each of whom brings a unique element to the mix that makes the story so engrossing.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Monica Castillo
    Julie Keeps Quiet
    Leonardo van Dijl’’s “Julie Keeps Quiet” is more about what is left unsaid than what’s spoken. Co-written by van Dijl and Ruth Becquart, the film is a quiet drama about keeping secrets buried within and what happens when details finally come to light.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Monica Castillo
    Black Bag
    The result is absolutely delicious, a svelte piece of entertainment that feels like a vintage yarn yet very much represents our own current anxieties, questions of sustaining trust in relationships and high-stake careers.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 100 Monica Castillo
    On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
    On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is an uncomfortable but entrancing watch, a tribute to shattering silence around family secrets and bucking tradition for the sake of empathy.
    • 41 Metascore
    • 50 Monica Castillo
    In the Lost Lands
    Ultimately, the threadbare quality of Constantin Werner’s screenplay cannot be smoothed over with gobs of CGI effects (impressive as some of these sequences look) and the star power of Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 63 Monica Castillo
    Cleaner
    While “Cleaner” may not be one of the most refined action movies this year, it has a bit more to offer than most, especially when it comes to Campbell’s thoughtful direction and Ridley’s committed performance.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 100 Monica Castillo
    Universal Language
    Co-written by Rankin, Nemati, and Ila Firouzabadi, “Universal Language” is delightfully absurdist, with little moments in each story that both make sense yet defy expectations.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Monica Castillo
    Kidnapping Inc.
    Even if it falls short in some regards, “Kidnapping Inc.” is a splashy debut that commands your attention from start to finish.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 63 Monica Castillo
    Lucca's World
    Visually, Chenillo’s film doesn’t stand out, but it’s a pleasant enough story with a hopeful tone, celebrating each of Lucca’s victories, from holding on to the sides of the tub with both hands to kicking a ball for the first time to taking his first steps.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 50 Monica Castillo
    Night Call
    While “Night Call” delivers in the thriller department of the narrative, it stumbles when trying to tackle the politics of the day.
    • 40 Metascore
    • 38 Monica Castillo
    Ad Vitam
    Ad Vitam, which in Latin means “for life,” is at times brisk but narratively unclear, delivers its share of action, but not the characters to keep you emotionally invested.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 63 Monica Castillo
    The Love Scam
    While “The Love Scam” isn’t breaking new rom-com ground, it sufficiently checks the expected boxes and features a formidable romantic pair with Folletto and Adriani.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Monica Castillo
    Los Frikis
    Los Frikis is a complicated movie with good intentions and the goal of sharing underreported stories from the island. I want that too, but I found Los Frikis too saccharine given its somber topic. Perhaps its harder edged critiques were softened for international audiences, but I would have preferred the film more thoroughly wrestle with the emotional, political, and social complexities at its center.
Page:

Top Trailers

See all »
See all trailers »