Shortcomings
Randall Park’s Shortcomings is a refreshingly hilarious of-the-moment Rom-Dram that explores identity with a self-aware twist.
10 Best Films of Tribeca 2023
Here are my highlights from Tribeca 2023—five narrative films, five documentaries, plus three honorable mentions—in no particular order beyond the conversation they have with each other.
All These Sons
Bing Liu and Joshua Altman’s All These Sons is a rousing, hauntingly powerful tableau about the on-the-ground effort to quell gun violence in Chicago by an altruistic few.
Somewhere in Queens
Ray Romano’s first foray into acting-directing, Somewhere in Queens, is an uproarious family drama more akin to Little Miss Sunshine than Everybody Loves Raymond.
Yesterday
Like McCartney without Lennon, Danny Boyle’s Yesterday is long on whimsy, short on content—but it works. An entertaining one-note fantasy rom-com packed with every Beatles joke and fan-service imaginable, the winsome premise tells the tale of a struggling songwriter who discovers he’s the last man on earth who remembers The Beatles’ music—and capitalizes on it by performing their songs as his own.
Kernels of Truth
I’m more of a guide than a judge. I review a film because it resonates on some personal level. Many of those reviewed here have earned 4-kernel ratings—not because these films are equal, but because they represent some form of greatness. Even flawed films are worthy of discussion; some may be a better fit for you than for me. My goal is to communicate strengths and weaknesses, from my own biased perspective ... and to help you decide which ones pop for you.