Arizona Republic's Scores

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For 2,969 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 62% higher than the average critic
  • 4% same as the average critic
  • 34% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.2 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Movie review score: 66
Highest review score: 100 The Peanut Butter Falcon
Lowest review score: 10 The Legend of Hercules
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,702 out of 2969
  2. Mixed: 1,148 out of 2969
  3. Negative: 119 out of 2969
2969 movie reviews
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    • 43 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Aftermath
    Those who enjoy either World War II movies or period dramas likely will enjoy this movie, even if some of the plot twists are predictable. It's an enjoyable deviation from the typical war story, but if there were more layers of warmth and stronger emotional connections between the characters, it could have built to a more satisfying conclusion.
  2. Cry Macho
    There is a craggy kind of elegance to Cry Macho. You know what you’re getting for the most part. This does not include a lot of surprises. It does include comfort in the familiar. Eastwood has earned that, too.
  3. First Love
    First Love might not ultimately mean much, but its wily mix of colorful elements – romance, organized crime, slapstick and ultra-violence – makes for a bracingly weird cinematic experience.
  4. How to Be a Latin Lover
    There are quite a few genuine laughs along the way. Director Ken Marino has a firm hand with big, silly slapstick, but he also knows how to make the most of dialogue.
  5. Four Lions
    Four Lions is a comedy about terrorism. No, not a thoughtful, intellectual take on the absurdities of suicide bombing. It's slapstick. Actually, it's the Three Stooges of Jihad.
  6. Swiss Army Man
    There are obviously a lot of parts here, and they don’t all fit together successfully; the shift in tone toward the end is particularly unsettling. But it’s not for lack of ambition on the part of the Daniels, nor the performances by Dano and Radcliffe.
  7. Batkid Begins
    Batkid Begins is a good movie about great intentions and a large group of people coming together to make a stranger most of them will never meet happy.
  8. Crimson Peak
    If the film is ultimately an exercise in atmosphere, it is without question a triumph on that front. The rich textures and almost tactile visuals are astonishing.
  9. Destination Wedding
    Watching unpleasant characters onscreen isn't always a fun experience, so casting Reeves and Ryder is genius. They're both full-on movie stars: charismatic, wildly photogenic, the whole nine yards. But they're also good actors, and they make these two neurotic misanthropes quite engaging.
  10. Nightmare Alley
    Nightmare Alley winds up being like one of the games on the midway, its outward appearance more impressive than what lies beneath. But what an appearance it is.
  11. Trumbo
    Roach’s film may be light in places, even sugarcoated in others, but any reminder of the past and its impact on the future is a welcome one. Plus, we get a good Cranston performance in the bargain.
  12. Maudie
    Hawkins is fantastic. She duplicates Maud’s gnarled hands, but doesn’t overdo it — she simply captures Maud’s struggle and portrays it as part of her life.
  13. The Other F Word
    For the most part the film is an interesting, and occasionally fascinating, look at getting older and taking on responsibility.
  14. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
    A technically fascinating film that's best when it's angry, less good when romance rears its head.
  15. Secretariat
    Secretariat was such a commanding presence, the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, a Time magazine coverboy, the focus of the public's imagination during his pursuit, that any excuse to relive that excitement is worthwhile, and Secretariat gives us one.
  16. Cesar Chavez
    It never quite takes off in a stirring, inspirational way, but moves steadily forward in solid fashion.
  17. Dom Hemingway
    Dom Hemingway is a naughty good time while it lives up to the unpredictable bawdiness of its opening line.
    • 43 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Back to Black
    It glosses over any number of defining Winehouse moments. In the end, though, you do get a sense of who she was and why she was the way she was, and how that drove her to create such deeply soulful music.
  19. LBJ
    LBJ, Rob Reiner's film, benefits greatly from an absolutely all-in performance by Woody Harrelson as the former president. But it also benefits from the current president, or at least the current administration.
  20. Frank Serpico
    Frank Serpico doesn't supersede "Serpico," and it isn't meant to. Instead it serves as an interesting companion piece, one well worth watching.
  21. The Bikeriders
    The whole isn't quite as interesting as the sum of its parts, is another way to put it. The parts, though, are quite good on their own.
  22. The Breadwinner
    For all its heart and beauty, The Breadwinner sputters a bit to a close. Its themes are undeniable — one walks away feeling angry and empowered. But with the story’s soft focus, one soon forgets why.
  23. The Drop
    The Drop could have been an ordinary crime drama, but it's elevated by extraordinary performances.
  24. It's Kind of a Funny Story
    Gilchrist, Emma Roberts and, especially, Zach Galifianakis, give affecting performances, but they are ultimately let down by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's screenplay.
  25. The Impossible
    One of those movies that's good, but leaves you with the nagging feeling that it could have been better.
  26. Chimpanzee
    Fothergill and Linfield capture plenty of humor and drama.
  27. Wolf
    Writer and director Nathalie Biancheri’s film explores the lives of those living as “The Other,” outside society’s norms. It requires commitment on the part of the actors and the audience. It’s a worthwhile investment.
  28. Creed II
    The matches between Adonis and Viktor are captivating even for non-boxing fans wrapped up in the drama as slow-motion punches swing right at the camera. This deeply personal, high-stakes battle is a chance to change history for both characters who may become just as iconic as their predecessors to a new generation.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Friend
    Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, “The Friend” is exactly what you’d expect from beginning to end — there are no surprises. The film, based on the 2018 novel of the same name, is about healing from grief, navigating a years-long friendship and finding new companionship.
  30. Overboard
    Writers and directors Bob Fisher and Rob Greenberg don't do anything particularly clever or inspired, but they display a knack for snappy dialogue and draw solid work from the cast. It's enjoyable watching Leonardo and Kate draw closer together, and the film's emotional moments strike the right notes.
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