Nick de Semlyen

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Empire
For 97 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 49% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 46% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 0.8 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

Nick de Semlyen's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average review score: 66
Highest review score: 100 Past Lives
Lowest review score: 20 The Ridiculous 6
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 97
  2. Mixed: 53 out of 97
  3. Negative: 2 out of 97
97 movie reviews
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    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    The Death of Stalin
    Iannucci’s brand of political satire is applied to one of the darkest chapters in modern history, with sensational results. The Lives Of Others with laughs, it’s farcical, frightening and a timely reminder that things could always be worse.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    The Holdovers
    Hunham’s hero Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “Give thyself leisure to learn some good thing.” Take his advice and see this film.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    Dunkirk
    A spare, propulsive, ever-intensifying combat thriller, Nolan's history lesson is both a rousing celebration of solidarity and the tensest beach-set film since Jaws.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    Palm Springs
    It’s taken a long time getting here from across the Pond, but some things are worth waiting for. A wonderful, witty and weird spin on an old favourite, which seems destined to become a classic itself.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    Midsommar
    A visceral, unique, utterly f**ked-up experience that demands to be seen on the big screen, Midsommar is the horror movie to beat in 2019. Caution: contains distressing amounts of folk music.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    Uncut Gems
    A monumental thriller, which vividly captures its world’s specifics and calibrates its snaky plot for maximum nail-bitability. Also easily the best film to ever extensively feature Adam Sandler yelling at a TV.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    Past Lives
    A transcendent debut for South Korean-Canadian filmmaker Celine Song, this romantic drama is a masterclass in slow, simmering storytelling. It will stay with you, maybe even into your next life.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    The Revenant
    DiCaprio's raw performance helps elevate what could have been just another man-versus-nature drama.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    The Father
    Hopkins is extraordinary as a man flailing against a condition that’s taking everything from him. And Zeller proves he’s a natural filmmaker, orchestrating a Wagnerian opera of emotion based entirely around an old man in a flat.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    Avatar: The Way of Water
    James Cameron has surfaced with a cosmic marine epic that only he could make: eccentric, soulful, joyous, dark and very, very blue. Yes, he’s still leagues ahead of the pack.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Nick de Semlyen
    Holy Motors
    Splashing around in the same mad puddle as Lynch but a good deal funnier, this tale of a man with many faces is an exhilarating, audacious, lunatic rocket-ride. Hop on board.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
    Combat-heavy pulp of the highest order, this is the most enjoyably over-the-top entry so far. Where else can you get samurai dogs and a Tarkovsky reference?
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Life Itself
    A clear-eyed celebration of a giant of film writing. We’ll refrain from the thumb jokes, but consider this a hearty recommendation.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
    An absolute blast, with a frenetic strike-rate and songs that will worm their way into your ears for days. Like Conner, this comedy’s for real.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    All the Money in the World
    Two men in their 80s power the month’s most pulse-pounding thriller. Who could have seen that coming?
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Strange Darling
    You’ll think you know where this sun-baked serial-killer thriller is going, until you don’t. A nifty, chronologically crafty tale, fuelled by bravura acting by Willa Fitzgerald, it’s a small movie with high impact.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Hundreds of Beavers
    A tale of pelts that pelts along, with more lunacy and creativity than a brace of other films, this film dares to go full beaver. Don’t sleep on it.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Black Widow
    It shouldn’t really have taken 11 years for the Widow to get her own standalone adventure. But thanks to some zesty new character dynamics and smart twists, Marvel have finally done her right.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Colossal
    Made on a budget that would just about cover Kong’s left bicep, Colossal is cool, smart filmmaking, with plot developments that will be talked about for a long time to come.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
    Reminiscent of The Happytime Murders but actually watchable, this zippy, highly amiable rodent noir turns out to be 
a delightful surprise. It flings a lot of ideas at the screen — and most of them stick.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Ford v Ferrari
    Even if you’re not a motorhead, chances are you’ll be thrilled by this high-velocity bromance, powered by zesty acting and Mangold’s meticulous direction.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Moana
    A crowd-pleasing oceanic musical with big tunes and beguiling characters, Moana is likely to thwack a big smile on your face. And did we mention the idiotic chicken?
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Beach Rats
    Powered by a taciturn, soulful performance by its young star, this meditation on fear, shame and sexual repression packs a wallop.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Knives Out
    Rian Johnson put his own spin on Dashiell Hammett with 2005’s Brick. Now he’s Johnsonised the work of Agatha Christie, with equally enjoyable results. Knives Out is snappy, meta and, yes, sharp.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    X-Men: Days of Future Past
    With so much going on, and such a ferocious pace, several parts of the story feel undernourished... But what we do get here is largely fantastic.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Beauty and the Beast
    Those who predicted this wouldn’t hold a talking candle to the animated original will be pleasantly surprised. The tale may be as old as time, but it’s retold with freshness, brio and flair.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Spider-Man: Homecoming
    The characters and scenarios are familiar, but this is a loose, cool, funny remix that makes them feel fresh again.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Predator: Badlands
    If you can get on board with the paradigm change, this is an amped-up rock-gig of a movie and the most fun Predator since the original.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Decision to Leave
    A spry police procedural fused with an achingly intense romance, Decision To Leave keeps you off-kilter throughout, in the best possible way. Make a decision to see it.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Nick de Semlyen
    Dear White People
    Do the right thing — take a break from summer spectacle to check out this assured and eloquent indie.
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