Film Critic

Displaying 1 - 50 of 115 in reverse chronological order
# Title Date Summary
1 Jordan Peele's Nope makes you think again
Northern Iowan 119:2, p.5 		Theo Alder, NI Film Critic, reviews the movie "Nope" written and directed by Jordan Peele. Alder gives the movie high praises commenting on the fantastic work of the special and visual effects teams, the director, and the actors; photo.
2 Eggers' epic "The Northman" tells a tale of bloody revenge
Northern Iowan 118:52, p.4 		Friesen reviews Eggers' "The Northman," 3.5/5; photo.
3 A muggled story of wizards and muggles in "Secrets of Dumbledore"
Northern Iowan 118:50, p.4 		Friesen reviews "The Secrets of Dumbledore" with 2.5/5; photo.
4 "Ambulance" is Bayhem at its best
Northern Iowan 118:49, p.4 		Friesen reviews "Ambulance," giving it 3/5 stars; photo.
5 I'd rather sell my soul than watch "Morbius" again
Northern Iowan 118:46, p.4 		The author reviews the film "Morbius," giving it a 1/5 rating; photo.
6 Sans smith slap, another tiring Oscars
Northern Iowan 118:45, p.4 		The author critiques the Academy Awards ceremony for being predictable and formulaic, not including all awards in the broadcast, and its long runtime, along with overt product placement and flat jokes. Friesen also discusses Will Smith slapping Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair. However, the author concludes that loyal viewers will continue to watch; photo.
7 94th Academy Award predictions
Northern Iowan 118:43, p.5 		Hunter Friesen gives their Academy Award predictions; photo.
8 "The Batman" finds beauty in the darkness
Northern Iowan 118:40, p.4 		Hunter Friesen gives "The Batman" a 4/5 rating; photo.
9 Ranking this year's Best Picture nominee
Northern Iowan 118:39, p.5 		Hunter Friesen gives their ranking of the Oscars' ten Best Picture nominees.
10 Dinklage stops the show in "Cyrano"
Northern Iowan 118:37, p.4 		Hunter Friesen gives their review of "Cyrano" in poem form, rating it a 3.5/5; photo.
11 No honor among thieves in "Uncharted"
Northern Iowan 118:36, p.4 		Friesen reviews the film "Uncharted" and gives it a 2.5/5.
12 "Death on the Nile" is a misguided murder mystery
Northern Iowan 118:34, p.4 		"Death on the Nile" does not hold up to its predecessor, "Murder on the Orient Express," earning it a 2/5 rating; photo.
13 2022 Academy award nominations recap
Northern Iowan 118:33, p.5 		The author lays out all of the above-the-line categories and their nominees for the Academy Awards, as well as giving analysis.
14 2021 Oscar nomination predictions
Northern Iowan 118:32, p.4 		Hunter Friesen gives his predictions for the 2021 Oscar nominations.
15 A report from the 2022 Sundance Film Festival
Northern Iowan 118:30, p.5 		Film Critic Hunter Friesen rates the movies he viewed during the weeklong Sundance Film Festival. Those rated were: "After Yang" (4/5), "Dual" (4/5), "Happening" (4/5), "Cha Cha Real Smooth" (3.5/5), "Resurrection" (3/5), "Call Jane" (2.5/5), and "Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul" (2.5/5).
16 Ten best films of 2021
Northern Iowan 118:28, p.5 		Hunter Friesen gives a list of what he believes to be the ten best movies of the year. He also includes five of the worst films of the year and his best film honorable mentions; photo.
17 Winter break movie reviews
Northern Iowan 118:28, p.5 		Hunter Friesen reviews the movies they viewed over winter break.
18 Campion's "Power of the Dog" reinvents the western genre
Northern Iowan 118:27, p.4 		Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" receives a 4 out of 5 rating from Hunter Friesen; photo.
19 We are thankful for films
Northern Iowan 118:26, p.4 		Hunter Friesen gives thanks to the five movies he watched over Fall Break; photo.
20 'The French Dispatch', Wes Anderson's masterpiece
Northern Iowan 118:23, p.4 		Hunter Friesen reviews Wes Anderson's new film "The French Dispatch," rewarding it a 5/5 rating; photo.
21 'Eternals' just another cog in the Marvel machine
Northern Iowan 118:21, p.4 		Hunter Friesen reviews the newest Marvel film, "Eternals." He rates it 3/5; photo.
22 Dreams turn to disappointment
Northern Iowan 118:19, p.4 		Hunter Friesen reviews Edgar Wright's new film "Last Night in Soho," giving it a 3/5 rating; photo.
23 "Dune" is a grand disappointment
Northern Iowan 118:17, p.4 		Hunter Friesen discusses the new movie adaption of the novel "Dune," which he rated a 3/5; photo.
24 "The Last Duel": A modern medieval epic
Northern Iowan 118:15, p.4 		Hunter Friesen reviews Ridley Scott's new film The Last Duel, starring Matt Damon, Jodie Comer, and Adam Driver in the three main roles. Friesen rates the movie 4/5, stating that it is one of Scott's finest films; photo.
25 "Squid Game" takes Netflix by storm
Northern Iowan 118:14, p.4 		Andrew Oleson reviews the new Netflix show "Squid Game," giving it a 3/5; photo.
26 A farewell to Bond in "No Time to Die"
Northern Iowan 118:13, p.4 		Hunter Friesen reviews the new James Bond film "No Time to Die." He gives Daniel Craig's last Bond film a 4/5 rating. Read in Spanish and see photo on page 5; photo.
27 Despedida de Bond
Northern Iowan 118:13, p.5 		Hunter Friesen reviews the new James Bond film "No Time to Die." He gives Daniel Craig's last Bond film a 4/5 rating. Read in English and see photo on page 4; photo.
28 Venom: A Carnage of Quality
Northern Iowan 118:11, p.4 		Film Critic Hunter Friesen gives a scathing review of the movie, "Venom: Let There Be Carnage", giving it a 1.5/5 rating; photo.
29 N.I. en Español: Dear Evan Hansen
Northern Iowan 118:8, p.5 		An N.I. en Español review of "Dear Evan Hansen."
30 "Dear Evan Hansen" cannot recapture stage magic
Northern Iowan 118:8, p.4 		A film review of "Dear Evan Hansen;" photo. Read the article in Spanish on page 5, N.I en Español: Dear Evan Hansen.
31 Fall film festival ushers Oscar season
Northern Iowan 118:6, p.5 		Film festivals introduce movies for the Oscars season; photo.
32 "Malignant" is matter over mind
Northern Iowan 118:5, p.5 		Friesen's take on James Wan's "Malignant;" photo.
33 "Shang-Chi" brings balance to the MCU
Northern Iowan 118:4, p.5 		Friesen's take on "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings;" photo.
34 "Dream with ME" premieres its first screening
Northern Iowan 118:2, p.4 		Theo Loeckle writes his review of "Dream with ME" which was produced at UNI by Jim Bray and Gretta Berghammer. The film uses hip-hop theatre to reflect on events such as the pandemic that happened the past year by following multiple characters and their stories; photo.
35 UNI student offers review of Cannes Film Festival
Northern Iowan 118:2, p.5 		Hunter Friesen was invited to the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France this summer. He reviews all ten films he saw while there; photos.
36 Summer 2021 Blockbuster Film Reviews
Northern Iowan 118:1, p.9 		Hunter Friesen gives his reviews of the blockbuster films released during the summer of 2021 including the movies Black Widow, Suicide Squad, and In the Heights; photo.
37 An Oscars to remember for the wrong reasons
Northern Iowan 117:54, p.5 		Friesen reviews the 93rd Academy Awards and grades it a "D"; photo.
38 2021 Academy Award predictions
Northern Iowan 117:52, p.5 		Friesen predicts the winners of the 93rd annual Academy Awards. Predictions include: Best Supporting Actor - Daniel Kaluuya; Best Supporting Actress - Yuh-Jung Youn; Best Leading Actor - Chadwick Boseman; Best Leading Actress - Carey Mulligan; Best Original Screenplay - "Promising Young Woman"; Best Adapted Screenplay - "Nomadland"; Best Director - Chloe Zhao; Best Motion Picture - "Nomadland"; photos.
39 2021 summer movie preview
Northern Iowan 117:50, p.5 		Friesen highlights upcoming summer 2021 movie releases, which may motivate readers to return to the theater. They include "Those Who Wish Me Dead," "Army of the Dead," "A Quiet Place," "In the Heights," "Black Widow," "Old," "The Green Knight," "Stillwater," "The Suicide Squad," and "Respect." Others to check out include "Spiral: From the Book of Saw," "The Woman in the Window," "Cruella," "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It," The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard," Luca," F9," "Space Jam: A New Legacy," and "Free Guy"; photos.
40 'Godzilla vs Kong' is exactly what it needs to be
Northern Iowan 117:47, p.5 		Friesen reviews "Godzilla vs Kong," 3.5/5; photo.
41 'The Father' teaches through tears
Northern Iowan 117:46, p.9 		Friesen reviews "The Father," 4/5; photo.
42 Finally, 'Justice League' is enjoyable
Northern Iowan 117:44, p.5 		Friesen reviews "Zack Snyder's Justice League," 3.5/5; photo.
43 2021 Oscar nominations recap
Northern Iowan 117:42, p.5 		Friesen summarizes the 2021 Academy Awards Oscars nominations and analyzes who was listed and who was not; photos.
44 'Chaos Walking' is just white noise
Northern Iowan 117:40, p.5 		Friesen reviews "Chaos Walking," the first movie the author has seen since theatres re-opened, 2/5; photo.
45 Billie Holiday biopic exploits singer's pain
Northern Iowan 117:38, p.5 		Friesen reviews "The United States vs. Billie Holiday," 2/5; photo.
46 'I Care a Lot' is devilishly fun
Northern Iowan 117:36, p.5 		Friesen reviews "I Care a Lot," 3.5/5; photo.
47 Top 10 best films of 2020
Northern Iowan 117:34, p.5 		Friesen ranks films released in 2020. Honorable mentions include "Possessor," "Tenet," "The Truth," "On the Rocks," and "Let Them All Talk." Tenth to first, the top ten are: "Ammonite," "One Night in Miami," "The Prom," "Wolfwalkers," "The Nest," "First Cow," "The Trial of the Chicago 7," "Nomadland," "The Vast of Night," and "Never Rarely Sometimes Always;" photos.
48 "Judas" invigorates Fred Hampton's legacy
Northern Iowan 117:31, p.5 		Friesen reviews "Judas and the Black Messiah," 4.5/5; photo.
49 "The Little Things" brings little to the table
Northern Iowan 117:30, p.5 		Friesen reviews "The Little Things," 3/5; photo.
50 The winter break movie roundup
Northern Iowan 117:28, p.5 		Friesen rates and reviews movies released during winter break. Films that received ratings were "Ammonite," 4/5; "Let Them All Talk," 4/5; "Nomadland," 4/5; "Wolfwalkers," 4/5; "Another Round," 3.5/5; "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," 3.5/5; "News of the World," 3.5/5; "Pieces of a Woman," 3.5/5; "Promising Young Woman," 3.5/5; "Soul," 3.5/5; "Sound of Metal," 3.5/5; "The Midnight Sky," 3/5; "Uncle Frank," 3/5; and "Sylvie's Love," 2/5. Films receiving reviews were "Hillbilly Elegy," 2/5; "Wonder Woman 1984," 2/5; "Mank," 3.5/5; "One Night in Miami," 4/5; and "The Prom," 4/5.