Courtney Howard
@lulamaybelle.bsky.social
🍅meter-approved film critic/ journo. Member: LA Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association Writer: Variety, FreshFiction.tv. Never met a dachshund I haven’t liked.
#YouCanSeeEverything is a rollercoaster ride. Nathan Fielder does it again. Innovative, intense, jaw-dropping & simply incredible. Tonally feels like a conspiracy thriller, at times. It’s an absolutely riveting study of a woman full of complex, conflicting dichotomies.
Sobbed PROFUSELY during the end credits of #LaBolaNegra as all of the built up emotions came bursting out during the final moments’ flurry. Not one false note. All character-driven narrative propulsion. Los Javis’ gorgeous vision is delicately faceted. Guitarricadelafuente FTW!
My last photo of the Warner Brothers Water Tower before they changed it to read “A Skydance Company” was when they wrapped it for BARBIE. A farewell to (doll) arms!
If you were curious, there’s a 10-minute intermission built into Alex Gibney’s 4 hour documentary #Musk
There’s such a thing as Good Bad Trash - and #VerityFilm/ #Verity is it! Part neo-gothic hagsploitation, part campy 90s erotic thriller, it goes Full Bonkers mostly at all times. Anne Hathaway & Dakota Johnson are totally locked in. My review: freshfiction.tv/verity-revie...
‘VERITY’ Review: Anne Hathaway & Dakota Johnson Are a Scream In Campy Colleen Hoover Adaptation
Courtney Howard // Film Critic VERITY Rated R, 1 hour and 57 minutes Directed by: Michael Showalter Starring: Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett, Irina Dvorovenko, Brady Wagner BookTok’s …
freshfiction.tv
I love my Misunderstood Children (Babylon, mother!, Megalopolis, Digger)
#DiggerMovie/ #Digger Round 3 tonight: Looked spectacular in VistaVision 35mm at The Grove AMC. What Tom Cruise does in this film is extraordinary. Iñárritu channels Coen Brothers, Gilliam & Kubrick’s mayhem, distilling it into a potent concoction.
#PossibleLove is a time commitment, but one worth taking. The emotional windfall that comes with inhabiting these well-drawn, perfectly acted characters’ worlds hits like a ton of bricks. It reverberates on the micro and macro levels. Lee Chang-dong channels Ken Loach.
#DiggerMovie is a disruptor, deliberately meant to be provoking. With Tom Cruise’s brilliantly committed performance at the core, a stellar ensemble shaping the satire & production design that deserves top billing, it’s a masterpiece. freshfiction.tv/digger-revie...
‘DIGGER’ Review: Tom Cruise & Alejandro G. Iñárritu Cut Deep in a Razor-Sharp Satire
Courtney Howard // Film Critic DIGGER Rated R, 2 hours and 8 minutes Directed by: Alejandro G. Iñárritu Starring: Tom Cruise, John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemon…
freshfiction.tv
#VerityFilm is my kind of stupid, silly smut. Neo-gothic camp mixes in a ridiculously delirious concoction of psycho-sexual tension & intrigue. Like dumbed-down du Maurier. Anne Hathaway & Dakota Johnson are completely game. I am reborn anew!
#HeartOfTheBeast had me white-knuckling my theater armrest. Pitt & Pup Uber are incredibly good in this gripping survival film. And don’t worry: the dog lives! My review: freshfiction.tv/heart-of-the...
‘HEART OF THE BEAST’ Review: Pitt and Pup Brave The Wilderness In A Harrowing Survivalist Actioner
Courtney Howard // Film Critic HEART OF THE BEAST Rated PG-13, 1 hour and 45 minutes Directed by: David Ayer Starring: Brad Pitt, J.K. Simmons, Anna Lambe, Uber The filmmakers behind HEART OF THE B…
freshfiction.tv
#DiggerMovie RIPS! Iñárritu creates powder keg cinema, exploding in blistering heat & dazzling fireworks. A masterfully compelling, electric & audaciously assured satirical farce. Tom Cruise gives a brilliant, boldly invigorated, tour de force performance. Riz Ahmed is a standout!
Lili Reinhart’s press tour fashions are more beguiling than the movie she’s promoting. Claire Scanlon’s #TheLoveHypothesis offers nothing in terms of matched lasting power. It’s mind-numbingly inert. My review: freshfiction.tv/the-love-hyp...
‘THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS’ Review: Lili Reinhart Leads a Surprisingly Leaden Romantic Comedy
Courtney Howard // Film Critic THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS Rated R, 1 hour and 50 minutes Directed by: Claire Scanlon Starring: Lili Reinhart, Tom Bateman, Rachel Marsh, Jaboukie Young-White, Nicholas Duve…
freshfiction.tv
Jack Haven gave one of the best performances of the decade in I SAW THE TV GLOW, they were hilarious in BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC and terrifying in CASTRATION MOVIE ANTHOLOGY ii, and TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH is one of the most acclaimed films of the year. Now they're begging for ANY work. At all.
Matt R. Lohr@mattrlohr.bsky.social · 3w agoJack Haven is a vital part of one of this year’s best films. And they’re in need of some help. The film industry, man… www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqB5...
Lance Oppenheim’s #Primetime shows Robert Pattinson delivering an unsettling, uncanny impersonation of Chris Hansen in a dark satirization of true-life events. Yet Skyler Gisondo’s performance & Merritt Wever’s Gator T-shirt stole the show. My review: freshfiction.tv/primetime-re...
‘PRIMETIME’ Review: Robert Pattinson’s Uncanny Impersonation Unsettles in a Dark Satirization of True-Life Events
Courtney Howard // Film Critic PRIMETIME Rated R, 1 hour and 50 minutes Directed by: Lance Oppenheim Starring: Robert Pattinson, Skyler Gisondo, Merritt Wever, Matthew Maher, Phoebe Bridgers, Bokee…
freshfiction.tv
#ForgottenIsland is not just one of the greatest animated films of the year, it’s one of the best films (period!) of the year. A fantastic tale that highlights Filipino folklore & female friendship. Liza Soberano is a superstar. My review: freshfiction.tv/forgotten-is...
‘FORGOTTEN ISLAND’ Review: A Fantastic Fantastical Animated Adventure & Heartfelt Ode to Female Friendship
Courtney Howard // Film Critic FORGOTTEN ISLAND Rated PG, 1 hour and 50 minutes Directed by: Joel Crawford, Januel P. Mercado Starring: Liza Soberano, H.E.R., Dave Franco, Lea Salonga, Manny Jacint…
freshfiction.tv
People think they can easily duplicate Tim Robinson’s shtick. The filmmakers behind #TheMusical demonstrate they clearly can not. Still, there’s a magnificent split diopter shot and needle drop that do add interest. My review: freshfiction.tv/the-musical-...
‘THE MUSICAL’ Sundance Review: All the Spite Moves
Courtney Howard // Film Critic THE MUSICAL Not Rated, 1 hour and 24 minutes Directed by: Giselle Bonilla Starring: Will Brill, Rob Lowe, Gillian Jacobs, Nevada Jose, Melanie Herrera, Chyler Emery S…
freshfiction.tv
Ran home to bear hug my dog after seeing David Ayer’s #HeartOfTheBeast. It’s a harrowing, contemplative & heartrending film about trust, survival & loyalty. Circumstances are intense, but also hope-filled. Hats off to the 4 goodest pups playing Odin & the 1 & only Brad Pitt
#ForgottenIsland is like THE HANGOVER meets SPIRITED AWAY meets 8 cans of Four Loco. The energy level is turned up to 11. It’s also an incredibly sweet, insanely beautiful tribute to female friendship. Loved the character designs.
Jesse Eisenberg said in our Q&A for #TheDebut that Emma Stone is an alt-comedy nerd “and her favorite thing on the planet is Zendaya is Meechee.”
Zach Cregger’s #ResidentEvil is the real deal - a bloody excellent video game adaptation. With kinetic horror sequences & killer craftsmanship, it’s a standout that had me screaming, crying & throwing up. Austin Abrams is terrific! My review: freshfiction.tv/resident-evi...
‘RESIDENT EVIL’ Review: Zach Cregger Delivers Demented Body Horror in His Superior Video Game Adaptation
Courtney Howard // Film Critic RESIDENT EVIL Rated R, 1 hour and 30 minutes Directed by: Zach Cregger Starring: Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Kali Reis, Zach Cherry, Andrea Miltnerova In the d…
freshfiction.tv
You will never predict the wacky places #TheHistoryOfConcrete goes to bring you stories about the folks who cement our lives. Documentarian John Wilson…uh…is at it again, gifting us with a beautifully unfocused, unfussy ode to foundations. My review: freshfiction.tv/the-history-...
‘THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE’ Review: John Wilson’s Beautifully Unfocused, Unfussy Ode to Foundations
Courtney Howard // Film Critic THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE Not Rated, 1 hour and 41 minutes Directed by: John Wilson Starring: John Wilson The Emmy nominated HOW TO WITH JOHN WILSON blazed a new path o…
freshfiction.tv
When I spoke with Tom Cruise back in July for #Digger, I too asked him this exact question GQ Magazine asked about what goes through his mind seeing his own sizzle reel. He gave me an offshoot of this answer and I sincerely love that he gave it a bit more color & texture to @zachbaron.bsky.social 💗
Thanks to #Primetime & Robert Pattinson, Skyler Gisondo will now have “DECOY DAN!!!!” screamed at him for the rest of his career.
Truly a Magical Life Moment to see #MarieAntoinette on the best screen in town at the Academy Museum. To hear Sofia Coppola & Kirsten Dunst talking about their filming experience 20 years ago made my heart swell. One of the best creative collaborations ever, these two. 💗
Bassam Tariq’s steady hand guides #YourMotherMovie. Absolutely floored me. Deeply compelling, humanist & layered, it’s a masterful, highly stylized, character-driven piece that hits right in the gut. Mahershala Ali is at the top of his game. Not one false note.
Peter Farrelly’s #IPlayRocky is a genuine knockout. Part biopic, part making-of, a rousing, crowd-pleasing triumph. Anthony Ippolito is the beating ❤️ & soul, creating character value NOT mimicry. Anna Sophia Robb is terrific. P.J. Byrne (once again) is the stealth supporting MVP
