Movie Reviews

In 'Cuz You're Ugly,' Israeli director Sharon Angelhart tells the story she never saw on screen

Director/screenwriter Sharon Angelhart said that with her movie, she was trying to make a film that “was what I would have wanted to see when I was growing up in Jerusalem."

OR AVINOAM (left) and Riki Reif Sinai in ‘Cuz You’re Ugly.’
GITIT FISHER is a revelation in ‘On Standby.’

Hot summer movies to watch in Israel: 'On Standby' lands well, 'Into the Blue' delivers escapism

EVERY ROLE in ‘Just An Illusion,’ down to the smallest ones, is perfectly cast, and each actor makes an impression.

French directors Éric Toledano, Olivier Nakache return with 'Just An Illusion' -review

Co-stars Ido Tako (left) and Ihab Salami with a poster of their film, Where To?, directed by Assaf Machnes, at its premiere at the Jerusalem Film Festival.

Assaf Machnes's 'Where to?' wins top prize at Jerusalem Film Festival


Cinematheques pay tribute to Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki

Miyazaki’s unique work is imaginative and filled with beautiful imagery, but his stories also have great emotional depth, usually from the point of view of children.

 A SCENE from ‘Princess Mononoke,’ one of Studio Ghibli's most successful movies.

‘Kiss Me Kosher’ tells a comic story of an Israeli-German couple - film review

It’s a typically irreverent joke in a movie that is a mixture of a rom-com and a more serious look at how Israelis deal with prejudice and the past, which is now playing in theaters.

 A SCENE from ‘Kiss Me Kosher.’

A young woman displays extraordinary courage in ‘Irena’s Vow’ - review

Irena’s Vow gives us a look into the life of the kind of person we all hope we would be if we found ourselves tested like this.

 SOPHIE NELISSE plays the role of the heroine of ‘Irena’s Vow.’

'White Bird': A Holocaust movie saved by Helen Mirren - review

Were the narrator who tells the story in the framing device anyone other than the incomparable Helen Mirren, White Bird wouldn’t have worked nearly as well as it does. 

 SCENES FROM ‘White Bird’ with Helen Mirren.

'Farewell Column' tells a sadly relevant story

Farewell Column, set about three years ago, tells the story of Karmi, a political columnist who has offended some very thuggish people with a column criticizing the Netanyahu government.

Keren with director/screenwriter Ron Ninio (left).

'DogMan': Luc Besson's canine carnival - review

Luc Besson is a born storyteller and his films, including DogMan, are undeniably entertaining. He knows how to pick actors with great presence. 

 A SCENE FROM Luc Besson's 'DogMan'

Hipsters will love 'Robot Dreams' - review

Recreating the East Village of decades ago will be fun for adult viewers, but not for the vast majority of children, so ignore how appealing this movie looks on the poster and don’t bring your kids.

 ROBOT DREAMS

'The Holdovers': A predictable letdown of a film - review

For all its virtues, The Holdovers invites unfortunate comparisons to the ne plus ultra of teacher-student bonding movies, Wonder Boys.

 A scene from 'The Holdovers'

‘The Boy and the Heron’: Hayao Miyazaki takes you on a dream - review

If you can flow with the feelings behind the movie and see it as a well-observed version of the psyche of a fragile and traumatized child, you will find much to enjoy.

 'The Boy and the Heron'

'How to Have Sex' is more sad than shocking - review

The sadness at the core of this movie goes deep, as it focuses on a world where any human connection and sensuality connected to sex has been washed away by rivers of alcohol. 

 A SCENE FROM Molly Manning Walker's feature-film debut, 'How to Have Sex.'