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Oscar Winners 2023

reviews | Oscar Winners 2023

by the Cineluxe staff
March 13, 2023

This was a good year for “You’re kidding.” Even those who have long been sour on the whole exercise had to have been more than a little thrown by what transpired last night. And because the Academy—apparently eager to just get it over with and move on—went into full pile-on mode, there wasn’t a lot left standing by the time the ceremony was over. A lot could be said about how almost all the films that won this year were in some way retreads, things that not only didn’t move the needle forward but forcibly wrenched it back a few notches, seemingly out of fear of doing anything new. Hopefully this was just the last wave of leftovers from the pandemic, there are more vital forces stirring, and next year’s affair will be a little more gratifying.

All Quiet on the Western Front

International Film, Cinematography, Original Score, Production Design

“From the opening pastoral scenes of nature in the French countryside that transition to the bleakness and horror of the trenches and No Man’s Land of the Great War, All Quiet on the Western Front captivates with an unflinching visual style, providing one of the most satisfying cinematic experiences offered by a movie from a streaming service this year.”
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Everything Everywhere All at Once

Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Editing

“Despite being a work of legitimate cultural significance, with a message that will still be sending shockwaves through my brain years from now, Everything Everywhere All at Once is also incredibly accessible and wildly entertaining, not to mention slap-happily zany.” read more

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio

Animated Film

“Del Toro’s Pinocchio—a re-imagining of the 1883 novel that has nothing to do with Disney’s take on the property—is a weird and wonderful, utterly soulful fantasy adventure and allegory that almost seems to have been made with no other audience in mind than del Toro himself. “ read more

RRR

Original Song

“RRR may not have been India’s entry in the Academy Award International Feature category this year, but it is a hugely successful and highly accessible film that you don’t have to be a film connoisseur to enjoy. So check out this not so hidden gem of a film on Netflix if you haven’t already.” read more

Top Gun: Maverick

Sound

“Maverick is like a master class in how to make a blockbuster sequel. The casting and acting are great, the cinematography is fantastic, the plot is simple but compelling, and the action is fast-paced and (mostly) believable. And it plays terrifically in a luxury home theater. It looks and sounds great, is a near-guaranteed crowd pleaser for your next get-together, and has great replay value. In fact, I already can’t wait to watch it again, and it will likely have heavy rotation in your theater’s demo showoff reel!” read more

Oscar Nominees 2023

reviews | Oscar Nominees 2023

our comprehensive roundup of this year’s most notable Academy Award picks

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by the Cineluxe staff
updated March 9, 2023

This year’s Oscar nods were so predictable that we were able to lay this page out more than a week ago and only had to make one change after the nominations were actually announced. It’s kind of sad the industry is so committed to sticking with the safe and known—and, as you’ll see from many of our reviewers’ comments, long. But while there don’t seem to be any masterpieces in the 2023 round of picks, there is a decent number of films that are, if nothing else, engaging, diverting, and demo-worthy.

All the Beauty and Bloodshed

Documentary Feature

Review Coming Soon

All Quiet on the Western Front

Picture, International Film, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Original Score, Visual Effects, Sound, Makeup & Hairstyling, Production Design

All That Breathes

Documentary Feature

“The only real complaint I have about All That Breathes is that it ends far too quickly. Granted, the 97-minute runtime already seems brisk on paper, but actually watching it, it doesn’t feel anywhere near that long. Some of that is due to the lack of a conventional narrative but a lot of it boils down to fantastic editing, compelling subjects, and mesmerizing cinematography. One simply hopes HBO eventually releases the thing in UHD/HDR so it can be experienced in its full splendor.” read more

The Banshees of Inisherin

Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Editing, Original Score

“The Banshees of Inisherin will no doubt go down as one of the most divisive films of this awards season but likely not for the reasons you might suspect, mainly because I can’t imagine anyone outright hating it. It’s one of the most captivating films of the year. No scene—indeed, no frame—is wasted and its closing credits seem to nip at the heels of its opening imagery. Then again, if you said you found it ploddingly paced, I’d have a hard time arguing with you.” read more

The Batman

Visual Effects, Sound, Makeup & Hairstyling

“At nearly three hours, the pacing is slow, and there are often long periods between the next ‘event,’ making it feel long at times. Even when it feels the film is wrapping up, there is another 30 minutes! But, while I don’t think this is the best Batman movie ever, it’s still engaging and entertaining, and director Matt Reeves gives us an interesting new take on the Dark Knight that certainly looks and sounds better when screened at home.” read more

Blonde

Actress

“Writer and director Dominik’s liberal use of artistic license and unorthodox filmmaking techniques in telling the story of the legendary Marilyn Monroe is risky. As often as it works, there are equally as many times that it comes across as lurid and cringey. Blonde is sometimes beautiful to look at, with a heroic performance by de Armas, but its content is bleak and disturbing.” read more

Causeway

Supporting Actor

“Causeway may be a small film that hasn’t received much attention but it is an exquisitely crafted character study with two very fine performances by Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry that elevate it to something special.” read more

Elvis

Picture, Actor, Cinematography, Editing, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Production Design

“I can’t comment on how closely the film hews to actual events, or if Colonel Tom Parker was truly as controlling and influential on Elvis Presley as the film portrays, but I did find Elvis entertaining, though a bit long at 2 hours 39 minutes. If you’re a fan of Presley or Baz Luhrmann, it’s definitely worth a watch.” read more

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Editing, Original Score, Original Song, Costume Design

The Fabelmans

Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Production Design

“The two-hour 31-minute run-time can be a bit plodding. Don’t expect a lot of—or really any—action other than of the emotional kind. While I found the film interesting, scenes can drag a bit. But if you’re a Spielberg fan, this is definitely a movie you’ll want to see, as it accurately depicts his early life and influences.” read more

Fire of Love

Documentary Feature

“Of the two documentary films cobbled together last year from footage shot by Maurice and Katia Krafft, Fire of Love is ultimately the better one. Sara Dosa doesn’t cram her own personality into the film the way Wenrer Herzog does, but she also takes a more childlike and irreverent approach that suits its subjects and subject matter better. I’d love it if you watched both because there are some ways in which Herzog’s film is superior. But if you have to pick one, make it this one, whether it wins the Oscar or not.” read more

Glass Onion

Adapted Screenplay

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is lighter and breezier than the original film but with a similarly clever and intricate plot. It also features first-rate sound and picture quality, making it one of the premier streaming releases of the year.” read more

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio

Animated Film

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Animated Film

“This is such a compelling little film that anyone with a hint of tolerance for weirdness will get altogether lost in the experience. It’s refreshing to watch a movie that leans so hard into its adorableness without ignoring the difficulties we all face in life. It’s also a delightfully strange feeling to watch a film made with so much sincerity and so little cynicism. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if the original shorts resonated with you in the slightest, I think you’ll love the feature-length Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.” read more

RRR

Original Song

The Sea Beast

Animated Film

“Chris Williams’ The Sea Beast is not perfect but it brings all the charm and well-crafted storytelling of his previous efforts for Disney to his new partnership with Netflix Animation.”
read more

Tár

Picture, Director, Actress, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing

“Tár can be a maddening film to watch—which makes it an even more maddening film to review. It ticks off all the trendy boxes, not just weighing in on gender politics and the blind destructive power of the howling virtual mob but also adopts a chill, distant, elliptical style that constantly holds the characters at arm’s length. Most troubling of all, it dips into the au courant fantasy realm by having certain key actions hinge on the implausible. It’s hard to take the film’s take on the contemporary world seriously or care a fig about any of its characters when it’s so willing to conveniently veer away from any kind of convincing reality.” read more

Top Gun: Maverick

Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Original Song, Visual Effects, Sound

Triangle of Sadness

Picture, Director, Original Screenplay

“It’s nearly impossible to tell if writer/director Ruben Östlund desires to watch the ultra-wealthy suffer himself or if he simply assumes his audience is cruel and morally bankrupt. Either way, this muddled and overly long exercise in unfocused schadenfreude manages to be both shallow and thematically incoherent, callous and distant, shockingly disgusting and punishingly boring, and even its contradictions aren’t enough to make it interesting. It’s one of the most soulless and repugnant works of cinema I’ve seen in ages, and the fact that it’s getting any attention this awards season is as scathing an indictment of entertainment industry as I can imagine.”
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Turning Red

Animated Film

“Turning Red seems to have critics and audiences split, with critics giving it a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating, matching both Soul and Wall-E, and audiences scoring it a more mediocre 66%, closer to The Good Dinosaur’s 64%. While I didn’t find Turning Red to be among Pixar’s strongest outings, it’s entertaining and looks fantastic, and certainly worth checking out for Disney+ subscribers.” read more

Oscar Winners 2022

reviews | Oscar Winners 2022

Belfast

Original Screenplay

“Kenneth Branagh has had an up-and-down filmography but this is clearly among his strongest films. He garners fantastic performances from novices and veterans alike, yet centers the movie on the performance of young Jude Hill.” read more

Drive My Car

International Feature

“I wish Drive My Car was an hour shorter, a little less repetitive, a lot less austere, and had more faith in its audience to connect with its themes without belaboring them half to death. Looking back on the experience of the film as a whole, I have to say I appreciate the hell out of it. But I just can’t bring myself to love it.” read more

King Richard

Actor

“King Richard is entertaining, well-made, and well-acted, and with Rotten Tomatoes critics’ and audience scores of 91 and 98% respectively, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Will Smith up for his third Best Actor nomination. Other than a few uses of the n-word, it’s definitely family friendly and kept my 15 year old—who has no interest in tennis—engaged. It’s certainly worth giving a watch.” read more

Summer of Soul

Documentary Feature

“You owe it to yourself to watch this film at your earliest convenience. I’ve barely nicked the paint on this incredible experience, which centers on a wonderful but forgotten music festival but also touches on everything from the moon landing to the repercussions of the assassinations of MLK and JFK to the power of music and the purpose and nature of art. The fact that it does all of that elegantly and with a cohesive narrative thread is itself something of a minor miracle.” read more

Some worthy winners, some surprises, but nothing that moved the needle in a big way

by the Cineluxe staff
March 28, 2022

Any time the Academy decides to spread the wealth around, you know you’re into a pretty mediocre year. There were some intriguing films among the winners—debatably, no truly great ones. (Read what you will into the members treating Dune as mainly a technical exercise.) And it was interesting to see the streaming services continuing to claim more ground against the traditional studio system. The most generous view would be to say that the film industry is still regaining its footing as it adjusts to the curves thrown by the pandemic. A guess, somewhat wild, is that, because of all the forms of distribution now in play, we can expect this year to look not all that different from last.

CODA

Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor

“CODA is irreverent without going for cheap shocks, adorable without being cloying, sentimental without being schmaltzy, awkward without being affected, and fits firmly into the tradition of feel-good cinema without being overly manipulative emotionally. My only criticism is that it plays it safe in terms of broader story structure. Let’s call it what it is—the Hero’s Journey. As a result, by the end of the first act you’ll probably have an accurate sense of how it ends.” read more

Dune (2021)

Cinematography, Production Design, Original Score, Film Editing, Sound, Visual Effects

“Let’s set aside for a moment the question of whether Denis Villeneuve’s Dune works as a partial adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic science-fiction novel. A much more relevant question is whether or not it works as cinema on its own terms. And thankfully that ends up being the much easier question to answer. Yes—a thousand times, yes. As if he hadn’t proven it already with films like Arrival, Prisoners, and Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve demonstrates with Dune that he understands cinema as an art form in a way few other modern directors do.” read more

No Time to Die

Original Song

“No Time to Die is a fantastic experience at home, visually and sonically, and with its lengthy run-time, you’re able to pause if need be for a bathroom or snack break to ensure you don’t miss a moment of action” read more

West Side Story

Supporting Actress

“It isn’t really fair to compare West Side Story to modern Broadway musicals, and the songs here might not be as catchy for some contemporary listeners as what they’d hear in Hamilton, Phantom, Les Miserables, or Jonathan Larson’s pop-rock fueled numbers. But if you typically shy away from musicals, Spielberg’s cinematic touch should be enough to tempt you to give this one a try.” read more

Cruella

Costume Design

“Cruella is one of the most original live-action films to come out of Disney in recent years, and if it didn’t grab your attention in the theaters or on Disney+, now is the perfect opportunity to enjoy it in highest-resolution at home!” read more

Encanto

Animated Feature

“This film offers a wonderful opportunity to round everyone up in your home theater and share an experience. With a message that speaks to the strength of family, gorgeous images that will highlight your video display, and a catchy soundtrack, Encanto offers tantos razones to give it a watch.” read more

The Power of the Dog

Director

“The Power of the Dog is both a period piece and a psychological drama, as well as a finely crafted character study of complex individuals. If you’re a fan of Jane Campion’s work, her return to the big screen is beautiful to look at and an absolutely compelling film.” read more

Oscars 2022: The Most Demo-Worthy Scenes

Oscars 2022 | The Most Demo-Worthy Scenes

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Kaleidescape customers’ favorite scenes from this year’s Oscar nominees turn out to be—not surprisingly—great home theater demos as well

by John Sciacca
March 22, 2022

The Cineluxe reviews team has been diligently watching and reviewing as many of this year’s nominated films as possible, with 27 reviews posted. With the Oscars being handed out on March 27, there isn’t a lot of time left to check out any of the movies you may have missed. No worries! With the help of Kaleidescape, we’ve compiled a list of the top-viewed scenes from many of the nominees, giving you a chance to take a quick sample and get a taste of the film or just refresh your memory before the big event.

Besides delivering films in the highest audio and video quality available anywhere, Kaleidescape bookmarks the pivotal scenes and songs within a film. These are often the defining moments, like “The Cantina” from Star Wars: A New Hope, “Running from the Boulder” from Raiders of the Lost Ark, or “Wounded in the Buttocks” from Forrest Gump.

Not too surprisingly, the three films that dominated the Top 25 scenes viewed by Kaleidescape owners were all big, action-filled blockbusters bursting with replayable, demo-worthy moments. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had five of the highest-ranking scenes, including Nos. 1, 2, and 3, while Dune and No Time to Die grabbed seven of the Top 25.

Below are some selections from the 65 most-watched scenes, with each scene’s viewing popularity rank out of the 65 and running time.

Cruella

“Cruella Has Arrived” (No. 31 | 3:55)
The film’s Oscar-nominated costume design is on fine display here as Cruella makes her grand entrance into the Baronness’s black-and-white ball. The home is filled with partygoers wearing a variety of formal outfits observing the dress code (“No color”) when Cruella makes a huge splash by first destroying a champagne tower and then burning off her white outer coat to reveal a show-stealing blood-red dress. You can practically hear each piece of glass shatter and skitter across the wood floor before music fills the room as Cruella refuses to go quietly.

“Rebelliousness Turns to Guilt” (No. 35 | 3:56)
At just 7 minutes into the film, we meet young Estella sneaking her way into a party at a mansion filled with people dressed in French Revolution-era garb (again showing off why Cruella was nominated for costume and makeup). Notice the sheer volume, variety, and attention to detail on all the outfits as the camera pans around the room, the 4K HDR transfer giving texture to all the different fabrics.

Dune (2021)

“The Harkonnens Arrive” (No. 6 | 2:20)
Coming about halfway in, this is the most traditionally sci-fi blockbuster-esque action sequence in the film, so it’s no real surprise that it’s the most popular scene from Dune. You get a really good sense of the film’s excellent visual effects and sound design. But viewed outside the context of the story, it’s mostly just “loud things go boom,” which certainly makes it appealing as home-cinema demo material.

“Saving the Miners” (No. 7 | 5:40)
A little over an hour in, this stunning rescue sequence is probably the best in the entire film for demonstrating Dune‘s seamless effects work and its innovative and intense sound design. It’s also the best subwoofer demo of the year, thanks largely to the underground undulations of the mostly unseen—but heard and felt—sandworm.

“A Test of Control” (No. 9 | 4:45)
This is the scene director Denis Villeneuve had to get right for his Dune adaptation to be effective. It’s a master class in costume design, sound mixing, cinematography, and economy of storytelling, and the performances are simply spot-on. HDR grading is also brilliantly used to add depth and nuance to an incredibly dark scene.

Encanto

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (No. 16 | 3:36)
Never doubt the musical prowess of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who co-wrote this catchy tune you’ve probably heard even if you haven’t watched Encanto, as it recently hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making “Bruno” the second Disney song ever top reach No. 1! (“A Whole New World” from Aladdin was the first to do so in 1993.) My daughter Audrey loves this song and plays it on Spotify all the time! The Atmos mix helps you appreciate the layering of voices during this ensemble number, which completely fill the room and come from all sides.

“The Family Madrigal” (No. 20 | 4:16)
This song plays right after the opening title comes up and is my personal favorite from the film, introducing us to all the members of the family Madrigal and their special gifts. Note the bright vibrant colors—especially the flowers that bloom around Isabella—and the glowing gold on the family’s doors. The music is the sonic star of the Atmos soundtrack, giving voices space to spread across the front of the room and even up into the ceiling. It also helps you better understand Miranda’s signature rapid-fire lyrics.

Free Guy

“Getting His Own Sunglasses” (No. 19 | 3:12)
At 11 minutes in, Guy, beginning to realize he can be something special, decides to stop being an NPC and fight back against a bank robber. Once he puts on the glasses, he sees the world in a whole new light, filled with bright graphics and power-ups. The audio definitely immerses you in Free City, with a jet that flies overhead, along with sounds of helicopters and traffic off in the distance.

“Dude vs. Guy” (No. 26 | 4:46)
At 1 hour 28 in, this scene is the Boss Fight, with Guy having to fight a super-sized—yet unfinished—version of himself named Dude. Dude’s Death Blow punches produce room-energizing bass, but Guy has some power-ups of his own and there are a couple of great MCU and Star Wars tie-ins that are sure to bring a smile to your face.

Luca

“The Swim to Portorosso” (No. 8 | 1:11)
At 27 minutes in, this scene highlights the bright and beautiful colors throughout Luca, as Luca and Alberto swim to “Vespa town” (aka Portorosso), jumping in and out of the water as they change from sea monster to human and back. Pixar’s animation skills in rendering the ocean—both above and below—and the varied shades of blue are on full display.

“First Time Houseguests” (No. 12 | 3:05)
Luca and Alberto visit Giulia and her dad for dinner, trying to keep their secret from the great fisherman. Notice the attention to detail throughout the scene— from the fine detail in dad’s sweater, to the glassware, to the trenette al pesto he prepares, where you can see the noodles slick with olive oil and highlights on the basil leaves.

No Time to Die

“We’re Leaving” (No. 4 | 5:16)
At 18 minutes in, this takes place shortly after the scene below, but it is one of the film’s highlights, and if you ever wanted to see the glorious Aston Martin DB-5 from Goldfinger flex its muscles, this scene is for you! Bond races through the curvy, stone-paved Italian hills before being “trapped” in the city center. The audio is fantastic, with the screech of tires and the revving engine, the chime of church bells filling the room, and the hail of gunfire and thunk of bullets hitting into the bullet-resistant glass coming from all around, placing you in the car with Bond—right up until he decides to let the DB-5 unleash Hell!

“Cemetery Visit Cut Short” (No. 5 | 2:46)
Occurring 15 minutes in, the scene begins immediately after Bond is blown up after visiting an old friend’s grave. He gives chase on foot across an old bridge in Southern Italy but is ambushed by armed gunmen in a car and motorcycle. Bond ultimately steals the bike and makes a bold getaway, but pull your eyes away from the action long enough to appreciate the cinematography. It’s filled with wide vistas and an ancient city in the background, all beautifully illuminated in the naturallighting.

Raya and the Last Dragon

“A Betrayal of Trust” (No. 50 | 4:54)
At 15 minutes in, young Raya shows her tribe’s sacred dragon gem to Namaari, who decides to steal it for her tribe. During the struggle to take the gem, it shatters, releasing the Druun, whose touch turns people to stone. This is another showcase for HDR, with the dragon gem glowing a beautiful blue-white in the dark inner temple, and the Druun having a vibrant glowing-purple effect. The sound design is also great, with deep bassy rumbles and crackling stones as the gem shatters and the temple starts collapsing, causing people to flee in all directions.

“Tail’s Dragon Gem” (No. 55 | 4:13)
Here a grown Raya is partnered with last dragon Sisu as they retrieve another lost piece of the dragon gem. Fine details in the animation abound, from Sisu’s fur, to Raya’s leather arm band, to the individual leaves on the tree, to the vest worn by Namaari. Near the end, the exploding toot-and-boom bugs leave a vibrant cloud of HDR-glowing colors before Ray and Sisu jump on Tuk Tuk and roll to freedom, riding off a cliff into the water.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

“The Battle Begins” (No. 1 | 5:33)
Near the film’s end, this is the prelude to the big finale as two armies face-off in Ta Lo. Note the wide-open outdoor sounds of wind rustling leaves and water in the quiet opening moments. Once the fighting starts, the mystical weapons have vibrant blue and red-orange colors enhanced by HDR, and this battle involves dozens of fighters fighting and being tossed all around the room. The scene ends with a battle between Shang-Chi and his father Xu Wenwu, which is fast and full of action.

“The Ten Rings” (No. 2 | 2:26)
Taking place a few minutes after the above scene, Shang-Chi continues his battle with Xu and takes control of the mystical rings. The visual effects are on full display here, with the rings encircling and protecting Shang-Chi and Xu fighting with his own set of rings that he uses as a whip, with the rings glowing and crackling in bright colors. This scene also has some great low-frequency extension, with impacts that will flex your subwoofers and energize the room.

“A High-Rise Obstacle” (No. 3 | 4:52)
At 38 minutes in, this scene has all the ingredients for a great demo—a clear beginning and end, easy to understand, lots of action, and it doesn’t spoil the film! Shot at night outside a high-rise building in Macau, it has a much different look than the other scenes. Shang is trying to escape a group of assailants as he scrambles around on scaffolding, while also keeping friend Katy safe. Night city scenes always look beautiful in 4K HDR, and this has plenty of pop from the surrounding buildings and great depth of field as you look down through the scaffolding. There is also a lot of Atmos audio excitement with things smashing, crashing, and falling all around.

West Side Story

“Tony Meets Maria” (No. 62 | 2:47)
This takes place about 39 minutes in, after the terrific, long single-take shot following The Sharks into the gym and the Mambo dance. A meet-cute between Tony and Maria under the bleachers at the big dance, the scene is lit in dreamy pink and blue lighting, with bright lights streaming in through the bleachers illuminating the dance happening a world away behind the characters. The ill-fated couple meets on neutral ground, dance-flirt for a bit, and start falling in love.

“The Rumble” (No. 65 | 7:24)
Happening at the hour-forty mark, this is the climatic territorial showdown between the Jets and Sharks. Taking place in a dark warehouse with bright light streaming in through the windows, the camera circles the fighters and pulls back into long shots, with the audio showing off the space’s wide-open, echoing acoustics.

Probably the most experienced writer on custom installation in the industry, John Sciacca is co-owner of Custom Theater & Audio in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, & is known for his writing for such publications as Residential Systems and Sound & Vision. Follow him on Twitter at @SciaccaTweets and at johnsciacca.com.

reviews | Oscar Nominees 2022

Oscar Nominees 2022

reviews | Oscar Nominees 2022

Belfast

Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Sound, Original Song

Don’t Look Up

Picture, Film Editing, Original Score, Original Screenplay

“I’m glad we don’t do star ratings at Cineluxe because I would be crippled with analysis paralysis in attempting to encapsulate the merits and demerits of Don’t Look Up. It’s simultaneously one of the year’s best films and one of its worst. It’s as fascinating as it is frustrating. It tries to be Network, Dr. Strangelove, and Veep all at the same time, but more often than not, those allusions serve to remind you it’s not as good as the works that inspired it. Seriously, though, watch it for DiCaprio’s and Lawrence’s performances, if nothing else.” read more

Encanto

Animated Feature, Original Score, Original Song

House of Gucci

Makeup & Hairstyling

“You can safely avoid House of Gucci unless you simply loathe Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, or Jared Leto and want to see them humiliate themselves. If any other filmmaker turned in a movie this irredeemable, they would spend the rest of their career shooting commercials for local flea-market malls.” read more

The Lost Daughter

Actress, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay

“Olivia Coleman’s masterful performance as Leda will stay with me for a long time, but much of this film’s impact can also be attributed to the supporting performances and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s talented direction and screenplay. It may be unsettling to watch at times, but The Lost Daughter reminds us of just how complex and fractured family relationships can be and is well worth seeking out.”
read more

Nightmare Alley

Picture, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design

“Guillermo del Toro had to doff his anti-cynicism hat for this adaptation, and that—far more so than its rejection of the supernatural—is what makes Nightmare Alley feel so different. Del Toro has certainly flirted with cynicism in the past only to ultimately reject it; but to fully commit to this noir adaptation, he had to embrace it. And if there’s anything that keeps the film from knocking it completely out of the park, it’s that he seems uncomfortable doing so. It’s still a very good film, just not a great one.”
read more

The Power of the Dog

Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Production Design, Film Editing, Sound, Original Score

Spencer

Actress

“The music and sound mixing were by far my favorite things about Spencer, which is saying a lot given that I was captivated from beginning to end. It isn’t a great film. Not quite. But it is a very good one, marred only by the occasional slip into melodrama, a few editing flubs, and an ending that’s too much of a tonal shift to swallow. For a movie that’s built on tension, tone, and shockingly tasteful body horror (seriously, who even knew that was possible?) to end with a singalong of Mike + The Mechanics’ “All I Need is a Miracle” over a bite of KFC was just a stretch too far for me. But don’t let that turn you off. Spencer is absolutely worth your time. Maybe rent it instead of buying it sight unseen, though.” read more

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Actor, Cinematography, Production Design

“I often find film adaptations of plays and musicals to be tedious, especially if they’re literal adaptions of the source material as I feel that film requires unique visual elements to engage the viewer. But The Tragedy of Macbeth succeeds in bringing the play to life with a wonderfully surreal vision of medieval Scotland and the treacherous tale of its protagonist.” read more

Yet another drab year, but you might be able to find a few gems strewn among the rubble

by the Cineluxe staff
updated March 24, 2022

Last year’s Oscar winners were the least interesting bunch in a while, but this year’s stand a good chance of taking it all down yet another notch. Sure, there are some interesting films up for awards, but nothing galvanizing and certainly nothing to change the sense of Hollywood treading water as it tries to figure out what the world wants to watch as everyone stumbles their way out of the far side of the pandemic. Still, there’s a chance we could discover a truly rare jewel as our staff continues to put the movies vying for consideration in 2022 through their paces. Check back as we add more reviews to this page.

CODA

Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor

Drive My Car

Picture, International Feature, Director, Adapted Screenplay

Flee

International Feature, Documentary Feature, Animated Feature

“This isn’t a passive viewing experience; nor is it entertainment. It’s a shocking look at geopolitical and societal forces of the sort most of us have never been subjected to, filtered through the lens of one man’s memories and experiences, then filtered through yet another lens of two-dimensional artwork.” read more

King Richard

Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Original Song, Sound

Luca

Animated Feature

“It’s not that Luca is a bad film. In fact, you could easily say that while Soul was a Pixar title made for adults, Luca sets its sights squarely on a younger audience, with a coming-of-age story about friendship, acceptance, childhood dreams, and overcoming fears that never gets too deep or strays too far away from safety and cuteness that kids will be drawn to. And if Luca came from any other studio (with the exception of Disney Animation, Pixar’s parent company), it would likely be heralded as a triumph. It’s just that Pixar has come to make us expect so much more.” read more

No Time to Die

Sound, Original Song, Visual Effects

Raya and the Last Dragon

Animated Feature

“Raya and the Last Dragon looks gorgeous, and the voice acting—especially the always-likable Awkafina, who brings the right level of humor and quirkiness to Sisu—is on point. While the lack of any songs and intense scenes might limit its replay value for younger viewers, it’s an entertaining film that will appeal to many viewers, as attested to by its very favorable 95% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ rating and 85% audience score. I have two daughters—ages 14 and almost five—so for us, a movie night where we can all get together and enjoy a new Disney animated film was an easy yes.” read more

Summer of Soul

Documentary Feature

West Side Story

Picture, Director, Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Production Design, Sound, Costume Design

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Cruella

Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling

Dune (2021)

Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Original Score, Film Editing, Sound, Visual Effects

Free Guy

Visual Effects

“Free Guy definitely doesn’t take itself too seriously and is just a load of fun to sit back and enjoy. Unless you belong to that sub-section that just hates Ryan Reynolds—and, come on, get over Green Lantern already!—this makes a great night at the movies, with a bunch of little Easter eggs that look great up on a large home-cinema screen and reward repeat viewing. ” read more

Licorice Pizza

Picture, Director, Original Screenplay

“Overall, Licorice Pizza is as meandering and unfocused an experience as you might expect but it’s worth the journey if only for Alana Haim’s performance. She is an utterly effortless and hypnotic screen presence—the sort of actor who makes you forget she’s acting at all. I found myself shocked at times that co-stars the likes of Sean Penn and Tom Waits could come close to matching her natural energy.” read more

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Animated Feature

“Maybe the best thing I can say about this movie is that it’s legitimate family fare. That’s generally used as a euphemism for children’s entertainment but in this case, the label deserves to be taken at face value. There’s a lot of dessert here to keep the young ones in your family engaged, but there’s also enough meat to appeal to audiences of all ages. It might not be the height of profundity and it’s a little uneven in its execution but the good far outweighs the bad. And that alone elevates The Mitchells vs. the Machines way above the baseline for kid-appropriate movies distributed by Netflix.” read more

Parallel Mothers

Actress, Original Score

“Hopefully by the time Sony Pictures prepares the film for a proper North American home video release, the issues with the noise and funky textures will have been resolved, because this one is a keeper for me. It’s probably Almodóvar’s best film since 2006’s Volver, and it’s a damn sight better than most of this year’s Best Picture noms.” read more

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Visual Effects

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was just OK. It was fun to watch, looked great, the fight scenes were dynamic and visually interesting, and the actors—particularly Leung, who brings some real depth to the villain character—did a fine job, but the story itself felt thin. And it just didn’t feel like a Marvel movie. But with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92% and an Audience Score of 98%—the highest combined score of any film in the MCU—it seems like I’m in the minority, and maybe my opinion will change on future viewings.” read more

Tick, Tick . . . Boom!

Actor, Film Editing

“All in all, this is an encouraging directorial debut from Lin-Manuel Miranda and another star turn for Andrew Garfield, making it an easy recommendation the next time you’re wondering what to watch on Netflix.” read more

Writing with Fire

Documentary Feature

“Writing with Fire isn’t perfect, even ignoring the technical shortcomings. At 96 minutes, it positively whizzes by, and there are several story threads I wish we could have sat with for another 15 or 20 minutes here and there. But I’d far rather spend time with a film that leaves me wanting more than one that overstays its welcome, even when the subject matter is as important as this.” read more

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