One might assume that a film titled Oppenheimer would center largely on the creation of the superweapon that brought about the end of World War II,…
Author: Brent Hankins
Brent Hankins
Brent Hankins has been blogging and writing film reviews online since 2011. He joined the Phoenix Film Critics Society in 2013, and was a founding member of the Phoenix Critics Circle the following year, where he currently serves as President. Brent also hosted the weekly Drinks and Discourse podcast for nearly 5 years, and is currently the editor-in-chief at The Lamplight Review. He resides in Tempe, AZ with his wife and son.
The Fantasia International Film Festival, held in Montreal, Canada, is celebrating its 27th edition from July 20th to August 9th. A renowned event that bridges the…
In the midst of a disappointing summer movie season rife with failures both critical and commercial, a savior appears: Tom Cruise, the adrenaline-seeking action megastar who…
Catching DustDirected by Stuart Gatt Stuart Gatt’s feature debut is a tragic and powerful missive on the struggle between familiar dangers and unknown risks. The narrative…
The ListenerDirected by Steve Buscemi Centering on a captivating performance by Tessa Thompson, Steve Buscemi’s The Listener explores the importance of empathy and human connection through…
The rise of anti-government white nationalist movements within the United States remains a clear and present danger — just look at the events of January 6,…
When Sav Rodgers was growing up in Kansas, he developed a bizarre obsession with Ben Affleck movies. But what started with 2003’s Daredevil eventually led Sav…
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is widely regarded not only as one of the best Spider-Man films, but also one of the greatest superhero films of all…
After spending the better part of the last decade regurgitating time-honored animated classics and giving them a fresh coat of live-action (or in the case of…
There was a point in time where I unabashedly loved the Fast and Furious movies, but with each new installment, my affection for this franchise diminishes…
Canadian director Matt Johnson, whose 2013 school shooting film The Dirties served as a calling card for one of indie film’s most unique voices, followed up…
After reaching the pinnacle of success with the release of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios has struggled to find steady footing in a post-Thanos world. Sequels like…
The idea that a slightly campy action flick starring Keanu Reeves would give rise to a blockbuster franchise, spawning numerous sequels and spinoffs (including a television…
While the original Scream was a breath of fresh air that almost single-handedly revived a stale genre, the series has been on increasingly shaky ground in…
Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) has come a long way from his days as a struggling ex-convict; granted, joining The Avengers and traveling through time to save…
Murder in Big HornDirected by Razelle Benally and Matthew Galkin For decades, an epidemic has been plaguing Native American communities across the United States, as countless…
With a powerhouse comedic cast including Jonah Hill, Eddie Murphy and Julia-Louis Dreyfus, not to mention black-ish creator Kenya Barris behind the camera, You People seems…
JamojayaDirected by Justin Chon Justin Chon returns to Sundance with this story of Indonesian rapper James (Brian Imanuel), a rising star who inks a deal with…
Horror films about demonic possession aren’t exactly a rarity, and it can often feel like every variation of this concept has already been explored. But every…
Growing up in a small town in rural Indiana, my exposure to Hollywood came almost exclusively from VHS tapes. My parents weren’t particularly interested in going…
Still reeling from the recent death of her father, fertility doctor Sarah (Sarah Snook) is hoping a birthday celebration for 7-year-old daughter Mia (Lily LaTorre) might…
After garnering praise from critics and audiences alike for his gut-wrenching portrayal of dementia in 2020’s The Father, writer-director Florian Zeller seems destined to squander the…
A tremendous amount of confidence is required in order to even attempt remaking one of Akira Kurosawa’s time-honored classics, but that level is confidence is evident…
Out on the town for a long overdue reunion with her best friends, Alice (Anna Kendrick) seems happy, until Sophie (Wunmi Mosaku) and Tess (Kaniehtiio Horn)…
Members of the Portland Critics Association are pleased to announce the winners of our annual awards, honoring the best films, filmmakers, actors and other achievements of…
Members of the Portland Critics Association are pleased to announce the nominees for our annual awards, honoring the best films, filmmakers, actors and other achievements of…
Director Scott Cooper reunites with Christian Bale for a third time in The Pale Blue Eye, which finds the latter cast as Augustus Landor, a retired…
2009’s blockbuster hit Avatar was undeniably a monumental technical achievement, a jaw-dropping experiment in performance capture whose stunning visual fidelity helped to offset its clunky dialogue,…
Revered across the land of Avalonia for his discovery of an energy-producing plant that paved the way for advanced technology, bettering the lives of pretty much…
An evening of fine dining at the most exclusive of eateries turns into something horrific in Mark Mylod’s The Menu, a delectable sendup of snobbish “foodie”…
2018’s critically acclaimed Black Panther remains one of the most successful entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with its worldwide gross of $1.3 billion only being…
I’ve always been a bit of a sucker for a good Metroidvania title, so it should come as little surprise that I’ve been itching to get…
When I reviewed the delightful and charming Enola Holmes just over two years ago, I noted the film’s open-ended resolution had set the stage for a…
2019’s A Plague Tale: Innocence was a hidden gem, a superb single-player offering with an engaging story and a surprising level of polish for a game…